Bull, Conzemius and Johnson Share Lead After Day One at MGA Mid-Amateur Championship

• 2017 MGA Mid-Amateur Sept. 13
• 2017 MGA Mid-Amateur Sept. 11
• 2017 MGA Mid-Amateur Sept. 12

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  WEST ST. PAUL, Minn. – Posting rounds of 2-under par 69 Monday, Joe Conzemius, Jesse Bull and Joel B. Johnson earned an early share of the lead when the 30th Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship got underway at both Dakota Pines Golf Club and Southview Country Club.

Conzemius claimed the 2017 Minnesota Public Golf Association Public Links Championship at the familiar confines of Dakota Pines last month and used his home course to his advantage again Monday.

“Dakota Pines is obviously a course I’m very familiar with and comfortable at,” said the Hastings, Minn., native Monday. “Moving to [Southview Country Club] will be a challenge, but as long as I can continue to keep the ball in play and make a couple of putts, I should be in good shape."

Unable to convert his birdie look on the opening hole, Conzemius bounced back with a pair of up-and-downs for birdie at the second and third holes to get to 2-under for the round. Conzemius would turn at even par following bogeys at the fourth and seventh holes, but answered by reaching the par-5 10th green in two and two-putted for birdie.

Sneaking in his birdie putt from 10 feet at the 11th, Conzemius got back to 2-under before sinking his birdie from eight feet at the 16th. A bogey on the final hole put Conzemius into a share of the clubhouse lead through 18 holes with a 2-under par 69.

Carding a 3-under par 69 during the final round of the MPGA Public Links Championship in August gave Conzemius a one-stroke victory over Justin Burleson, his first amateur victory since his high school days at Hastings High School.

“I missed a short birdie on one, so it was nice to bounce back with a birdie on two,” Conzemius said Monday. “I made a sloppy bogey on 18 to close out the round, but overall I am really pleased with the way I played and am happy to have a chance with two rounds to go.”

Bull, the 2014 MGA Amateur champion, carded one lone bogey on his opening nine at Dakota Pines Monday, turning at 1-over before sinking three birdie looks over his final nine to finish in a three-way tie for the lead.

“I had 15 greens in regulation, and had a lot of looks at birdie,” Bull said after his round Monday. “The greens were rolling very true—it was good to see the old Hastings Country Club back in very nice shape.

“I stayed out of trouble all day and made two really good up-and-downs for par.”

While the victory in 2014 on his home course of Golden Valley Golf and Country Club remains his biggest to date, Bull teamed up with Andrew McCain to claim the 55th MGA Amateur-Four Ball Championship in 2016. He's notched 14 top-10 finishes since 2013.

Looking for his first victory since 2010, Johnson had one of the most colorful scorecards to open the championship Monday. Johnson carded two birdies on his front nine that were nullified by two bogeys before holing out for eagle at the par-4 eighth to turn at 2-under for the tournament.

Johnson wrote a second eagle on the scorecard at the par-5 10th before sinking his birdie look at the 11th to pull away from the field at 5-under par. But three bogeys over the final seven holes dropped Johnson back into a share of the lead with Conzemius and Bull at 2-under par 69.

He claimed both the MPGA Mid-Public Links Championship and Combination Championships in 2010. Since then, Johnson has racked up 21 top-10 victories at state championships, including four runner-up finishes. 

Andy Jacobson and Robert Newbold each fired rounds of 1-under par 71 Monday and will begin Tuesday’s second round in a tie for fourth.

The field of 182 players will play both Dakota Pines and Southview during the first two rounds before the top-60 players, plus ties, will advance to the final round Wednesday at Southview.

The 30th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship continues Tuesday with second-round tee times beginning at 8 a.m. at Dakota Pines Golf Club and Southview Country Club.