Caleb VanArragon of Blaine capped a runaway victory in the Minnesota Golf Association State Amateur championship Wednesday at Minneapolis Golf Club, shooting a final-round 65, 7 under par, for a 12-stroke final margin over runner-up Bryce Hanstad of Olympic Hills Golf Club.
Caleb VanArragon rolls to 12-stroke victory in Minnesota State Amateur golf
VanArragon, from Blaine and a senior-to-be at Valparaiso University, finished three rounds at 23-under 193.
July 20, 2023 at 4:22AM
VanArragon, who plays out of Bunker Hills Golf Course, posted rounds of 66, 62 (a course record) and 65 for a three-round total of 23-under 193. The performance followed his nine-stroke victory at 9 under par last week in the Minnesota State Open. He is only the fourth player in state history to win both championships in the same year.
VanArragon set State Am records for best 54-hole score and score in relation to par.
"I'm very excited to have done this, and it definitely hasn't sunken in yet," VanArragon said. "I think it could be dangerous for my expectation level going forward. I need to make sure I'm not going into future tournaments expecting to do something like this. It's a once-in-a-lifetime stretch of golf."
VanArragon is a Blaine High School graduate and fifth-year senior who plays for Valparaiso University. He was an All-Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection this past season.
Jimmy Johnston was the first player to win both the Minnesota State Open and the State Amateur in 1927 before Gene Hansen did it in back-to-back seasons (1961-62). Former Gopher James McLean achieved the double in 1998.
Ben Warian of Indian Hills GC and the Gophers and Nate Stevens of Northfield GC and Notre Dame tied for third.
McCauley advances
Reese McCauley of Inver Grove Heights advanced to the final 32 of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship in Colorado Springs, Colo. The Simley High School senior-to-be won the last two holes to defeat Anna Huang of Canada 1-up on Wednesday.
Etc.
• Ali Spencer, a two-time Olympian and five-time collegiate national champion, was named head women's wrestling coach at Augsburg. She replaces Jake Short, who resigned to pursue other interests.
• Relentlessly Fast, at 23-to-1 odds, won the $69,531 MQHRA Stallion Auction Futurity at Canterbury Park. Jess Special Folly V won the $30,000 Grade 3 Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge.
Frankie Capan III, who will be playing on the PGA Tour next year, finished at 13 under par at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Championship.
