Kjettrup Earns Promotion with Third Win of the Season at CRMC Championship

• 2024 CRMC Championship Round 4
• 2024 CRMC Championship Round 3
• 2024 CRMC Championship Round 1
• 2024 CRMC Championship Round 2

View full size image

View full size image

View full size image

View full size image

  BRAINERD, Minn. – For a third time this season, Denmark’s Frederik Kjettrup entered the final round with the lead, and for the third time this season, Kjettrup finished on top of the leaderboard.

The PGA Tour America rookie buried his eagle putt from inside of 25 feet on the 72nd hole Sunday at Cragun’s Legacy Course to earn a two-stroke victory at the 2024 CRMC Championship presented by Gertens, earning Kjettrup an automatic promotion to the Korn Ferry Tour for the remainder of the 2024 season, and the entire 2025 season.

With his victory this week, Kjettrup looks to follow in the footsteps of inaugural CRMC Championship winner Jake Knapp, who won his first PGA Tour event earlier this season in Mexico.

“I saw him on the picture when I walked in the clubhouse the first day, so figured good company if you can win this tournament,” Kjettrup said after his win Sunday. “It's nice to see a guy like him like playing out here on the Americas, like you are in the same footsteps that he was two years ago. Seeing that you can progress so quickly if you play good golf, that's good to see.”

Winning his third event of the season Sunday, Kjettrup becomes the first player to earn the three-win promotion on any international tour since the rule went into effect in 2020.

Entering the final round with a four-stroke lead, Kjettrup carded a lone birdie during his opening nine to turn in 21-under for the championship.

Taking advantage of the par-5 16th for the fourth time this week, Kjettrup kept pace with American Bryce Lewis, who nearly tied a course record with his 9-under 61 during the final round Sunday.

Needing a birdie on the final hole to win, Kjettrup hit his second at the par-5 18th to just over 20 feet, rolling in his eagle putt to clinch his third victory of the season.

“Obviously a lot of nerves, especially knowing I needed a birdie to win, so a lot of nerves,” Kjettrup said. “Definitely felt the heartbeat go up a little bit and some nerves kick in, but tried to control it as good as I can and obviously hit a nice shot in here.”

Making his PGA Tour Americas debut at The Beachlands Victoria Open presented by Times Colonist, Kjettrup earned Beach lands a one-stroke victory for his victory, and followed it by winning the ATB Classic a week later.

The 24-year-old former Florida State University golfer entered the week No. 3 in the Fortinet Cup standings and moved up one spot behind John Keefer with his victory Sunday.

The top-10 players in the final standings earn Korn Ferry status for the 2025 season.

Lewis, who entered the final round facing a seven-stroke deficit, quickly made up ground Sunday with three birdies and an eagle during his front nine to turn in 18-over for the tournament.

Stringing together four birdies over a five-hole stretch late in his round, Lewis briefly held the outright lead at 22-under.

Trouble off the tee would lead to a par on the final hole, giving Lewis a final-round 61 to help the 24-year-old secure his second top-5 finish of the season.

University of New Mexico senior and 2024 Minnesota State Open winner, Carson Herron, fired a final-round 68 Sunday, claiming a 12th-place finish at 11-under 269 to lead all local players this week as the former Minnetonka High School standout made his debut at a PGA Tour sanctioned event.

“Really good week—thankful for the opportunity to play, really grateful for that and being able to put myself out there and make the cut,” Herron said following his round Sunday. “I didn’t have a great putting display this week, I was frustrated a lot, but I have to remember that I came here to have fun, especially after I made the cut.

“I’m playing really good golf, being patient with myself. I’ll hopefully sniff a couple wins and continue to put myself up there and continue to learn whatever the future has in store.”

Herron returns home next week to compete in the Lobos’ first event at the Gopher Invitational at Windsong Farm.

Caleb VanArragon, last season’s Minnesota State Open and Minnesota Golf Association Amateur champion, fired his only round over par for the week Sunday, a 1-over 71 to finish tied for 19th at 9-under 271 for the best finish of his career at a PGA Tour sanctioned championship.

“Definitely more than I was expecting out of the tournament,” VanArragon said Sunday. “Bummed with the round today, but to be in this position, if you would’ve given me 9-under for four rounds at the start of the week, I would’ve definitely taken it. A great experience—the first time I’ve played a weekend at PGA Tour event.

“Tough round today. I felt like I hit the ball as well as I did yesterday, maybe even a little better with my irons, but I had a couple of bad three-putts and didn’t have distance control with my putter all day."

Former University of Minnesota golfer Ben Warian, the second amateur in the field this week along with Herron, bounced back from a 3-over 73 Saturday by carding a final-round 68 to finish tied for 42nd at 4-under 276.

The 2024 PGA Tour Americas season concludes next week at the Fortinet Cup Championship at TPC Toronto in Caledon, Ontario.



THE 2024 CRMC CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY GERTENS
CRAGUN’S LEGACY COURSE
BRAINERD, MINN.
7,001 YARDS, PAR 70


SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Frederik Kjettrup, Denmark, 62-63-65-66—256
2. Bryce Lewis, United States, 67-66-64-61—258
3. Neal Shipley, United States, 63-67-64-68—262
T4. Thomas Ponder, United States, 70-63-68-63—264
T4. John Keefer, United States, 66-67-67-64—264
T6. Conner Godsey, United States, 65-68-66-66—265
T6. Chase Sienkiewicz, United States, 63-70-66-66—265
T6. Petr Hruby, Czechia, 68-66-63-68—265
T9. Rodolfo Cazaubon, Mexico, 66-69-64-67—266
T9. Joey Vrzich, United States, 67-63-65-71—266

T12. CARSON HERRON, DEEPHAVEN, MINN., 66-67-68-68—269
T19. CALEB VANRRAGON, BLAINE, MINN., 67-67-66-71—271
T42. BEN WARIAN, STILLWATER, MINN., 66-69-73-68—276 
MC. JACK HIEMENZ, BLAINE, MINN., 67-73—140
MC. HENRY MAY, EDINA, MINN., 72-69—141
MC. DEREK HITCHNER, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., 69-72—141
MC. THOMAS LONGBELLA, UNIV. OF MINN., 76-69—145
MC. THOMAS LEHMAN, SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ., 75-70—145
MC. BEN SIGEL, DEEPHAVEN, MINN., 78-71—149


For complete tournament results go to: www.pgatour.com/americas/leaderboard