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How They're Doing: Minnesotans on Pro Tour Money Lists -- April 22
April 22, 2024
ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – When Derek Hitchner won the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship in 2021 at Rush Creek Golf Club, he set a tournament record for the lowest 54-hole score at 201, breaking former University of Minnesota golfer James McLean’s tally of 203 at the 1998 championship at Rochester Golf and Country Club.
Hitchner also bettered Frankie Capan’s mark of 12-under in 2020 at Edina Country to set the record for the lowest score in relation to par at 15-under.
Finishing second to Hitchner that year was Caleb VanArragon, who carded a 14-under 202.
At the 120th playing of the championship this week at Minneapolis Golf Club, VanArragon opened with a 66 Monday before shooting the lowest round in tournament history Tuesday, a 10-under 62, to take a commanding eight-stroke lead over Gopher golfer Ben Warian and 2007 champion Bryce Hanstad to Wednesday’s final round.
“I don’t really know what to think at this point,” VanArragon said following his round Tuesday. “It’s the lowest round of my life—my previous low as a couple of 63s when I was a sophomore in high school, so it’s been a little while.
“The mindset going into tomorrow is to keep doing what I’ve been doing and focus on the shot that’s ahead of me. Don’t think, just play.”
VanArragon matched Hitchner’s mark of 15-under though just 33 holes this week, carding a pair of eagles and six birdies Tuesday to set a new course record by two strokes at Minneapolis Golf Club.
Recording an albatross at No. 1 during his opening round Monday, VanArragon instead rolled in his eagle putt at the first for a quick start Tuesday, moving to 8-under for the championship.
“I’ve had two rounds in my life that started off with eagles and they both went terribly after that, so I was honestly a little bit nervous,” VanArragon said. “It puts you into a weird headspace and there isn’t as much of a sense of urgency.”
The former Blaine High School standout would buck the trend Tuesday, however, carding a pair of birdies over his final six holes of the front nine to turn in 4-under for the round.
In control during his back nine, VanArragon played Nos. 12 through 15 in 5-under, including a 15-footer for eagle at the 15th to reach 15-under for the tournament.
Doubting his putter during the opening round Monday, VanArragon had little trouble converting his chances Tuesday, sinking one final birdie from six feet at the 17th before rolling in a 3-footer for par at the last for his record-breaking 10-under 62.
“It wasn’t a flawless round by any means, but I did a good job of managing the round mentally,” he said. “I wasn’t really paying attention to the score and lost track after a while.
“I definitely struck the ball well today. Yesterday I made three bogeys and today I made none, so that was the difference right there—eliminating mistakes.”
VanArragon won a pair of junior events before he claimed the 2021 Twin Cities Championship at Hastings Golf Club.
He earned his fourth state win when he teamed up with younger sister, Kathryn, to claim the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club last month.
A final-round 64 at Oak Ridge Country Club last week helped VanArragon to a nine-stroke victory at the Minnesota State Open for his biggest amateur win to date.
Warian played 34 holes of bogey-free golf to begin the championship before he gave back a stroke Tuesday at the par-4 eighth, on his way to a second-round 69 to earn a share of second with Hanstad.
“It was a solid round and scrambled really well, overall,” said Warian, who entered the week coming off a 13th-place finish at the Trans-Mississippi Amateur Championship in Texas on Sunday. “Didn’t hit it that great tee-to-green, but really scored it well.
“I’m trying to stay as relaxed as possible and emphasize the fun in the game out here. The last couple of weeks have been solid, and it’s been fun to mix it up with some of the bigger guys in amateur golf. A lot of good players in this field as well.”
Beginning his day one shot back, Warian carded a pair of birdies during his front nine to turn in 7-under before an eagle at the par-5 first gave him a boost to 9-under.
A bogey at the par-4 eighth put Warian in the clubhouse with a second-round 3-under 69.
Hanstad, who collected his second straight victory at the MGA Mid-Players’ Championship at Alexandria Golf Club last month, fired an opening-round 69 Monday, and started quickly with an eagle at the first to begin his second round Tuesday.
Playing his final five holes of the front nine in 2-under, Hanstad turned in 7-under for the championship, but took his second bogey of the day at the par-3 10th.
Back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th holes pushed Hanstad to 8-under before adding a sixth birdie to his scorecard at the par-5 15th with a spectacular sand save, rolling in a 3-footer to move to 9-under and into sole possession of second place.
Unable to save par at the 17th, Hanstad carded his third bogey of the second round to finish his day in a share of second at 8-under 136.
Gopher fifth-year senior Jacob Pedersen will begin his final round in fourth place at 7-under 137, nine shots off the lead.
April 15, 2024
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