Haslerud, Yeager, Lehman and Peterson Last Standing at MGA Senior Players

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  BREEZY POINT, Minn. – Accustomed to playing at the state’s highest level for the past two decades, the four remaining players at the 25th Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship have a combined 20 state titles and three MGA Player of the Year honors.

Owner of three four-ball titles and winner of the 2009 Northland Invitational, Matt Yeager advanced to the quarterfinal round Tuesday with a convincing victory over 2022 MGA Senior Amateur champion Bob Neuberger, 6 and 5.

Yeager overcame an early deficit against three-time MGA Senior Amateur champion Leif Carlson during the afternoon session by converting a pair of short birdie chances mid-round to eliminate Carlson, 4 and 3, earning his spot in the semifinal round for the first time in his career.

“I’ve been playing well all year and been really confident.” Yeager said Tuesday. “Iron play has been good—hitting some close shots, and driving the ball in play. But with match play, you can play well and win, and you can play well and lose.

“The course got a little fiery this afternoon and played much differently. With swirling winds, it’s been tough,” Yeager said Tuesday. “You can make a lot of big mistakes out here, and I haven’t been doing that.”

Yeager will face two-time MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year, Jim Lehman, during Wednesday’s semifinal round.

Winner of the 2019 MGA Senior Players’ Championship, Lehman advanced from pool play with a victory over Antonio Catani, 5 and 4.

Trading blows with Don Howe during the quarterfinal round, Lehman’s approach on the final hole stopped inches from the hole for a tap-in birdie to earn his spot in the semifinals Wednesday.

Despite 11 state victories on his resume, Lehman has been held winless over the past four seasons, most recently winning the MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball with Jerry Rose at his home course at Windsong Farm in 2019.

Undefeated during pool play this week, 2017 MGA Senior Amateur champion Dave Haslerud built an early lead against defending MGA Senior Amateur champion Mark Aldrich, and held on for the victory, 4 and 3, to reach the semifinal round for the first time.

“I think I missed one fairway and hit a fair number of greens,” Haslerud said following his fourth win of the week Tuesday. “I didn’t make a lot of putts, but I made a lot of pars and had some good up-and-downs. Kind of boring—nothing fancy, just steady.

“Down the middle and on the green or near the green is my game. Sometimes I make birdie, otherwise I feel like I can get up-and-down to save par.”

A former University of Minnesota golfer, Haslerud paired with Yeager to win back-to-back MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships in 2020 and 2021.

When the tournament resumes early Wednesday, Haslerud will face 2021 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year and fellow Gopher Tim Peterson.

Peterson also went undefeated during pool play, getting past John Mugford, 4 and 3, to reach the quarterfinals against James Price.

Getting off to a quick start for the first time this week, Peterson carded back-to-back birdies on the first two holes and never looked back.

Taking a 3-up lead to his inward nine, Peterson increased his lead to five after 12 holes and closed out the match at the 13th hole with a victory, 6 and 5, to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2021.

The semifinal round of the 25th MGA Senior Players’ Championship is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday at Deacon’s Lodge, followed by the start of the championship match.