DuToit Brothers and Buege/Lowenstein Shoot Matching 63's to Lead State Four-Ball

CHASKA -- University of Minnesota teammates Colton Buege and Tyler Lowenstein were tied with Gopher recruit Jon DuToit and his brother Michael on Monday after both teams shot 9-under-par 63's at Chaska Town Course in the opening round of the Minnesota State Four-Ball Championship. 

Jon DuToit, who capped off his high school career at Chaska by winning the Class AAA portion of the state tournament, put together a 67 on his own ball, and he got some timely help from his brother. Michael birdied the drivable, 319-yard, par-4 16th and then eagled the 547-yard, par-5 18th. 

Lowenstein and Buege got off to a pretty dismal start. After saving par from behind the green at No. 10, their first hole, they bogeyed the daunting 11th and the 14th. But a birdie by Lowenstein at the 15th got them going in the right direction.

Buege birdied the 481-yard, par-4 17 and chipped in for eagle at the par-5 18th. Lowenstein took it from there, as he made five birdies and an eagle on the front nine.

Adam Arola and John Pavelko were third with a 64, and it was another three strokes back to the four teams that were tied for fourth with 67's. Included in that group was the team of former Four-Ball champ Jim Vennewitz (he and Charlie Casci won in 1992) and Erik Van Rooyen, the No. 1 player for the Gophers and the winner of this year's State Amateur.

It took a 3-under-par 69 to make the cut on Monday. The 16 teams that survived -- out of 49 that started -- get Tuesday off, while another wave of teams will play their first rounds.

The final round will be Wednesday.   

MINNESOTA GOLF ASSOCIATION

State Four-Ball Championship

At Chaska Town Course

Par 72, 6,817 yards

First-round results 

T1. Jon DuToit/Michael DuToit                63

T1. Colton Buege/Tyler Lowenstein       63

3. Adam Arola/John Pevelko                    64

T4. Scott Gustafson/Jordan Ryan            67

T4. Erik Van Rooyen/Jim Vennewitz       67

T4. Jack Barnhart/Jake Miller                   67

T4. Sean Larson/Tucker Williams            67

T8. Mike Baldwin/Phil Ebner                    68

T8. Steve Roorda/Michael Sage             68

T8. Brad Devak/Steven Saari                   68

T11. James Blake/Seve Gergen              69

T11. Paul Carlson/Chris Catron              69

T11. Dave Carothers/Eric Kolkind          69

T11. Michael Oberg/Freddy Thomas      69

T11. Richard Blooston/Tim Gonsior        69

T11. David Sorenson/Larry Valentini     69