Winners in 2020, Christensen Cousins Lead Early at MGA Four-Ball

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  BECKER, Minn. – While it wasn’t the opening-round 59 that lifted cousins Dave and Mike Christensen to a seven-stroke victory at the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship in 2020, the two find themselves atop the leaderboard lead once again following Monday’s opening round with a 7-under 65 at Pebble Creek Golf Club.

“I don’t think we have any of those left,” Mike Christensen laughed about the record-breaking performance to begin the championship three seasons ago. “You always feel like you left a couple out there for sure, but we were setting our mindset to get in position for Wednesday.”

“We’ve been in this position before and we know what to expect, but we need to go shoot another low score on Wednesday,” Dave Christensen said.

Starting their round on the 10th tee Monday, Mike Christensen wedged his approach inside of three feet at the 10th and converted his early birdie chance to start the scoring before dropping a 20-footer for birdie at the 11th.

“In these events, patience is key, but when you make a couple of birdies early, it does take a little pressure off you to not force things,” Mike Christensen said.

Sinking 35-footer for eagle at the 16th put the two at 4-under for the round, and they would add a third birdie to their scorecard to turn in 5-under.

The two slowed their pace slightly by carding consecutive pars before Mike Christensen converted his birdie chance from 15 feet at the seventh, sending the two to 6-under for the tournament.

The cousin combo would card one final birdie, a 35-footer off Mike Christensen’s putter to finish the first 18 holes of play with a bogey-free 65.

“I hit a couple close and made a couple nice putts,” Mike Christensen said. “With Dave, he makes so many pars that it allows me to freewheel it and play aggressive with the irons and putts because you know the consequence is par. We really seem to get in a good rhythm.”

“My conservativeness plays into his aggressiveness, so that’s why we’ve been able to do well in these events,” Dave Christensen said. “I’ll keep doing it if he makes seven birdies.”

The Christensens broke a tournament record at Crow River Country Club in 2020 with their opening-round 59, and followed it with a 5-under 66 during the final round two days later to defeat 2014 champions Jesse Polk and Sammy Schmitz by seven shots.

Similar to start of the 2020 championship, the two will now get an extra day of rest before Wednesday’s final round.

“We’ll keep an eye on the scoreboard—it’s only natural to want to see where you’re at and adds a little excitement as you wait to play on Wednesday,” said Mike Christensen. “To win state titles is special to us, and to do it together is even better.”

“[Mike] played fantastic—as I’ve seen so many times over the years,” Dave Christensen said Monday. “When he has the feeling, it’s almost like it’s a garbage can he’s putting at. It’s always fun to see my cousin get going."

Jim Lehman and Jerry Rose, who claimed a victory at the 2019 MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship, combined to shoot a 3-under 69 Monday to finish the opening round in a share of second with 2015 Northland Invitational champion Topher Baron and 2020 Twin Cities Champion Yarri Bryn.

A total of 16 teams from Monday’s round will make the cut for Wednesday’s final round, while the top 23 teams, plus ties, will advance from Tuesday’s round.

Tuesday’s round is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at Pebble Creek Golf Club.