Right at Home, Hanstad and Conn Among Early Winners at MGA Mid-Players' Championship

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  ALEXANDRIA, Minn. – Playing a familiar course at Alexandria Golf Club this week, Bryce Hanstad picked up a pair of victories Monday to begin his title defense at the 17th Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship.

Hanstad defeated fellow Alexandria, Minn., native Ryan Conn at last year’s championship at Royal Golf Club, and with wins over Matt Pfingsten and Brett Benson to open the championship, Hanstad needs only a tie during his final match of pool play to return to the quarterfinal round Tuesday.

“It’s definitely fun to be back after growing up here as a kid and having a lot of great memories,” Hanstad said Monday. “My game has been pretty solid this year without playing much, so I’m excited to keep some momentum going. I have always enjoyed match play.

“I played decent today, overall. I hit lots of greens and just didn’t make many mistakes, besides some three-putts. I have some wedge work to clean up, but pretty pleased with the start.”

Hanstad will face Blake Onkka when the tournament resumes early Tuesday.

His victory last season was his first state win since he claimed the KX Amateur in Moorhead in 2008. The season prior, Hanstad claimed the MGA Amateur championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club, and followed it with a win on his home course at The Resorters.

Conn, who finished runner-up at both the MGA Mid-Players’ Championship and the MGA Players’ Championship last season, defeated Kane Bauer and Brian Moehnke in hopes of making yet another deep run on his home course this week.

“It’s always fun to play here—growing up here, it’s probably my favorite place to play and being home is great,” Conn said Monday. “In a lot of ways, the biggest key today was keeping the driver in play and staying below the hole.

“The greens were lightning and if you’re above the hole, there’s a lot of defensive putting.”

Conn partnered with Hunter Rebrovich to win the 2019 MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship at The Classic at Madden’s, but has been held without a win since, despite 10 top-5 finishes during that stretch.

“You just have to be in contention. Some of the days it’s going to work and some days it doesn’t,” he said. “I’ve lost to great players, but I’ve also beat great players along the way. It takes a lot of luck between the 300 players trying to qualify to the 32 that make it, to be that one person to finish on top.”

Conn will face Travis Peterson, who also defeated Bauer and Moehnke Monday, during the final round of pool play Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal round.

Helped by three birdies during his back nine Monday, Joe Conzemius edged Joel B. Johnson, 2 and 1, to begin the championship early Monday before beating Jordan Hawkinson, 6 and 5, to remain undefeated through the first two rounds.

“I looked at our pool when it came out and thought any one of the four guys could advance. [Hawkinson] is a really good player, [Johnson] has been playing great and Tony Krogen is really good,” said Conzemius, who fell to Conn during the quarterfinals in 2022. “To come out on the first day with two wins is certainly a step in the right direction.

“This is the first time I’ve been here and the course suits my eye well. It’s not a long course, so I think it’ll come down to chipping and putting, and I putted well today. If I can keep making those six, eight, 10-foot putts, I think I have a chance.”

Andy Jacobson, winner of the 2016 championship at Bent Creek Golf Club, notched a pair of victories Monday, defeating Geoff Klein and Bryant Black, and will now face Elton Mosman during the final round of pool play Tuesday with a chance to advance to the quarterfinals.

Also going 2-0 during the first two rounds of play Monday were Matt Norgaard, who defeated Bradley Wohlers and Tommy Smith, as well as Corey Schommer and Mike Wangen.

The final round of pool play at the 17th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. at Alexandria Golf Club, followed by the start of the quarterfinal round.