Burleson, Johnson and Conn Move Closer to Quarterfinals at MGA Mid-Players' Championship

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
 BIWABIK, Minn. – In search of his third Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship in four seasons, Justin Burleson took a step in the right direction Monday by collecting a pair of victories during the opening day of competition at The Quarry at Giants Ridge.
 
Burleson edged Matt Norgaard during last year’s championship match at Cannon Golf Club for his fifth career state win. Burleson slipped past Bryan Francis, 2 and 1, during Monday’s morning session and downed Steve Tatge, 4 and 3, ahead of Tuesday’s third round.
 
New to this season’s championship is a round-robin format, comprised of eight pools of four players playing a total of three matches before the winner of each pool advances to the quarterfinal round late Tuesday.
 
“Today was solid—the course was playing tough, the greens are awesome out here, good pins and the wind was blowing like crazy, especially that first round,” Burleson said after claiming two full points Monday.
 
“I tried not to make any big numbers today. I had two big numbers in the first round and they were both iron shots that I struck exactly how I wanted, but had the wrong club. All-in-all I hit it great and putted okay. I need to get rid of the three-putts and tighten that up.”
 
Burleson will face Jason Bain during the final round of pool play Tuesday.
 
Troy Johnson, a three-time winner of the event, earned a pair of victories Monday, including a come-from-behind win during the second round of pool play to defeat Paul Schubring, 2 and 1. Johnson beat Tony Krogen, 4 and 2, during Monday’s morning round before trailing by three to Schubring with six holes to play.
 
A trio of birdies in a four-hole span quickly lifted Johnson into the lead and he would close out the match with a par at the 17^th, moving on to Tuesday’s final round of pool play with a 2-0 record.
 
“Round Two I got off to a rough start and wasn’t hitting it very solid,” Johnson said. Monday. “I dug myself a hole through the front nine and was three down after 12.
 
“Paul played a nice match and I was happy to have played like I can on the back nine.”
 
Johnson will now face off against Noah Lawson, who also won his first two matches of the championship Monday, beating Schubring, 3 and 2, and Krogen, 4 and 3, to earn two full points.
 
Last year’s MGA Players’ runner-up Ryan Conn is headed to the third round Tuesday with two wins to his credit Monday, beating Andy Jacobson, 2 and 1, before heating up to defeat Joel B. Johnson, 3 and 1, during Monday’s afternoon session.
 
“[Jacobson] and I weren’t really on our game this morning,” Conn said. “It was really windy and we were getting used to the golf course. The early-morning round was more about getting comfortable.
 
“I got off to a great start against [Johnson], and he clawed his way back and put the pressure on. I kept the ball in play and didn’t lose a golf ball. Hopefully tomorrow I can make more low-stress pars. The greens are big, so if I can get on or near the green, I’m in good shape.
 
Conn will face Matt Pfingsten when the tournament resumes early Tuesday.  
 
Tyler Obermueller will begin Tuesday’s third round with a pair of wins to his credit, beating Alex Kolquist early Monday before carding four birdies on his back nine to pull out a victory over two-time winner Trent Peterson.
 
Ben Egart collected wins over Will Hickey and Ben Strauman Monday and will face Andrew Womeldorf Tuesday, looking to keep and perfect record to advance to the quarterfinal round late Tuesday.
 
Blake Onkka won a pair of close matches Monday, edging Jesse Polk, 1-up, to open the championship before beating Tony Vincelli by the same margin. He will now face Jesse Larson during the final match of pool play early Tuesday.
 
Earning his first victory of the week over Jon Tomaszewski early Monday, Paul Meyer improved his record to 2-0 with a win over Sammy Schmitz during the second round of pool play, 3 and 2. Meyer will look to punch his ticket to the quarterfinal round when he squares off against Mark Lindberg during the final round of pool play early Tuesday.
 
The third round of pool play at the 15^th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship gets underway Tuesday at 9:20 a.m. at The Quarry at Giants Ridge.