Carrying a slim, one-stroke advantage into Wednesday’s final round of the 121st Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship at Minnesota Valley Country Club, former North Dakota State University golfer Nate Deziel held on to one thought:

Go and have fun.

“As hard as it is, I tried not to have any expectations and did my best to adapt to the uncontrollable—what will be, will be,” Deziel said following his round Wednesday. “Being able to stay positive despite a few hiccups today was huge.”

Deziel produced a strong performance for a third consecutive round Wednesday, capping it off by converting four birdie chances over his final five holes to earn a three-stroke, wire-to-wire victory at 11-under 208.

“This is up there with one of the coolest things I’ve ever experienced. It’s hard to even think about it yet, but I feel like my game has a higher ceiling now,” he said. “Winning is never easy, but this is definitely one of the best wins I’ve had.”

In addition to his victory Wednesday, the 24-year-old Deziel also earns an exemption into this year’s U.S. Amateur at Hazeltine National Golf Club where he’ll make his first appearance at a USGA championship.

“When I got to caddie for [NDSU teammate Nate Adams] at the U.S. Amateur last year, I knew I wanted to be there. It’s even more special that it’s here in Minnesota this year, and I get to test my game against some of the best.”

Despite carding a pair of bogeys during his opening nine Wednesday, Deziel maintained a share of the lead at 8-under for the championship before a two-putt birdie at the 10th put him into sole possession of the lead.

A disastrous four-putt double-bogey seemingly dropped Deziel out of contention, but he would display a flawless short game down the stretch, helped by sinking crucial putts late in the round.

Rolling in a 6-footer at the 14th, Deziel recaptured a share of the lead, and would take the outright lead by sinking his short birdie chance inside of four feet at the 16th.

After missing the 17th green, Deziel chipped inside of tap-in range once again to save par and remain two shots ahead of the field before rolling in his birdie putt from five feet at the last to secure his third state championship victory.

“I thought the start was a pretty solid 2-over,” Deziel said. “I hit it in some spots where you can really get in trouble and had some very nice up-and-downs, so that saved me—I really loved where my short game was at today. Had some looks for birdie, just never capitalized on any.”

Deziel, a native of East Grand Forks, Minn., jumped out to the early lead by breaking the course record with his 7-under 66 to open the championship Monday.

Carding three birdies during his back nine Tuesday helped Deziel to a one-stroke lead over Carson Herron with 18 holes to play.

Deziel closed out his high school career with medalist honors at the 2018 Class AA championship at Ridges at Sand Creek, and added a second victory at the Minnesota Junior PGA Tournament of Championship the same season.

Playing in 40 career events for the Bison, Deziel claimed two victories and finished eighth in school history with a career scoring average of 73.85.

Last season, Caleb VanArragon became the first player in 25 years to win the Minnesota State Open and MGA Amateur Championship in the same season, and with his runner-up finish Wednesday, Herron nearly became the second player in as many seasons to accomplish the feat.

Herron, a soon-to-be senior at the University of New Mexico, carded a final-round 74 to finish tied for second with University of Notre Dame golfer Nate Stevens, 2021 MGA Players’ champion Max Tylke, two-time MGA Players’ champion Cecil Belise and 2023 Minnesota Public Golf Association State Public Links champion Matt Armstrong at 8-under 211.

“Overall, the last two weeks have been great,” said Herron, who claimed the Minnesota State Open last week at Rush Creek Golf Club. “I really couldn’t wish for much better playing in some really good fields and shooting some good scores.

“It was windy and there were some tough pins today. I was right up there, but missing a putt [for par] on 14 might’ve slowed things down a little bit. I had good opportunities, but I had some course management issues and didn’t get some putts to fall. Happy with how I fought, just not the result I wanted.”

Stevens stormed back from his 1-over 74 during the second round Tuesday by carding his best round of the tournament, a 5-under 68 to take the early clubhouse lead and notching his best finish at the championship in his fifth appearance.

Following his round of 67 during the second round, Belise carded an eagle and one birdie during his final nine holes Wednesday to post a final-round 71 to earn a share of second.

A bogey early and a bogey late proved costly for St. Thomas University’s Armstrong, who carded a 1-under 72 during the final round Wednesday to notch his second top-10 finish at the event.

Wednesday’s finish for Tylke marks yet another near miss for the 31-year-old, who claims his fourth runner-up finish of the 2024 season.

Owner of 10 state titles since 2011, Tylke kicked off the season with a second-place finish at the MPGA Four-Ball at Oak Glen Golf Course. He then lost to Trent Peterson in the finals of the MGA Mid-Players’ Championship at Deacon’s Lodge in June, and fell in a three-way playoff to Herron a week ago at the Minnesota State Open at Rush Creek, shooting 10-under 206.

NDSU senior Josh Galvin carded a final-round 70 Wednesday to place tied for seventh with former University of Minnesota golfer and 2015 MGA Amateur champion Jon DuToit at 7-under 212.

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