2025 Minneapolis Bunker Hills Golf Course Tournament Results

Cormier Outlasts Wind and Field to Win Bunker Hills Shootout 

COON RAPIDS, MN — In winds gusting over 40 mph and temperatures stuck in the 50s, Bunker Hills Golf Club played more like a Scottish coastal test than a suburban Minnesota track. But while the weather turned brutal, the competition at the Bunker Hills Shootout was even fiercer. 
 
Nine players teed it up on June 8 in a Net Stableford format that rewarded aggressive play and punished hesitation. When the final putts dropped, Derek Cormier of Richfield emerged atop the leaderboard with a tournament-winning 39 points, edging out a three-way tie at second by a single point. 

A Gritty Win for Cormier 

Cormier wasn’t flashy—he was unshakable. A birdie on the par-4 second hole got him going early, and a second red number at the tricky 7th gave him momentum. But it wasn’t all smooth sailing. A double bogey at the par-5 9th cost him his only point of the round and threatened to derail his steady climb. Still, Cormier regrouped with a birdie on 10 and played the final eight holes in even par. His back-nine 17 points were enough to hold off the charging pack. 

A Logjam at Second 

Just one point back at 38 stood a trio of challengers, all with different stories: 

• Brett Mathiowetz (New Ulm) had the lowest gross round of the day with a 74, but a costly double on the 14th derailed his back nine. Four birdies showed his potential, but the missed opportunity on the closing stretch will sting. 

• Chase Hoops (St. Cloud) posted the highest point total on the back nine (20), sparked by a huge birdie on the par-3 11th worth six points. After struggling to 18 points on the front—including a triple at the 4th—Hoops roared back with the comeback of the day. 

• Michael Tidd (Blaine) quietly crafted one of the cleanest rounds of the day, matching Mathiowetz’s 74 with four birdies and just one double. He never led outright, but never faded either—showing what steady golf looks like in unstable weather. 

Early Leader Fades Late 

For a while, Leo Stepan (North Mankato) looked like the player to beat. He racked up 21 points on the front nine—tied for the lead at the turn. But disaster struck down the stretch. Doubles on 13 and 17, plus a closing bogey, dropped him to fifth with 35 points. Stepan did, however, earn Closest to the Pin honors. 

The Wind Was the Real Winner 

As the leaderboard tightened, the wind never let up. With sustained gusts making club selection nearly impossible and crosswinds wrecking approach shots, the course forced players into survival mode. Those who avoided big numbers thrived. 
Among the rest of the field: 

• Kyle Trites (31 pts) battled back after a disastrous front nine to salvage a solid back. 

• Sam Westermeyer (27 pts) and Austin Seman (25 pts) both showed grit, despite erratic scoring. 

• Michael Van Spankeren (25 pts) started strong, but a double at 14 and closing bogey at 18 kept him from climbing the board. 

Final Thoughts 

It wasn’t about distance. It wasn’t about precision. It was about mental toughness, damage control, and grinding when nothing felt easy. And on a day where the wind humbled even the best swings, it was Derek Cormier who stood tall at the finish.