A 68 Puts Dallas on Top of the Leaderboard at MGA Senior Amateur

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  EDINA, Minn. – Coming back from wrist surgery two seasons ago, Andrew Dallas said his goal this season was to make it through qualifying for the Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship.

Earning his spot in the field last month at Heritage Links Golf Course, Dallas then set his sights on making the cut this week at Edina Country Club.

Dallas carded a round of 75 to begin the championship Monday, and followed it by posting the low round of the tournament Tuesday, a 4-under 68, to take a two-stroke lead over three-time champion Leif Carlson to Wednesday’s final round.

“I haven’t played much in terms of tournament play—I didn’t have high expectations,” Dallas said after his round Tuesday. “My short game was solid and my putter was warm enough to make some putts. I also kept the ball below the hole most of the round, and kept it out of the rough and bunkers.

“I’m happy that I’ve kept the round together and minimized mistakes. Even though I’ve hit the ball in the rough, I’ve figured out where to lay it up and my short game has been really solid. That’s what has kept me in it.”

Beginning on the 10th tee Tuesday, Dallas carded a pair of early birdies before a bogey at the 13th put him at 1-over for the championship.

After making his birdie chance from 18 feet at the 15th, Dallas’ pitch from behind the 17th green hit the flagstick and dropped in the cup for birdie to reach even par.

The 64-year-old Dallas took a bogey at the first, but bounced back by rolling in a birdie chance from 12 feet at the third, and finished his day by dropping a 20-foot, right-to-left breaker to post the lowest round of the championship through 36 holes with his 4-under 68.

“Avoid bunkers, keep the ball below the hole and give myself uphill putts the best I can,” said Dallas, looking ahead to Wednesday’s final round. “It seems people are struggling on the greens with the speed. My speed has been pretty good so far.”

Dallas’ previous best finish at a state championship came in 2018 when he advanced to the Round of 16 at the MGA Players’ Championship at The Jewel Golf Club.

With his last state victory coming at the 2020 championship at Burl Oaks Golf Club, the 71-year-old Carlson put himself in position to claim his fourth MGA Senior Amateur Championship Tuesday, by carding a round of 73 during his second round to trail Dallas by one stroke with 18 holes left to play.

“The big thing the last two days has been not making many big mistakes,” the 2012 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year champion Carlson said Tuesday. “I hit 14 or 15 greens both days and putted fairly well with only a few three-putts. Hopefully, tomorrow I can play like the first two days and make fewer mistakes.”

Turning in 3-over to begin his second round Tuesday, Carlson two-putted for birdie at the 12th before converting his birdie chance from 15 feet at the 13th.

Following a bogey at the 14th, Carlson finished his round by sinking another birdie chance from 15 feet at the par-4 15th to pull within two shots of the lead with a second-round 73.

Carlson won his first MGA Senior Amateur in 2008 at Woodhill Country Club, and his second two years later at The Minikahda Club.

At Burl Oaks in 2020, Carlson earned a three-stroke victory over Steve Whittaker for the 12th state victory of his career.

Tim Holland opened the championship with a round of even par 72 Monday, and would go on to post a 2-over 74 during his second round Tuesday to finish the first 36 holes of play in third place at 2-over 146, while 2011 champion Whittaker begins the final round tied for fourth with Scott Fenwick and Matt Yeager.

In the Masters Division (65-74-years-old), Carlson finished three shots better than Whittaker at 1-over 145 to earn medalist honors.

Tom Smith, a past president of the MGA, posted a round of 8-over 80 during his opening round Monday, and followed it with a 9-over 81 during the final round Tuesday to claim medalist honors in the 75-and-over Grand Master Division.

The final round of the 103rd MGA Senior Amateur Championship is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Edina Country Club.