Conzemius and Hawkinson Champions at MPGA Four-Ball

May 22, 2022 | 3 min.
By Nick Hunter

  ELK RIVER, Minn. – Helped by a birdie at the 17th hole Sunday, the team of Joe Conzemius and Jordan Hawkinson posted a 36-hole score of 15-under par 129 to claim the 45th Minnesota Public Golf Association Four-Ball Championship at Elk River Golf Club.

Conzemius and Hawkinson followed up a 10-under 62 performance during Saturday’s opening round by carding a 5-under 67 over the final 18 holes to edge the twosome of John Butler and Joel B. Johnson by one stroke.

“Yesterday was a lot more stress-free than today was," Conzemius said Sunday. "Today we had a lot more five or 6-footers that we had to make for par, especially on the front nine to hang in there."

“It’s a really fun event to kickstart the year and get the tournament juices going again. I certainly have some work to do on my game, but I think over two days, I’m happy with where my game is and hopefully it’s a springboard for the rest of the year.”

Conzemius and Hawkinson cruised through a bogey-free opening round, highlighted by a pair of eagles to go along with six birdies to take a two-stroke lead over Butler and Johnson Saturday.

“We wanted to keep the same game plan,” said Conzemius. “We both were in the fairway a lot. Today it didn’t seem like that, and we had to fight more. Hit some good chips, made some good putts and finally got it going.”

Conzemius opened the scoring by rolling in his birdie putt at the first to put his team to 11-under for the tournament before the pair carded their second birdie of the front nine at the fifth. Turning in 2-under for round, Hawkinson got up-and-down for birdie at the 10th to maintain a slim lead over Butler and Johnson.

Conzemius and Hawkinson relinquished their lead with a bogey at the par-3 11th, rebounding by making birdie at the 13th and 14th holes, but Butler and Johnson would keep pace with back-to-back birdies of their own. Conzemius rolled in his uphill putt from 10 feet at the par-4 17th to put his team in front for good, making par at the last to post a final-round 5-under 67 to earn the one-stroke victory.

“[Butler and Johnson] played great—they bogeyed their first hole, but from there on they put on the gas and put pressure to us the whole way and it really came down to 17,” Conzemius said.

Conzemius notches his first win since 2018, winning the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Will Hickey at Oak Ridge Country Club. His first state win came at the 2017 MPGA State Public Links Championship on his hometown course, Hastings Golf Club.

“It’s great to build momentum,” Conzemius said Sunday. “Confidence breeds confidence. Making some of those putts coming down the stretch under pressure is huge.”

Sunday’s win is Hawkinson’s second at the event, claiming the 2010 championship at Monticello Country Club with partner Clayton Johnson for his first win in the state.

“It’s fun to play with a partner who’s always positive. We’ve played together several times, never as partners,” Hawkinson said after the win Sunday. "We have a good group of golfing friends and figured we’d tee it up together.”

The victory comes as Hawkinson’s first since claiming the Lyle Cran Shortstop in 2016 at Stillwater Country Club. In 2014, Hawkinson partnered with Jeff Pint to win the MPGA Combination Championship at Bunker Hills Golf Club. Hawkinson earned medalist honors at the 2012 Northland Invitational at Northland Country Club before teaming with Jesse Larson to win the MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Owatonna Country Club the following year.

Donald Constable, the 2011 MGA Amateur champion who regained his amateur status last season after playing professionally since 2012, combined with playing partner Timmy Peterzen to card back-to-back rounds of 6-under 66, finishing tied for third with 2021 MGA Four-Ball champions Matt Norgaard and Nick Jarrett at 12-under 132.

Entering Sunday’s final round three shots off the lead, the twosome of Michael Pakkala and Mike Tharp carded a tournament-low 6-under 66 to claim a one-stroke victory over the team of Tim Gordon and Scott Holt in the Senior Division.



THE 45TH MPGA FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP
ELK RIVER GOLF CLUB
ELK RIVER, MINN.
6,560 YARDS, PAR 72


SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS

1. Conzemius/Hawkinson, 62-67—129
2. Butler/Johnson, 64-66—130
T3. Constable/Peterzen, 66-66—132
T3. Jarrett/Norgaard, 65-67—132
5. Baron/Bryn, 68-65—133
T6. Gorans/Jacobson, 70-65—135
T6. Lee/Tukey, 69-66—135
T8. Conn/Rebrovich, 69-67—136
T8. Christensen/Christensen, 69-67—136
T8. Kautt/Peterson, 68-68—136
T8. Burleson/Larson, 68-68—136


For complete tournament results go to: www.golfgenius.com/pages/8311653628821657892

Nick Hunter

Nick Hunter got his start covering sports for the Mankato Free Press while attending Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

He then contributed to several online outlets, including Bleacher Report, prior to turning his focus to golf.

Hunter enters his 11th season covering golf in Minnesota as news editor for the MGA website. He resides in New Prague with his wife and two sons.

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