Gophers Doeden and Uloth Shoot 65 at MGA Four-Ball to Share Lead with Chesley and Hickey

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  EDINA, Minn – Looking for his second state title of the season, Minnesota Golf Association State Amateur champion Alex Uloth and partner Justin Doeden carded a 7-under par 65 Tuesday during their opening round of the 55th MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Edina Country Club and share a first-round lead with the team of Steve Chesley and Will Hickey.

The top-27 teams from Tuesday’s round, along with the top-14 teams from Monday’s round will play a final 18 holes Wednesday.

The twosome of Sammy Schmitz and Jesse Polk fired a 6-under par 66 and finished the day tied for second along with Jonathan Hanner and Craig Herschey, as well as the team of Trent Peterson and J.T. Johnson.

A total of seven teams will begin Wednesday’s final round tied for sixth, shooting rounds of 5-under par 67.

During their first round Tuesday, Uloth and Doeden rolled in three birdies with a single bogey on the front nine before finding a groove and rolled in five birdies over the final nine holes to shoot 7-under par 65.

Starting on the 10th tee Tuesday, Hickey and Chesley began with a birdie on the opening hole before carding back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th to move to 3-under for the round before turning at 2-over following a bogey at the 17th.

The two played a flawless final nine holes, recording five birdies to finish the first round with a share of the lead at 65.

Tuesday’s first round saw a total of three aces as Jack Riester, Windsong Farm, holed out at the par-3 seventh from 194 yards using a 4-iron.

Adam Darula, Medina Golf and Country Club, knocked in his tee shot at the par-3 fourth from 120 yards with a pitching wedge, while the third ace came from Ben Tharp, Valleywood Golf Course, at the par-3 11th from 158 yards with a pitching wedge.

The final round of the 55th MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship gets underway Wednesay with tee times beginning at 7:40 a.m. at Edina Country Club.