By Nick Hunter

 

FOREST LAKE, Minn. – Searching for his first multiple-win season in nearly 10 years, Derek Stendahl opened the 52nd Minnesota Senior PGA Professional Championship presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility with a 3-under 69 Tuesday to take a two-shot lead at Forest Hills Golf Club.

Stendahl, who captured his second Minnesota Senior Open title in May at Keller Golf Course, will look to hold off 2023 Minnesota Senior Open champion Chris Borgen and Jason Sudenga when the final round begins Wednesday.

“I came out and played the course a couple times because it’s certainly a course where you might want to know a few different angles and hit a few different clubs—that was helpful,” Stendahl said following his round Tuesday. “Actually, made some putts today so I was feeling pretty good about it.”

Beginning his round with a pair of birdies across his first five holes, Stendahl gave back a stroke with a bogey at the seventh to turn in 1-under for the day.

Wedging his approach to three feet at the 12th, Stendahl moved back to 2-under for the round before he trickled in his birdie opportunity from inside of 20 feet at the 14th to move two shots clear of the field, posting a 3-under 69.

“I need to get sharper with some of my wedges—missed some greens from about 60 yards,” Stendahl said. “Drove the ball well and putted pretty good. I think I made everything I was supposed to today and made some really good par saves.

“If I can drive it the way I did and keep it in the right spots, that’s the key out here, knowing where to be and where not to be on these greens.”

Firing a 6-under 66 to begin the Minnesota Senior Open in May, Stendahl held on for a one-stroke victory over amateur Jesse Bull to claim his second win at the event in five seasons.

Stendahl, 55, from Rush Creek Golf Club, won a pair of section events in 2017, but would have to wait five years before his next victory at the Minnesota Senior Open in 2022.

Winless since the 2021 season, a late bogey dropped Sudenga two shots back of Stendahl after beginning his round with a pair of early birdies.

“Hit my driver pretty well and made some putts,” the 55-year-old Sudenga said Tuesday. “Leaked a little oil coming in, but I’ll take 1-under—looks like there’s only three scores under par. Anything under par was good today.

“Go home and get some sleep—it’s tiring out there. I played nine holes with our senior men’s club this morning and shot 4-under. I felt pretty good, just had to keep it going and I did. I’m going to keep the same mindset and see what happens.”

Birdies at the third and fifth quickly put Sudenga at 2-under for the round before he was slowed by a bogey at the seventh.

Making good on his birdie chance from five feet at the 12th, Sudenga took a step back with a bogey at the 13th.

Hitting his approach to 10 feet at the 15th led to his fourth birdie of the round, but he’d finish in a share of second at 72 following a bogey at the 17th.

Bouncing back from a double-bogey on his opening hole Tuesday, Borgen carded consecutive pars to close out his front nine in 2-over.

He’d quickly find his footing early during his inward nine, tallying back-to-back birdies at the 11th and 12th holes to return to level par for the round.

The 54-year-old Borgen converted one final birdie chance at the par-5 16th to move within two shots of Stendahl with his opening-round 71.

Augsburg College head golf coach Eric Rolland played his opening nine holes in 1-over Tuesday before three birdies and a bogey moved him to 1-under for the event.

The 2022 Minnesota PGA Rolex Player of the Year would leave his par putt just short at the 18th to finish his opening round at even par 72, tied for fourth with Lance West (Medina Golf & Country Club), Aaron Jacobson (Rush Creek Golf Club), Ryan Hanford (Midland Hills Country Club), Chris Peterson (Oak Glen Golf Course) and Ty Armstrong (GolfTEC-Eden Prairie).

Wednesday’s champion, plus the top-5 finishers, will advance to the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship set to be played Oct. 22-25 at Superstition Mountain in Gold Canyon, Ariz.

The final round of the 52nd Minnesota Senior PGA Professional Championship gets underway at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Forest Hills Golf Club.

 

THE 52ND MINNESOTA SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

FOREST HILLS GOLF CLUB

FOREST LAKE, MINN.

6,531 YARDS, PAR 72

 

 TUESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS

1. Derek Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, 35-34—69

T2. Chris Borgen, Lost Spur GC, 38-33—71

T2. Jason Sudenga, Bluff Creek GC, 35-36—71

T4. Eric Rolland, Augsburg University, 37-35—72

T4. Lance West, Medina G&CC, 36-36—72

T4. Aaron Jacobson, Rush Creek GC, 37-35—72

T4. Ryan Hanford, Midland Hills GC, 39-33—72

T4. Chris Peterson, Oak Glen GC, 37-35—72

T4. Ty Armstrong, GolfTEC Eden Prairie, 38-34—72

T10.Mike Barge, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 38-35—73

T10. Mike Seiffert, FCA Golf, 37-36—73

T10. Craig Brischke, Tanners Brook GC, 38-35—73

T10. David Podas, Braemar GC, 40-33—73

 

For complete tournament results go to: MN Sr PGA Professional Champ. – MN Senior Professional Champ. Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA