Johnson Wins Individual Title, and NDSU Wins the Team at Torrey Pines
March 27, 2024
DETROIT LAKES -- It appears that there will be no clear bragging rights for Ben Skogen, Peter Jones or Charlie Duensing in the resort where they are all staying this week during the Pine to Palm Golf Tournament.
The three college buddies tied for medalist honors during the two days of stroke-play qualifying with 36-hole totals of 134 (8 under par).
Skogen, who will be a senior at Wisconsin, had a two-stroke head start with Day 2 of qualifying began, thanks to an opening round of 65. But birdies weren't as easy to come by as they had been on the first day, and he had to settle for a 69. That enabled Jones, a sophomore-to-be at Minnesota to catch him with a second consecutive 67. His Gopher teammate Charlie Duensing, a soon-to-be junior, also got a piece of first place with a second-round 66.
Duensing was the runner-up at the 2015 Pine to Palm, losing to Alex Kline in the final.
Kline turned professional this spring at the conclusion of his senior season at Grand Canyon University. So there is no defending champion as the No. 1 seed, and that means that the top 64 players -- not 63 -- from the qualifying will advance to match play, beginning Thursday morning.
Skogen said he played pretty well on Wednesday. He had only one bogey, but he made only three birdies. Mostly, he two-putted for pars from 15 to 25 feet.
Bemidji State's Will Czeh (he'll be a sophomore for the 2016-17 season) shot 68 and ended up one stroke out of the tie for first place, at 135. He tied with Dan Johnson at that number.
Johnson is a 40-something who made news nationally last year when he dunked two holes in one in the same round. The North Dakota native did it in his old home state, at Maple River Country Club in Mapleton, N.D.
The odds on making two aces in a single round are believed to be 67 million to 1 against -- and that's for a PGA Tour-level golfer.
Pine to Palm Golf Tournament
At Detroit Country Club
Detroit Lakes
Qualifying results
T1. Ben Skogen, Onalaska 65-69--134
T1. Peter Jones, Owatonna 67-67--134
T1. Charlie Duensing, Sandy Utah 68-66--134
T4. Dan Johnson, Elk River 70-65--135
T4. Will Czeh, Roseau 67-68--135
6. Justin Doeden, Lakeville 67-69--136
T7. Jordan Hahn, Spring Grove, Ill. 68-70--138
T7. Beau Hanson, Frazee 71-67--138
T7. Riley Johnson, Fargo 69-69--138
T7. Brandon Sletmoen, Dilworth 71-67--138
T11. Chris Swenson, Fergus Falls 72-67--139
T11. Pat Deitz, Moorhead 72-67--139
T11. Bill Carlson, Fargo 69-70--139
T11. Matt Rachey, Waconia 69-79--139
T11. Connor Holland, West Fargo 71-68--139
March 15, 2024
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