Brent Snyder took an early lead by carding birdie on the opening hole during his championship match against Derek Stendahl on the way to a 5 and 4 victory and his third Minnesota PGA Match Play Championship on Friday at Midland Hills Country Club.
Snyder's sixth victory of the season, including two section majors, likely sealed Minnesota Section Player of the Year honors for a second time in the past five seasons.
In 19 events this year, Snyder has 15 top-10 finishes.
"I was able to put a run together through late June and July, through the back stretch of the season," Snyder said. "Collecting these last two majors has been a rewarding experience, solely in the sense of the passion I have for the game.
"I live my life one day at a time, and that type of thinking and process has created some special memories."
Snyder, a teaching pro at Troy Burne, got to the championship match by rallying to defeat Grant Shafranski in 19 holes.
Early start at Griak
Because of anticipated high temperatures and heat index on Saturday, the University of Minnesota has adjusted the schedule for the Roy Griak Invitational high school and college cross-country races at Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights.
Races will begin at 9 a.m. with the women's Maroon II and III competitions, followed by the men's Maroon races. The Gold division races, involving the Gophers, will start at 10:20 with the men in a 16-team field of Division I teams, followed by the 18-team Gold women's race.
High school races will start at noon.
The Gophers men return four of its five scorers from last year's Griak team, which placed ninth.
Obsa Ali is Minnesota's top returner, coming off a sixth-place finish in 2016. Three of last year's top six men's finishers are back, including defending Gold champion Jerrell Mock of Colorado State.
