Helped by his Putter, Sorenson Beats Berry to Claim Third Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship

September 23, 2016 | 4 min.


By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  MINNETRISTA, Minn. – An early eagle and a string of three birdies to begin his back nine propelled Jeff Sorenson to his third Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship victory, 3 and 2, over five-time champion Don Berry Friday at Burl Oaks Golf Club.

“I knew it was going to be tough because [Berry] doesn’t make many mistakes,” Sorenson said after his win Friday. “The only bogey was on 15, so I just tried to play with confidence—no doubting and just get up and hit it. Your first instinct is usually right so I tried to stick to that and not second guess yourself.

“It’s gratifying win it and beat Don because he’s such a great player—if you can beat Don Berry you did something and earned it.”

Sorenson avenges his semifinal loss to Berry a year ago at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club and a loss in the quarterfinals to Berry in 2014 at Oak Ridge Country Club.

Sorenson struck first Friday when his 10-foot eagle putt fell at the par-5 second before Berry evened the match by converting his birdie putt from eight feet at the fifth. The two would trade blows over the next four holes to close out the front nine and remain deadlocked heading to the back.

Finding recent success with his flatstick, Sorenson rolled in several clutch putts on the front to keep pace with Berry. Getting up-and-down for par at the sixth, Sorenson rolled in his 10-footer before Berry dropped an 8-footer to stay even.

Shooting 5-under par 31 on the final nine holes to erase a 5-down deficit to Eddie Wynne during the semifinals Thursday, Sorenson turned up the heat on Berry Friday by rolling in his 10-foot birdie at the 10th to take a slim lead, but would add to it by rolling in his second straight birdie at the 10th, though Berry had already converted birdie from 12 feet.

Sinking his third straight birdie to begin the back nine Friday, Sorenson took a 2-up lead at the 12th after two-putting the 481-yard par-5. His lead expanded to 3-up following the only bogey between the two when Berry’s par putt at the par-3 15th stayed right of the cup.

Berry failed to convert his birdie look from eight feet at the 16th and Sorenson would clinch his third Minnesota PGA Match Play championship.

“On the front nine I didn’t play bad, but I didn’t hit it quite as solid," Sorenson said. "With the putter, it was probably the first time in my career I felt 99 percent comfortable—you’re never 100 percent comfortable—where I feel like I’m going to make it. I’m using a new grip and I’m using a putter that matches my stroke and it’s made a world of difference.

“I rolled just about everything that I looked at. I had a couple really good par putts on the front that gave me some confidence to move forward.”

Winning his first Minnesota PGA Match Play title in 2006, Sorenson added his second in 2011, and continuing his pattern of claiming the title every five years Friday, Sorenson hopes he won’t have to wait as long for his next time.

“Hopefully it doesn’t take another five years to win it again. I’ve come close a bunch of times and then Player of the Year implications were huge,” he said.

Sorenson trailed Berry by less than 15 points for Minnesota Section Player of the Year award to begin the championship Wednesday.

“I had a back injury two years ago and had surgery and didn’t think I was going to play golf again—I could barely walk. It was the same surgery as (Tiger Woods) and I’ve been working hard since coming back.”

For Berry, Friday’s loss in the championship match marks the seventh time he’s finished as runner-up since 2007, dropping five straight finals matches.

“I didn’t play very well,” Berry said after the final match Friday. “When you keep losing, it doesn’t feel good just to get [to the finals].”



2016 MINNESOTA PGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
BURL OAKS GOLF CLUB
MINNETRISTA, MINN.
6,749 YARDS, PAR 72



FRIDAY’S CHAMPIONSHIP MATCH
Jeff Sorenson def. Don Berry, 3 and 2


THURSDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Don Berry def. Jonathan Reigstad, 2 and 1
Jeff Sorenson def. Eddie Wynne, 20 holes


THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Don Berry def. Scott Cole, 1-up
Jonathan Reigstad def. Eric Chiles, 7 and 6
Jeff Sorenson def. Grant Shafranski, 3 and 2
Eddie Wynne def. Brent Snyder, 2 and 1


WEDNESDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS
Don Berry def. Brandon Myers, 7 and 6
Scott Cole def. Chris Borgen, 19 holes
Eric Chiles def. Mark Hetland, 7 and 6
Jonathan Reigstad def. Tim Johnson, 4 and 3
Jeff Sorenson def. Christopher Sauer, 1-up
Grant Shafranski def. Luke Benoit, 1-up
Brent Snyder def. Timothy Brovold, 1-up
Eddie Wynne def. George Smith, 4 and 3


WEDNESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, bye
Brandon Myers, Olivia GC, def. Greg Jamieson, University GC, 7 and 6
Scott Cole, StoneRidge GC, bye
Chris Borgen, Lost Spur GC, bye
Eric Chiles, Chaska TC, bye
Mark Hetland, Hidden Haven GC, def. Jeff Running, Pebble Creek GC, 4 and 2
Jonathan Reigstad, Keller GC, bye
Tim Johnson, Cragun’s Legacy Courses, def. Barrett Boe, Dakota Pines GC, 4 and 2
Jeff Sorenson, Minikahda Club, bye
Christopher Sauer, Cedar Creek GC, def. Tom Kirkland, Victory Links GC, 20 holes
Luke Benoit, Interlachen CC, bye
Grant Shafranski, Hiawatha GC, bye
Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, bye
Timothy Brovold, Bunker Hills GC, def. Philip Anderson, Southview CC, 19 holes
Eddie Wynne, University GC, bye
George Smith, 2nd Swing, bye

 

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