By Nick Hunter

 

BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Firing the low round of the tournament with a bogey-free 8-under 65 during his second round at Minnesota Valley Country Club, professional Muzzy Donohue moved up three spots on the leaderboard Tuesday and into the lead at the 109th Minnesota State Open presented by Yamaha Golf & Utility.

Eyeing his first state victory this week, Donohue will begin Wednesday’s final round with a two-stroke advantage over fellow professional and two-time champion Drew McCain, as well as amateur Peyton Coahran.

“Stuck to the process well today,” Donohue said Tuesday. “Yesterday was solid, too, just the hiccup on 10. Taking care of the par-5s this week is important, not necessarily having to hit all of them in two but leaving myself in good spots for the third shot and obviously hitting the fairways as the rough is very thick.”

After an opening-round 68 Monday, Donohue played his outward nine in 4-under Tuesday, quickly climbing the leaderboard to 9-under for the championship.

Narrowly missing his eagle chance at the first, Donohue tapped in for birdie to reach 10-under before hitting his approach from a fairway bunker at the third to within tap-in distance.

Getting up-and-down from in front of the fifth green, Donohue moved to 12-under and finished his blemish-free round by driving the eighth green and two-putting for birdie from 50 feet to take the 36-hole lead at 13-under 133.

“I think it’s important to trust the work I have put in tomorrow. The hay is in the barn. The hard work is done. Going to do my best to go out there, be creative, and let it flow,” Donohue said, looking forward to Wednesday’s final round of play. “Detaching my identity from the results, no matter what happens tomorrow, I will still be the same person and not letting golf define me. It frees me up to play the best I can, and I am excited for the challenge.”

McCain, who claimed the 2015 championship at Mendakota Country Club as an amateur and won his second title three years later as a professional at Bunker Hills Golf Club, played a steady opening nine Tuesday with a pair of birdies to move himself to 8-under for the championship.

After carding an eagle for the second consecutive round at the par-5 first, McCain took his first bogey of the second round at the fourth. He’d bounce back with three birdies over a four-hole span but closed out his round with the second bogey of the day, shooting 5-under 68 to finish in a share of second with Coahran, two shots back.

“The State Open is special to me, I’ve had some success here in the past, so I always look forward to playing,” McCain said following his second round Tuesday. “We’ve gotten off to a good start this week, so, hopefully, we can keep it going for one more day.

“With five par-5s, you have to tear up the par-5s. The greens are really difficult, and you can get yourself in trouble pretty quickly. I’ve done a good job of managing my way around—I’ve had some stretches in both rounds where I’ve played some really nice golf, and I’ve also gotten out of position and been able to manage that.”

Coahran, a former Winona State University golfer who claimed the 2022 Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship, started his second round Tuesday with a bogey at the second but would play his next in 8-under to move to 12-under.

Unable to save par at the last, Coahran finished with a bogey to fall back into a share of second with McCain at 135.

Past champions Brady Madsen (2019) and Jon DuToit (2013) remain within striking distance entering Wednesday’s final round, three shots back in a share of fourth.

 

Notables

Improving on his opening-round score by three shots Tuesday, two-time Minnesota PGA Section Assistant’s Player of the Year Andrew Israelson (Minneapolis Golf Club) moved up the leaderboard and into contention five shots back in a share of eighth along with 2021 champion Cecil Belisle (Red Wing Golf Club), who fired a second-round 66 to finish at 138.

Nate Adams (Eagle Lake Youth Golf Center) will begin his final round in a share of 11th place at 139, while Michael Schmitz (Hyland Greens Golf Course) and Chris Gilman (Willow Run Golf Course) will need to make up seven shots on the final day as they finished the first 36 holes in a share of 15th.

 

THE 109TH MINNESOTA STATE OPEN

MINNESOTA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB

BLOOMINGTON, MINN.

7,004 YARDS, PAR 73

 

TUESDAY’S SECOND ROUND RESULTS

1. Muzzy Donohue, North Oaks GC, 68-65—133

T2. Drew McCain, Combine Golf, 67-68—135

T2. Peyton Coahran (a), Little Crow CC, 68-67—135

T4. Brady Madsen, Eagle Creek GC, 69-67—136

T4. Jon DuToit (a), Chaska TC, 66-70—136

T6. Trent Peterson (a), Bunker Hills GC, 70-67—137

T6. Kagan Kollar (a), Rush Creek GC, 71-66—137

T8. Andrew Israelson, Minneapolis GC, 70-68—138

T8. Lucas Feterl (a), Rush Creek GC, 71-67—138

T8. Cecil Belisle, Red Wing GC, 72-66—138

 

 

For complete tournament results go to: Minnesota State Open Championship – Championship Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA