Burstad and Ylitalo Share the Lead Heading Into the Final Round of the Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Andrew Burstad and Russell Ylitalo will carry the lead into the final round of the 100th Minnesota State Junior Boys' Championship, sharing top billing at 5-under 141 through 36 holes after a weather-delayed second round at The Minikahda Club.

A nearly four-hour weather delay stretched the second round into Wednesday, but it did little to slow the leaders. Burstad, of TPC Twin Cities, backed his opening 69 with a 72, while Ylitalo of YOC Minnesota climbed into a share of the top spot with a 3-under 69 — among the low rounds of the day among the contenders — after opening with a 72. The two enter the final 18 holes one clear of the field.

Sander Ohe of YOC Minnesota and Henry Johnson of Chaska Town Course sit a stroke back at 4-under 142, with a five-man group at 3-under 143 right behind. That tier includes first-round leader Chase Larson of Olympic Hills, whose opening 67 was followed by a 76 that dropped him into the pack alongside Wyatt Holmes, Braylon Ylkanen, Ryder Haskins and Easton Fiddle.

The long day produced its share of fireworks. Noah Grassman of TPC Twin Cities aced the par-3 third hole — a 162-yard 8-iron for the second hole-in-one of his career — on his way to a 70 that left him at 1-over 147. Brock Burhans of Detroit Country Club authored the biggest turnaround, following a 78 with a 4-under 68 to vault inside the top 20, while Collin Ramos of TPC Twin Cities matched that 68 after opening with an 80.

Not every contender held form. William Roiland, who fired a 5-under 68 to sit second after the first round, ballooned to an 80 on the long day and tumbled into a tie for 24th at 2-over 148 — right on the number.

With the field trimmed to the low 24 and ties, the cut fell at 2-over 148, sending 28 players into Wednesday's final round. Co-leaders Burstad and Ylitalo hold the slimmest of edges into the closing 18, but with 10 players bunched within three shots of the lead at the century-mark championship, the 100th Junior Boys' title is anyone's to seize at Minikahda.

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