Constable Maintains Lead But Helminen Surges into Contention After Two Rounds at MN Golf Champions

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Players battled faster than usual conditions to open the 2016 Minnesota Golf Champions at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club Friday and during second round Saturday, it was the wind that presented a challenge.

After 36 holes professional Donald Constable widened his lead on the field to two strokes after carding a 3-under par 70 Saturday, needing to hold off Ryan Helminen to capture his second title in three years.

“I played really well on the front today,” Constable said Saturday. “I had a couple costly bogeys on the back but made some good saves when I needed.”

After carding a 6-under par 67 during the opening round Friday, Constable appeared to pick up where he left off Saturday, sinking four birdies over the first seven holes to move to 10-under for the championship. But back-to-back bogeys at nine and ten and another at 12 quickly pulled the 2014 champion back to 7-under for the tournament.

Constable, Spring Hill Country Club, took advantage of the 491-yard par-5 13th hole for the second consecutive day by sinking his birdie chance to limit the damage and would add one final birdie at the par-3 17th to card a 70, taking a two stroke lead to the final round Sunday.

“The mindset stays the same," Constable said of the final round Sunday. "There are a lot of chances on this course and I need to keep the ball in front and in the fairway.”

Helminen, Ridgeway Country Club, posted the low round for the day with a 5-under par 68 Saturday to climb the leaderboard, sitting just two shots back after he carded a 2-under par 71 during the opening round Friday.

Playing a flawless second round, Helminen carded two birdies on the front nine to turn at 4-under for the championship before rolling in another three birdies on the back to card a 68, making just two bogeys over the first 36 holes as he got his putter working Saturday.

“I made everything within ten feet,” he said, “I knew the course a little better today with the first round under my belt. I drove it well all day and had good iron play. I made a lot of par saves and good birdies.”

Brent Snyder fired a 3-under par 70 during the second round Saturday and will begin the final round tied for third along with Jesse Bull at 2-under par 144, seven shots off the lead.

The 2016 Minnesota Golf Champions concludes Sunday with tee times beginning at 11 a.m. at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club.



2016 MINNESOTA GOLF CHAMPIONS
GOLDEN VALLEY GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
GOLDEN VALLEY, MINN.
7,004 YARDS, PAR 73


SATURDAY’S RESULTS
1. Donald Constable, Spring Hill CC, 67-70—137
2. Ryan Helminen, Ridgeway CC, 71-68—139
T3. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, 74-70—144
T3. Jesse Bull (a), Golden Valley G&CC, 69-75—144
5. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 68-77—145
6. Erik Christopherson (a), StoneRidge GC, 74-74—148
T7. Ross Miller, Riverwood Nat’l GC, 75-74—149
T7. Benjamin Greve (a), Minneapolis GC, 74-75—149
T7. Troy Johnson (a), Medina G&CC, 74-75—149
T7. Justin Burleson (a), Valleywood GC, 74-75—149


For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga16/event/mnpga167/contest/4/leaderboard.htm