By Nick Hunter
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. – Converting six birdie chances during his opening nine Monday at Minnesota Valley Country Club lifted former University of Minnesota golfer Jon DuToit into the early lead at the 109th Minnesota State Open presented by Yamaha Sport and Utility, posting a 7-under 66.
In search of his second win at the event, DuToit will be chased by Matthew Armstrong and two-time champion Drew McCain when the tournament resumes early Tuesday, each posting rounds of 67 to finish their opening round one back of the lead.
“I’m in such a different season of life right now. My expectations are pretty low, which in golf is good,” said the former Gopher, who defeated Sammy Schmitz and Clayton Rask to capture the 2013 championship at Edinburgh USA. “I’m not practicing a ton, but I’ve been able to play a little bit. These are just fun events I get to play in now.
“It’s probably going to take a lot more birdies going forward because the weather looks good and the course is pretty soft. The course is tricky because you can get in some not good spots with tough pin locations.”
DuToit started quickly with a birdie on his opening hole Monday before back-to-back birdies moved him to 3-under for his round.
Knocking a 7-iron inside of three feet at the seventh led to a fourth birdie and DuToit would follow it by rolling in an 8-footer at the eighth.
Left with 10 feet at the ninth, DuToit rolled in his sixth birdie of his outward nine to turn in 6-under.
“Being 3-under through five and then getting three in a row to finish the front, you’re not really expecting that,” he said. “Honestly, I feel like getting off to such a hot start—you get to 12 or 13 and realize you’re having a really good day, so let’s take advantage of this because it doesn’t always happen.”
DuToit carded a fourth straight birdie at the 10th but would card his first bogey of the round at the 11th. He’d trade a bogey at the 13th with a birdie at the 14th to remain at 6-under before pitching inside of four feet at the last, tapping in for an opening-round 66.
“I drove the ball really well, so I was always in a good spot and made some nice putts,” DuToit said.
Following win in 2013, DuToit claimed the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship in 2015 at Northland Country Club. Over his last three seasons, DuToit hasn’t finished outside of the top-20, including a 10th-place finish in 2023 at Oak Ridge Country Club.
Looking to become the first player since George Shortridge won his third Minnesota State Open title in 1993, McCain put himself in position Monday to collect his fifth win of the 2026 season.
“I’ve been playing solid golf,” McCain said Monday. “I definitely want to win a third time because no one really has. Doing something again 11 years later is pretty cool. [This event] is bookmarked on my calendar because I care about it and I want to do well.
“Last year I was playing really well going in and then played terrible here and missed the cut. I felt like I was playing some of the best golf of my life, so expectations were high. This year, I think it’s a little more even keel.”
McCain started with an eagle on his opening hole Monday and would close out his opening nine with a string of three birdies over a five-hole span.
Stradling a bogey at the 11th with birdies at 10 and 12, McCain moved to 5-under for the tournament before closing out his round with a birdie from 25 feet at the 18th to join Armstrong in second with a 67.
“Good start, good finish,” McCain said. “I played pretty nice on my front nine, especially navigating six and seven, which are tricky holes and then a nice up-and-down for par on nine. Hit some good shots on the back, but didn’t have that many good looks coming in.
“I made a couple mistakes and as soon as you’re out of position here, hitting it to 30 feet is reasonable, but it’s a tough two-putt. These greens can be crazy, and they require you’re full attention.”
Armstrong, who enters the week with a pair of state titles to his credit, got off to a blazing start Monday, carding an eagle on his opening hole and would tally five birdies over his next eight holes to turn in on top of the leaderboard at 7-under.
Cooling off over his final nine, Armstrong failed to save par at the 17th and carded his only bogey of the round to finish his opening round one shot of the lead.
“I wasn’t expecting much today, first tournament in 10 months,” Armstrong said Monday. “Just happy to be out here. Overall, I hit it really well today. Putted well on the front—the back they didn’t fall, but I was pleased with how I putted and my ball-striking.
“I’m playing once or twice a week for fun, and it was a lot of fun today. I’m excited to play some tournament golf again.”
Nate Deziel, who claimed the 2024 MGA Amateur Championship at Minnesota Valley, posted an opening-round 68 Monday to finish tied for fourth with fellow professional Muzzy Donohue and amateurs Landon Miller and Peyton Coahran.
The second round of the 109th Minnesota State Open will begin at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Minnesota Valley Country Club.
Notables
Brady Madsen (Eagle Creek Golf Club), who claimed the 2019 championship at Rush Creek Golf Club, posted an opening-round 69 to finish his first 18 holes of play tied for eighth with University of St. Thomas men’s golf coach Alex Kline.
Nate Adams (Eagle Lake Youth Center) will begin Tuesday’s second round in a share of 11th place with 14 other players, including recent Minnesota Senior Open winner Derek Stendahl (Rush Creek Golf Club), two-time defending Minnesota PGA Rolex Player of the Year Thomas Campbell (The Wilds Golf Club), Nate Stevens (Northfield Golf Club), two-time Minnesota PGA Assistants’ Player of the Year Andrew Israelson (Minneapolis Golf Club) and Casey Vangsness (Swedberg Golf Academy).
THE 109TH MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
MINNESOTA VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB
BLOOMINGTON, MINN.
7,004 YARDS, PAR 73
MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Jon DuToit (a), Chaska TC, 30-36—66
T2. Matthew Armstrong (a), StoneRidge GC, 29-38—67
T2. Drew McCain, Combine Golf, 32-35—67
T4. Landon Miller (a), Minneapolis GC, 34-34—68
T4. Peyton Coahran (a), Little Crow CC, 33-35—68
T4. Muzzy Donohue, North Oaks GC, 32-36—68
T4. Nate Deziel, Moorhead CC, 35-33—68
T8. Brady Madsen, Eagle Creek GC, 34-35—69
T8. Brennan Weckwerth (a), MN Youth on Course, 34-35—69
T8. Alex Kline, Kilkarney Hills GC, 35-34—69
For complete tournament results go to: Minnesota State Open Championship – Championship Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA