By Nick Hunter

PRIOR LAKE, Minn. – Firing his first bogey-free round of the season Monday at The Wilds Golf Club, Wes Buntenbach posted a 6-under 66 to claim the Thompson Golf Management Pro-Series Event No. 3/Assistants’ Event No. 5 for his third section win of the season.

Buntenbach, an assistant professional at Medina Golf and Country Club, rolled in three birdie chances over his final four holes to earn a three-stroke victory over two-time defending Rolex Minnesota PGA Player of the Year Thomas Campbell, Jacob Otta and Conor Schubring.

“I’m pretty invested on trying to get assistant player of the year again,” said Buntenbach, who won the award in 2024. “I think [Nate Adams] is just a little too far ahead for me to catch him. But today was exactly what I needed.

“I had a rough assistant championship and then had a rough event last week. I went on vacation right before the assistant championship and I didn’t touch a club for six days and that kind of got me. Today, I made some putts and kept the ball in play.

With one assistant’s event left in the season, Buntenbach trails Adams by 139 points in the player of the year standings. Most recently, Buntenbach shared medalist honors at the Assistants’ Event No. 4 in late August at White Bear Yacht Club.

On Monday, Buntenbach played his first 14 holes in 3-under par before converting a short birdie chance at the par-5 17th. He followed it by burying his birdie look from 15 feet at the 18th to move in front by two at 5-under.

Left with 15 feet for eagle on his final hole at the par-5 second, Buntenbach tapped in for birdie to claim a three-stroke win by carding a bogey-free 66.

“First bogey free round of the year in practice or tournament, so I was very happy with that,” he said. “Expectations are the killer of good rounds, and it was good to have a good day.

“I tried to have a foot on the gas pedal the whole time and just keep going. Make one more birdie, make one more birdie, make one more birdie.”

Inching closer to his third consecutive Rolex Minnesota PGA Player of the Year award, Campbell tallied three birdies over his final seven holes Monday to climb into a share of second with Schubring and Otta for his 14th top-5 finish of 2026.

“I’m glad I finished the round, honestly. I came out here last night and something happened to my hip and back when I hit a couple of drivers and it popped,” Campbell said following his round Monday. “Taped it up, put some Icy Hot on and I was able to swing it at about 80% speed. Probably a good thing, actually.

“Just grindy today, but solid for what I had.”

Turning in even par Monday, Campbell rolled in a pair of birdie chances from inside of five feet at the 12th and 14th to get to 2-under for the round.

A short birdie putt at the 16th helped Campbell to a 3-under 69, as he looks to become the first player with three consecutive POY awards since Jeff Sorenson won three straight from 2008 to 2010.

“I see [Sorenson’s] name up there, I see [Don Berry’s] name up there, those two had quite a lot. They had a nice run there for a few years. I’d like to see my name up there.”

Sorenson has eight player of the year awards total, while Berry has won 17 times, including 13 straight from 1995 to 2007.

Entering its first season as the title sponsor for the TGM Pro-Series in 2026 and season-long points race for the Minnesota section, Thompson Golf Management teams with golf course owners and boards to aid with golf course operations, providing a long-term vision to enhance the overall golf experience.

“We’ve got a couple of golf courses [in Minnesota] already, so I’m just very curious and interested in the Minnesota market,” Thompson Golf Management CEO Ryan Thompson said. “I’ve been working with clubs in Arizona for 20 years, and I’d like to get to know clubs here because I think there’s some great opportunities.

“We’re a management company—we help clubs grow, eliminate problems and make things easier.”

The Pro-Series and TGM Points race consists of three regular-season events, culminating in a season ending invitational held in conjunction with the Minnesota Golf Champions.

At the end of the three regular-season events, the top 30 players in the TGM Points Standings will receive an invitation to the Minnesota Golf Champions in September at The Club at Golden Valley.

 

THE TGM PRO-SERIES EVENT NO. 3/ASSISTANTS EVENT NO. 5

THE WILDS GOLF CLUB

PRIOR LAKE, MINN.

6,853 YARDS, PAR 72

 

MONDAY’S PRO-SERIES FINAL RESULTS

1. Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, 33-33—66

T2. Thomas Campbell, Wilds GC, 36-33—69

T2. Jacob Otta, Sanford Power Golf Acad., 35-34—69

T2. Conor Schubring, Bethel Univ., 33-36—69

5.Andrew Israelson, Minneapolis GC, 36-34—70

T6. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 36-35—71

T6. Lucas Johnson, Suite Shots, 35-36—71

T6. Tyson Dusosky, The Links at Northfork, 34-37—71

T6. Derek Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, 35-36—71

 

MONDAY’S ASSISTANT’S EVENT FINAL RESULTS

1. Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, 33-33—66

2. Conor Schubring, Bethel Univ., 33-36—69

3. Andrew Israelson, Minneapolis GC, 36-34—70

T4. Grady Matthews, Fox Hollow GC, 37-34—71

T4. Lucas Johnson, Suite Shots, 35-36—71

T4. Tyson Dusosky, The Links at Northfork, 34-37—71

7. Dalton Anderson, River Oaks GC, 36-36—72

T8. Aaron Nelson, Bent Creek GC, 36-38—74

T8. Jack Hiemenz, Victory Links GC, 37-37—74

T8. Nate Adams, Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center, 37-37—74

 

For complete tournament results go to: TGM Pro-Series #3 / Assistants #5 – Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA