Monda, Hasselberg third in Junior PGA

EAST GULL LAKE - Tyler Monda and Cydney Hasselberg are at different points in their golf careers, but on Friday they found themselves in a similar position.

Both Monda and Hasselberg finished third in the Minnesota Section PGA Players' Tour Tournament of Champions at the Legacy Courses at Cragun's.

Monda, a Brainerd High School graduate, followed Thursday's 74 with a 75 Friday for a 149, five shots behind champion Beau Anderson, of Cottage Grove, who followed his opening 73 with a 71 Friday.

Monda continued his attack of the par 5s on the formidable 6,719-yard Dutch Course. Thursday he birdied three of the five lengthy holes. Friday he birdied the 518-yard, second hole and the 523-yard ninth to offset three bogeys on the front nine. He went out in 37 and came in with 38.

"I just played the course," said Monda, who played with Anderson and first-round leader Scott Benson. "There were a few situations where it felt like match play with those two guys, but I didn't really think of it like that. I just played the course. It's a tough course and you can't really worry about anyone else."

What tripped the Class 3A state participant and first-year University of North Dakota player was his putter. Monda needed 35 putts to get around Thursday. Friday was similar.

"I hit the ball great," Monda said. "I hit a lot of greens in regulation, so it's tough when you have a 15 footer and you can't convert. I hit the ball great, but my putting was no where near as good."

In eight Junior PGA rounds Monda averaged a 74.88. He finished with 675.42 points in the final Player of the Year standings, which was won by Eden' Prairie's Adam Rosenthal, who finished 11th at the Legacy.

Hasselberg's putter was on. Her driving, iron play and wedges were solid. She played some of her best golf of the season except on two holes. Thursday it was the 293-yard, par 4, third hole. She scored a nine. Friday's train wreck occurred on the 465-yard, 16th hole where the four-time state participant carded a 10.

"My putting was a lot better than it was Sunday when I played here," said Hasselberg. "I just had that blow up hole. The front nine wasn't bad, but it wasn't what I'm capable of playing. The back nine I was doing really well until 16.

"I came in here just wanting to play some good golf. It's been awhile since I've put up a good score. I was just trying to play the game I know I can."

The Staples-Motley senior shot 82 for a 163, eight shots behind champion Anna Laorr of Eden Prairie and three shots away from runner up Rebecca Swords or Rosemount. Swords scored Player of the Year honors with her 855 points.

Hasselberg shot 41 on the front with one birdie, three pars, four bogeys and a double. Her play was even better on the back. She was 1-under heading into the 16th. A bogey on 17 gave her another 41 on the back.

She played in 11 Junior PGA events with an 80.46 scoring average. She played in numerous MGA team events and four Pepsi Lakes Area Junior Cup tournaments. She put in the time, but was expecting to see her scores drop.

"I worked on my game a lot, but I feel like it could go a long ways," said Hasselberg. "I feel I should be better for how much I've worked."

For Hasselberg its on to high school volleyball. She was feeling the effects of Thursday's practice on Friday.

For Monda it's more golf as he preps for his first fall season.

"I played in a lot of competitive events which is nice," said Monda. "I kind of stayed with that path instead of getting away from it and just kind of hacking it around."

JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5856.