Jones' Putter Puts Him in Front Early at MN PGA Professional Championship

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   BYRON, Minn. – Helped by three birdies during his final nine holes Monday, Dale Jones carded a 5-under 67 at Somerby Golf Club to take an early lead following the opening round of the 90^th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship.
 
Jones will begin Tuesday’s final round two shots clear of two-time champion Brent Snyder, Eric Rolland and former University of Minnesota golfer Alex Gaugert as he looks to build on a top-25 finish a year ago. Monday, Jones put himself in position to collect his first win since last year’s Minnesota PGA Senior Match Play Championship.
 
“I’m very happy—hit the ball solid, hit it on the green and made some putts,” Jones said Monday. “I had five three-putts yesterday, but they went in today, I guess. The hole got in the way of the ball today, and hopefully, that will happen again tomorrow.”  
 
Jones’ best finish at the event came at the rain-shortened 2015 championship at North Oaks Golf Club where he fired a 3-under 68 to finish tied for second with Brent Snyder, one shot back of Don Berry. Since 2007, Jones has collected four top-10 finishes at the championship.
 
On Monday, Jones played his first four holes in even par before rattling off three consecutive birdies to leap up the leaderboard. A bogey at the par-3 eighth hole put the 57-year-old Jones into his inward nine in 2-under par.
 
A quick pair of birdies at the 10^th and 11^th holes put Jones to 4-under for the championship and he would add one final birdie at the par-4 13^th hole to post a 66 on the first day of competition to take a two-shot advantage to the final round.
 
Thanks to a pair of birdies and an eagle during his opening nine Monday, Rolland quickly rose to the top of the leaderboard and would take the lead following a birdie at the 11^th to reach 5-under for the championship. A bumpy final six holes, which included two bogeys and a double-bogey, saw Rolland slip to 2-under before he rebounded with a birdie at the last to card a 3-under 69.
 
Looking for his first victory at the event since his win in 2017 at The Pines at Grand View Lodge, Snyder rolled in four birdies and a bogey for a mostly stress-free opening round of 69 Monday. Snyder claimed his first championship in 2013 with a two-stroke victory at Bobby’s Legacy at Cragun’s Resort.
 
The final round of the 90^th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship is slated to begin at 8 a.m. at Somerby Golf Club.
 
 
 
THE 90^TH MN PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
SOMERBY GOLF CLUB
BYRON, MINN.
7,030 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Dale Jones, Mendakota CC, 34-33—67
T2. Eric Rolland, Augsburg College, 32-37—69
T2. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne, 35-34—69
T2. Alex Gaugert, unattached, 32-37—69  
T5. Derek Holmes, PXG Minneapolis, 35-36—71  
T5. Jonathan Reigstad, Keller GC, 35-36—71
T7. Greg Jamieson, University GC, 35-37—72   
T7. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 35-37—72
T7. Chad Weise, Minnesota Nat’l GC, 34-38—72
T7. Chris Kroetsch, Fargo CC, 35-37—72  
T7. Tom Nelson, Indian Hills GC, 36-36—72
T7. Scott Cole, RTG Golf, 35-37—72
T7. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 36-36—72
T7. Mike Barge, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 36-36—72
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2033/contest/5/leaderboard.htm