Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2017 - 28

MGA AM RECAP
Scorecard
2017 Tournament Champions
MGA AMA TEUR
* BY NICK HUNTER *
* PHOTOS BY MARK BRETTINGEN *
Eagle, Two Birdies Propel Carothers
to Historic Amateur Crown
O
vercoming an early bogey during his fi nal round (and
helped by an eagle and two birdies on his back nine),
Dave Carothers played his fi nal 10 holes at 5-under par
to shoot 66 and claim the 114th MGA Amateur Championship
July 19 at Interlachen Country Club-becoming second oldest
player in tournament history to be crowned.
" This means the world-I've been playing in this thing for
30 years and my best fi nish was up at [Northland Country
Club] about 15 years ago when I fi nished eighth or ninth, "
Carothers said afterward. " This tournament represents a lot of
the best players in the state. "
Carothers, of Wild Marsh Golf Club, opened the championship
with a 2-over par Monday, but struggled during the second
round Tuesday, recording eight bogeys with two birdies to
shoot 6-over par 76-three shots behind leaders
Troy Johnson, Tyler Obermueller and Grady
Meyer heading into Wednesday's fi nal round.
Starting his day on the tenth tee, an early bogey
put Carothers at 9-over and fi ve shots out
before he stuck his approach to a foot at the par4
18th for a tap-in birdie to turn at even par for
the round.
Following an important up-and-down at
the fi rst where he sank his eight-footer for par,
Carothers jumped into contention at the par-4
second hole when he holed his approach from
130 yards with a wedge to move within two of
Meyer.
28
MINNESOTAGOLFER Fall 2017
" That's when I said, 'If we can do something special on the
last seven holes, we might be able to get there,' " Carothers said.
Meyer's lead fell to one following a bogey at the third before
Carothers drew even when he converted a short birdie at the
par-5 fourth. Carothers went on to take the outright lead at the
fi fth after sinking a downhill bender from 15 feet.
Managing to erase a four-shot defi cit in a matter of six holes,
Carothers then hit the shot that would fi rmly give him a hold
on the tournament, leading to a spectacular up-and-down at
the par-4 sixth. Carothers' drive found the rough right of the
fairway leaving without a clear shot at the green, but he managed
to punch out below the trees, lag inside of three feet and
save his par to maintain a one-stroke lead with three holes left
to play.
After leaving back-to-back birdie putts short at
FIELD FACTS
Field: 156
Avg Score: 78.797
Round 1: 80.342
Round 2: 78.294
Round 3: 76.373
Double Eagles: 0
Eagles: 8
Birdies: 459
Pars: 3382
Bogeys: 2310
Double Bogeys: 513
Others: 137
the seventh and eighth holes, Carothers hit what
he called the best drive of the tournament on the
fi nal hole, but nearly ran it through the fairway
and into the water hazard. From the rough and
three feet from the water, Carothers' approach
rolled past the back-left pin to the fringe, 10 feet
away where he would two-putt for par to post a
4-over par 214.
Needing a birdie to force a playoff heading to
the fi nal hole, Meyer's approach came to rest in
nearly the same spot as Carothers', but Meyer
pushed his putt right to give Carothers his biggest
amateur victory at 48 years old.
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Minnesota Golfer - Fall 2017

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