Jacobson Wins MGA Mid-Players' Championship to Avenge Last Year's Early Exit

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – At the 2015 Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship, Andy Jacobson held a 4-up lead over Joe O’Brien through 10 holes before his lead quickly evaporated as he bogeyed four of the final six holes, watching O’Brien go on to beat Sammy Schmitz in the final.

That loss has resonated with Jacobson over the past 12 months and when given a second chance this week at the 10th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship at Bent Creek Golf Club, Jacobson took full advantage, birdying three consecutive holes Thursday to come from behind and defeat Joe McCormick, 2-up.

“I was excited to play in the final and I wanted the [Mid-Players’ title]. I felt like I should’ve been in that final last year, but I just didn’t finish it and I didn’t forget about that this year,” Jacobson said Thursday. “I love match play and this course fits my eye so I was excited to play Joe.

“He was making some putts and making some birdies. On eight I chunked an iron shot and had to get it together and made a nice par save on nine, which was very critical timing-wise, and then hung in there. I enjoy playing here and I like playing with the lead—it gives you confidence.”

His par save on nine kept Jacobson within two of McCormick before he would sink three consecutive birdies starting at the 10th to find himself with a 1-up lead over McCormick with six holes to play.

“I made a nice birdie putt on 10, birdied 11 and birdied 12 too—I was rolling then,” he said.

Taking advantage of a bogey by McCormick, Jacobson’s lead increased to 2-up after the 14, but he would give back a shot by making bogey at the 15th.

Jacobson’s second shot at the par-5 16th was held up in the rough short-left of the green, but he would chip up to eight feet with an uphill birdie look.

McCormick’s third from right of the green rolled well past the flagstick and he was unable roll his birdie chance as it slid right of the hole. Jacobson’s birdie putt never left the center of the cup and he would take a 2-up lead when it fell.

Missing the 17th green right, Jacobson nearly ended the match when his chip rolled within inches of the cup as McCormick faced an improbable 15-foot birdie chance to extend the match. When his putt dropped, Jacobson’s lead fell to one heading to the final hole.

After pulling his tee shot into the left rough amongst trees, Jacobson was unwilling to let a second straight tournament slip away as he drilled his 3-iron up and on the green, stopping just six feet from the cup. He clinched the match by sinking his putt to win, 2-up.

“I wasn’t really planning on going to the last hole but then he rolled that putt in. I hit it a little left [at No. 18] and I can tell you for sure, that was the best 3-iron I’ve ever hit. My hand still hurts because I hit my caddie with a high-five so hard. It was a nice way to end it," he said. 

Jacobson trailed Trevor Anker by two with only four holes to play before rallying late to win the Round of 32 match. He breathed a little easier during the Round of 16, cruising to a 5 and 3 victory over Chris Little.

Taking an early lead in the quarterfinals, Jacobson would never trail during his match against Geoff Little before bouncing Andrew Crowder during a see-saw semifinal match.

“I squeaked through the first match, Trevor put me through the ringer,” Jacobson said of his Round of 32 match Tuesday. “I played well the next couple—I didn’t play great, but in match play you just need to get by. I never felt like I was lighting it up, but I will not complain to get a win.”

Jacobson won the 2012 MGA Players’ Championship at Windsong Farm before claiming the 2014 MPGA Four-Ball Championship with partner Aaron Barber. Last year Jacobson carded a 4-under par 140 to win the MPGA Public Links Championship at Greystone Golf Club.

McCormick had an impressive 2015 season, notching seven top-10 finishes, including a victory at the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship in Rochester and qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship all while easing back into competitive golf after health issues forced him to quit playing for nearly a decade. McCormick won the 1990 MGA Players’ Championship at White Bear Yacht Club.

“I hit lots of greens, made very few putts and was winning on pars,” McCormick said of his early matches this week. “I bet I made seven or eight birdies the entire tournament but I only missed two greens the last two matches.

“Today was just one of those days. The greens were perfect, I just couldn’t read them. Andy and I had a good battle out there; he’s a heck of a player. I was going to have to earn it—pars weren’t going to win it. I was driving it well, hitting lots of fairways and not missing many greens, but I needed to get the putter going.