Deziel and McCauley Claim Minnesota Jr. PGA Tournament of Champions

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  McGregor, Minn. – Nearly two months ago, Nate Deziel began his summer on a high note by claiming the Class AA individual title to complete his senior golf season at East Grand Forks High School. With the junior golf season drawing to a close, Deziel found his way to the top of the leaderboard once again, claiming the 2018 Minnesota Junior PGA Players’ Tour Tournament of Champions Thursday at Minnesota Golf Course.
 
Deziel, who will begin his freshman season at North Dakota State University this fall, posted a 4-over par 76 Wednesday, trailing first-round leader Ben Hicks by four shots to enter the final round Thursday.
 
Firing the tournament’s only round below par in a field of 32 players during the 18 holes, Deziel’s three birdies and one bogey earned him a three-shot victory over Hicks to claim his second victory of the season.
 
Deziel birdied the opening hole Thursday before taking a step back with a bogey at the par-3 third. He would turn at 1-under for the round following his birdie at the par-5 fifth. With a birdie at the 10^th, Deziel played his final 13 holes at 1-under to earn a three-shot victory at 2-over par 146.
 
Entering the final round with a two-stroke lead, Hicks appeared to have picked up where he left off from the opening round by playing his outward nine at 2-under Thursday. Hicks would run into trouble over his final nine, posting a pair of triple-bogeys to card a final round 77 and finish in second place at 149.
 
South Dakota’s Ethan Vikander opened the championship Wednesday with a round of 3-over par 75 before carding a 76 during Thursday’s final round to finish in third place at 151, five shots off the lead.
 
 
A STEADY MCCAULEY MEDALS IN GIRLS’ DIVISION
Although she was one of the youngest players in the field this week, Isabella McCauley proved to one of the most consistent by shooting a 76 to open the 2018 Minnesota Junior PGA Players’ Tour Tournament of Champions before claiming a three-shot victory with a round of 75 during Thursday’s final round.
 
McCauley, who will be a freshman at Simley High School this fall, posted a 76 Wednesday despite a pair of double-bogeys during her final nine holes and would enter the final round six shots back of first-round leader Shelby Busker.
 
While Busker stumbled on the final day, McCauley posted another respectable round despite carding another pair of double-bogeys on her back nine. McCauley’s 7-over 151 finish put her three shots clear of Josalynn Abbott and five shots better than Aayushi Sarkar.
 
Earlier this season McCauley notched a top-10 finish at the Class AAA tournament before earning a third place finish at the Minnesota Junior PGA Girls’ Championship.
 
In April McCauley competed in the finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt competition for the second consecutive year at Augusta National Golf Club.
 
 
 
2018 MN JR. PGA PLAYERS’ TOUR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
MINNESOTA NATIONAL GOLF COURSE
MCGREGOR, MINN.
6,831 YARDS, PAR 72 (BOYS)
5,874 YARDS, PAR 72 (GIRLS)
 
 
BOYS’ DIVISION
FINAL RESULTS
1. Nate Deziel, East Grand Forks, Minn., 76-70—146
2. Benjamin Hicks, Chanhassen, Minn., 72-77—149  
3. Ethan Vikander, Aberdeen, S.D., 75-76—151
T4. Walker Reyes, Mankato, Minn., 75-77—152  
T4. Tyler Burkum, Maple Grove, Minn., 74-78—152
T4. Matt Turner, Goodview, Minn., 73-79—152
T7. Nate Stevens, Northfield, Minn., 82-75—157
T7. Joshua Galvin, Maple Grove, Minn., 76-81—157
T7. Cameron Lemke, Avon, Minn., 75-82—157
T7. Preston Chan, Excelsior, Minn., 74-83—157  
 
 
GIRLS’ DIVISION
FINAL RESULTS
1. Isabella McCauley, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 76-75—151
2. Josalynn Abbott, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 77-77—154
3. Aayushi Sarkar, Woodbury, Minn., 78-78—156
T4. Leah Herzog, Red Wing, Minn., 77-82—159
T4. Emma Welch, Lakeville, Minn., 78-81—159
T4. Shelby Busker, Detroit Lakes, Minn., 71-88—159
7. Gabrielle Tremblay, Faribault, Minn., 83-81—164
8. Sydney Monge, Minnetonka, Minn., 81-89—170
9. Megan Munneke, Champlin, Minn., 82-90—172
10. Courtney Wedin, Chanhassen, Minn., 86-89—175
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr18/event/mnpgajr1822/contest/21/leaderboard.htm