August 2015 Official Publication.pdf

The Official Publication of the Minnesota Section PGA
August 2015
What’s Inside?
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@MinnesotaPGA
NEW Minnesota Golf License Plate!
State Open and July Tournament Results
Junior Golf Update
And much more!

Section Updates
3………………………… NEW! Minnesota Golf License Plate
Tournament Information
4-6………………………… July 2015 Tournament Results
Junior Golf
7………………………… Minnesota Section Junior PGA Championship Winners
8………………………… Players’ Tour Match Play Championship Results
9………………………… Players’ Tour Series A, B, & C Winners
10………………………. Drive, Chip and Putt Sub-Regional Qualifiers
Announcements
11………………………. Brent Snyder to Participate in 2015 PGA Championship
12………………………. Berry Qualifies for 2015 3M Championship
13………………………. Player of the Year Rankings

Join the Minnesota Section PGA and Minnesota Golf Association in supporting youth golf
initiatives by purchasing your new Minnesota Golf License Plate. The mission of the license
plate is to help support the Foundation's initiatives of free programs, services and resources for
youth golfers in Minnesota.
Buy a Golf License Plate to help grow the game that you love and support youth golfer
development in Minnesota. The License Plate Program aims to introduce and engage
individuals of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds to the game of golf by providing
instruction, education and playing opportunities throughout the State.
The Minnesota Golf License Plate Program will impact and enhance the lives of individuals
utilizing the game of golf—a game for a lifetime. The program will achieve its vision and mission
through fundraising programs and golf programming targeted to enhance individuals' lives and
better communities.
All proceeds raised through License Plate sales will support programs that encourage player
development all over Minnesota to help grow the game. These programs include the Fairway
Foundation, the First Tee programs of Minnesota, golf in schools programs, military programs
to benefit our armed forces, and Special Olympics Minnesota.
Please view online at the Minnesota DMV website or visit your local county DMV to
purchase!

July 2015 Tournament Results
Tournament Date & Host Course Champion
Luther Pro-Series #2
Luther Women’s Event
College City Beverage Pro-Am
MN PGA Pro-Jr. Championship
KLN Pro-Am
Assistants Event #4
Edinburgh USA Pro-Am
Tom’s Market Pro-Am
July 6, 2015
Victory Links GC
Blaine, MN
July 9, 2015
Willingers GC
Northfield, MN
July 10, 2015
Ridges at Sand Creek
Jordan, MN
July 12, 2015
Perham Lakeside Golf Club
Perham, MN
July 13, 2015
Chaska Town Course
Chaska, MN
July 17, 2015
Edinburgh USA GC
Brooklyn Park, MN
July 19, 2015
Minnewaska GC
Glenwood, MN
Scott McDonald
Gabriella Sinkovic
Don Berry
Mike Marshall (Pro), Miles
McCarthy, Joe and Sam Sigel (Jrs.)
Dave Schultz
Paul Speltz
Chris Borgen
Brian Seiwert

Link to Minnesota State Open Blog: http://ow.ly/QfCY9
Sponsors

Great weather accompanied great golf on the final day of the 2015 Minnesota Section Junior
PGA Championship at Giant’s Ridge Golf and Ski Resort in Biwabik, MN. Austin VanSytzama of
Delano, MN and Anni Heck of Eagan, MN won the 2015 Minnesota Junior PGA Championship
presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks on July 15-16th at Giant’s Ridge.
Winning the boys’ and girls’ divisions respectively, VanSytzama and Heck qualified for the 40 th
Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, Aug. 3-6, at
Miramont Country Club in Bryan/College Station, Texas. VanSytzama, 17, posted a final-round
69 for a two-day total of 140 and a four-stroke victory over Morgan Donohue of Mendota
Heights, MN. VanSytzama was dominant holding the lead the entire tournament and shooting
under par both days. Heck, 16, had a final-round 71 for a two-day total of 144 and a twostroke
victory over Kate Smith of Detroit Lakes, MN. The girls’ division was highly contested
until the very end with Heck shooting a -2 on the back nine.
The Junior PGA Championship, Presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, is open to
one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, champions of the nine PGA
Junior Series events, select national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and
special invitees who have yet not reached their 19 th birthdays as of the final round of the
championship. The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally been a stepping-stone for many
of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA
Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers include: Inbee
Park, Cristie Kerr, Phil Mickelson, Jordan Spieth, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods.
Anni Heck
73-71-144 (E)
Austin VanSytzama 71-69-140 (-4)

The 2015 Players' Tour Match Play Championship presented by Valspar ended with great weather
for the most part except for extreme winds on occasion. This was a three day event from
Wednesday, July 22nd to Friday, July 24th for both the Girls' and Boys' divisions played at Dacotah
Ridge GC in Morton, MN. The field consisted of 16 girls and 64 boys with single elimination
formatted match play. The Girls' division played four rounds and the Boys' division played six
rounds.
The Girls' division did not consist of any upsets this year with the 1 seeded Elle Carlson of Sioux
Falls, SD facing 2 seeded Annemarie Fisher of Woodbury, MN in the championship match. Carlson,
last year's runner-up, got the better of her opponent this year capturing this year's title and
avenging her loss in the 2014 championship match. Carlson won 4&2 against Fisher capping a very
good performance on the course both days.
The Boys' division was a little more dramatic and highly contested with a field of 64 golfers. The
first four rounds consisted of multiple upsets, leaving semifinal match ups of 37 seeded Matthew
Burton of Excelsior, MN playing 25 seeded Patrick Traynor of Fargo, ND and 19 seeded Derek
Hitchner of Minneapolis, MN taking on one of the favorites 2 seeded Drew O'Hern of Dennison,
MN. Defying odds, the championship match up was between (25) Traynor and (19) Hitchner with
both playing extremely well heading into the match. That play would continue and lead to an
incredible finish. Traynor and Hitchner were all square heading to 18, and both hit their approach
shot on the green and were putting for birdie. Traynor nailed a 15 footer for birdie, transferring the
pressure to Hitchner who now had just short of a 10 foot putt to extend the match. Hitchner could
not answer the call; giving 25 seeded Patrick Traynor of Fargo, ND the championship.
(1) Elle Carlson & (2) Annemarie Fisher (25) Patrick Traynor & (19) Derek Hitchner

Series “A” Champions
Dane Sethre-Hofstad
Moorhead, MN
Sierra Bennion
Jamestown, ND
Series “B” Champions
Miles McCarthy
Tonka Bay, MN
Hannah Hankinson
Edina, MN
Series “C” Results
Cecil Belisle
Red Wing, MN
Sophia Yeomans
Red Wing, MN

Local Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifying has come to a close in the end of July, congratulations to
those advancing to Sub-Regionals and thanks to all those who participated this summer! There
were two Sub-Regional Qualifiers in the Minnesota Section in August, one was at Oxbow CC in
Oxbow, ND (August 12 th ) and the other was at TPC Twin Cities in Blaine, MN (August 19 th )—also
the host to this year’s 3M Championship. Oxbow CC had 109 participants while TPC Twin Cities
played host to 117 participants. The top two overall scorers from each age division and gender
will move onto the Regional qualifier at Hazeltine National Golf Club in September with an
opportunity to move onto the national landscape. The overall champion for the age division
and gender will then advance to Augusta National for the national competition on April 3 rd ,
2016, the weekend before the historic Masters Tournament.
Local Site Date Time City, State
Oxbow CC
Wednesday,
August 12
8:00am
Oxbow, ND
National
Qualifier
Hazeltine National Golf
Club
TPC Twin
Cities
Wednesday,
August 19
9:00am
Blaine, MN
Hazeltine National Golf
Club

Brent Snyder, a local PGA Professional at Troy Bourne GC and Hudson, WI native participated in
this year’s 2015 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits in Kohler, WI. He qualified for the major
tournament through an impressive performance during the 2015 PGA Professional National
Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The top 20 finishers from
the Professional National Championship solidify a spot in the field that includes the most elite and
prestigious golfers in the world. Snyder, who was right in the mix at the top of the leaderboard to
begin the final round, finished T-16 with three other players.
Recently, he reflected on his experience whether it was the moment itself, the players, or his
performance. “Whistling Straits was an unreal experience, playing with the top 150 golfers in the
world is something truly special,” he said deep in thought of what playing in that tournament truly
meant. Not only was it his first appearance in a tournament of this stature, it was at Whistling
Straits in Kohler, WI near Hudson, WI just to add icing on the cake. The trip home provided many
memories for Snyder including reuniting with some famous, familiar faces. “Playing practice rounds
with the likes of Zach Johnson, this year’s British Open Champion, and Davis Love III who will be
captaining next year’s USA Ryder Cup team at Hazeltine was great,” he added. If there was one
memory he would like to forget from the PGA Championship it would be his work on the greens. “I
hit the ball really well during the PGA Championship but had 29 putts on 18 holes in one of my
rounds which is not good enough at that level,” Snyder emphasized.
Snyder has already locked up his spot in the 2016 PGA National Professional Championship at
Turning Stone Resort in Verona, NY. Joining him from the Minnesota Section will be Section
Champion Don Berry, Dale Jones of Mendakota CC, Derek Holmes of River Oaks GC, Jeff Sorenson
of The Minikahda Club, Corey Johnson of TPC Twin Cities, Grant Shafranski of Hiawatha GC, Dave
Nordeen of Somerby, and Tom Kirkland of Victory Links GC.

Minnesota Section PGA member Don Berry of Edinburgh USA found himself in familiar territory on
Tuesday in the 3M Championship Event Qualifying at Victory Links GC in Blaine, MN. For the second
time in three years, Berry was in a sudden death playoff after an 18-hole round in which he and
three others shot a 2-under, 69. “I knew I could do it since I had done it before. It was good to have
that confidence of knowing it is possible, and if I was told I had a 50% chance of making it; I would
have had high hopes” said Berry.
The playoff was between Berry, Patrick Horgan, Lance Tenbroeck, and Peter Fowler who were
competing for the final two spots permitted through the qualifier. Berry was coming off a
disappointing outing, to his standards, in the State Open but put that behind him quick; “I use it as
an advantage because I play the odds game, if I didn’t play very well I know I am due for a better
round the next time.” Turns out, he was due for a breakthrough in the 3M qualifier. Peter Fowler
was the first to be eliminated after hitting one out of bounds on the first playoff hole while the
others managed pars. The second playoff hole ended with the three golfers remaining all scoring
pars. The third playoff hole would be enough for Berry and Patrick Horgan of West Palm Beach, FL
to solidify their spots in the 3M Championship after they parred their third consecutive hole and
Tenbroeck bogeyed ending his chances at advancing.
Berry, one of the state's most prolific golfers and a Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame inductee, will make
his fourth consecutive trip to the 3M Championship. “Playing in this tournament is awesome,
especially with Tom Watson in the field this year. Seeing all these players on the course, range, and
locker room is special and being close to home makes it even better,” Berry emphasized. He beat
out many of the best golfers across the nation which speaks volume to the caliber of player Berry is
and has been for many years.
“My favorite memory has to be when I was paired with Mark Calcavecchia my first time in the
tournament. My little kid was there watching, and Mark went over and talked to him. He also got
some pictures with a caddy bib on him and that is definitely the moment that sticks out to me” said
Berry who has had countless memories at the tournament over the past three years.
“Arnold Palmer , Jack Nicklaus and
Gary Player headline the Post-It®
Products Greats of Golf Competition at
the 2015 3M Championship.”

Rank Player Events Points
1 Don Berry
5 729.67
Edinburgh USA Golf Club
2 Brent Snyder
Troy Bourne Golf Club
3 Jeff Sorenson
The Minikahda Club
4 Dale Jones
Mendakota Country Club
5 Derek Holmes
River Oaks Golf Course
6 Kris Kroetsch
Fargo Country Club
7 Danny Sinksen
Elmwood Park Golf Course
8 Julian Ramirez
Riverwood National Golf Course
9 Corey Johnson
Mendakota Country Club
10 Matt Norgaard
The Minikahda Club
4 572.33
6 565.16
4 379.33
4 276.50
4 252.33
3 244.11
5 184.00
4 173.33
2 164.00
Rank Player Events Points
1 Don Berry
2 100.00
Edinburgh USA Golf Club
T-2 Brad Schmierer
Hastings Country Club
T-2 Bump Werness
Golf Galaxy
4 Mike Barge
Hazeltine National Golf Club
T-5 Steven Fessler
Riverwood National Golf Club
T-5 Aaron McClay
Riverwood National Golf Club
T-5 Kevin Cashman
Bearpath Golf & Country Club
T-5 Dale Jones
Mendakota Country Club
2 67.50
2 67.50
2 40.00
2 3.67
2 3.67
2 3.67
2 3.67