Hogan Hangs on to Win 65th MPGA Senior Public Links at Como

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  ST. PAUL, Minn. – Following his opening round of 69 Saturday at Phalen Park Golf Course to take the early lead at the 65th Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Public Links Championship, Scott Hogan came back with a 1-over par 71 Sunday at Como Golf Course to edge Steve Whittaker by one shot.

Helped by two birdies during his final six holes Sunday, Hogan’s birdie chance on the final hole slid well past the cup, but he would sink his comebacker from five feet to earn his first amateur victory.

“This is unbelievable. It’s a first for me because I’ve never done anything like this before. It’s kind of unexpected—I haven’t been playing that well coming in and it just kind of clicked when I got here,” he said. “To win a state-type event is like, wow, I’ve got goosebumps.”

Hogan got off to a steady start Sunday as he rolled in six consecutive putts before taking bogey at the par-4 seventh to move to even par for the championship. Back-to-back bogeys at the ninth and 10th holes put Hogan at 2-over, but he would come back with a birdie at the par-3 13th, sticking his approach inside of five feet.

After his tee shot at the par-3 16th barely crept onto the front edge of the green, Hogan drilled his birdie putt from 40 feet to draw even for the championship. He would two-putt for par on the final two holes to claim the win.

“I putted well yesterday and didn’t get into trouble,” Hogan said Sunday. “I kept it in the fairways and on the greens. Today I just wanted to play like I did the day before; avoid trouble and hopefully get putts a little closer to the hole.

“I was disappointed with the bogeys, naturally, but after I made the birdie on 13, I figured I just needed to keep playing because you never know what’s going to happen. I wasn’t focused so much on the guys I was playing with; I just wanted to keep playing my own game.”

Whittaker carded an even par 70 during the opening round at Phalen Park Saturday and entered Sunday’s final round one shot off the lead, drawing even with Hogan after sinking his birdie chance at the par-4 third.

He ran into trouble late on the front nine with three bogeys in a five-hole span to turn at 2-over for the tournament. Whittaker would take a brief lead after back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th holes but a three-putt bogey at the 16th, along with a Hogan birdie, erased the lead as Whittaker would also par the final two holes to shoot 71 during the final round.

John Anderson, champion in 2009, carded a 1-over par 71 during the final round Sunday to finish in a tie for third place with Mark Sperling at 2-over par 142.



2016 MPGA SENIOR PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
COMO GOLF COURSE
ST. PAUL, MINN.
5,641 YARDS, PAR 70


FINAL RESULTS
1. Scott Hogan, 69-71—140
2. Steve Whittaker, 70-71—141
T3. John Anderson, 70-72—142
T3. Mark Sperling, 71-71—142
5. Bob Cavanaugh, 72-71—143
T6. J.T. Johnson, 74-70—144
T6. Rick Frieburg, 74-70—144
T8. Jerry Rislove, 75-70—145
T8. Pat Muellerleile, 73-72—145
T10. Leif Carlson, 73-73—146
T10. Stu Oftelie, 70-76—146


For complete tournament results go to: http://p.hostingprod.com/@mpga.net/2016_Sr_Pub_Results.pdf