Helminen Stays on Top; Rask Contends Carding a 66

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. -- A day after temperatures dipped into the 30s, players at the 2013 Minnesota Golf Champions Tournament had a bigger challenge to face Saturday--cool temperatures and howling winds.

The temperature climbed into the 50s on Saturday at the Minneapolis Golf Club but with strong wind gusts it felt much cooler but it still didn't stop some players from posting red numbers.

Ryan Helminen, Menasha,Wisc., turned in a second round 2-under-par 70 to remain on top of the leaderboard with a 3-stroke lead at 7-under-par.

"I felt I played pretty solid today; I kept the ball in play and tried to keep the ball below the hole, Helminen said. " I'm hitting the ball well and I've made only one bogey during the first two rounds so if I can keep it simple and have another solid round tomorrow, I should be in good position."

Helminen for the second straight day birdied the first hole and went on to par the next eight holes on the front nine. His first bogey of the weekend came on the 230-yard par-3 tenth hole. Helminen would battle back with an eagle on the par-5 twelfth hole.

The player turning the most heads on Saturday was defending champion Clayton Rask who, despite the brutal conditions, fired a 6-under-par 66 to the amazement of players and tournament officials.

"My putter was really working today and I was able to hit the green and give myself chances. It helped that I hit a lot of greens.

Rask got off to a very quick start with birdies on the first, third and fourth holes and added another birdie on the eighth to go 4-under-par on the front nine. Rask kept his foot on the pedal as he had back-to-back-to-back birdies on eleven, twelve and thirteen.

Staring down a 65, Rask would give back a shot and bogey the final hole for 66, turning in the best round of the day by four strokes.

Asked about how the weather affected his game Rask just smiled, "the wind was kind of fun, you get to use your imagination."

Rask, Elk River, Minn., catipulted himself into a tie for second place with Tom Hoge at 4-under par.

Hoge, Fargo, N.D., quietly put together two consistent rounds of 2-under-par 70 and found himself in a tie for second at 4-under-par.

"I had a few nice drives today; I drove [fourteen] and shortened a couple of par-5s which helped," Hoge said.

Only three strokes behind the leader, Hoge still likes his chances to stay in contention for Sunday's final round. "You've got to keep the ball in the fairway on this course. If I can do that then it should put me in a good position to make some aggressive shots.

Despite the blustery conditions, Hoge was another player who seemed to shrug off the wind. "I kind of like the wind being from North Dakota and playing in Texas"

Former University of Minnesota golfer Justin Smith finished Saturday's round even par and stands alone in fourth place at 3-under-par for the tournament. "I had a few birdies early but didn't finish as strong as I would've liked to."

Smith was 1-under-par on the front nine and managed to get to 2-under-par through twelve holes but saw his red number evaporate with bogeys on two of the final four holes.

Much like many of his counterparts, Smith hasn't played much golf due to the lingering winter weather. "Overall I'm pretty happy with where I'm at. This is my first tournament in about seven months."

Sammy Schmitz, Farmington, Minn., shot a 1-over-par 73 and sits five strokes behind the leader and knows he's got some work to do Sunday.

"I'll have to go pretty low Sunday to have a chance but I've been chipping and putting well so far but I need to improve my ball striking. It's still early; I've only played four rounds so far this year," he said. "My plan tomorrow is to hit some aggressive shots close and make some putts."

In the Past Masters division, amateurs Rick Ehrmanntraut and Mike Fermoyle of Southview Country Club share the lead at 6-over-par 78.

The final round gets underway Sunday starting at 9:30 a.m.

For a complete list of results go to www.minnesotapga.com.