Buntenbach and Eldred Winners at Minnesota PGA Match Play

View full size image

  DELLWOOD, Minn. – Carding three birdies during his final nine holes Tuesday at Dellwood Country Club helped professional Wes Buntenbach stage a late comeback to edge Derek Holmes, 2 and 1, to win the 2024 Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship.

Buntenbach closes out the season with eight consecutive top-5 finishes and three victories during his rookie campaign in the Minnesota section.

“Counting the [Minnesota Golf Champions], I had three second-place finishes in a row—tired of finishing second I guess, so it was nice to get the win today,” Buntenbach joked following his win Tuesday. “The final match was close the whole time and neither of us made a lot of putts today. I made them when it counted and never let the match get away from me.”

Falling behind Holmes early during the final match, Buntenbach tied the match by winning the fifth hole and once again tied the match to draw even with Holmes through nine holes.

The two traded wins at the 11th and 12th holes before Buntenbach took advantage of a Holmes miscue at the par-3 16th to recapture the lead.

On in two at the par-5 17th, Buntenbach two-putted for birdie to close out the match, 2 and 1, to claim his third win of the season.

“I had a strong start to the year and then had a strong finish to the season,” Buntenbach said. “I played the least amount of golf in my life going into a full-time job teaching at [Medina Golf and Country Club], but I still have plenty of playing opportunities.

“Having freedom to play and practice—I play with a lot of members, and I have a good work-life balance with golf. Before, it was all about playing and really a grind—almost too much. Having a little stability makes it a little easier to play.”

The 27-year-old Buntenbach opened the championship with a victory over Johnny Schwaller before dispatching Dominic Scopone during the second round, 3 and 2.

Facing off against fourth-seeded Derek Stendahl in the third round, Buntenbach defeated the 2022 Minnesota Senior Open champion, 2 and 1, and would then get past two-time match play champion Eddie Wynne, 3 and 2, to reach the semifinals.

Early Tuesday, Buntenbach downed seven-time champion and Minnesota Golf Hall of Famer Don Berry, 3 and 2, to advance to the championship match.

Buntenbach posted a 5-under 139 Saturday at Edina Country Club to finish second to Jake Wherley at the Minnesota Golf Champions for his 11th top-5 finish of the season.

He claimed his first victory at the second Luther Pro Series Assistants' Event in June before defeating Trey Fessler at the Minnesota PGA Assistants' Match Play Championship.

Holmes finishes the season with four top-10 finishes, while finishing runner-up for the second time since falling to Eric Rolland at the 2018 championship at Windsong Farm.

Eldred Birdies Her Way to Minnesota Match Play Title
Coming off a runner-up finish at the Minnesota PGA Assistants’ Championship last month at Medina Golf and Country Club, former Ferris State University golfer Alayna Eldred cruised during the final match against Ally Rogers to claim the fourth Minnesota PGA Women’s Match Play Championship.

Eldred tallied four birdies during her front nine to build a 3-up lead through nine holes before carding another three birdies during the final nine to claim her first tournament win since her junior year of college.

“This win means so much to me,” Eldred said Tuesday. “I’ve been itching to get a win in the section and to get it done today means a lot. I’m proudly going to bring [this trophy] back to my club when I go in to work tomorrow and show it off.

“I feel like my game is peaking at the right time and I’m really excited to go to Florida in a couple of weeks. I’m feeling really good about my game at this point in the season, so hopefully I can have a good showing down there.”

Rogers took the early lead during the final match my sinking her birdie chance from inside of 25 feet at the third. But Eldred came charging back with three consecutive birdies, including a putt from 30 feet at the fourth, to win four consecutive holes to quickly build a 3-up lead after seven holes.

Eldred extended her lead by sinking a massive birdie chance at the par-3 12th hole before converting a short birdie chance at the 13th to go up by five over Rogers.

Rogers countered by winning the 14th, but Eldred closed out the match with one final birdie putt from inside of six feet at the 14th to win her first event as a professional, 5 and 3.

“I had a few slip-ups earlier in the day and didn’t quite play how I wanted to,” Eldred said. “Coming into the back nine when I was 3-up, I felt like I was playing well and had a good shot at it. [Rogers] was playing really well all day, and I knew she could throw some birdies at me, especially because she was chipping so well, she had a chance to make every chip she had.

“This afternoon was probably the best golf I’ve played all summer long, so I’m really happy with how I played in the final match.”

A native of Osakis, Minn., Eldred’s only other state victory came in 2014 at the Resorters Tournament at Alexandria Golf Club.

Turning professional in June, Rogers was the highest-seeded player entering the week before rattling off three straight wins to reach the championship match.

Playing her first professional event at the Minnesota Women’s State Open at Edinburgh USA in August, Rogers placed tied for 58th at the weather-shortened event.

“Overall, I’m happy with how I played,” Rogers said Tuesday. “Obviously a little bummed, but Alayna was tough to beat. She made tons of birdies, so what do you do? Have to make more birdies.

“I’m proud of how this year finished. I had a tough time at the State Open, but happy with how I played here and showing that I can hang around.



THE 2024 MINNESOTA PGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
DELLWOOD COUNTRY CLUB
DELLWOOD, MINN.
6,887 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY’S MEN’S FINAL RESULTS
Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, def. Derek Holmes, Yamaha G&U, 2 and 1

TUESDAY’S WOMEN’S FINAL RESULTS
Alayna Eldred, Alexandria GC, def. Ally Rogers, Victory Links GC, 5 and 3

TUESDAY’S MEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, def. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 3 and 2
Derek Holmes, Yamaha G&U, def. Bennett Smed, White Bear YC, 5 and 4

TUESDAY’S WOMEN’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Alayna Eldred, Alexandria GC, def. Kathy Swanson, Elk River GC, 6 and 5
Ally Rogers, Victory Links GC, def. Haley Tollette, Rum River Hills GC, 4 and 2


For complete tournament results go to:   https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga24/event/mnpga2454/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
                                                                 https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga24/event/mnpga2464/contest/5/leaderboard.htm