Kringen and Windhorst-Knudsen Winners at MN Jr. PGA Tournament of Champions

LAKE ELMO, Minn. - Carding three birdies during his final nine holes Tuesday before surviving a two-way playoff at Royal Golf Club, Dylan Kringen earned a one-stroke victory over Michael Johnson to win the 26th Minnesota Junior PGA Players Tour Tournament of Champions.

Thanks to a win earlier in the season combined with his victory Tuesday, Kringen earned 2024 Minnesota Junior PGA Player of the Year honors.

After heavy rain washed out the opening round Monday, the championship was shortened to 18 holes Tuesday, where Kringen began his day at 3-over through his first seven holes.

He quickly answered with back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes to limit the damage before drawing even with his birdie at the 10th.

Birdies at the 14th and 17th put Kringen at 2-under for the championship, but he would bogey his final hole to finish in a share of the lead with Johnson at 1-under 71.

Defeating Johnson on the first playoff hole, Kringen earned the first state victory of his career.

Following a top-15 finish at the Class AAA championship at Bunker Hills Golf Club in June, Kringen placed in a tie for fourth at the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship at North Oaks Golf Club in early July.

Johnson, who will begin his collegiate career at Minnesota State University, Mankato this fall, got off to a solid start Tuesday with a pair of birdies during his opening nine to turn in 2-under for the championship.

He carried momentum to his back nine by converting a birdie chance at the 11th, but dropped two shots with bogeys at the 12th and 13th holes to fall back to 1-under for the tournament.

Johnson rebounded with a birdie at the 15th, but it was nullified by a bogey at the 16th, and he would go on to post a 1-under 71 before falling in the playoff.

Carding an even par 72 Tuesday, Charlie Willette finished in a tie for third along with Cade Callan and North Dakota's Silas Dusenbury.

Windhorst-Knudsen Cruises to Girls' Title
With birdies on the first three holes of her round Tuesday, Jordan Windhorst-Knudsen carded 15 straight pars to cruise to a five-stroke victory over 2024 Class AAA individual champion Carmen Jirele, shooting 3-under 69.

Windhorst collects her third win of the season Tuesday after claiming the Class AA individual title at Ridges at Sand Creek in June before winning the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship at Detroit Country Club a week later.

Jirele got off to a rocky start Tuesday with a bogey at the par-4 fifth before taking double-bogey at the par-3 seventh to drop to 3-over for the day.

She quickly rebounded by converting her birdie opportunity at the eighth hole to turn in 2-over.

Finding her stride during her final nine holes, Jirele carded one birdie against one bogey to card a 2-over 74.

With a pair of Minnesota Junior PGA victories and a trio of runner-up finishes, Jirele also finished runner-up at the Minnesota Junior PGA Championship to help her earn 2024 Minnesota Junior PGA Player of the Year honors.

Lauren Chambs bounced back from a 3-over 39 during her front nine Tuesday by shooting a 1-over 37 over her final nine holes to finish alone in third place at 4-over 76.



THE 26TH MINNESOTA JR. PGA PLAYERS TOUR TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS
ROYAL GOLF CLUB
LAKE ELMO, MINN.
6,684 YARDS, PAR 72 (BOYS)
5,745 YARDS, PAR 72 (GIRLS)


TUESDAY'S FINAL BOYS' RESULTS
1. Dylan Kringen, Long Lake, Minn., 37-34—71 (won playoff)
2. Michael Johnson, Eagan, Minn., 34-37—71
T3. Charlie Willette, Eden Prairie, Minn., 38-34—72
T3. Silas Dusenbury, Grand Forks, N.D., 36-36—72
T3. Cade Callan, Minnetrista, Minn., 37-35—72
T6. Justin Orn, Inver Grove Heights, 35-38—73
T6. Alexander Lee, Shorewood, Minn., 36-37—73
T6. Chase Birdwell, Blaine, Minn., 37-36—73
T6. Braylon Ylkanen, Arden Hills, Minn., 37-36—73
T6. Nolan Jensen, Wayzata, Minn., 36-37—73
T6. David Fong III, Bloomington, Minn., 37-36—73


TUESDAY'S FINAL GIRLS' RESULTS
1. Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen, Lake City, Minn., 33-36—69
2. Carmen Jirele, Owatonna, Minn., 38-36—74
3. Lauren Chambs, Plymouth, Minn., 39-37—76
T4. Annika Hendrickson, Maple Grove, Minn., 42-39—81
T4. Payton Anderson, Maple Grove, Minn., 40-41—81
6. Briana Simek, Mendota Heights, Minn., 38-44—82
T7. Mila Jenniges, Redwood Falls, Minn., 43-40—83
T7. Sophie Karsnia, Baxter, Minn., 41-42—83
T9. Grace Raich, Blaine, Minn., 45-39—84
T9. Elizabeth Fong, Bloomington, Minn., 41-43—84
T9. Addison Wood, Eagan, Minn., 42-42—84


For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr24/event/mnpgajr2451/contest/5/leaderboard.htm