Constable Shoots 68 on Final Day to Win Minnesota Golf Champions

MNPGA

GOLDEN VALLEY, Minn. – Donald Constable began his week on a high note Monday by earning a spot in a U.S. Open Sectional. Sunday he ended his week on another high note as he shot a 5-under par 68 to win the 2014 Minnesota Golf Champions tournament at Golden Valley Golf and Country Club.

Constable began the day in a tie for second place with Jeff Sorenson at 1-under, but shot a 4-under par 33 on the opening nine holes Sunday to quickly take control of the tournament and eventually cruise to a 5-stroke victory.

“I hit the ball good today,” Constable said. “I didn’t make much for putts during the first two days but I made a few more today–to play good anywhere you need to putt well. I hit a lot of good iron shots so my ball striking was solid all day.”

Constable three-putted for bogey on the opening hole, but quickly put it behind him as he would make five birdies over the next seven holes to jump into the lead and make the turn at 4-under par 33 for the round.

Constable rolled in a 12-foot putt for birdie on the 12th hole to move to 6-under for the tournament before leaving an eagle putt about a foot short on the following hole, tapping in for birdie and moving to 7-under par.

After a bogey on the 14th dropped him back to 6-under, Constable again took control after pulling his tee shot into a gathering of trees along the right rough on 15. Looking as though he’d have to play a low punch to the green, Constable was able to get his ball up and over trees and put his approach on the front edge of the green where he would make par.

Constable would wrap up the tournament with four consecutive pars on the final four holes to capture his first Minnesota Golf Champions title.

“You never know what’s happening in front of you and I was chasing [DuToit] from the beginning. I figured I passed him around six or seven but you don’t want to lay off and play for par. I was hitting the ball good so I wanted to attack it,” Constable said.

With two strong showings in less than a week, Constable said he’s encouraged for what lies ahead.

“I’m excited for the year. Coming out of the fall and winter, the game isn’t always there right away and it takes a little bit, but I’ve been working hard at it and I feel like it’s going in the right direction,” he said.

Minnesota Gopher Jon DuToit began the day with a two-stroke lead, but that lead evaporated with bogeys at the second and sixth holes as DuToit made the turn at 2-over par 39.

With back-to-back birdies on the 11th and 12th it appeared as though DuToit was going to make a late charge at Constable, but after a bogey on the 14th his chances were all but over.

DuToit dropped to 1-over for the tournament with another bogey at the 16th and would finish the tournament tied for second with Clayton Rask at 218, earning Low-Amateur honors in the process.

“I’ve hit the ball really well the last couple of days and I putted pretty good yesterday, but my speed on the greens was pretty bad today,” DuToit said after his round. “I been searching and trying to find what I feel comfortable with on the golf course and I was able to do that the last couple of days and it gives me a lot of confidence moving forward.”

DuToit and the University of Minnesota men’s golf team head to North Carolina Thursday to compete in the NCAA Division I Regional golf tournament at Lonnie Poole Golf Club in Raleigh, N.C.

Four-time winner and two-time defending champion Clayton Rask carded a 1-under par 72 during Sunday’s final round to finish five strokes behind Constable. Rask played the front nine at 2-under with three birdies and a bogey and got to 3-under for the round with another birdie on the 10th.

Rask fell back to 1-under after back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, but responded with another birdie on the 13th. Rask’s chances for a fifth title were dashed after making bogey on the 15th as he would close out the tournament with three straight pars to finish at 1-under 218.

Justin Smith, University-Les Bolstad Golf Course, finished fourth at even par 219, while Scott Gustafson, Hazeltine National Golf Club, and Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, finished tied for fifth at 220.


For complete tournament results go to: http://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga14/event/mnpga147/contest/4/leaderboard.htm