By Nick Hunter

 

MCGREGOR, MINN. – Carding three birdies during his final nine holes Monday at Minnesota National Golf Club and Resort lifted Matt Newman to a round of 69 and into the early lead to open the 96th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship.

When the championship resumes Tuesday, Newman will carry a one-stroke advantage over Jacob Otta, searching for his first victory in three seasons.

Starting his first round on the 10th tee Monday, Newman traded a birdie for a bogey at the 13th and 14th holes and did so again at the 17th and 18th to turn in even par for his round before finding his footing during his inward nine.

He converted his third birdie opportunity of the round at the par-5 first and would move to 2-under for the championship following his birdie at the 135-yard third hole.

Taking advantage of the final three par-5s of the round, Newman capitalized on one final birdie chance at the fifth to post an opening-round 69 to pace the field.

Newman’s only section victory to-date came in 2023 at the Luther Pro-Series Event No. 1, where Newman and partner Justin Kraft fired a 4-under 68 to earn a one-stroke victory over Dale Jones and Jeff Running at Olympic Hills Golf Club.

Last season Newman (The Minikahda Club) missed the cut at the Minnesota PGA Professional Championship at Bemidji Town and Country but finished the season with a pair of top-10 finishes in nine events.

His best finish at the event came in 2024 when he fired an 8-under 136 to place third at Braemar Golf Course.

Coming off the fifth top-5 finish of the season Friday at the Alan Hanson Scholarship Pro-Am at Rum River Hills Golf Course, Otta carded a lone birdie during his opening nine Monday to turn in 1-under for his round.

Unable to save par at the par-3 third, Otta rebounded by carding one of two eagles on the day at the par-5 to jump within one shot of the lead, shooting 2-under 70.

Otta (Sanford Power Golf Academy) has at least one victory in each of his last two seasons. Earlier this year, Otta fell in a playoff to Thomas Campbell at the Oneka Ridge Invitational in late May. In his six starts since, Otta has finished no worse than 16th.

Carding four birdies against three bogeys to close out his opening round Monday, Ryan Paulson (Minneapolis Golf Club) finished the first day of competition in third place at 1-under 71, while Edina Country Club’s Matt Sandquist will begin the final round three shots back after his round of even par Monday.

The final round of the 96th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship is slated to begin at 9 a.m. at Minnesota National Golf Club and Resort.

 

THE 96TH MINNESOTA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

MINNESOTA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB & RESORT
MCGREGOR, MINN.

7,025 YARDS, PAR 72

 

 MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS

1. Matt Newman, The Minikahda Club, 33-36—69

2. Jacob Otta, Sanford Power Golf Academy, 35-35—70

3. Ryan Paulson, Minneapolis GC, 35-36—71

4. Matt Sandquist, Edina CC, 37-35—72

T5. Thomas Campbell, The Wilds GC, 33-40—73

T5. Derek Holmes, Eagle Valley GC, 35-38—73

T5. Joshua Baldus, Interlaken GC, 36-37—73

T5. Scott McDonald, TaylorMade Golf Co., 38-35—73

T5. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 37-36—73

T5. Bennett Smed, White Bear YC, 36-37—73

T5. Kyle Scanlon, Northfield GC, 35-38—73

 

For complete results go to: MN PGA Professional Championship – Championship Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA