Northern Michigan University men’s golfer Arthur Ylitalo putts at a Wildcats’ meet during the 2023-24 season. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Ylitalo, a resident of Buffalo, Minnesota, shot a three-round total of 1-over-par 220 on rounds of 72, 75 and 73 on the par-73 course.

Some 156 golfers started on Monday, with the field cut to the top 63 after two days at 3-over par 149. Ylitalo was just two strokes ahead of that line, but his final-round 73 tied for 15th best in the field that day to bump him up as close to the top spot as he was to the cut line by event’s end.

“We are very pleased with Art’s finish this week,” Wildcats head golf coach Eric Johnson said in an NMU Sports Information release about his finish. “To make the cut at a state-am and finish strong is impressive and going to help him grow as a player.

“We are looking for Art to be a go-to guy for us this upcoming year and we are excited to see these results.”

Northern Michigan University men’s golfer Arthur Ylitalo lines up a putt at a Wildcats’ meet during the 2023-24 season. (Photo courtesy NMU)

Nate Deziel of the Moorhead Country Club in Moorhead, Minnesota, won the Minnesota tourney by three strokes with an 11-under par 208 on rounds of 66, 70 and 72. That earned this former North Dakota State golfer, who finished his career there in 2023, a spot in the U.S. Amateur.

Ylitalo, 19, opened strongly with birdies on his first two holes, a par-5 and a par-3, and three of the first five holes to quickly stand at 3-under-par. Though he bogeyed the sixth and ninth to make the turn at 1-under 35, he was steady on the back nine with one birdie and one bogey to stand at 1-under after the first day.

Ylitalo was a bit more up and down on Tuesday, scoring two birdies but three bogeys on the front nine for a 1-over 37, then steadying himself with no birdies and just one bogey on the back for another 1-over, this time 38, to finish the day with 2-over 75 and stand at 1-over for the tournament, three strokes ahead of the first player who missed the cut.

The final day’s even-par round opened for him with no birdies and two bogeys on the front nine for a 2-over 38, then went back to the roller coaster on the back, scoring four birdies, two bogeys and just three pars on those nine holes for a 2-under 35.

Overall in three days, he had 10 birdies, 11 bogeys and 33 pars.

Arthur Ylitalo

Ylitalo reached the Minnesota finals after shooting a 3-under 69 and tying for second place at a qualifying tournament held in Sauk Centre on June 17.

Ylitalo’s older brother Walter Ylitalo was a junior on the Wildcats men’s golf team last season.

Information compiled by Journal Sports Editor Steve Brownlee. His email address is sbrownlee@miningjournal.net.