MN Tour Championship Recap

Hudson, WI - 7 players crowned Tour Champions. 8 season long flight champions honored. 4 players earned spots at Nationals. 

Nate Plagge shoots 78 in Sarazen, the lowest round of his 3 year career, to get his first win on Tour and claim his spot at Nationals. Nate was on the outside looking in coming into the final weekend and desperate to figure out what he needed to do to make it to Nationals. When the bell rang on Saturday he turned off all the thoughts and just played golf. He shoots 38 on the front and cards his 2nd best career round on Saturday to put himself in 2nd position. The question now was could he hold on to that spot to punch his ticket. On Sunday he got off to another great start with a 39 on the front. He stumbled at the turn going bogey - double but rebounded on 12 with a birdie and finished with a matching 39 and a 4 shot margin of victory.

Once again a Palmer flight player shoots the low round of the day. Not once but twice. Steve Schubert made 4 birdies on Saturday to shoot 73 and lead by 6. On Sunday there was only one birdie on the card but 75 increased his lead to 13 shots for his 3rd win on the season.

Sr. Snead flight was hotly contested all year long with all 5 players winning this season. Mike Miller lead Pete Rojas, the most recent winner, by one at the turn on Saturday but a 5 hole stretch of "others" derailed a promising round. Todd Klocke edged Pete by one on the back nine but a 3 hole stretch of "others" on the front made for a tough climb. Pete held a 2 shot lead over Todd and and 8 over Mike when the day was done.  On Sunday it looked like Deja Vu all over again. Mike edged Pete by one on the front with a 41, Todd struggled again on the front but won the back with a 42. Pete lost a wheel somewhere around the turn with only 1 par on the back side. Mike however played the slow and steady game and carded an 88, his lowest in 3 years, giving him a 2 shot victory over Pete.  

Nathan Maas, of Las Vegas, played at The Wilds tournament as a guest in July. He joined the Am Tour shortly after and then joined us for the Tour Championship. He shot even par on the front on Saturday with 2 birdies and finished up the round at 75 for a 4 shot lead over Jason Rhoades. Jason got the better of Nathan on Sunday with a 76 to Nathans' 77 but it wasn't enough to keep Nathan from his first Am Tour victory.

Anthony Hugelen earned his 3rd win in 19 tournaments this season. He held a 9 shot lead after the first round in the Hogan flight and didn't lose any ground to the rest of the field on Sunday. He's going back to Nationals for the 4th straight year.

Sr. Hogan flight has been a shootout all season. Dan Barrett jumped out to a 4 shot lead after 9 holes and increased it to 6 over Robert Gardner on Saturday. Robert clawed one shot back on the front on Sunday and 3 more on the back but ran out of holes giving Dan his 2nd win of the season.

Steven Holland grabbed the early 2 shot lead on Saturdays' front nine and extended it to 4 shots by days end. Steve Springer made up one shot on Sundays' front side. Steve Holland got the better end of 2 shot swings on #10 & #11. Steve Springer made birdie on #13 for a 2 shot swing back. In the end Steven Holland earned his 4th victory by 6 shots.

Season long awards were given out to our flight Champions. The award was based on MN Tour tournament points earned with a minimum of 5 rounds in the flight. Winners received a nice trophy and an embroidered Club Glove rolling duffle carry-on bag. 

Championship - Jason Rhoades
Palmer - Steve Schubert
Sr. Palmer - Bob Murphy

Hogan - Anthony Hugelen

Sr. Hogan - Robert Gardner

Sarazen - Jeff Loeffler

Sr. Sarazen - Steven Holland

Sr. Snead - Pete Rojas

Ed Favorite won $170 in the 50/50 raffle on Saturday and Paul Alexander won $180 on Sunday. Paul donated $100 back to Feherty's Troops First Foundation. Our season total jumped up to $1760 and I'll add $240 to make it an even $2000. Thank you for your generous support of this. I'm proud to represent the MN Tour.

Thanks to all who played. Next up is our National Championship and Sr. National Championship at Mission Hills. Good luck to all who have qualified to play.