Haslerud Opens with a 71 to Lead MGA Senior Amateur at Somerset

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  MENDOTA HEIGHTS, Minn. – David Haslerud fired a 1-under par 71 Monday to take the early lead at the 2014 Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur at Somerset Country Club.

Haslerud, Hastings Country Club, began the first round on the back nine and rolled in nine consecutive pars to remain even at the turn before falling to 1-over with a bogey at the tenth.

With a pair of birdies at the third and fifth holes, he quickly moved to 1-under before dropping a shot with a bogey at the par-3 seventh.

Haslerud rebounded with a birdie on the final hole of the day to card a 1-under par 71 and finish the first 18 holes on top of the leaderboard.

Leif Carlson, Valleywood Golf Course, finished the opening round with a 1-over par 73 to sit in second place, one shot off the lead.

Carlson had an up and down start to the tournament, teeing off the on the tenth hole, he quickly dropped a stroke on the opening hole with a bogey before drawing even with a birdie on the ensuing hole.

A bogey at the 13th put Carlson back to 1-over before making double-bogey at the 15th to fall to 3-over. From there Carlson began to gain some momentum and after a birdie at the 17th, made the turn at 2-over par.

Carlson rolled in one birdie with eight pars over the final nine holes to finish the opening round alone in second place at 1-over par 73.

Last year’s runner-up, David Kokesh, sits in third place at 2-over par 74 after 18 holes as Kokesh had a very pedestrian round, recording 16 pars and two bogeys to sit just three shots behind Haslerud heading to the second round.

Mark Knutson (Hazeltine National Golf Club), Jerry Rose (Alexandria Golf Club) and Steve Hjortness (Eastwood Golf Club) are tied for fourth at 3-over par 75.

The 93rd MGA Senior Amateur Championship continues Tuesday with split tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Somerset Country Club.



93RD MGA SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
SOMERSET COUNTRY CLUB
MENDOTA HEIGHTS, MINN.
6,429 YARDS, PAR 72


TUESDAY’S RESULTS
1. David Haslerud, Hastings CC, 35-36—71
2. Leif Carlson, Valleywood GC, 35-38—73
3. David Kokesh, Bent Creek GC, 37-37—74
T4. Mark Knutson, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 36-39—75
T4. Jerry Rose, Alexandria GC, 39-36—75
T4. Steve Hjortness, Eastwood GC, 38-37—75
T7. Mark Hayes, Keller GC, 39-37—76
T7. Jim Lehman, Windsong Farm, 40-36—76
T7. Bill Anderson, Bent Creek GC, 37-39—76

Five others tied at 77