VanArragon and Johnson Shoot 66 to Share Lead at MGA Amateur

• 2023 MGA Amateur Championship Round 3
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  ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Just five days after his nine-stroke victory at the Minnesota State Open at Oak Ridge Country Club, Valparaiso University golfer Caleb VanArragon rose to the top of the leaderboard once again Monday, firing a 6-under 66 to begin the 120th Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship.

Even par through his first nine holes Monday, VanArragon played his final nine in 6-under, thanks in large part to his second career albatross at his 10th hole to earn a share of the lead with former University of Minnesota golfer Lincoln Johnson.

“That saved my round,” VanArragon said. “It really turned around the momentum. I barely shot even par on the front nine—with a couple of lucky breaks. It could’ve been higher for sure.

“To suddenly be 3-under with one swing really turned things to a more confident and aggressive mindset.”

Despite a final-round 64 last week and a 6-under 66 to open the championship Monday, VanArragon still believes there is room for improvement in his golf swing.

“Overall, I would say my swing was serviceable,” he said. “I was able keep the ball in play—made some good putts at the start, and made some good putts at the end. My putter was cold for a little while during the middle of the round.

“Even today I had a couple of weird misses, so I’d like to go to the range and get a couple of things ironed out. I was a little bit loose, especially at the start.”

Beginning his day on the 10th tee Monday, VanArragon got off to a rocky start with a bogey on his opening hole before back-to-back birdies at the 12th and 13th.

Giving back two strokes with bogeys at the 13th and 14th, VanArragon would turn in even par for the round following a birdie at the 15th.

From 152 yards at the par-5 first, VanArragon watched his 9-iron land inside of eight feet and release into the cup for his second double-eagle in as many seasons, to quickly jump to 3-under for the round.

VanArragon’s tee shot at the par-3 third stopped two feet from the hole at the sixth, where he’d tap in for his fourth birdie of the round.

After sinking a 20-footer for birdie at the eighth, VanArragon wedged his approach to six feet at the ninth and rolled in his birdie putt to earn a share of the lead with his 6-under 66.

With a pair of victories to his credit already this season, VanArragon now looks to become just the fourth player in state history to win both the Minnesota State Open and MGA Amateur Championship in the same season.

Hosting the championship for the first time since 2003, Minneapolis Golf Club surrendered two dozen eagles during the opening round Monday, with two of them belonging to Johnson, who put himself in contention for his first state victory.

“I was trying to stay patient. The only game plan me and my caddie had today was to hit the first green and make everything up after that,” Johnson said. “It felt good to hit a bunch of greens, and I didn’t have to make a lot of long putts for birdie.

“I felt like I wasn’t forcing anything—tried to stay in the moment and not jump too far ahead. This morning I had zero expectations. This is only my second tournament of the summer, but I played some good golf today.”

Johnson began his round on the 10th tee Monday, and started the scoring with three consecutive birdies beginning at the 12th before hitting a 2-iron from 248 yards to two feet at the 15th.

Following a bogey at the 17th, Johnson regained momentum by sinking his par putt from 10 feet to turn in 4-under.

Johnson capitalized on his second eagle chance from two feet at the first, and followed it with back-to-back birdies at the third and fourth to reach 8-under for the round.

He would finish his day with a share of the lead after a pair of late bogeys, shooting 6-under 66.

During his five seasons with the Gophers, Johnson made 23 starts, earned three top-10 finishes and closed out his career with a 73.20 scoring average, placing him eighth in school history.

Former University of St. Thomas golfer Shane Sienko fired a 5-under 67 Monday, and he will begin the second round tied for third with the University of Iowa’s Ian Meyer, Winona State University’s Peyton Coahran and current Gopher Ben Warian.

The 120th MGA Amateur Championship continues Tuesday when the second round begins at 8 a.m. at Minneapolis Golf Club.