Armstrong and Fessler Share Lead at MN Senior PGA Professional Championship

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  MEDINA, Minn. – Ty Armstrong and Steve Fessler each carded rounds of even par 72 Monday to begin the 46^th Minnesota Senior PGA Professional Championship at Medina Golf and Country Club with a share of the lead.

Entering the final round one shot better than six-time champion Bill Israelson, Dale Jones, Dan Callahan and Jason Sudenga on Tuesday, Armstrong looks to capture his first state victory since 2011, while Fessler is in search of his first win in the state.
 
“It was a solid round of golf—two birdies and two bogeys. I missed a really short one on 16 for par and an under-par round, but today I took what the course gave me. The greens are firm and it was hard to attack,” Armstrong said following his round Monday.
 
“My mental game was better than it’s been in a long time. I thought the shots out and hit the shots that I was looking for. I tried to play from point A to point B and not get myself into trouble. I was only in trouble twice all day.”
 
Armstrong played his first 12 holes in 1-under following his birdie at the par-5 fifth hole, but he would drop back to even par with a bogey at the 220-yard, par-3 13^th. A wedge to inside of a foot at the 14^th put Armstrong back into sole possession of the lead, but he would three-putt for bogey at the 16^th.
 
Finding the rough right of the 18^th fairway, Armstrong’s approach found a greenside bunker where he would hit out to three feet to save par and earn a share of the lead following the first round of play.
 
“That was the only thing I was mad at today—I played smart all day,” Armstrong admitted about his tee shot on the final hole. “I took the wrong club and I was lucky enough to make par—I can’t do that tomorrow.
 
“The biggest thing is that if you get yourself out of position, these greens are so firm, it’s hard to hit it on the green, much less where you want to. You’ve got to play solid and hit the fairway. I’d take [a 72] again tomorrow.”
 
Armstrong’s last state championship win came in 2011 when he claimed his second straight Minnesota PGA Senior Match Play Championship title. Since playing in his first Minnesota Senior PGA Championship in 2009, Armstrong’s notched seven top-10 finishes, with his best coming in 2011 when he finished second and qualified for the national championship in Virginia
 
Earlier this season Armstrong carded a 1-under 143 to finish tied for fifth at the Minnesota Senior Open at Keller Golf Course.
 
Playing on his home course this week, Fessler’s approach on the final hole Monday rolled inside of six feet and he would sink his birdie chance to join Armstrong on top of the leaderboard after the first day of competition.
 
“I had two loose shots on the front that cost me a couple [double-bogeys]. I just missed one short putt,” Fessler said Monday. “On the back side I gave myself a lot of opportunities for birdie. I kept the ball in play and hit a lot of greens.
 
“Tomorrow—it’s the old cliché to take it one at a time, but in reality, keep giving yourself chances. These guys can go low pretty fast, so if I hit it like I did today, I’ll be fine. I’m putting pretty good, so the more chances, the better."
 
During his front nine Monday, Fessler carded three birdies against two doubles to turn at 1-over before sinking a 15-footer for birdie at the 15^th. He dropped a shot at the 16^th, unable to save par from the sand, but finished strong with a short birdie putt at the last to card a 72.
 
Looking for his seventh title in 13 seasons, Israelson turned in even par to begin the championship Monday before carding two bogeys and a birdie over his inward nine to finish in a four-way tie for third at 73, just one shot off the lead.
 
“I missed four greens and I bogeyed all four holes,” Israelson said Monday. “I played okay, but you can get in some good spots and feel like you can make birdie. But if you get in the wrong spot, it’s hard to get up-and-down.
 
“I made a couple nice birdies—two twos on eight and thirteen, so that was like picking up three shots on the field, but it all balanced out. Overall, I gave myself a chance. I had some nice looks coming in on 14, 15 and 16, and I missed eight and 10-footers.”
 
At last year’s championship, Israelson carded a final-round 67 to claim a remarkable seven-stroke victory over Craig Brischke and George Smith at Island View Golf Club. Of his record six wins at the event, Israelson came from behind in each of his first three wins in 2008, 2009 (in which he erased a five-stroke deficit) and then again in 2011.
 
The final round of the 46^th Minnesota Senior PGA Professional Championship is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at Medina Golf and Country Club.
 
 
 
THE 46^TH MINNESOTA SR. PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
MEDINA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
MEDINA, MINN.
6,779 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
T1. Ty Armstrong, GolfTEC, 35-37—72  
T1. Steve Fessler, Medina G&CC, 37-35—72
T3. Jason Sudenga, Bakker Crossing GC, 38-35—73
T3. Daniel Callahan, Island View GC, 37-36—73
T3. Dale Jones, Mendakota CC, 37-36—73
T3. Bill Israelson, Vintage GC, 36-37—73
T7. Larry Norland, Greenhaven GC, 38-36—74
T7. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 38-36—74  
T9. Mike Flaherty, Hastings GC, 38-37—75
T9. George Smith, Club Champion, 38-37—75
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2029/contest/1/leaderboard.htm