By Nick Hunter
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. – Fueled by the flatstick during his opening round Tuesday, professional Matt Vandelac rolled in three birdie putts over his final 11 holes at Keller Golf Course to card a 5-under 67 to begin the 40th Minnesota Senior Open presented by Yamaha Golf and Utility.
Vandelac will take a one-stroke advantage over defending champion Chris Borgen to Wednesday’s final round.
“I hit the ball well—I’ve been working on some new stuff, and it really made sense today,” the 64-year-old Vandelac said following his round Tuesday. “I only hit a couple of bad shots, but the putter was working—I made a lot of putts.
“I gauged the wind pretty well. Struggled through the rain, but hit good yardages.”
Birdies came quickly and often for Vandelac during his opening round Tuesday, converting three chances over his first five holes before his taking his only bogey of the opening round at the par-3 sixth.
He bounced back by rolling in a 20-foot slider at the par-4 eighth to turn in 3-under.
On the right end of a fortuitous bounce at the 14th, Vandelac took advantage of a 10-foot birdie opportunity before sinking his birdie chance from 10 feet at the 17th to post an opening round 67.
“I just need to stick to the same process—hopefully I remember what I’m doing and try to keep it going,” said Vandelac, who placed tied for 20th a season ago.
In his 13 previous appearances at the championship, Vandelac has posted seven top-20 finishes, including his best finish in 2018 when he placed fifth at Hastings Golf Club.
His most recent victory came in 2022 when he teamed with Bob Miller and Greg Jamieson to claim the section’s Minnesota PGA Fall Scramble at Burl Oaks Golf Club.
Similar to his professional counterpart, Borgen carded one bogey during his opening nine, but managed four birdies over his final 10 holes to finish Tuesday’s opening round one shot off the lead.
“I held it together and scored pretty well today,” said Borgen, who looks to become the first player since Don Berry in 2020 to win back-to-back championships. “I hit some crummy shots, but was able to make par on most of those. I managed my game well today.”
Turning in 1-under, Borgen drilled a 20-footer for birdie at the 10th to move to 2-under for the championship before converting a short birdie chance at the 12th.
He managed to save par after hitting a dreadful tee shot at the long, par-3 15th, and rolled in one final birdie from six feet at the 16th to finish one off the lead at 4-under 68.
“Hopefully I can hit more good ones and less bad ones tomorrow,” Borgen said, looking forward to Wednesday’s final round. “I like this course—I played it when I was younger, so I remember it a bit. There are a few holes that you have to hit it straight, but you can still manage to save par.”
Last season, Borgen posted back-to-back rounds of 1-under 71 to edge amateurs Jerry Rose, Richard Frieburg, Joel B. Johnson and 2022 winner Derek Stendahl by one stroke.
A win at the Minnesota Golf Champions at Minneapolis Golf Club in late 2022 had a springboard effect on the now 52-year-old Borgen, who tallied five wins and 17 top-5 finishes during the 2023 season.
After firing a 3-under 69 to begin the tournament Tuesday, Stendahl will begin Wednesday’s final round in a tie for third place with fellow professional Eric Chiles and amateur Aaron Wiemiller.
The final round of the 40th Minnesota Senior Open is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Keller Golf Course.
THE 40TH MINNESOTA SENIOR OPEN
KELLER GOLF COURSE
MAPLEWOOD, MINN.
6,677 YARDS, PAR 72
TUESDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Matt Vandelac (p), PGA Life Member, 32-35—67
2. Chris Borgen (p), Lost Spur GC, 34-34—68
T3. Derek Stendahl (p), Rush Creek GC, 33-37—70
T3. Eric Chiles (p), Chaska TC, 33-37—70
T3. Aaron Wiemiller, Pebble Creek GC, 33-37—70
T6. Chris Peterson (p), Oak Glen GC, 33-38—71
T6. John Brellenthin, Minikahda Club, 34-37—71
T6. Jeff Smith, unattached, 33-38—71
T6. Mark Aldrich, Interlachen CC, 35-36—71
T10. Dave Carothers, Windsong Farm, 35-37—72
T10. Jerry Rose, Alexandria GC, 38-34—72
T10. Bill Israelson (p), Bemidji T&CC, 34-38—72
T10. Don Berry (p), Edinburgh USA, 34-38—72
T10. Troy Johnson, Edinburgh USA, 37-35—72
T10. J.B. Lloyd, Rush Creek GC, 35-37—72
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/