Ryan Gronlund has had his fair share of low rounds in the 50-some weeks that have passed since he won last year’s Western Corporate Image Pro-Am golf tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club.

Few, however, have rivaled his final round from that event.

Gronlund carded six straight birdies on the front nine, eagled the ninth hole and parred the back half en route to a tournament record round of 64.

“I just remember that (round), because for how hard golf normally is, it was one of those days when it was a little less hard,” Gronlund said. “Not easy, because golf is never easy. … But things were just falling into place.”

Now, Gronlund is back to try and replicate that effort at this year’s Pro-Am tournament, which tees off Friday for the first of three days of competition.

Gronlund, a native of Pleasanton, Calif., said he’s excited to be back in Aberdeen for a second go-round.

“I’m really excited to come back,” Gronlund said. “The membership was really great to us (last year), and made us feel like it was something that mattered to them.”

The Pro-Am tournament is part of the Dakotas Tour, an 18-stop tour through the upper Midwest, hitting courses in North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa. Gronlund is playing 10 of the 18 events, and has one top-10 and a pair of top-25 finishes under his belt thus far.

He’s hoping to add to that collection this weekend, but knows nothing is guaranteed.

“That’s the thing about golf,” he said. “You play the hand you’re dealt.”

Gronlund is back on the Dakotas Tour this summer after narrowly missing the cut for a spot on the Korn Ferry Tour, a developmental tour for the PGA.

“Missed out on that by one shot, which really stinks,” Gronlund said.

He’s hoping that another swing through the Dakotas will help prepare him for another shot.

“Qualifying school starts up again soon,” he said. “Tournaments like (the Pro-Am) help with that.”

In the meantime, it’s hotel rooms, airports and all the golf he can find, all in pursuit of that coveted PGA card. And when it comes, it will be the realization of a lifelong pursuit.

“As far back as I can remember, (golf) is what I’ve wanted to do,” Gronlund said.

Still, one could argue the merits of playing golf in California, or somewhere close to home rather than a couple thousand miles away in the Upper Midwest.

“There’s no real substitution for competition,” Gronlund said. “I can practice all I want and play all I want at home, but there’s nothing like stepping up on the first tee and knowing your score is going to count.”

Pre-tournament events begin today at the course, with competition set to start at 7 a.m. Friday.