Three-Way Tie at the Top to Begin 64th MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Oak Ridge Country Club
HOPKINS, Minn. – Playing in familiar surroundings at the 64th Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Oak Ridge Country Club...
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STILLWATER, Minn. – Despite carding a round of 3-under 69 Monday at StoneRidge Golf Club, Texas Christian University sophomore Sam Udovich sat five shots behind the leader to begin the 123rd Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship.
But after firing another round of 69 Tuesday, Udovich suddenly finds himself in front of the field by two strokes over Tyler Seeling and University of Minnesota golfer Torger Ohe heading into Wednesday’s final round.
“I didn’t realize how windy it was until I got here, but kind of got lucky for it to die down a little bit on the back nine. Definitely a factor no doubt,” Udovich said. “The front nine was such a grind—I didn’t make a par until my [sixth] hole but then went on to have a solid back nine without a single bogey. But solid golf from tee to green today.
“Tomorrow, it doesn’t really matter where we are on the leaderboard, we’re still trying to do the same thing and get the ball in the hole in the least amount of strokes. It’s the mindset of coming out here and playing good golf. I’m not going to get too much into my mind and think about people chasing me down.
An up-and-down front nine Tuesday saw an eagle and two birdies negated by two bogeys and a double before Udovich found his stride during the back nine with a tap-in birdie at the second, followed by a 12-footer for birdie at the third.
Left with 10 feet for birdie at the par-4 eighth, Udovich would convert one final birdie chance to move two shots clear of the field with a second straight round of 69.
“Playing here at my home course at the [State Amateur], it’s already one of my favorite tournaments to begin with,” he said. “I love the conditions—they don’t make it easy on us with the hole locations, but I’ve always loved this course because it’s challenging.
“And I’m really grateful for the weather—it seems like every tournament I’ve played this summer has been in 100-degree weather.”
A national champion at the Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club in 2021, Udovich won a Class AA individual title in 2022 as a freshman at St. Croix Lutheran. He won the Minnesota Boys’ Junior PGA Championship the following season and captured the Class AAA individual title to close out his senior campaign at Cretin-Derham Hall last June, earning Mr. Minnesota Golf honors along the way.
Udovich placed third at the MGA Amateur a year ago at The Classic at Madden’s.
Seeling, who blistered the field with his 8-under 64 during the opening round Monday, missing the course record by one stroke, tallied two double-bogeys during his second round Tuesday, including his final hole of the day at the par-3 ninth to card a 4-over 76.
“Today didn’t really come easy,” Seeling said after his round Tuesday. “I think with the places I put myself I made the best of it. I short-sided myself and missed a lot of greens today but was able to scrape up some pars on some of those holes.
“If I don’t double the last hole, I’m happy with how I played today.”
Taking double-bogey on his third hole of the day Tuesday, Seeling dropped back to 6-under for the championship, but would limit the damage by playing his next 12 holes in even par.
Unable to find the green from the tee at the par-3 seventh led to bogey for Seeling, but he’d counter by converting a birdie chance from six feet at the eighth.
An untimely double bogey at the last after finding a greenside bunker left of the ninth green dropped Seeling two shots and into a share of second with Ohe at 4-under 142.
“I just have to forget about today and think about all of the good things I’ve done so far,” he said. “Build off of that and see what we can do tomorrow.”
Opening his back nine with three birdies over his first five holes lifted the Gophers’ Ohe into a share of second place at 4-under 140 as the former Edina High School standout looks for his first state victory since winning the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship at Alexandria Golf Club last season.
“Happy with how I played today. Gave myself a bunch more looks and rarely got out of position on the back nine,” Ohe said. “Greens started firming up pretty good today, which I think plays into my hand pretty well, hitting the ball higher.
“I’m excited for the opportunity tomorrow, all you can do is give yourself a chance on the last day. Not going to treat it any differently and go out and play my game.”
South Dakota State University golfer Jacob Wilson posted a round of even par 72 Tuesday to put him is sole possession of fourth place at 2-under 142, while Flagler College’s Patrick Herron, Harvard University’s Isaac Ahn, former University of St. Thomas golfer Owen Rexing and 2007 champion Bryce Hanstad will begin the final round of play tied for fifth at 1-under 143.
The final round of the 123rd MGA Amateur Championship will begin at 7:35 a.m. Wednesday at StoneRidge Golf Club.
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