By Nick Hunter
MEDINA, Minn. – Following his opening-round 72 with a 1-under 71 during Monday afternoon’s session at Medina Golf and Country Club, Jack Hiemenz earned a one-stroke victory over Trey Fessler at the 2024 National Car Rental Minnesota Assistant PGA Championship.
Hiemenz collects his second win of the season, claiming the CRMC Points Race – Top-25 Qualifier by posting a season-low round of 65 at Cragun’s Legacy Course to earn a spot in the PGA Tour Americas 2024 CRMC Championship.
“I played good the first round—had a few birdies and a few bogeys, but the putter was good,” Hiemenz said following his second round Monday. “The second round I had a slow start, but I just hung in there because I knew it was going to be tough with the wind. The putter got going on the back and I holed out for eagle from the bunker.”
Entering Monday’s second round two shots off the lead, Hiemenz birdied his first hole to move back into red figures for the championship before tallying three consecutive bogeys beginning at his fourth hole, turning in 2-over for the tournament.
Sinking his third shot from a greenside bunker at the par-5 11th returned Hiemenz to even par, and he finished the day at 1-under 143 following a birdie at the par-5 14th.
“I looked at the leaderboard and saw the scores were a little higher, so I just kept trying to make par and then made one more birdie to finish strong,” Hiemenz said.
In 15 events this season, Hiemenz notched nine top-10 finishes to claim more than $7,200 in winnings for the season.
Only players who’ve reached Level 2 of the PGA PGM Classification Program are eligible to compete at the Assistant PGA Professional Championship Nov. 14-17 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Will Hedberg, of Edina Country Club, earned the first of three qualifying spots Monday by carding a 2-over 146.
He will be joined at the national championship by Austin Eccleton, from Minneapolis Golf Club, and by former Ferris State University golfer Alayna Eldred, an assistant at Alexandria Golf Club, who both finished at 3-over 147.
Michael Elsen (North Oaks GC) finished as first alternate; Matthew Sandquist (Edina CC) finished as second alternate; Ross Winters (Minneapolis GC) finished as third alternate.
THE 2024 NATIONAL CAR RENTAL MINNESOTA ASSISTANT PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
MEDINA GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB
MEDINA, MINN.
7,087 YARDS, PAR 72
MONDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Jack Hiemenz, Victory Links GC, 72-71—143
2. Trey Fessler, Albion Ridges GC, 70-74—144
3. Josh Whalen, GolfTEC Roseville, 74-71—145
T4. Will Hedberg, Edina CC, 73-73—146 (qualifier)
T4. Wes Buntenbach, Medina G&CC, 74-72—146
T6. Austin Eccleton, Minneapolis GC, 70-77—147 (qualifier)
T6. Alayna Eldred, Alexandria GC, 72-75—147 (qualifier)
T6. Hunter Rebrovich, Geneva GC, 74-73—147
T9. Brady Swedberg, Geneva GC, 74-75—149
T9. Michael Elsen, North Oaks GC, 75-74—149
For complete tournament results go to: MN PGA Assistants’ Championship – Overall Leaderboard | Minnesota PGA (bluegolf.com)