Carrie Scarfino

Article from Minnesota PGA
By Nick Hunter

HOPKINS, Minn. – Rattled by two bogeys over the first three holes Monday at Oak Ridge Country Club, Valparaiso University golfer Caleb VanArragon quickly began to doubt his chances during the opening round of the 106th Minnesota State Open presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility.

“I felt so completely lost with my game and hit a few really terrible shots,” VanArragon said. “I didn’t think it was going to be a very good tournament at all, but then I made two 30-footers in a row on the first day and that was the big turning point.”

He went on to finish his opening round with a 2-under 68 before getting a boost from a pair of eagles during his second round Tuesday, carding a 5-under 65 to share the 36-hole lead with former University of Minnesota golfer Jon DuToit.

VanArragon turned in a dominant performance on the final day Wednesday by shooting a 6-under 64 to claim a nine-stroke victory over professionals Andrew McCain, Trey Fessler and Ross Miller—the third largest margin in tournament history.

“Today was probably the best round of my life,” he said. “This means a lot to get a win since I finished second at the [Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship] two years ago and second at this event last year, and especially considering the quality of the players in the field.

“Winning is really hard—I’ve seen that plenty over the past few years. I think I’ve finished second or lost by one shot about 12 times since my last individual win at a college event last February.”

VanArragon carded three birdies during his front nine Wednesday, including back-to-back birdies at the eighth and ninth holes to turn in 10-under for the tournament, holding a four-shot advantage over Miller with nine holes to play.

As other players began to falter during their final nine, VanArragon executed flawlessly by sinking four consecutive birdies beginning at the par-4 12th to separate himself from the field.

He rolled in a 6-footer at the 13th before tapping in a pair of 3-footers at the 14th and 15th, but would card his fourth bogey of the week at the par-4 17th after missing the green short.

Dropping his par putt from three feet at the 18th gave VanArragon his fifth state victory, and second win of the 2023 season.

“I wanted to do what I could to put myself in the best position instead of trying to win the tournament,” he said. “The two state tournaments I won as a junior were both really close, so I’ve never had a big lead like that. It was a completely different experience for me, and I definitely didn’t feel comfortable knowing who was behind me.”

During his first four seasons at Valparaiso, VanArragon has collected three collegiate wins, more than 15 top-5 finishes and nearly 30 top-10s.

As a freshman he shattered the single-season scoring record and has since beaten it twice. The former Blaine High School standout will return for a fifth season this fall.

VanArragon’s first state victory came at the 2017 Minnesota Boys’ Junior PGA Championship at Chaska Town Course, and he would win the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship the following season at The Bridges.

A two-time MGA Player of the Year, VanArragon won the 2021 Twin Cities Championship by seven strokes at Hastings Golf Club, and teamed with younger sister, Kathryn, to win the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in late June for his most recent victory.

As a result, VanArragon will earn an exemption into the 2023 PGA Tour Canada’s CRMC Championship at Cragun’s Resort in Brainerd, Minn., Aug. 31-Sept. 3, as well as a spot in Monday qualifying for the 3M Open.

Wally Ulrich’s win by 15 strokes over Joe Coria and Bill Waryan in 1951 at Interlachen Country Club remains the tournament’s largest margin of victory, while George Smith claimed a 10-stroke victory over Jack Burke in 1924 at Minneapolis Golf Club, when the championship played 72 holes.

More recently, Ben Greve claimed his second straight win at the championship in 2017, five shots better than DuToit at StoneRidge Golf Club.

McCain, who became the fourth player in tournament history to win as an amateur and then as a professional, fired his best round of the week Wednesday, a 4-under 66 to earn a share of low-professional honors with Miller and Fessler.

“I finally got under the hole and had some simple birdie putts for the first time in the tournament, really,” said McCain, who bounced back from a bogey on his front nine by carding five birdies over a six-hole stretch during the back. “It’s a difficult task even making par after hitting a good shot on some of these holes.

“A good finish—I haven’t played a ton of golf this year, but it’s nice to get back and play and see familiar faces. I enjoy playing competitive golf and it’s nice to get into the swing of things and have some fun.”

Fessler entered the final round two shots off the lead in a share of third with Miller, and holed out from 116 yards for eagle at the first to earn a share of the lead with DuToit and VanArragon at 7-under.

But three double-bogeys on his final-round scorecard, including the final hole, kept Fessler from catching VanArragon, posting a final-round 71 to finish at 4-under 206.

Miller carded one birdie during his opening nine Wednesday to reach 6-under, but stumbled mid-round with two bogeys and a double at the 12th. He rallied with back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th to split a paycheck of over $7,900.

Professional and former Winona State University golfer Michael Schmitz opened the championship with a 1-under 69, and closed out the tournament with a 69 Wednesday to place fifth at 2-under 208.

NOTABLES

Don Berry (Edinburgh USA), a winner in 1992 and 1999, made his 42nd start at the championship this week and, more impressively, has made the cut in all 42 appearances.

Christopher Meyer (Southview CC), fired a final-round 72 Wednesday to place tied for eighth at even par 210, while 2021 Twin Cities Open champion Jack Hiemenz finished tied for 10^th at 211.

Jeff Sorenson (The Minikahda Club), a seven-time Minnesota PGA Rolex Player of the Year, notched a top-15 finish thanks to a second-round 68 followed by a 69 Wednesday.

Tyler Leach (Minakwa GC), University of Minnesota assistant coach Robert Bell, Lucas Johnson (Suite Shots) and 2019 champion Brady Madsen (Eagle Creek GC) also finished tied for 15 at 2-over 212.

THE 106TH MINNESOTA STATE OPEN
OAK RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB
HOPKINS, MINN.
6,781 YARDS, PAR 70

WEDNESDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Caleb VanArragon, Bunker Hills GC, 68-65-64—197
T2. Andrew McCain (p), Dellwood CC, 69-71-66—206
T2. Ross Miller (p), Le Sueur CC, 69-66-71—206
T2. Trey Fessler (p), Fox Hollow GC, 67-68-71—206
5. Michael Schmitz (p), 2nd Swing, 69-70-69—208
T6. Conor Schubring, Bent Creek GC, 68-69-72—209
T6. Josh Galvin, Rush Creek GC, 69-68-72—209
T8. Brady Arnett, White Bear YC, 69-71-70—210
T8. Christopher Meyer (p), Southview CC, 72-66-72—210
T10. Jack Hiemenz (p), Victory Links GC, 70-71-70—211
T10. Muzzy Donohue, North Oaks GC, 75-63-73—211
T10. Brock Winter, Indian Hills GC, 69-69-73—211
T10. Ian Simonich, Moorhead CC, 66-70-75—211
T10. Jon DuToit, Chaska TC, 65-68-78—211

For complete tournament results go to:   https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga23/event/mnpga239/contest/9/leaderboard.htm

VanArragon Accepts Earns Exemption to CRMC ChampionshipRead More

BRAINERD, Minnesota—Minnesota Wild star Matt Boldy has accepted a sponsor’s exemption to play in PGA TOUR Canada’s CRMC Championship presented by Gertens at Cragun’s Legacy Courses on August 31-September 3.

Boldy was selected by the Wild with the 12^th overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft and recently signed a multi-year contract extension with the franchise. A native of Millis, Massachusetts, the 22-year-old played his collegiate hockey at Boston College. An accomplished amateur golfer since childhood, Boldy will be navigating the Dutch Course’s Championship, par-70 layout, which will stretch to more than 7,000 yards for the event. The 156-player field will compete to win a share of the $225,000 purse in the official Fortinet Cup tournament.

This CRMC Championship presented by Gertens is the last full-field stop before players compete in the limited-field final tournament of the season, the Fortinet Cup Championship, in Calgary. The top Fortinet Cup points-earner gains membership to the 2024 Korn Ferry Tour season, a $25,000 bonus and an exemption into the PGA TOUR’s 2023 Fortinet Championship in California. The second-through-fifth finishers earn conditional 2024 Korn Ferry Tour membership, while all top-five finishers are also exempt into the final stage of 2023 PGA TOUR Qualifying Tournament, and those finishing sixth through 25th are exempt into the second stage.

“We are thrilled to have PGA TOUR Canada returning to Brainerd for the second year in a row,” said Jack Wawro, Director of Golf, at Cragun’s Legacy Courses. “And we believe having Matt will add just that much more excitement to this year’s event. Matt is a very accomplished golfer and is very excited to see how his game will hold up against some of the best golfers in the world.”

Boldy has played 128 career NHL games, scoring 46 goals and assisting on 56 others. It is anticipated Boldy’s participation in the CRMC Championship presented by Gertens will heighten awareness and support for the tournament’s charity, the CRMC Foundation, and its support of three key initiatives: the Courage Cabinet, which offers financial assistance to cancer patients; Because of Brandon, which provides support to diabetes patients; and Hospice, which supports end-of-life care.

Cragun’s Resort is located on Gull Lake and offers a wide array of outdoor activities for individuals, families and groups, including a mile-long sandy beach, biking, hiking trails, and watersports. Cragun’s Legacy Courses present golfers the ultimate challenges and options at any skill level. As of June 30, 2023, 36 holes of golf are available on two championship courses:  the Lehman 18 and Dutch 18.

For additional information on the Resort, click here. For more information on the CRMC Championship  presented by Gertens, please click here.

About PGA TOUR Canada

PGA TOUR Canada is a series of tournaments played primarily in Canada each summer, where tomorrow’s stars begin the path to the PGA TOUR. The leading points-earners at the end of each season earn status on the Korn Ferry Tour for the following season. PGA TOUR Canada’s mission is to deliver a PGA TOUR experience for our members, fans, volunteers and its partners in order to develop the future stars of professional golf and enrich the communities the Tour visits. To learn more or to view the full 2023 PGA TOUR Canada schedule, please visit www.pgatour.com/canada.

Minnesota Wild Matt Boldy to play CRMC ChampionshipRead More

Northern Pacific Center official Pro-AM and Event Ticket SponsorRead More

PGA TOUR Canada just announced the 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Fortinet Cup Schedule. The CRMC Championship presented by Gertens is the last stop before players compete in the final tournament, the Fortinet Cup Championship. Only the top 5 players of the 2023 PGA TOUR Canada Fortinet Cup season long points race will receive Korn Ferry Membership in 2024.

The path to the PGA TOUR starts here. Ryan Gerard, Parker Coody, Noah Goodwin and others, who played at the 2022 CRMC Championship, earned a spot on the Korn Ferry tour and have played in PGA TOUR events in 2023.

Cragun’s Legacy Courses will be a critical stop and the crowd should be in store for a dramatic finish this Labor Day Weekend.

We hope to see all of you there for this FREE ENTRY event sponsored by Northern Pacific Center.   We are also looking for volunteers and caddies.  Sign up today at https://crmcchampionship.com/get-involved/.

JUST ANNOUNCED: 2023 PGA TOUR Canada ScheduleRead More

The CRMC Championship is honored to have Gertens and Gertens Wholesale back again as our presenting sponsor.

Back in the early 1900s, Frank Gerten had a simple motto, “buy from the grower.” Over the years, Gertens has expanded their facility with high tech state-of-the-art greenhouses and their dedication to quality in their products show. Most retail customers know that Gertens has the widest selection of annuals, perennials, and nursery stock, making their garden center experiences unlike any other.

Did you know that Gertens also has a wholesale business that has everything you’ll need to get your job done? Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply has plants, hardscape, landscape, fertilizers, turf protection, grass seed and more.

For more information, visit their website at gertenswholesale.com.

Gertens Returns as Presenting SponsorRead More

Cuyuna Regional Medical Center is back as Title SponsorRead More

PGA TOUR Canada alum, Ryan Gerard, made his way to the Korn Ferry tour last season after finishing 5th in the Fortinet Cup race. Gerard finished 3rd at the CRMC Championship, behind Jake Knapp and Wil Bateman. He also had a hole-in-one on number 17 of the tournament course.

However, today is a big day for Gerard. He finished 4th at The Honda Classic, a PGA TOUR event.

If you followed Gerard during the CRMC Championship, you likely saw the determination and discipline in his eyes. His mom joined him for a couple of rounds and shared that Gerard is focused on golf. She said that Gerard wants to get on the PGA TOUR. Gerard said, “I’d love to get on the PGA TOUR. That has always been my dream.”

From your fans in Minnesota, Congratulations Ryan Gerard! It was a pleasure to have you and best of luck.

Ryan Gerard takes 3rd place at CRMC Championship and 4th place at PGA TOUR event.Read More

Final Results

CRMC Championship presented by Gertens

Cragun’s Legacy Courses

Brainerd, Minnesota

August 28, 2022

 Full Leaderboard:

Knapp holds off Bateman to win in Minnesota

BRAINERD, Minnesota—PGA TOUR Canada’s first official event in the United States proved to be a bit of a border battle. However, in the end, the CRMC Championship presented by Gertens was settled on the course at Cragun’s Legacy Courses.

Jake Knapp of Costa Mesa, California, outlasted Wil Bateman of Edmonton, Alberta, for the tournament title Sunday. In picking up his third career PGA TOUR Canada title, Knapp finished at 26-under. Bateman ended up two shots back after a back-and-forth fight for control of the lead.

“I’d say I played conservatively aggressive today,” Knapp said. “I knew I was hitting it well. So, if there were some holes where it fit me, I was taking it at the pin. But I just stayed patient all day.”

Knapp finished with six birdies in a round free of bogeys. It was a stellar run of golf for Knapp, who played his final 49 holes without a bogey. It was all good enough to fend off a serious challenge by Bateman.

“I’m somebody that likes to play really aggressive, and I’m not afraid to,” Knapp explained. “Sometimes that can get me into trouble. So, out here I just wanted to make sure I made it kind of easy and not stress myself out as much as possible.”

Driving well off the tee, the former UCLA standout added, gave him a ton of chances.

Bateman, meanwhile, quickly stormed into serious contention with birdies on six of the first seven holes. He shot an 8-under 62, with nine birdies on the final day, briefly taking the lead on No. 7. Knapp, who was playing in the group behind Bateman, pulled even with a birdie on the same hole.

Knapp took the lead back on No. 10 before Bateman birdied the 12th hole to knot up things again. Down the stretch, though, Knapp secured an advantage for good. Birdies on Nos. 13 and 15 got things started before he sealed the deal with another birdie the 18th. A bogey on the 17th hole dashed Bateman’s hopes. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18, scaring the hole with his eagle chip at the last. He said the round was both fun and emotional.

“Jake played really well all week. I think he made just two bogeys all week,” Bateman said. “He deserved it. Solo second is pretty good.”

As a consolation, Bateman retained his hold on the No. 1 spot in the Fortinet Cup standings. He’s 17 points ahead of the new No. 2 player, Knapp. Knapp earned 500 points and pocketed $36,000.

Knapp knew the rain softened the course and made it play much easier than anticipated. “It’s kind of a bummer we got so much rain, as it changed the course,” Knapp said. “It took a low number to win. A lot of the guys played very well this week to get to those kinds of scores.”

Knapp and Bateman were followed by five players at 22-under. In the group tied for third was Conner Godsey, Ryan Gerard, Joe Highsmith, Trent Phillips and Thomas Walsh. They finished one stroke ahead of eighth-place finishers Myles Creighton, Guillaume Fanonnel and Alexander Herrmann.

Did you know Jake Knapp is PGA TOUR Canada’s eighth different tournament champion this season? There has yet to be a repeat winner in 2022. Only two events remain. ​​Knapp’s last PGA TOUR Canada victory— at the 2019 GolfBC Championship— occurred 3 years, 2 months, 12 days ago, or 1,169 days previously. But with the global pandemic, the Tour has only held 16 tournaments between Knapp’s wins.

Key Information

 How the top Canadians fared

Edmonton’s Wil Bateman finished second, at 24-under. Myles Creighton was the only other Canadian to post a top-10 finish among the eight players who made the cut.

Fortinet Cup Standings

(Through CRMC Championship presented by Gertens)

With his third career win, Jake Knapp moved into a tie for second, with Tyler McCumber, for most PGA TOUR Canada victories. Knapp won twice in 2019 and then this week in Minnesota. McCumber won all three of his titles in 2018. The overall victories leader is 2016 Player of the Year Dan McCarthy, a four-time winner that season. In total, 11 players have won multiple titles.

PGA TOUR Canada returns north of the border next week, with the GolfBC Championship at Gallagher’s Canyon Golf and Country Club in Kelowna, British Columbia. After that tournament, the top-60 players in the Fortinet Cup standings will compete in the season-ending Fortinet Cup Championship at Deer Ridge Golf Course in Kitchener, Ontario.

The third-round leader has now won five consecutive tournaments, the latest win coming courtesy of 54-hole leader Jake Knapp. Prior to Knapp winning, Danny Walker, Noah Goodwin, Ryan Gerard and Parker Coody all turned 54-hole advantages into PGA TOUR Canada victories.

In the first six tournaments of the 2022 season, the winner finished between 16- and 19-under par. Over the last two weeks, the winner has gone really low. A week ago, in Winnipeg, Parker Coody finished at 27-under par to win by eight strokes. Sunday, Jake Knapp birdied the 72nd hole to get to 26-under to win by two shots.

Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Ontario Open champion Noah Goodwin was Sunday’s biggest mover. He fired a 61 in the final round to climb up 34 positions. Goodwin was 16-under for the tournament and tied for 24th. Last week’s CentrePort Canada Rail Park Manitoba Open winner Parker Coody moved up 14 spots, finishing 12-under and in a tie for 37th. He shot a 64 Sunday.

After missing the cut last week in Winnipeg, Thomas Walsh returned to his top-five ways. He tied for third at Cragun’s Legacy Courses after tying for second at the Sotheby’s International Realty Canada Ontario Open and finishing solo second the following week, at the Quebec Open. Walsh is currently No. 9 in the Fortinet Cup standings.

Monday qualifiers Jordan Niebrugge and Devin Morley tied for 44th and 56th, respectively.

The PGA TOUR Canada record for the longest time between wins belongs to Danny Walker, with Jake Knapp’s 1,169-day stretch No. 2 on the list. Danny Walker won the 2018 Fortinet Cup Championship then picked up his second PGA TOUR Canada title, at this year’s Osprey Valley Open presented by Votorantim Cimentos – CBM Aggregates. The duration between Walker wins was 1,407 days.

After missing the cut five times on PGA TOUR Canada, former University of Alabama standout Wilson Furr made the most of his first Saturday and Sunday participation. Furr shot rounds of 63 and 68 to finish 16-under and tied for 24th. Furr made his first start on a PGA TOUR-affiliated Tour when he qualified for the 2021 U.S. Open (missed the cut). He made his Korn Ferry Tour debut earlier this year when he tied for 31st in the Huntsville Open in May.

Jake Knapp wins Inaugural CRMC Championship presented by GertensRead More

The Cragun’s Legacy Courses have been under a $10 million renovation in partnership with Minnesota PGA TOUR Legend Tom Lehman. Lehman has designed the new course that is set to open on September 1, 2022.

This week, Thomas Lehman, Lehman’s son is playing in the CRMC Championship presented by Gertens.

Bill Israelson, another Minnesota PGA TOUR pro has been seen on the course. His son, Andrew Isrealson, is also playing in the tournament.

After yesterday’s rounds, Lehman is moving into Saturday and Sunday with after golfing -6 under on Thursday and Friday. Israelson did not make the cut.

It was a pleasure to watch these two follow in the footsteps of their fathers and pave a trail all their own in their golf careers.

Lehman and Israelson’s sons play in CRMC ChampionshipRead More