By Nick Hunter
MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – Building on a two-point lead from the opening round, Team Minnesota picked up 14 singles victories on the final day Friday to claim a victory at the 24th Minnesota/Wisconsin PGA Junior Cup Matches, 22½-13½, at Rush Creek Golf Club.
The win Friday marks the sixth straight victory for Minnesota, and its largest margin of victory since a 14-point win in 2004 at Trappers Turn Golf Club in Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
On the boys’ side Friday, Minnesota gained wins from Pranay Singh and Ian Simonich early to expand on its early lead, but got a big boost from Ryan Stendahl, Joshua Galvin and Sam Baker, who each pulled away late to earn victories and three full points for Minnesota.
“I hit the ball well—I didn’t make many putts on the front nine, but I also played pretty solid, so I didn’t need to. On the back I won three out of five holes,” said Singh, who ended his match with a 25-foot birdie putt at the 15th to win, 4 and 3.
Trailing by one heading to the final hole Friday, Nate Stevens birdied his final hole to tie his match with Wisconsin’s Bryson Mercier, helping Minnesota with seven full points in the boys’ competition.
“I didn’t play my best and I didn’t make very many putts,” Stevens said Friday. “I fell a little bit to start the back nine, but made a birdie on the last hole that wasn’t a concession, so it was good to see one go in.”
Wisconsin earned a point and a half to begin the girls’ competition before Sammy Youngquist got Minnesota on the board with her victory over Avery Dudra, 2-up. Saachi Deshmukh, Olivia Salonek, Camille Kuznik and Emma Welch each earned victories to help Minnesota extend its lead and pull away.
Kathryn VanArragon and Reese McCauley each came away with decisive wins, 4 and 3, while Isabella McCauley staged a late rally to win her match against Jessica Guiser, 2-up, and complete the victory for Minnesota 22½ to 13½.
“I didn’t have a good start, I had some shots, especially drives at the beginning that weren’t great. It started to get better on the back and, obviously, finished strong,” said VanArragon, who carded four birdies during her final eight holes to win, 4 and 3.
“The whole event has been so much fun; I look forward to it every season.”
Wisconsin still holds a slim series lead at 11-12-1, but Minnesota has now gone 7-3-1 in the last 11 matches.
THE 24TH MINNESOTA/WISCONSIN PGA JUNIOR CUP MATCHES
RUSH CREEK GOLF CLUB
MAPLE GROVE, MINN.
6,988 YARDS, PAR 72 (BOYS)
5,883 YARDS, PAR 72 (GIRLS)
SATURDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
BOYS’ SINGLES MATCHES
Silas Pickhardt (Wis.) def. Jake Wagner, 2 and 1
Pranay Singh (Minn.) def. Logan Pechinski, 4 and 3
Danny Renner (Minn.) and Maxwell Reis, tie
Nick Amtmann (Wis.) def. Owen Bjork, 3 and 1
Ian Simonich (Minn.) def. Owen Covey, 2 and 1
Carson Herrson (Minn.) def. Benjamin Pausha, 3 and 2
Aiden Cudney (Wis.) def. Leo Gellert, 1-up
Kaeden Nomm (Wis.) def. Kyler Schwamb, 2 and 1
Ryan Stendahl (Minn.) def. Austin Georger, 3 and 1
Joshua Galvin (Minn.) def. Tyson Sparks, 1-up
Samuel Baker (Minn.) def. Ty Kretz, 1-up
Nate Stevens (Minn.) and Bryson Mercier, tie
GIRLS’ SINGLES MATCHES
Jolie Guyette (Wis.) def. Kate Burke, 5 and 4
McKenna Mallow (Minn.) and Caylie Kotlowski, tie
Sammy Youngquist (Minn.) def. Avery Dudra, 2-up
Norah Roberts (Wis.) def. Hannah Boraas, 5 and 4
Saachi Deshmukh (Minn.) def. Hannah Dunk, 3 and 1
Sarah Balding (Wis.) def. Madi Hicks, 3 and 2
Olivia Salonek (Minn.) def. Jenna Anderson, 2 and 1
Camille Kuznik (Minn.) def. Treva Dodd, 4 and 2
Emma Welch (Minn.) def. Elise Hoven, 1-up
Kathryn VanArragon (Minn.) def. Jo Baranczyk, 4 and 3
Reese McCauley (Minn.) def. Grace Suter, 4 and 3
Isabella McCauley (Minn.) def. Jessica Guiser, 2-up
FINAL SCORE
Minnesota 22.5, Wisconsin 13.5
THURSDAY’S DAY ONE RESULTS
BOYS’ FOUR-BALL MATCHES
Amtmann/Pickhardt (Wis.) def. Wagner/Singh, 3 and 2
Bjork/Renner (Minn.) and Reis/Pechinski, tie
Schwamb/Stendahl (Minn.) def. Covey/Nomm, 5 and 4
Simonich/Galvin (Minn.) def. Pausha/Sparks, 2 and 1
Gellert/Herron (Minn.) def. Georger/Cudney, 2 and 1
Stevens/Baker (Minn.) and Kretz/Mercier, tie
GIRLS’ FOUR-BALL MATCHES
Guyette/Roberts (Wis.) def. Youngquist/Burke, 1-up
Mallow/Boraas (Minn.) def. Dunk/Dudra, 3 and 2
Dodd/Balding (Wis.) def. VanArragon/Deshmukh, 3 and 2
Kotlowski/Anderson (Wis.) def. Kuznik/Hicks, 1-up
R. McCauley/Salonek (Minn.) def. Baranczyk/Hoven, 1-up
I. McCauley/Welch (Minn.) def. Guiser/Suter
DAY ONE SCORE
Minnesota 7, Wisconsin 5
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