By Nick Hunter

EDINA, Minn. – A day after breaking the course record at Braemar Golf Course with his 11-under 61, former University of Minnesota golfer Alex Gaugert fired a round of 64 to cruise to a seven-stroke victory at the 94th Minnesota PGA Professional Championship.

“A win means a lot—I don’t know the last time I won a two-day event as a professional,” Gaugert said following his win Tuesday. “I’ve been playing better the last few years, and it’s pretty cool to be a PGA professional in this industry.

“I felt good coming in, the swing wasn’t as good as yesterday. Got off to a little bit of a slow start by not hitting it quite where I was looking.”

With his victory, Gaugert earns a spot in the national PGA Professional Championship April 27-30 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Gaugert will be joined at the national championship by Jeff Sorenson, Matt Newman, Brady Swedberg, Christopher Sauer, Thomas Campbell, Eric Chiles and Scott McDonald.

Following a pair of birdies over his first four holes Tuesday, Gaugert carded his only bogey of the championship at the par-3 fifth to drop to 12-under for the tournament.

He quickly bounced back with a birdie at the seventh and an eagle at the eighth to reach 15-under.

The Lake Geneva, Wis., native cruised during his final nine holes, carding four birdies to post a final-round 64 to finish seven shots clear of Sorenson at 19-under 125.

“A birdie at seven and an eagle at eight really got me going,” Gaugert said. “I was trying to get to 20-under, I was really pushing to get there. Overall, it was a good day, I putted well again.”

Gaugert, a caddie for fellow Gopher and PGA Tour’s Erik van Rooyen, wins for the fourth time since 2022 and collects his first section victory since Premier Banks Pro-Member at Indian Hills Golf Club.

Sorenson, the defending champion and five-time winner of the event, began his final round seven shots off the lead before carding three birdies over his first seven holes to move to 7-under for the championship.

Rattling off four consecutive birdies to start his back nine, Sorenson would reach 11-under, but was slowed by a bogey at the 14th.

A pair of late birdies putt Sorenson comfortably in second place at 12-under 132, four shots ahead of Newman, Swedberg and Sauer.

THE 94TH MINNESOTA PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE
EDINA, MINN.
6,712 YARDS, PAR 72

TUESDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Alex Gaugert, PGA Member, 61-64—125 (medalist)
2. Jeff Sorenson, The Minikahda Club, 68-64—132 (qualifier)
T3. Matt Newman, The Minikahda Club, 69-67—136 (qualifier)
T3. Brady Swedberg, Geneva GC, 69-67—136 (qualifier)
T3. Christopher Sauer, Cedar Creek GC, 67-69—136 (qualifier)
T6. Thomas Campbell, Swing Lab Performance, 72-65—137 (qualifier)
T6. Eric Chiles, Chaska TC, 69-68—137 (qualifier)
T8. Scott McDonald, Minnewaska GC, 69-70—139 (qualifier)
T8. Bennett Smed, White Bear YC, 72-67—139
T8. Eddie Wynne, University GC, 71-68—139
T8. Savannah Nelson, Crosswoods GC, 69-70—139
T8. Tommy Koehler, Braemar GC, 69-70—139
T8. Chris Baisch, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 68-71—139
T8. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 68-71—139
T8. Grant Hanson, Geneva GC, 66-73—139

For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga24/event/mnpga2419/contest/13/leaderboard.htm