By Nick Hunter

HAMEL, Minn. – Watching his par putt fall from four feet on the 18th green Tuesday at Medina Golf and Country Club, Ian Friederichs carded a 3-under 69 for a second consecutive round to hold off a surging Michael Schmitz for a one-stroke victory at the 2026 Twin Cities Open presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility.
Friederichs becomes the first amateur to win the championship since it began in 2021 and collects his first victory since winning the Section 4AA Championship during his senior season at The Blake School in 2025.

“It’s an honor, it means a lot,” Friederichs said following his win Tuesday. “I’ve worked my butt off the last few months, and it hasn’t been easy. First big win, so it’s a big confidence booster.

“Coming into the round today, I just wanted to take control of my emotions—staying present and control what I can control, and I feel like I did a good job of that today.”

Friederichs, who just completed his freshman year at the University of Minnesota, capitalized on two early birdie chances to sit one off the lead before a bogey at the sixth.

The 18-year-old countered by wedging his approach to five feet at the seventh before drilling his second straight birdie from 40 feet at the eighth.
In command of his irons during the final round Tuesday, Friederichs’ approach stopped inside of a foot at the par-4 ninth where he’d tap in for birdie to reach 7-under for the tournament and carry a four-shot lead to the final nine holes. “It was tough out there—windy and cold, and I was not making it easy on myself on the back,” he said. “Lag putting wasn’t the best and left everything a little bit short.”

Following a three-putt bogey at the 14th, Friederichs held a two-stroke advantage over Schmitz with four feet left for par on the 36th hole, but watched Schmitz sink his birdie putt from off the back edge of the green from 30 feet away to move one shot closer.

“That four-foot putt got a little longer,” Friederichs joked. “Didn’t see much on the last putt—firm and down the middle.”

Entering the final round with a two-stroke advantage on Tuesday, Schmitz battled cool conditions and an equally cool putter early in the round, carding a double-bogey at the sixth and followed it with a bogey at the seventh to relinquish his lead.

Giving back yet another stroke with a bogey at the par-3 13th, Schmitz found his footing with a birdie at the 14th and converted his third birdie of the round at the 16th to move within two shots of the lead.

A birdie at the last moved Schmitz into second place at 5-under 139 for his second runner-up finish and fourth top-10 at the championship since 2021.
“Today was a lot more challenging,” Schmitz said after the final round Tuesday. “Weather was cooler and gustier at times. I would say I didn’t hit it as well as I did yesterday. “To hang in there and give myself a chance coming in was nice.”

Perhaps more importantly to Schmitz, he earns an exemption into the 2026 Minnesota State Open, as well as low-professional honors that comes with a $4,500 paycheck.
“I’m thrilled to not have to qualify—which I was getting a little nervous because it was the first time in 10 years I’ve not been exempt, so I snuck in again somehow. I’m looking forward to it. [Minnesota Valley Country Club] is right in my backyard, so it’s a course I feel really comfortable with.”

Recent University of Minnesota graduate Jack Wetzel, who set a course record with a final-round 62 at Rochester Golf and Country Club to finish runner-up at last season’s Minnesota State Open behind Tyler Leach, tallied a pair of late birdies to card a 1-under 71 Tuesday to finish alone in third place at 140.
Winner of the 2023 championship at Edina Country Club, Alex Kline climbed eight spots on the leaderboard during Tuesday’s final round to finish in a share of fourth with Gopher golfer Joe Honsa and former North Dakota State University golfer Jacob Herdine at 3-under 141.

Notables

Jeff Sorenson (The Minikahda Club) carded five birdies during his final nine holes Tuesday to help him to a round of 71 for a second straight day to place seventh.
Zach Sklebar (Moorhead Country Club) and 2019 Minnesota State Open champion Brady Madsen (Eagle Creek Golf Club) tallied a final-round 70 to finish in a tie for ninth with Brent Snyder (Kilkarney Hills Golf Course) and Chris Gilman (unattached).
Inaugural Twin Cities Open champion Jack Hiemenz (Victory Links Golf Course) finished in a tie for 19th at 146, while defending champion Thomas Campbell (The Wilds Golf Club) placed tied for 45th.

THE 2026 TWIN CITIES OPEN
MEDINA GOLF AND COUNTRY CLUB
HAMEL, MINN.
7,267 YARDS, PAR 72

TUESDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Ian Friederichs (a), Minikahda Club, 69-69—138
2. Michael Schmitz, Hyland Greens GC, 67-72—139
3. Jack Wetzel (a), Braemar GC, 69-71—140
T4. Jacob Herdine (a), Fox Hollow GC, 74-67—141
T4. Alex Kline, Kilkarney Hills GC, 72-69—141
T4. Joe Honsa (a), Southview CC, 72-69—141
7. Jeff Sorenson, Minikahda Club, 71-71—142
8. Trent Peterson (a), Bunker Hills GC, 71-72—143
T9. Joel B. Johnson (a), Links at Northfork, 74-70—144
T9. Zach Sklebar, Moorhead CC, 74-70—144
T9. Brady Madsen, Eagle Creek GC, 74-70—144
T9. Chris Gilman, unattached, 72-72—144
T9. Brent Snyder, Kilkarney Hills GC, 71-73—144

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