Polk and Schmitz Shoot 60 to Lead MGA Four-Ball at Pebble Creek

  BECKER, Minn. – Jesse Polk and Sammy Schmitz carded a 12-under par 60 during their first round of the 53rd Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship Tuesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club to lead the field by three strokes.

On Monday 32 teams played their opening round with the top 15 teams, plus ties, moving on to Wednesday’s final round, while another 56 teams teed off Tuesday, with the top 21 teams, plus ties, advancing to Wednesday.

Polk, Hastings Country Club, and Schmitz, Valleywood Golf Course, carded five birdies on the first seven holes and would make the turn at 5-under par 31.

The two would roll in five more birdies on the back, along with an eagle at the par-5 16th hole to card at 12-under par 60, taking a three-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round.

Two duo of J.T. Johnson and Geoff Klein, both of Valleywood Golf Course, got off to a fast start with an eagle at the par-5 second hole before rattling off three consecutive birdies to quickly move to 5-under par.

Johnson and Klein would roll in birdies at the 11th and 15th holes before recording their second eagle of the round on the par-5 15th, and would finish the opening round in second place at 9-under par 63.

David Christensen and Brian Thompson, both from Elk River Golf Club, finished the opening round Tuesday tied for third with the Holmgren brothers at 8-under par 64, needing to overcome a four-shot deficit during the final round.

Christensen and Thompson eagled the second hole to quickly jump to 2-under, but gave away a shot on the following hole with a bogey.

The two would card four birdies over the next six holes to make the turn at 5-under par. Three more birdies over the final nine holes would put the pair in the clubhouse at 8-under 64.

Will and Jack Holmgren, Baker National Golf Club, turned in a flawless scorecard with six birdies over the first eight holes to make the turn at 6-under before making just two over the final nine to card an 8-under par 64.

Andy Jacobson and Aaron Barber, along with five other teams sit tied for fifth place at 65, five strokes behind the leaders.

The final round of the 53rd MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship is set to get underway Wednesday with tee times beginning at 8:20 a.m. at Pebble Creek Golf Club.


For complete tournament results go to: https://www.ghintpp.com/mngolf/TPPOnlineScoring/ResultsStroke.aspx?id=823