Top Seeds Fall on Opening Day of MGA Players' Championship

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  MINNETRISTA, Minn. – It’s been six years since a top seed has lost an opening-round match at the Minnesota Golf Association Players’ Championship, and 21 years since both of the top two seeds were eliminated on the first day of competition.

But not in recent memory have the top two seeds fallen during the opening round—until Monday. Defending champion and No. 1 seed Max Tylke dropped his first match against Jon Pedersen, 2-up, while two-time champion and No. 2 seed Trent Peterson also exited early, losing his first match to Joshua Kummerfeldt, 2 and 1.

Who’s left standing?

Only five players seeded inside the top-10 to begin the week survived Monday’s first two rounds of play.

Valparaiso University golfer and defending Twin Cities champion Caleb VanArragon was among the first to advance to Tuesday’s Round of 16 after his victory over South Dakota State University’s Will Frazier, 6 and 5.

“This is my first tournament I’ve played since our conference tournament in college over a month and a half ago,” said this week's No. 5 seed VanArragon, who closed out both of his matches prior to the 14th hole Monday. “I wasn’t sure where my game was at. I’ve been practicing a lot, but haven’t gotten in a lot of rounds, so I wasn’t sure how my game was going to hold up under pressure on a tough course in tough conditions."

“I was missing in the right spots today and kept a lot of tee shots in play. I also left a lot of wedge shots below the pins and was able to convert quite a few birdie putts.”

VanArragon will now face former University of Oregon golfer Sam Foust during Tuesday’s Round of 16.

Entering the week following a runner-up finish at the MGA Mid-Players’ Championship last week, Ryan Conn beat Max Ullen, 3 and 2, before posting a career-low 8-under par 28 during his front nine of the second round to defeat University of North Dakota golfer Lucas Feterl, 7 and 5.

“I’ve been playing really well,” said the No. 9 seed Conn, who birdied eight of his first nine holes during his second match Monday. “This course is a little tighter and the greens are a little faster. They still spin but they’re firm—it’s a nice combo."

“You can’t do much from the rough out here, your back is definitely against the wall. I like courses when they’re firmer because I hit a lower ball, so it gives me more distance off the tee. The par-5’s are reachable out here for me and the greens spin from the fairway.”

Conn will face Casey Nelson during the Round of 16 Tuesday. Nelson needed extra holes to get past Erik Bredesen early Monday and went on to defeat two-time MGA Mid-Players’ champion Justin Burleson, 2 and 1.

Posting top-5 finishes at both the 2021 MGA Amateur Championship and Twin Cities Open last month, North Dakota State’s Nate Adams played himself into contention yet again Monday, defeating Grant Wayland, 5 and 3, before cruising to the Round of 16 for a second consecutive season with a win over Carson Herron, 7 and 6.

“Knowing I was playing [Herron], I knew I had to bring my best stuff because he’s a very talented player,” Adams said after advancing Monday. “I stayed patient on the front nine and didn’t get too aggressive."

“I made three putts over 20 feet in the first 10 holes and those were kind of daggers. I made the putts I needed to make today, so it was a stress-free day. I have a ton of confidence right now—I want to win some of these tournaments, and I feel like I’m at the level to win an MGA event.”

Defending Minnesota State Open champion Cecil Belisle, who defeated Conn at the 2020 championship at Hastings Golf Club, opened the championship with a win over University of Minnesota golfer Jacob Pederson, 3 and 1. Belisle, a two-time Class AA individual champion while at Red Wing High School, then got past North Dakota State’s Ian Simonich in 21 holes during Monday’s afternoon round.

Belisle, the highest remaining seed in the field at No. 3, will face 2021 MPGA Four-Ball and MGA Amateur Four-Ball champion Nick Jarrett early Tuesday.

St. John’s University’s Andrew Boemer picked up a pair of wins Monday and will face North Dakota State University golfer Josh Galvin during the third round early Tuesday.

Matt Norgaard, winner of both the 2021 MPGA Four-Ball and MGA Amateur Four-Ball Championship, got past Tanner Wanous, 4 and 2, before outlasting Wyatt Blomseth in 19 holes to reach the Round of 16 against Tyler Obermueller.

Kummerfeldt ousted Peterson early Monday in the day’s biggest surprise before edging Kurt Lambert in extra holes during the afternoon session. Kummerfeldt will face Dawson Wills early Tuesday.

Former Minnetonka High School standout Gunnar Broin defeated Conor Schubring, 4 and 2, to begin the championship, and would take down Tommy Brandabur, 3 and 2, during Monday’s second round. Broin will take on 2019 Minnesota State Open champion Brady Madsen when the tournament resumes Tuesday.

The 44th MGA Players’ Championship continues Tuesday when the Round of 16 gets under way at 7:30 a.m. at Burl Oaks Golf Club.