Putting progress pays for Hanson

Getting from tee to green has never been a problem for Kane Hanson. But now that he has that putting concept figured out - well, look out.

The Fargo South graduate won a Gateway Tour event two weeks ago in Rio Verde, Ariz., and that was just the start. Last weekend, he won the Arthur Gallagher Minnesota Golf Champions tournament at the Minneapolis Golf Club.

"I'm playing as well as I ever have," Hanson said Wednesday.

He credits a putting lesson from a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based coach.

"We rebuilt my entire putting stroke," Hanson said. "What I was doing before didn't seem right. I'm standing taller and am closer to the ball."

The result is he's making longer putts that he never made before. Everything about the stroke, he said, feels "square."

Never was that more evident than at a tournament in the Gateway's Desert Springs Tour at Vista Verde Golf Club. The win was not routine.

He did not look at the leaderboard until walking off the 17th green on the final day. He saw he was four shots behind and played the 18th like it was just another day at the course.

"I thought, 'OK, I did well, I'll take my 10-5 and call it a good week," Hanson said, referring to the second place prize of $10,500.

But leader Charlie Beljan faltered playing the last three holes triple bogey, bogey and par. Hanson won on the first extra hole to take the $16,000 first-place prize, his second career Gateway title.

He's on his third year on the Gateway Tour and is currently 10th on the money list at $41,679.42.

"The Gateway is pretty strong competition," said Oxbow golf professional John Dahl, "and he looks comfortable at that level."

Dahl has worked with Hanson over the years, most recently with his chipping. He said Hanson's ball-striking from tee to around the green has improved after Hanson made an adjustment to move closer to the ball.

"It looked like he was way too close when he was chipping and there was a little excessive motion," Dahl said. "He has great hands."

And thanks to the putting tips, great confidence from the tee box to the hole.

Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546.