119th MGA Amateur Fact Sheet

• 2022 MGA Amateur Championship Round 3
• 2022 MGA Amateur Championship Round 2
• 2022 MGA Amateur Championship Round 1

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OLYMPIC HILLS GOLF CLUB – Olympic Hills was founded in 1969 and designed by architect Charlie Maddox. Once opened, they brought to life a golf course that was immediately recognized as one of the more imaginative and demanding venues in Minnesota. After nearly 50 years, the course underwent a complete renovation led by architect Ron Pritchard and project manager Tom Mead from 2013-2015. The course reopened in August 2015 and has matured into one of the top courses in the state.

Olympic Hills hosted the 2002 MGA Amateur Championship won by Bowen Osborn, who shot a three-day total of 219 (+3), defeating John Spreiter on the second sudden-death playoff hole. The facility also hosted the 2017 Annika Intercollegiate won by Arkansas in the team competition and Maria Fassi (Arkansas) in the individual event. In addition to the 2002 MGA Amateur, the club has hosted several other MGA events including the 2011 Mid and Senior Players’ Championship won by Erik Christopherson and Robert Leaf, respectively, as well as the 2006 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship won by Todd Sinjem.

Carding a tournament-low 8-under 64 to open the championship, Hitchner followed it with a 4-under 68 to take a one-stroke lead over Caleb VanArragon after 36 holes of play. Unable to convert multiple birdie chances early in the final round, Hitchner found his stride after sinking back-to-back birdies from eight feet at the fifth and sixth holes, to move to 13-under and increase his lead to three.

Curling a left-to-right breaker from six feet at the 11th, Hitchner began to pull away from the field before VanArragon’s tee shot at the par-4 13th rolled to eight feet where he would convert his eagle chance to pull within three.

After sinking a 15-footer for birdie at the 15th, Hitchner would head to the final hole with a two-shot lead over VanArragon, who birdied the 17th. Finding tree trouble right of the 18th fairway, Hitchner managed to make bogey, just his third for the week, to finish one stroke ahead of VanArragon.

VanArragon opened the tournament with a 6-under 66 and would post back-to-back rounds of 68 for his best finish at the championship, improving on a seventh-place finish from 2020.

Andrew Israelson, who carded a 7-under 65 to finish as runner up the previous year, fired a final-round 67 capped by an eagle-3 at the 18th to finish in a tie for third with Lucas Johnson at 9-under 207.

THE FIELD – A formidable field of challengers featuring eight former MGA Amateur champions, including: Jesse Bull, Golden Valley Golf & Country Club (2014); Dave Carothers, Windsong Farm (2017); Mike Christensen, Northland Country Club (1995); Eric Deutsch, Rochester Golf & Country Club (2004); Jon DuToit, Chaska Town Course (2015); Bryce Hanstad, Olympic Hills Golf Club (2007); Clay Kucera, Chaska Town Course (2019) and Trent Peterson, Fountain Valley Golf Club (2008).

In addition to the former champs, notable competitors in the field include: the 2021 MGA Junior Boys Player of the Year and 2021 Class AA High School individual champ, Sam Baker (Cloquet CC); the 2020 and 2022 MGA Players’ champ and 2021-2022 NJCAA Division II National Championship champ, Cecil Belisle (Red Wing GC); the 2021 MGA Senior Amateur champ, John Brellenthin (Minikahda Club); the 2019 Minnesota PGA Junior Boys’ champ, Gunnar Broin (Chaska Town Course); the 2018 and 2020 Mid-Players’ champ and the 2019 MGA Mid-Amateur champ, Justin Burleson (Mendakota CC); the 2016-2017 Minnesota State Open champion and the 2018 MGA Men’s Player of the Year, Ben Greve (Olympic Hills GC); the 2012 MGA Players’ champ and 2016 MGA Mid-Players’ champ, Andy Jacobson (Eagle Creek GC); the 2011 Minnesota State Open champ and 4-time Mid-Players champ, Troy Johnson (Edinburgh USA); the 2019 Minnesota State Open champ, Brady Madsen (Hawk Creek CC); the 2020 Minnesota State Junior Boys champ, Dayne Mann (The Refuge GC); the 2018 Class AAA High School individual champ and the 2018 Mr. Minnesota Golf, Tristan Nelko (Windsong Farm); the 2021 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Tim Peterson (Forest Hills GC); the 2021 Minnesota State Junior Boys’ champ, Mason Roloff (TPC Twin Cities); the 2016 Class AAA High School individual champ and 2017 Mr. Minnesota Golf, Ben Sigel (Windsong Farm GC); the 2022 MGA Senior Players’ champ, Pat Smith (Minikahda Club); the 2020 MGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year, the 2021 Class AAA High School individual champ, the 2022 Class AAA individual co-champ and 2022 Mr. Minnesota Golf, Nate Stevens (Northfield GC); the 2016 and 2018 MPGA State Public Links champ and the 2021 MGA Players’ champ, Max Tylke (Legends Club); the 2022 Class AA High School individual champ, Sam Udovich, (Southview CC); the 2017 Minnesota PGA Junior Boys’ champ, 2018 MGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year and 2018 Minnesota State Junior Boys’ champ, Caleb VanArragon (Bunker Hills GC); the 2022 Class AAA individual co-champ, Jack Wetzel (MN YOC); and the 2021 MPGA Junior Public Links champion and 2022 Class A High School individual champ, Cole Witherow (MN YOC).

COURSE SET UP – 7,180 yds, Par 36-36 – 72

As of July 12, there are 111 players in the field with “plus” USGA Handicap Indexes (that is, having an index that is better than scratch), with Jack Johnson atop the list of competitors at +5.7.

The oldest competitor in the field is Richard Freiburg, Monticello Country Club, 61 years, 10 months and 7 days; the youngest, Cale Thompson, Twin Cities Golf Club, 15 years, 3 months and 8 days.

PAIRINGS/NOTICE TO COMPETITORS
Complete pairings and the notice to competitors are available online at: https://www.mngolf.org/Tournament/MGA_Amateur_Championship_12.

ABOUT THE MGA
Founded in 1901, the Minnesota Golf Association is the governing body over amateur golf in the state, responsible for administering the Rules of Golf, and committed to uphold and promote the game of golf and its values for all golfers in Minnesota. The MGA conducts 23 major amateur championships and 14 USGA qualifying events each year. Thanks to the support of its member clubs and associate members, and the efforts of its volunteers and staff, the MGA provides a variety of services such as handicapping, course rating and measuring, an online golf news and information resource, mngolf.org, and an official publication, Minnesota Golfer magazine, which benefits all golfers throughout Minnesota.