OHS graduate Dave Carothers won the Minnesota Golf Association state amateur championship Wednesday, closing with a tournament-best, four-under round of 66.

The 1987 OHS grad and former University of Minnesota golfer has been playing in the event for about 30 years. His previous best finish was in the top 10 about 15 years ago. He said the victory, "Means the world," in a Twitter post from the MGA, @MNGolfAssn.

Carothers battled windy conditions in the final round, but felt comfortable doing it, "I think the tougher the weather conditions and the tougher the course, the better I focus." He opened the three-round event at Interlachen Country Club with a two-over 72, birdying the final hole, according to the official scorecard. Carothers shot 76 in the second round to drop a little way down the leader board, but never double-bogeyed a hole.

In Wednesday's final round, Carothers, who trailed by three strokes, started on No. 10 and shot even par over his first nine holes, ending with a birdie. He drilled an eagle on hole No. 2 and dropped birdies on No. 4 and 5 and ended with a 214 total for a one-stroke victory over Grady Meyer.

Carothers home course is Wild Marsh Golf Club in Buffalo. While at Owatonna High School, he was a four-year letter winner and placed ninth at the state golf tournament as a senior. He earned a scholarship to the University of Minnesota where he also lettered four times and was the Gopher's captain for two years. Carothers has won the Owatonna City Open championship multiple times.

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