Herron and Kuznik Winners at Minnesota PGA Junior 'Sota Series Match Play Championship

July 22, 2020 | 2 min.

 
  BRAINERD, Minn. – Bouncing back from a disappointing 15th-place finish at the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship a week ago at Edina Country Club, Carson Herron went 6-for-6 at the Minnesota PGA Junior ‘Sota Series Match Play Championship, defeating Ryan Stendahl in the championship match, 2-up, Wednesday at Dutch Legacy at Cragun’s Resort.
 
Herron, who will begin his senior season at Minnetonka High School this fall, defeated Jonathon Essen to open the championship Monday before downing Jack Wellen during the Round of 32. Getting past Carter Korkowski, 4 and 3, during Tuesday’s quarterfinal round, Herron went on to beat Nicholas Lechtenberg, 6 and 4, to reach the semifinal round Wednesday.
 
Facing off against Leo Gellert, Herron took a 3-up lead after nine holes and cruised to a 5 and 4 victory to reach Stendahl in the final match Wednesday afternoon.
 
During the championship match, Herron would bogey the opening hole but came charging back with a pair of birdies over his next four holes, adding three more over the next 10 holes to take a 3-up lead to the 16th. Stendahl pulled within one after back-to-back bogeys by Herron at 16 and 17, but Herron would close out the match with a par at the last for the win, 2-up.
 
Stendahl, a winner at the Twin Cities Junior Championship last month, defeated Tommy Marker and Parker Glas during the first day of competition before getting the better of Erik Stoxen and Walter Ylitalo on Day Two to reach the semifinals where he defeated Sam Baker, 2-up, to face Herron in the finals.
 
KUZNIK SURVIVES LATE SCARE TO WIN GIRLS’ MATCH PLAY TITLE
Building a sizable 6-up lead after nine holes Wednesday, Camille Kuznik pulled away from Shelby Busker late in the championship match to win the Minnesota PGA Junior ‘Sota Series Match Play Championship at Dutch Legacy at Cragun’s Resort.
 
Kuznik, a soon-to-be senior at Orono High School, dropped four consecutive holes to Busker during the back nine to watch her lead trimmed to two before she carded a birdie at the par-5 16th hole to clinch the match, 3-up.
 
Cruising to a 6 and 5 victory over Nicki Son during the opening round Tuesday, Kuznik downed Emily Renner, 4 and 3, to reach the semifinal round. Facing Madi Hicks early Wednesday, Kuznik carried a slim lead to the 16th hole before ending the match at the 17th with a 2-up victory.
 
Busker, a recent graduate of Detroit Lakes High School, knocked out Ciara O’Connor and Olivia Salonek on the first day of competition before cruising to her semifinal win over Maddie Simon, 5 and 4, to reach the championship against Kuznik.
 

For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr20/event/mnpgajr2017/contest/49/leaderboard.htm

 

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