Boraas and Lehman Go Bogey-Free to Lead MGA Mixed Team

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  STILLWATER, Minn. – Tallying five birdies over their final nine holes Monday at Stillwater Country Club helped Hannah Boraas and Sean Lehman to a bogey-free round of 8-under 64 to take the first-round lead at the 34th Minnesota Golf Association Mixed Amateur Team Championship.

Boraas and Lehman will carry a two-stroke advantage to Wednesday’s final round over the team of Josh Esterley and Nicole Reineke, as well as the twosome of Celia and Will Kuenster.

“Today’s round was great. It was nice that Sean and I didn’t birdie the same holes,” Boraas said following the opening round Monday. “If one of us had a bad shot or hole, the other would make up for it.

“Sean is a long hitter and drove the green on 15—very impressive. For me, I just tried to stay consistent with hitting fairways and greens.”

Following a four-ball format during the opening round Monday, the championship’s format now shifts to a Modified Chapman for Tuesday’s final round.

“Alternate shot will be a little different. I think the most important thing for us is to make sure we hit fairways off the tee,” Boraas said.

A sophomore at Montana State University, Boraas rolled in two birdies to her teammate’s one during the opening nine Monday before Lehman began the inward nine with a pair of early birdies to help his team reach 5-under for the round.

After Boraas converted her birdie chance at the par-3 13th, Lehman reached the par-4 15th in with his tee shot and two-putted for birdie to put the twosome at 7-under.

Lehman, a junior at California Polytechnic State University, added one final birdie at the 18th to give him and Boraas a two-stroke cushion heading into Tuesday’s final round.

Coming off her victory at the MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship two weeks ago at Hastings Golf Club, University of St. Thomas golfers Reineke and partner Esterley combined for four birdies during their opening nine Monday to turn in 4-under for the day.

Reineke reached the par-5 10th in two and two-putted from 20 feet for birdie to push her team to 5-under.

Playing from the fourth fairway, Esterley hit a 6-iron from 210 yards to three feet at the 15th and rolled in his fourth birdie of the round to move him and Reineke to 7-under, but the two would card their only bogey of the day at the par-4 16th.

Reineke dropped her birdie chance at the 18th to put her and Esterley into a share of second with the Kuenster siblings at 6-under 66.

“I kind of sprayed the driver all day, but made some good recovery shots,” Esterley said Monday. “I made a lot of birdies, but I made a lot of bogeys. [Reineke] was really consistent all day, which really helped.”

“I hit a lot of fairways, but missed a few putts,” Reineke said.

Both Esterley and Reineke said they’re looking forward to the alternate shot format for Tuesday’s final round.

“I’m super excited because I’m going to be in the fairway all day,” he said. “The two things that are going to work well in that format—I’m hitting my irons and wedges great from the fairway. She’s going to be on some adventures if I’m hitting my driver like I was today.”

“I like being on adventures,” Reineke joked. “I feel like I’m hitting my irons pretty good, so having long irons in, I think I’ll be fine.”

The Kuensters carded a pair of birdies and one bogey during their opening nine Monday before rattling off five birdies over their final nine holes to earn a share of second with a round of 6-under 66.

Former Lakeville North High School golfers Chase Camilli and Emma Welch played their final nine holes in 5-under Monday, including an eagle at the par-5 18th to post a 5-under 67. They will begin Tuesday’s final round in fourth place, three shots back of the lead.

The 34th MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship continues Tuesday when the final round begins at 8 a.m. at Stillwater Country Club.