Minnesota State Open

The Minnesota State Open is the Minnesota state open golf tournament, open to both amateur and professional golfers. It is organized by the Minnesota section of the PGA of America. It was first played in 1917 and has been played at a variety of courses around the state.

The first event was held on September 6, 1917. Twenty-four players played in the event. Professional golfer Tom Stevens, who played out of the Minikahda Club in Minneapolis, won the tournament by one stroke.^[1]

In 1930, there was one of the more surprising victories. Edward Baening, a golf club salesman, "came out of nowhere" to win the event.^[1] During the mid-20th century, Joe Coria and Ade Simonson produced many highlights. In 1934, while still an amateur, Coria won for the first time. In 1940 he won for the second time, his first as a professional. In 1941, Coria and Simonson were the top contenders. Near the end of the tournament, Coria was the clubhouse leader though Simonson, still playing, was near the lead. On the 18th hole Simonson "plopped a shot 60 yards away out of a divot to within a foot of the cup" to assure a playoff with Coria. However, Coria defeated Simonson in the playoff.^[1] Coria won the tournament in 1952, his last victory. In 1959, Simonson had a chance to win. He had a four-shot lead going into the final round. However, Simonson made an 8 on the 10th hole of the final round which facilitated his loss to Bill Waryan. It was his seventh and final runner-up finish. Simonson never won the event.^[1] During this era, the tournament was held at a variety of courses around the state including Duluth, Mankato, Faribault, and Rochester.^[1]

In 1980, the event started to be permanently held at Bunker Hills Golf Club in Coon Rapids, Minnesota.^[1] During this year the tournament also started to be sponsored by National Car. It was sponsored by National Car until 1997. During these years, it was known as the National Car Open or, colloquially, as "the Car."^[1] From 1998 to 2001, the tournament was sponsored by Best Buy.^[1][2]

In 1998, the tournament was preceded by a series of events under the title "Minnesota Golf Week." The events included "a celebrity golf tournament, golf clinics, a junior, senior, and women's championship, entertainment and various fundraisers" followed by the tournament proper.^[3]

Around the turn of the century, Australians with golf scholarships at the University of Minnesota have won the tournament. They include James McLean in 1998,^[3] Ben Meyers in 2001, and Yu Katayama in 2008.^[1]

Since 2009, the event has alternated between Bunker Hills and a different course in the state.^[1]

Year	Champion	Ref.
Minnesota State Open
2025	Tyler Leach
2024	Carson Herron (a)
2023	Caleb VanArragon (a)
2022	Van Holmgren
2021	Cecil Belisle (a)
2020	Angus Flanagan (a)	[4]
2019	Brady Madsen (a)
2018	Andrew McCain
2017	Benjamin Greve (a)
2016	Benjamin Greve (a)	[5][6]
2015	Andrew McCain (a)
2014	Trent Peterson (a)
2013	Jon DuToit (a)
2012	Ryan Peterson
2011	Troy Johnson (a)
2010	Clayton Rask
2009	Brett Swedberg
2008	Yu Katayama (a)
2007	Kane Hanson	[7]
2006	Mike Barge
2005	Jered Gusso	[8]
2004	Ty Armstrong
2003	Joe Stansberry	[9]
Best Buy Minnesota State Open
2002	David Tentis
2001	Rodney Cook	[1]
2000	Ben Meyers (a)	[10][11]
1999	Don Berry	[1]
1998	James McLean
National Car Open
1997	John Snyder	[12]
1996	Andy Brink1	[13]
1995	John Harris	[1][5]
1994	John Harris	[1][5]
1993	George Shortridge	[1]
EDS/National Car Open
1992	Don Berry	[14]
National Car Open
1991	Bill Israelson	[2]
1990	Tom Lehman	[1][15]
1989	Tom Lehman	[1][15]
1988	Jon Chaffee1	[12]
1987	Kevin Cashman
1986	Jim Sorenson
1985	Joel Goldstrand1	[16]
1984	Chris Perry1	[17]
1983	Mike Morley	[1]
1982	Mike Morley	[18]
1981	George Shortridge	[16]
1980	Dan Croonquist	[1]
Minnesota State Open
1979	Dan Croonquist	[1]
1978	Dave Haberle
1977	Ron Benson	[1]
1976	Rick Ehrmanntraut	[12]
1975	Mike Morley
1974	Ron Benson	[1]
1973	Joel Goldstrand
1972	Ron Benson	[1]
1971	Clayton Johnson
1970	Dave Haberle
1969	Bob Reith Jr.
1968	Eddie Langert
1967	Clayton Johnson
1966	George Shortridge	[16][19]
1965	Dave Gumlia	[1]
1964	Dave Gumlia	[1]
1963	Joe Sodd
1962	Gene Hansen	[1]
1961	Gene Hansen	[1]
1960	John Cook
1959	Bill Waryan	[1]
1958	Paul O'Leary
1957	Ray Hill
1956	Charles "Pat" Sawyer
1955	Wally Ulrich	[1]
1954	Ray Hill
1953	Loren Krugel
1952	Joe Coria	[1]
1951	Wally Ulrich
1950	Bill Waryan
1949	Joe Coria
1948	Joe Coria
1947	Wally Ulrich (a)	[1]
1946	Wally Ulrich (a)	[1]
1945	Joe Coria
1944	Stan Larson
1943	Les Bolstad
1942	Harry Cooper
1941	Joe Coria1	[1]
1940	Joe Coria	[1]
1939	Les Bolstad	[1]
1938	Les Bolstad	[1]
1937	Al Clasen (a)	[20]
1936	Charles "Pat" Sawyer	[1]
1935	Charles "Pat" Sawyer	[1]
1934	Joe Coria (a)	[1]
1933	Les Bolstad	[1]
1932	Carson "Lee" Herron
1931	No tournament
1930	Edward Baening	[1]
1929	Jock Hendry
1928	Jimmy Johnston (a)	[1]
1927	Jimmy Johnston (a)	[1]
1926	George Smith
1925	Harry Legg (a)
1924	George Smith
1923	Jack Burke Sr.
1922	Tom Stevens
1921	Jack Burke Sr.	[1]
1920	Jack Burke Sr.	[1]
1919	Jack Burke Sr.	[1]
1918	George Sargent
1917	Tom Stevens

Source:^[21]

(a) denotes amateur
¹ Playoff win

• PGA of America – Minnesota section