Salonek and Gellert Winners at MN PGA Junior Players' Tournament of Champions

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  MAPLEWOOD, Minn. – Struggling with what she described as erratic play to begin the 2020 summer golf season, Olivia Salonek fit together all facets of her game this week at the 22^nd Minnesota PGA Junior Golf ‘Sota Series Players’ Tour Tournament of Champions at Keller Golf Course, shooting a 2-over 109 to claim her second win this year.
 
“I had a different mindset going into this tournament because my it hadn’t been working all season. This week I played shot-by-shot and it ended up working out for me,” Salonek said Tuesday. “My rounds haven’t been very consistent and this year I’ve kind of been all over the place.”
 
“I’m very happy—it’s been a really long time since I’ve won a tournament and I actually felt like I played well and deserved it. It was a good win.”
 
Playing her first 14 holes in even par to open the championship Monday, Salonek carded a pair of late bogeys to take a two-stroke opening-round lead over Saachi Deshmukh.
 
Salonek got off to a bumpy start Tuesday with back-to-back bogeys on the first two holes to fall to 4-over, but nearly aced the par-3 fourth when her tee shot bounced off the flagstick and stopped two feet away for an easy, tap-in birdie.
 
Salonek took a bogey at the par-4 fifth hole, but again was bailed out by her putter, sinking a 20-footer for birdie to get back to 3-over. Reaching the back of the par-4 ninth hole with her approach, Salonek drilled her birdie putt from 30 feet away to turn at even par for the round.
 
Severe weather forced players off the course for an extended period of time Tuesday before tournament and course officials shortened the championship to 27 holes, giving Salonek a two-stroke victory over Deshmukh at 2-over 109.
 
“My putter was a lot better than it has been all year, so I was really happy that I figured it out,” said Salonek. “I felt really confident in my putter and my game.”
 
Qualifying for this week’s championship with a victory in Faribault in mid-June by carding a final-round 77, Salonek has now collected 21 Minnesota Junior PGA championship titles dating back to 2013.
 
 
Gellert Starts and Finishes Strong to Claim Third Win of Season
Leo Gellert rolled in three consecutive birdies to start his round Monday and added an eagle to begin the back nine on his way to a 4-under 68 at Keller Golf Course to claim the 22^nd Minnesota Junior PGA Golf ‘Sota Series Players’ Tour Tournament of Champions.
 
Inclement weather shortened the championship to 18 holes Tuesday, as Gellert collects his first state championship with a two-stroke victory over Ryan Stendahl.
 
“I was striking the ball really well and I had some short birdie opportunities," Gellert said. "I made a good putt on 10 from off the green for eagle, struggled to hit greens a little bit later in the round, but the nice chip in on the last hole really helped my score.”

“I wish it would have gone another day but, I’ll take what I can get—I was grateful to come out with the win.”

Gellert improved on his third-place finish from a year ago where he led after the opening round and would card a 1-over 73 to finish one stroke back of both Carson Herron and Daniel Renner.
 
On Monday, Gellert came out firing by carding three consecutive birdies to open his round and quickly climb the leaderboard. He took a step back with a bogey at the fourth, but answered by rolling his birdie putt at the par-4 eighth to turn in 3-under.
 
Carrying momentum to his back nine Monday, Gellert reached the par-5 10^th in two and sank his eagle chance to jump to 5-under for the tournament. Giving back a stroke with a bogey at the 11^th, Gellert countered by dropping his birdie opportunity at the par-3 13^th.
 
Back-to-back bogeys at 13 and 14 dropped Gellert to 3-under for the championship, but he would rebound to finish strong with some late-round fireworks, chipping in for birdie to claim a two-stroke victory.
 
Stendahl claimed the Boys’ 13-15 Division at the 2020 Twin Cities Junior Championship at Victory Links Golf Course, posting a 10-under 61 to earn a four-stroke victory and days later carded an 8-over 152 to place eighth at the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship at The Quarry at Giants Ridge.
 
On Monday, Stendahl played his first seven holes in 2-under before taking bogey at the par-4 ninth. He began his inward nine with a birdie at the 10^th but dropped to even par with a pair of bogeys at the 13^th and 15^th holes. Finishing strong, Stendahl rolled both birdie chances at the 16^th and 18^th holes to finish second at 2-under 70.
 
Jordan Slagle, Justin Luan and Cole Nasby each fired rounds of 1-under 71 Monday to finish in a three-way tie for third.
 
 
 
THE 22^ND MN PGA JUNIOR GOLF ‘SOTA SERIES
PLAYERS’ TOUR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
KELLER GOLF CLUB
MAPLEWOOD, MINN.
6,675 YARDS, PAR 72 (BOYS)
5,716 YARDS, PAR 72 (GIRLS)
 
 
TUESDAY’S FINAL BOYS RESULTS
1. Leo Gellert, North Mankato, Minn., 32-36—68  
2. Ryan Stendahl, Maple Grove, Minn., 34-36—70
T3. Jordan Slagle, New Hope, Minn., 36-35—71
T3. Justin Luan, Woodbury, Minn., 36-35—71
T3. Cole Nasby, Edina, Minn., 34-37—71  
T6. Jack Wetzel, Edina, Minn., 35-37—72  
T6. Tyler Seeling, Breezy Point, Minn., 33-39—72
T6. Kyler Schwamb, Farmington, Minn., 36-36—72
T9. Erik Stoxen, East Gull Lake, Minn., 37-36—73
T9. William Karkoc, Maple Grove, Minn., 37-36—73
T9. Corey Boerner, Bloomington, Minn., 35-38—73
T9. Joshua Galvin, Maple Grove, Minn., 34-39—73  
 
 
TUESDAY’S FINAL GIRLS RESULTS
1. Oliva Salonek, Roseville, 74-35—109
2. Saachi Deshmukh, Plymouth, Minn., 76-38—114
3. Emily Renner, Victoria, Minn., 81-38—119
4. Sammy Youngquist, Eden Prairie, Minn., 84-39—123
5. Rose Baynes, Eden Prairie, Minn., 85-42—127
6. Emma Davies, Eden Prairie, Minn., 89-40—129
7. Katie Foley, East Gull Lake, Minn., 89-43—132
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr20/event/mnpgajr2015/contest/33/leaderboard.htm