EDINA, Minn. – Trent Peterson, Blake Onkka, Ryan Stendahl, professional Michael Schmitz and Cooper Markham each posted rounds of 4-under 68 Sunday at Edina Country Club to crowd the leaderboard to begin the 2023 Twin Cities Open.
When the championship resumes Monday, just three strokes separate the top-24 players in the field.
Peterson, owner of seven amateur titles over the past two seasons, bounced back from an early bogey by carding three birdies and an eagle over his final 17 holes Sunday.
Onkka got off to an incredible start with three birdies and an eagle over his first four holes to jump to the top of the leaderboard before he would play his final 14 holes in 1-over to earn a share of the first-round lead.
Stendahl, a junior at Maple Grove High School, was the only player in a field of 108 golfers to write two eagles on his scorecard Sunday.
Bouncing back from an early bogey, Stendahl recorded three birdies over his next six holes before his first eagle of the round at the par-5 eighth.
Stendahl then made a second eagle at the par-5 13th, but would give back two strokes with a double-bogey at the 17th to share the clubhouse lead at 4-under 68.
Schmitz played his first 12 holes in 1-under Sunday before recording an eagle at the 13th to reach 3-under for the championship. He converted his birdie opportunity at the last to earn a five-way share of the lead with his 68.
Carding two birdies that were negated by a pair of bogeys during his opening nine Sunday, Markham made his move mid-round when he eagled the par-5 10th.
A pair of birdies over his next three holes put the Montevallo University junior at 3-under and he would card his fifth birdie of the day at the par-3 17th. A bogey at the 18th put Markham into a share of first with his 4-under 68.
NOTABLES
Hiemenz (of Victory Links Golf Club), who claimed the inaugural championship at Tanners Brook Golf Club in 2021, fired a 3-under 69 to sit tied for sixth, along Scott McDonald (Minnewaska Golf Club).
Eddie Wynne (University Golf Course) sits tied for 11th following Sunday’s opening round with a 2-under 70.
Thomas Campbell (Swing Lab Performance Golf) carded four birdies against two bogeys during his inward nine Sunday to finish tied for 16th with a round of 1-under 71 during his opening nine.
Campbell will begin the final round tied with fellow professionals Grant Hanson (Geneva Golf Club), Jeff Sorenson (The Minikahda Club), Andrew Israelson (Minneapolis Golf Club), Brent Snyder (Kilkarney Hills Golf Club) and Austin Eccleton (Minneapolis Golf Club).
The final round of the 2023 Twin Cities Open is slated to begin at 8 a.m. Monday at Edina Country Club.
THE 3RD TWIN CITIES OPEN
EDINA COUNTRY CLUB
EDINA, MINN.
6,810 YARDS, PAR 72
SUNDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
T1. Trent Peterson, Fountain Valley GC, 34-34—68
T1. Blake Onkka, The Wilds GC, 34-34—68
T1. Ryan Stendahl, Rush Creek GC, 31-37—68
T1. Michael Schmitz (p), 2nd Swing, 34-34—68
T1. Cooper Markham, Baker Nat’l GC, 35-33—68
T6. Ross Miller (p), Le Sueur CC, 34-35—69
T6. Alex Kline (p), Troy Burne GC, 33-36—69
T6. Danny Renner, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 31-38—69
T6. Jack Hiemenz (p), Victory Links GC, 34-35—69
T6. Scott McDonald (p), Minnewaska GC, 33-36—69
For complete tournament results go to: Twin Cities Open – Championship Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA (bluegolf.com)