Tylke Breaks Through for Big Win at MGA Mid-Players’ Championship

TOWER, Minn. – The 2024 golf season was a bittersweet one for Max Tylke. On one hand, he ended the season tabbed as the Minnesota Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year winner.

 

On the other, he finished runner-up on six occasions before eventually getting in the win column at the Worthington Labor Day Classic for the 11th victory of his amateur career.

 

“To always be in that second-place window turned into a fun joke, but nobody wants to finish second every time,” Tylke said.

 

Tylke turned in one impressive performance after another this week at the 19th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship, including a win over Mitch Scrimgeour, 4 and 3, in the championship match Wednesday at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay for his biggest state victory since winning the Minnesota Public Golf Association State Public Links Championship in 2022 at Hastings Golf Club.

 

“It’s better than second,” Tylke joked after his round Wednesday. “To finally get that off my back, is awesome and to finish the event bogey-free feels great. With everything that happened last year, this one means more to me than anything. I couldn’t be happier—what a great way to start the season.

 

The 31-year-old Tylke never once fell behind an opponent and never played past the 16th hole this week. Playing a total of 87 holes at 14-under, he led 83 of them.

 

“It’s round six and the goal was to keep bogeys off the card, and it paid off—I didn’t have a bogey in the afternoon match,” Tylke said following his win Wednesday. “I putted great this week. Whether they went in or not, my speeds were fantastic. If you’re always tapping them in, it’s stress-free for sure.”  

 

Advancing from pool play with a 3-0 record Tuesday, Tylke ousted two-time Twin Cities Championship winner Dylan Gergen, 3 and 2, to reach the semifinals against Ryan Conn, where he’d go on to win, 4 and 3, to reach the finals for a second consecutive season.

 

Tylke took advantage of early tee trouble by Scrimgeour on the second hole during the final match Wednesday and never looked back, carding five birdies over his next 13 holes to earn the victory, 4 and 3.

 

Tylke’s first state victory came in 2011 when he won the Minnesota Boys’ Junior PGA Championship at Marshall Golf Club.

 

In 2017, he won the first of his three MPGA Public Links Championships, and the following season he claimed the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship with partner Alexandra Stewart at Chaska Town Course.

 

Tylke enjoyed the first two-win season of his career in 2019 with wins at the MPGA Four-Ball at Southbrook Golf Club and later at the MPGA Mid Public Links Championship at Emerald Greens Golf Course.

 

Collecting the first of his three wins at the Worthington Labor Day Classic in 2020, Tylke captured the MGA Players’ Championship in 2021 at Spring Hill Golf Club.

 

At the championship last season at Deacon’s Lodge, Tylke fell in the final match to Trent Peterson, 2-up.

 

A disappointing finish for Scrimgeour Wednesday following his strong start to the championship. After failing to advance from pool play a season ago, Scrimgeour went a perfect 3-0, including a victory to knock out the defending champion Peterson, 1-up.

 

The 34-year-old Scrimgeour cruised during his quarterfinal match against 2018 Twin Cities Championship winner Erik Bredesen, 5 and 3, before pulling away late during the semifinal round to defeat Nick Jarrett, 4 and 2, to meet Tylke in the finals.

 

Early troubles off the tee plagued Scrimgeour during his front nine Wednesday, but he would find his footing during the inward nine with a string of three birdies over a four-hole span despite being unable to make up ground against an unrelenting Tylke.

 

“I felt like I was in control of my game during the first match this morning,” Scrimgeour said Wednesday. “When we got back out there it took me a while to figure it out. I stepped on the 10th tee and made a practice swing and something clicked. I just ran out of holes once I found my swing.

 

“It was a big week, and I built some confidence for myself. I think I showed [caddie and fiancé, Meghan] that I can play golf at a pretty high level. She carried my bag for five rounds this week, which was awesome. For us, this takes time and energy in our lives and shows that we can continue to compete.”