A 66 Puts Herdine in Front at MPGA State Public Links

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  HASTINGS, Minn. – Carding five birdies over his first seven holes Saturday at Hastings Golf Club, Jake Herdine posted a 6-under 66 to take the first-round lead of the 100th Minnesota Public Golf Association State Public Links Championship.

Herdine will take a three-stroke lead over University of St. Thomas golfer Owen Rexing and three-time champion Trent Peterson.

Getting off to a fast start to begin the championship Saturday, Herdine rolled in three consecutive birdies to quickly move to 3-under before birdies at the fifth and seventh.

He would give back a stroke with a bogey at the eighth to turn in 4-under, but bounced back with his sixth birdie of the round at the par-5 10th.

Unable to save par at the par-3 15th, Herdine slipped back to 4-under, but would finish with birdies at the 16th and 18th to pace the field with his 6-under 66, looking for his first state victory.

Peterson, who fired a final-round 69 at last year’s championship at Pebble Creek Golf Club for his third win at the event, started slow Saturday, carding one bogey over his first nine holes to turn in 1-over.

The four-time Minnesota Golf Association Player of the Year tallied two birdies and a bogey over his first four holes of his inward nine before closing out the round with a string of three birdies over his last four holes to finish the opening day of competition tied for second at 3-under 69.

Peterson claimed his first State Public Links title on his home course at Valleywood Golf Course in 2006, and notched a second win in 2019 at The Jewel Golf Club.

Rexing turned in one of the day’s cleaner scorecards Saturday, playing his first 13 holes in 3-under before his only bogey of the round at the 14th.

The Tommie freshman answered by converting his birdie chance on the ensuing hole, going on to finish tied for second with Peterson at 3-under 69.

Brandon Sperling, a sophomore at Concordia University-St. Paul, carded a 2-under 70 Saturday, and he will begin the final round tied for fourth with 2018 champion Max Tylke.

The final round of the 100th MPGA State Public Links Championship is slated to begin at 8 a.m. at Hastings Golf Club.



THE 100TH MPGA STATE PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
HASTINGS GOLF CLUB
HASTINGS, MINN.
6,740 YARDS, PAR 72


SATURDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Jake Herdine, Fox Hollow GC, 32-34—66
T2. Trent Peterson, Fountain Valley GC, 37-32—69
T2. Owen Rexing, YOC Minnesota, 34-35—69
T4. Brandon Sperling, Willinger’s GC, 36-34—70
T4. Max Tylke, Legends Club, 35-35—70
6. Caleb VanArragon, Bunker Hills GC, 36-35—71
7. Ralph Baxley, Bunker Hills GC, 36-36—72
T8. Matt Armstrong, Braemar GC, 36-37—73
T8. J.T. Johnson, New Richmond GC, 38-35—73
T8. Eric Rislove, Prestwick GC, 40-33—73
T8. Connor Herman, Fox Hollow GC, 36-37—73
T8. Ryan Conn, Chaska TC, 36-37—73


For complete tournament results go to: www.golfgenius.com/pages/8727574655537273335