Navigating a Familiar Course, Oftelie Shoots Even Par to Lead Early at MGA Senior Amateur

September 18, 2017 | 3 min.


By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  WACONIA, Minn. – After carding a bogey on his first hole Monday, Stu Oftelie played his final 17 holes at 1-under par in wet and windy conditions to take the early lead at the 96th Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship at Island View Golf Club.

Oftelie, playing on his home course at Island View, rolled in one birdie and one bogey on each side Monday to shoot even par 72, taking a one-stroke advantage over five players when the tournament resumes Tuesday.

“Shooting 72 is pretty standard from those tees, but not today,” Oftelie said after his round Monday. “I wouldn’t like to play today in these conditions not knowing your way around. I was surprised as heck—I haven’t played in a golf tournament in about 30 years and haven’t played in the rain for 30 years.

“I was going out with no expectations, but I’m certainly not displeased with the way I played even though I missed a few birdie putts. I never got in trouble, which I don’t know many other people can say today.”

Struggling to reach the opening green Monday, Oftelie said he scraped in a bogey on for Oftelie before heavier rain began to fall.

“The easiest hole on the course and I was on in four and two-putted for a bogey,” he said. “Then it started to rain hard, so I figured I was on my way to an 80, but I just kept hitting greens. I just happened to hit greens, it wasn’t like there was any plan. I’m a member here so it’s not like I don’t know my way around the course." 

After carding consecutive pars, Oftelie found the bunker from the tee, but would land his approach 20 feet from the flag at the par-4 eighth hole and sank his birdie chance to draw even for the round.

Dropping a stroke after failing to save par at the par-3 11th, Oftelie chipped inside of two feet for an easy tap-in birdie and would finish the day with a 72 for the opening 18 holes.

“I made nothing but two-putt pars the whole day,” Oftelie said. “It was uneventful; I didn’t make a lot of putts and got lucky a few times." 

Oftelie will take a one stroke advantage to the second round over James Ryan, Bob Cavanaugh, two-time MGA Senior Amateur runner-up David Haslerud, fellow Island View member Gary Johnson and Robert Snyder, all of whom posted an opening-round 73.

Ryan, of Hazeltine National Golf Club, started his opening round on the 10th hole and carded a birdie at the 12th after sticking his approach inside of two feet before finishing his opening nine with three bogeys over his final five holes, turning at 2-over.

Finding more consistency despite challenging weather during his back nine, Ryan converted his birdie putt from five feet at the par-4 fifth and would card consecutive pars over the final four holes to shoot 73.

“I started off well and just had a couple hiccups with three-putts on the back getting used to the greens,” Ryan said Monday. “I was steady on the back—I figured get on the greens, two putt and get to the next hole.

Asked how weather affected his opening round Monday, Ryan replied, “It just made it hard—everything was soaking wet. Fortunately I had rain gloves on, but it was still tough. I just hope it doesn’t rain again tomorrow.”

The 96th MGA Senior Amateur Championship continues Tuesday with tee times scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at Island View Golf Club.

 

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