Greve and Peterson Share Early Lead Before Heat Halts MGA Mid-Amateur

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  CHASKA, Minn. – Coming off a runner-up finish a week ago at the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Ben Greve carded a pair of eagles Monday in scorching conditions at Chaska Town Course to share the early lead with five-time champion Trent Peterson to begin the 37th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship.

Greve and Peterson finished their opening rounds before tournament officials suspended play at both Chaska Town Course and Fox Hollow Golf Club due to excessive heat.

“Probably the hottest round of golf I’ve ever played,” said Greve after the heat index reached over 100 degrees Monday at Chaska Town Course. “Early on it was pretty normal, but at the end, you’re conserving all energy. You walk as little as you need to because it’s hard to keep the legs moving, and it’s hard to get the glove on and off.

“I played well—had one bogey after I hit it out of bounds on 15, but otherwise I hit the ball good and played solid. Missed a few six, seven, 8-foot opportunities, but I had putts inside of 15 feet all day.”

Greve, winner of the 2022 MGA Amateur on his home course at Olympic Hills Golf Club, began his day with back-to-back birdies at the first and second holes.

Sinking his eagle putt from 15 feet at the par-5 seventh put the former University of Minnesota golfer at 4-under, and he’d turn in 5-under following his third birdie of the front nine at the par-4 eighth.

After dropping a 30-footer for birdie at the 14th, Greve took his only bogey of the round at the 15th, but would surge back with an eagle at the 16th, hitting his tee shot to eight feet and converting his putt to finish the opening round at 7-under 65.

Peterson, winner of five of the last seven championships, seemed unfazed by the conditions Monday, firing a bogey-free 65 at Fox Hollow to share the opening-round lead.

“I thought it was beautiful out there as I love heat—can’t complain,” Peterson said following his opening round Monday. “I think it could’ve been a lot worse. No rain or wind today.

“Had my mom on the bag, [which helped] a lot with the heat. She was force-feeding me water and snacks all day.”

The 37-year-old Peterson began the scoring with three consecutive birdies starting at the fourth hole Monday before converting his fourth birdie opportunity of the round at the ninth to turn in 4-under.

He two-putted for birdie at the 11th before nearly holing out at the par-3 15th, tapping in for birdie to reach 6-under for the day.

With a birdie from inside of 25 feet at the 17th, Peterson finished with a share of the lead at 7-under 65.

“Hit 17 greens and hit it close all day. Had a lot of good looks,” said Peterson. “Was in no trouble all day. Made for a stress-free day.”

When play was suspended Monday, current MGA Men’s Player of the Year points leader Max Tylke had gone bogey-free with seven birdies on his scorecard through 16 holes at Fox Hollow to join Greve and Peterson at 7-under.

Less than 100 points separate Tylke and Peterson in the season-long race, with 125 points going to the winner following Wednesday’s final round.

Bryce Hanstad, winner of the 2022 and 2023 MGA Mid-Players’ Championship, finished his opening round with three consecutive birdies at Chaska Town Course to post a 4-under 68. He currently sits tied for fourth with Jesse Larson, who finished 12 holes before play was halted Monday.

The 37th MGA Mid-Amateur Championship will resume at both sites at 8 a.m. Tuesday, followed by the start of the second round.