EAST GULL LAKE — For the first time, the Brainerd lakes area will host the MGA State Amateur Championship.
More specifically, The Classic at Madden’s Resort will be the site for the 122nd Amateur Monday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 23.
The last time the Amateur was played north of St. Cloud was in 2015 when Northland Country Club in Duluth hosted the event. Northland has hosted the event eight times.
In the 121 previous championships, this event hasn’t been north often. Alexandria Golf Course hosted in 1995. Detroit Country Club in Detroit Lakes hosted in 1983. St. Cloud Country Club was the host in 1973. Ridgeview Country Club in Duluth was the host in 1952. Bemidji Town and Country Club hosted the Amateur in 1947 and 1928.
“We’re thrilled,” Glenn Hagberg, Class A PGA Head Professional at Madden’s, said. “This is without a doubt the most prestigious amateur event in the state of Minnesota. We agreed with the MGA five years ago. We locked into this in 2020. We began working with the MGA on this five years ago and we are very eager to host these players. Tournaments like these take years of preparation. We’re proud to bring this event to The Classic and put the spotlight on the Brainerd lakes area.
“We’re also proud to be in elite company with courses in Northern Minnesota that have had the opportunity to host this event.”
Glenn Hagberg, PGA Head Golf Professional at the Classic at Madden’s, stops by a fairway at The Classic on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in East Gull Lake.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
The Classic is no stranger to hosting MGA championships. The
Scott Hoffmann
-designed course hosted the Mid-Amateur Championship in 2007 along with Deacon’s Lodge. It has also hosted the Players Championship in 2019 and the Four-Ball Championship in 2020.
Hagberg said The Classic, especially from the tips (back tees), will be a difficult, but fair challenge. He said there are multiple ways to attack each hole and each green has strong defenses surrounding it.
“The primary characteristics that the MGA is looking for are quality in challenge,” Hagberg said. “They are looking for a course that requires a competitor to play the game and play their ball and not overpower the golf course with bombing drives. They’re looking for a course that really tests the players and requires them to hit every type of shot with challenges throughout the golf course. The players have to think their way through the golf course.
“Secondly, the MGA is looking for a course that has a reputation for strong playing conditions.”
The Classic was named the 80th best public golf course in America by
Golf Digest
this year. Just three Minnesota courses made the top-100 list. It was rated No. 76 in Golfweek’s top 200 resort courses in America.
“The continual commitment to course improvements over the last two years sets The Classic up well for a tournament like this,” Hagberg said. “Probably the biggest thing we’ve done to the golf course in the 28-year history of the course is we’re resurfacing the tee boxes. Half of the tee boxes were done this spring, which involved leveling and resurfacing them and the remainder we completed and put back into play in June. They’re playing great and look great.
“We have refreshed all of the sand in the bunkers with new Ohio’s best white sand to improve the experience.
“One of the big things is getting in and doing a lot of clearing throughout the golf course to retain the original look and improve sightlines and vistas. That also improves sunlight and air flow, which improves the turf conditions.”
Glenn Hagberg, PGA Head Golf Professional at the Classic at Madden’s, stops by a fairway at The Classic on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in East Gull Lake.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
The Classic is scheduled to play at 7,102 yards with a rating of 75.0/144 for the three days. Hagberg said the course setup will be the toughest it’s been in its 28 years of existence. The rough will be around 4 inches long. The greens will be rolling 12 to 12.5 on the stimpmeter. The fairways and greens will be playing firm and fast.
“If fans come out to watch, they will be watching the best amateurs in the state playing The Classic at its toughest conditions,” Hagberg said.
Tee times are 7:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday. Wednesday’s final round will begin with 8 a.m. tee times off holes 1 and 10.
Spectators are encouraged to attend. Admission is free. There will be overflow parking at Madden’s Airport Driving Range with shuttles.
“There will be 156 of the top amateurs in Minnesota or those who have ties to the state,” Hagberg said. “Monday and Tuesday, all 156 will play. That will be all day long. You’ll see some great golf. Everybody who plays is required to have a 6.4 handicap or better in order to attempt to qualify. 75% of the field will have a scratch handicap or better.
“There are many notable names. Nate Stevens was a runner-up last year and plays golf out of Northfield Golf Course. He plays at the University of Notre Dame. Several of the North Dakota State University guys have qualified or have exemptions to play. Sam Udovich of Cretin-Durham Hall, just won the Class 3A State title and was the top high school player in the state. He’s going to TCU next year. Bryce Hanstad played at Colorado State University last year. Jake Birdwell is a big name. He was a freshman at the University of Illinois this last year.”
Several players with local connections have qualified, including former Class 2A State Champion and recent Verndale graduate
Carter White
, who played for the Staples-Motley Cardinals boys’ team and plays out of The Vintage at Staples.
Former Pequot Lakes graduate and current South Dakota State University player
Tyler Seeling
is in the lineup. Brainerd High School graduate
Dawson Ringler
, who plays for the University of Sioux Falls, has qualified.
Playing out of Deacon’s Lodge is
Rylin Petry
, who plays at NDSU. Carter Callan is another amateur player out of Deacon’s Lodge. Braeden Sladek of Genevia Golf Club in Alexandria works with PGA Instructor Ryan Sharpe from Deacon’s.
Glenn Hagberg, PGA Head Golf Professional at the Classic at Madden’s, stops by a fairway at The Classic on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, in East Gull Lake.
Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch
Kagan Koller of Rush Creek Golf Club has a cabin in the area and plays for the University of North Dakota.
Hank Sogge of Eagan and Logan Hamak of Sartell work at The Classic and will be competing. The Classic received two host-club exemptions and those went to Roman Kurvers and Jack Hagberg.
“This is the biggest event that The Classic has hosted,” Hagberg said. “This is really a feather in our cap. We are so honored to be hosting this. We’re putting a lot of effort into making sure the course shows the best.”
JEREMY MILLSOP may be reached at 218-855-5856 or jeremy.millsop@brainerddispatch.com. Follow on Twitter at
www.twitter.com/jeremymillsop
.
122 MGA State Amateur Championship
When: Monday, July 21 through Wednesday, July 23
Where: The Classic at Madden’s in East Gull Lake
What: Minnesota’s top amateur golf tournament
Who: Local players like Carter White, Dawson Ringler, Jack Hagberg and Tyler Seeling will be competing
