A First-Round 66 Puts Professional Leach on Top Leaderboard at 108th Minnesota State Open

  ROCHESTER, Minn. – A birdie on his final hole Tuesday lifted professional Tyler Leach to an opening-round 4-under 66 at Rochester Golf and Country Club to take the early lead at the 108th Minnesota State Open presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility.

When the championship resumes Wednesday, Leach will carry a slim, one-stroke advantage over University of North Dakota senior Tucker D’Allaird into the second round.

Leach played his opening nine in 2-under Tuesday, in part to an eagle at the par-5 sixth hole.

Following a birdie at the 10th, Leach converted another birdie chance at the 13th to move to 4-under for his round, but was slowed by a bogey at the 15th.

Finishing strong with a birdie at the last, Leach carded one of just four rounds below par during Tuesday’s opening round to take the early clubhouse lead at 4-under 66.

Teeing off on the 10th tee Tuesday, D’Allaird quickly went to work with birdies at the 11th and 12th holes before falling back to even par with a double-bogey at the 15th.

He would bounce back with a birdie at the par-4 17th to turn in 1-under before cruising over his final nine holes, capitalizing on birdie chances at the sixth and eighth holes to post a 3-under 67 to finish the first round of competition in second place, one shot off the lead.

Newly turned professional Gunner Broin carded a lone birdie during his final nine Tuesday, helping him to a 1-under 69. He will begin Wednesday’s second round in a share of third place with fellow professional Andrew Israelson.

Tee times for the second round of the 108th Minnesota State Open are slated to begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Rochester Golf and Country Club.