ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Needing a birdie on the 54th hole Wednesday at Minneapolis Golf Club, Andy Stahlman dropped a 60-foot breaker to claim the 39th Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Amateur Championship for his first state victory.
Stahlman’s timely birdie led him to a final-round 69, putting him one shot clear of Jesse Larson, Ben Greve, Trent Peterson, Nick Jarrett and Jacque Wilson by shooting a three-day tally of 9-under 207.
“This is incredible, I'm kind of speechless about the whole thing,” the 35-year-old Stahlman said after his final round Wednesday. “I have felt out of place all week because I know how good these guys are.”
Falling in the club championship at The Club at Golden Valley three weeks ago, Stahlman wasn’t satisfied and was ready to test his game further.
“I knew I was close,” he said. “The next week I made eight birdies and an eagle and almost set the course record. So, I thought, ‘Why not?’ Let's sign up and give it a go. So, I was kind of playing with the kind of nothing to lose.”
Entering the final round two shots back of the lead, Stahlman took control of the championship early Wednesday, rolling in five consecutive birdies to jump in front at 11-under for the tournament.
But he’d fall to 9-under following a pair of bogeys at the eighth and 11th holes before relinquishing his lead to Larson with a three-putt bogey at the par-3 16th.
Unable to convert a short, downhill birdie chance at the 17th, Stahlman hooked his approach to the front of the 18th green needing birdie from 60 feet away.
After sinking his birdie putt at the last, Larson was unable to get his par putt from four feet to drop, sealing the championship for Stahlman.
“Now I just want to play more and sign up for more qualifiers,” Stahlman said. “Put myself in the arena and see what happens. I’ve got a lot of respect for the people here. Their names are up on the leaderboard at every event. It's just fun to play with them honestly.”
Despite lingering back issues, Stahlman grabbed a share of the opening-round lead with a 6-under 66 at Brookview Golf Course on Monday before a round of even par 72 at Brookview during Tuesday’s second round.
“I had a herniated a disc last year and basically couldn't touch a club for five months in the winter and now it's bad again,” Stahlman said. “It's the disc in my SI joint. I'm fighting through it. Put it this way, I booked a surgery consultation after my 66.
“Obviously thrilled with my play, but in so much pain—ice baths, heat, massage, acupuncture, I'm doing everything I can.”
A native of Plymouth, Minn., Stahlman helped lead Wayzata High School to a Class AAA team title during his senior season before playing collegiate golf at St. John’s University.
In four seasons with the Johnnies, he’d play 57 rounds across 28 events, winning the St. John’s Invite during his sophomore season and finished with a career scoring average of 76.7.
A disappointing result for Larson Wednesday, earning his third top-5 of the season after his final-round 70.
“Played really well this week,” Larson said Wednesday. “Played good Monday. Was scrappy yesterday to keep myself in it and turned 75 into 71. And today, got off to a good start, I just couldn't get the ball in the hole after about the fifth hole.
“Up-and-down season—I've played really well but I haven't had as many good finishes as I'd have liked. Had some final rounds that didn't go well. So, coming in, it was just about playing solid golf, not focusing on the results and just trying to play well. And I did that.”
Larson kept pace early with Stahlman by carding three birdies over his first four holes but would trade a pair of birdies with two bogeys over his next 12 holes.
Holding a one-stroke lead on the final hole, Larson’s approach missed the green right and his third would roll four feet past the flag.
A final-round 70 Wednesday marks Larson’s best finish at the event and third consecutive top-5 finish at the championship.
Greve, winner Minnesota State Open champion in 2016 and 2017 and the 2022 MGA Amateur Championship, carded a late birdie Wednesday to put him within one shot of the lead, but it was all the further the former University of Minnesota golfer would get, carding a final-round 69 to finish tied for second at 8-under 208.
“Overall, I played well,” said Greve, “I feel like I was Jekyll and Hyde this year. I played really well. The State Open was a perfect example—I played pretty average for two rounds and then had a lights-out round. I was very up and down, which isn't quite like me.
The 40th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship will be contested at Northland and Ridgeview Country Clubs.