Aldrich Moves Closer to First Win of the Season and Second MGA Senior Amateur Title

  LAKEVILLE, Minn. – Leaning on his putter during the first two rounds of the 104th Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club this week, Mark Aldrich posted a 2-over 73 during Wednesday’s second round, putting himself in position to earn his second title in three seasons.

Aldrich, who won at Wayzata Country Club in 2023, will take a three-stroke advantage over 2017 champion David Haslerud to Thursday’s final round of play.“My first nine holes were great—nine really good holes,” said Aldrich, who’s looking to bounce back from his 13th-place finish last season at Edina Country Club. “I hit fairways and greens. I didn’t do that yesterday, but my putter was amazing. Hit more fairways and greens today.

“Putting has been the key. Today was pretty good, but yesterday was crazy. It’s always hit or miss with putting, but I had 10 one-putts yesterday, and eight of them were from 10 or 12 feet for par.”

Playing 17 holes of bogey-free golf Tuesday, Aldrich’s opening round was marred by a double-bogey at the last to card a 1-under 70.

Aldrich converted a lone birdie from 15 feet right of the hole at the par-5 14th to move to 2-under for the championship, but struggled to begin his final nine, taking a double-bogey at the first and a pair of bogeys over his next three holes to drop to 2-over.

He rebounded by sticking his approach inside of three feet at the eighth and converted his second birdie chance of the round to build a three-stroke cushion ahead of Thursday’s final round.

“Played a lot more steady today than I did yesterday,” Aldrich said. “You’ve got to keep the ball below the hole—get on the wrong side of the flag and you’re dripping 20-footers downhill and hoping to keep them close.

“Fairways and greens and keeping the ball below the hole is the key tomorrow.”
Eyeing his first state win since his victory at the event two years ago, Aldrich has multiple close calls this season.

Currently leading the MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year points race, Aldrich finished with low-amateur honors in a share of fourth at the Minnesota Senior Open at Keller Golf Course before runner-up finish to Bob Neuberger at the MGA Senior Players’ Championship at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay.

He would also claim a pair of third-place finishes at both the Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Public Links Championship at Pioneer Creek Golf Course, as well as the MPGA Senior Four-Ball Championship.

Haslerud, who captured a four-stroke victory over Jerry Rose in 2017 at Island View Golf Club, began his second round on the 10th tee Wednesday and carded a pair of birdies over his first six holes to reach 1-under for the championship before his first bogey of the day at the par-3 16th.

The 66-year-old bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 18th to turn once again at 1-under for the tournament, but stumbled during his final nine holes with five bogeys, carding a 3-over 74 to finish the first two rounds in second at 4-over 146.

“Day One, I was pretty steady. Two birdies, three bogeys and lots of pars. I chipped and putted well,” Haslerud said Wednesday. “Today, I felt like two different people on my first and second nines. My three birdies were all good shots. Fairways, greens and good putts. Nothing crazy long, although I missed two three-footers.

“I have a wrist injury that may have been part of my problems on my back nine. As to tomorrow, I will need lots of things to go right because [Aldrich] is such a good player. I don’t expect him to take a step back, so I’ll need to be sharp, make a few putts and hope for the best.”

Along with his MGA Senior Amateur title, Haslerud won back-to-back MGA Senior Four-Ball Championships with partner Matt Yeager in 2020 and 2021.

A late birdie at the 18th hole Wednesday helped Jay Coatta post a 3-over 74 during his second round to pull within three shots of the lead at 5-over 147. He will begin the final round in third place.

Scott Thul carded a 3-over 74 Wednesday to finish the second round in a three-way share of fourth place at 7-over 149 along with Tom Nordstrom and Scott Ainsworth.
The final round of the 104th MGA Senior Amateur will begin at 8 a.m. Thursday at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.