Matt Bennett of Marshall won his first Wynston Boe tournament title on Sunday at Countryside Golf Club in Minneota. The top five players in the Championship Flight were all paired in the final round.  Left to right: Ben Derynck, Brian Francis, Jacob Baker and Jesse Larson watch eventual champion Matt Bennett tee off (background). A large gallery followed the golfers in the final round of the Championship Flight on Sunday.

First time in tourney a charm for Bennett

Marshall Golf Manager first in championship flight

When Matt Bennett last played golf at Countryside Golf Club in Minneota 10 years ago, he was only 15 years old.
On Sunday, it was as if he was a club member playing every weekend here.
"I probably played eight or nine times on this course back then," Bennett said about his early years on the course. "I remembered the course pretty well, but the trees were a lot smaller then and you could just whack away and hit over the tops of them. You can't do that anymore because the trees are taller and thicker."
The 25-year-old co-manager of the Marshall Golf Course won the championship flight at the 54th annual Wynston Boe Tournament by three shots over 11-time champion Jesse Larson, the grandson of the late Boe.
Bennett was a four-time state entrant in high school for Marshall, finishing as high as eighth one year. Marshall also qualified for state four times as a team.
Larson, a Minneota native, now lives in Shakopee.
"I heard Jesse was coming back to play this year," said Bennett. "I've played golf with him before and really enjoyed it, so I decided to play this year. I even asked if I could be paired with him in the same group."
With a strong wind blowing, Bennett played consistent golf throughout the day as evidenced by his rounds of 36-38-37 for a 111 total. Larson was second with rounds of 37-39-38 for 114.
Ben Derynck, a Minneota native who lives in Madison, SD and teaches school in nearby Chester, finished third with a 115. Brian Francis and Jacob Baker tied for fourth at 118.
Those five were paired in the final round and drew a large following. Entering the final round, Bennett led Larson by two strokes, Baker by three, and Francis and Derynck by five. Francis won this tournament each of the past two years.
"This was a really good tournament," said Larson. "I'm glad Matt decided to play. He's a very good player and the more good players that play, the better the tournament is."
The Wynston Boe Tournament drew over 60 players this year despite a lot of state golf courses cancelling tournaments this summer because of a lack of participation due to the coronavirus.
Bennett didn't know he had a good chance to win until hole No 7 when his drive rolled under a low-hanging evergreen tree.He was unable to hit the ball out toward the pin, so he decided to hit out behind the tree and take his chances.
"I was able to reach the green with the next shot and then save par," he said with a seemingly indelible smile. "After that is when I thought I had a good chance to win."
Bennett also sank a pair of long par-saving putts on No. 2 and No. 3 to maintain his advantage over the other four in his group. And he sank five or six putts of 20-or-more feet to help his scorecard.
Derynck, who has finished second each of the last five years and seven times overall, was only one shot behind after his opening round 37. But his second round 42 left him five shots back. He finished strong, however, with a 36.
"This is my favorite weekend of the year," he said despite being disappointed in his showing on Sunday. "It's always a good time."
Although he never showed disappointment in his game, Larson admitted he likes to win.
"My goal is always to win," he said. "I just wasn't sharp today. I putted well, but I never sank any long putts. I think what hurt me the most was I didn't hit my approach shots well.
Maintaining his composure when things aren't going well is something he has tried to do as he gets older.
"I keep thinking about staying neutral when I play," he said. "Staying neutral doesn't affect you moving forward.

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Matt Bennett.............36-38-37--111
Jesse Larson............37-39-38--114
Ben Derynck.............37-42-36--115
Brian Francis............40-39-39--118
Jacob Baker..............40-37-41--118
Charlie Seitzer..........42-44-39--125
Zeb Prairie...............45-42-42--129
Landon Frost............44-44-42--130
Hudson VanDrunnen43-47-41--131
Wayne Kompelien....45-46-44--135
Nolan Boerboom......42-47-48--137
Trent Esping.............48-53-47--148
Walker Hennen.....46-45--withdrew
Steve Berens........47-44--withdrew

PRESIDENT'S FLIGHT
Dan Schipper*...........121
Joe Kack...................121
Ryan Peterson...........121
Rick Gossen..............122
Norm DePestel..........123
David Kockelman......124
Mike VonBokern........125
Mike Hammer...........128
Cory Skogrand.........129
Jeremy Gossen........130
John Dubbe.............137
Travis Obe.......withdrew
*: Won in playoff

FIRST FLIGHT
Cody Gossen..........121
Curt Francis...........122
Alex Maulie............124
James Hook...........126
Harlan Ulrich.........127
Ryan Palmer..........129
Sam Derynck........135
Kelly Skogrand......136
Craig Peterson.......142
Mike Samuelson....143
David Hook..........146
Brian Obe.....withdrew
Greg Mulder..withdrew

SECOND FLIGHT
(Match play)
(1) Tony Ufkin (2) Gabe Pieper (3) Jason Gravely

THIRD FLIGHT
(Match play)
(1) Dan Kockelman (2) Tom Pickering (3) Dale Verschelde

FOURTH FLIGHT
(Match play)
(1) Devin Pohlen (2) Jarrod Holmgren (3) Josh Benuarik

SENIOR FLIGHT
Mike Buseth*...........69
Jim Lanners**.........74
Marlo Moon.............75
Steve Holland..........76
Ron Labat...............80
*: Top gross
*: Top net

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