Armstrong Outshines Tylke in Playoff to Win MPGA Public Links Title

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  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – Over the past 12 months, University of St. Thomas golfer Matt Armstrong has accomplished multiple firsts in his golf career.

Last August Armstrong teamed with college teammate Cole Nasby to claim the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Le Sueur Country Club for his first state victory.

Armstrong fired a final-round 73 in April at the WIU Invite at TPC Deere Run in Illinois to claim the first top-5 finish of his collegiate career.

With his dad, PGA professional Ty Armstrong, on his bag for the first time this week at the 101st Minnesota Public Golf Association Public Links Championship at Royal Golf Club, Armstrong fired a 4-under 139 to claim his first individual state title.

“He’s never really caddied for me, so it’s funny that the first full tournament he does, I win,” Armstrong said following his win Sunday. “It’s pretty neat because his dad, who was there a lot for him, passed away earlier this year. Now he was there for me.

“He’s kind of an old-school caddie—he stays back, you know keep up and shut up, but there were definitely times I needed him.”

Armstrong tallied an even par 71 to finish in a two-way tie with defending champion Max Tylke Sunday before sinking his birdie chance from three feet on the first playoff hole for his second win in as many seasons.

“This win means a lot—it’s a long time coming,” he said. “I nearly lost it [with bogey] on 17 and my dad kind of pulled me together.

“I talked with my [college] coaches this season about not focusing on the results and more about what goes into it. This is probably the most fun I’ve had golfing, even though some of the results don’t show that. I’m truly finding the love of the game again.”

Carding a 4-under 68 Saturday, Armstrong entered Sunday’s final round one shot back of 18-hole leaders Ralph Baxley and Jack Buan.

Armstrong was unable to save par from inside of eight feet on his opening hole Sunday, falling back to 3-under for the championship.

Behind trees from the rough at the par-4 eighth, Armstrong hit his approach to six feet and converted his “round saver” birdie putt.

He followed it with a second consecutive birdie at the ninth, rolling in an 8-footer to turn in 5-under for the tournament.

After giving back a stroke with bogey at the 11th, Armstrong struggled to reach the 17th green, taking his third bogey of the round to fall one back of Tylke with one hole to play.

Armstrong’s approach at the par-4 18th stopped six feet from the cup and he buried his third birdie of the round to force extra holes.

Hitting his approach even closer during the playoff on the 18th, Armstrong curled in his birdie chance from inside of four feet to close out the tournament for his second state win.

Armstrong will begin his senior season for the Tommies this fall.

Tylke, a three-time MPGA Public Links champion since 2016, played his first 12 holes in even par Sunday before sinking back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th to earn a share of the lead.

Reaching the par-5 17th in two, Tylke two-putted for birdie to take the outright lead at 5-under for the tournament.

But a wayward tee shot at the 18th landed Tylke in trouble right of the fairway. Missing a 10-footer to save par, Tylke bogeyed the last to finish at 4-under 139.

During the playoff, Tylke’s birdie chance from 30 feet rolled left of the hole and he would tap in for par to finish runner-up.

“Put myself in a couple of bad spots today, but played good to get myself into contention,” said Tylke, owner of 12 top-5 finishes over the past five seasons. “It’s been a tough year—first time I’ve really been close. Hopefully I can build off that for the last couple of events of the year.”

Baxley and Buan, who opened with a pair of 5-under 67s during Saturday’s opening round, both carded a 2-over 73 during Sunday’s final round to finish tied for third at 3-under 140.

Concordia University-St. Paul’s Brandon Sperling carded a 1-under 70 Sunday to finish tied for fifth with Ryan Conn, Augsburg University golfer Stellan Orvick and two-time MPGA Mid Public Links champion Joel B. Johnson at 2-under 141.



THE 101ST MPGA PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
ROYAL GOLF CLUB
LAKE ELMO, MINN.
6,767 YARDS, PAR 72 (FIRST ROUND)
6,832 YARDS, PAR 71 (SECOND ROUND)


SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Matt Armstrong, Braemar GC, 68-71—139 (won playoff)
2. Max Tylke, Legends Club, 70-69—139
T3. Ralph Baxley, Bunker Hills GC, 67-73—140
T3. Jack Buan, Baker Nat’l GC, 67-73—140
T5. Brandon Sperling, Willinger’s GC, 71-70—141
T5. Ryan Conn, Chaska TC, 69-72—141
T5. Stellan Orvick, Hiawatha GC, 70-71—141
T5. Joel B. Johnson, Links at Northfork, 68-73—141
T9. Sean Lehman, Alexandria GC, 76-68—144
T9. Jabob Herdine, Fox Hollow GC, 71-73—144
T9. Connor Herman, 69-75—144


For complete tournament results go to:  www.golfgenius.com/pages/9746707172590377262