Peterson Holds Off Tylke for Third Win at MGA Mid-Players' Championship

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  BREEZY POINT, Minn. – Fending off a late charge by Max Tylke Wednesday at Deacon’s Lodge, Trent Peterson pulled out a 2-up victory to claim his third Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship.

Peterson tallies the 36th victory of his amateur career Wednesday, and has now won at least one championship in 12 consecutive seasons. 

“A win is a little bittersweet—it’s been a while since I’ve won this event,” Peterson said Wednesday. “With a new format and playing six rounds instead of five, it’s not easy, but it’s nice to get a win on the board early.”

Peterson jumped out to an early lead with birdies on each of the first two holes before Tylke countered by sticking his approach inside of six feet at the par-3 third to cut into Peterson’s advantage.

Rolling in his birdie chance from 12 feet at the ninth helped Peterson regain a 2-up lead with nine holes to play, but his lead would evaporate early on the back nine following a bogey at the 13th and birdie by Tylke from 15 feet at the 15th.

But Tylke stumbled late, giving Peterson a slim 1-up lead into the final hole where he’d make birdie to earn the victory, 2-up.

“We each won a lot of holes with birdies today, which was fun,” Peterson said.

Peterson entered the week with three competitive rounds under his belt when he competed with partner Nick Jarrett at the 2024 U.S. Amateur-Four Ball Championship at Philadelphia Cricket Club in Flourtown, Pa., two weeks ago, advancing to the Round of 32.

“I haven’t played in Minnesota after [the U.S. Four-Ball]. I kind of had to get the feel for it and each round it came back more and more,” he said.

The 37-year-old former South Dakota State University golfer went 2-0-1 during pool play to advance to the quarterfinal round for just the second time since his victory in 2019.

Making quick work of Jesse Larson, 6 and 5, Peterson advanced to face Ryan Conn during Wednesday’s semifinals.

A string of four consecutive birdies to close out the front nine, Peterson built a 4-up lead and hung on for the victory, 4 and 3, to face Tylke in the finals.

Peterson defeated Justin Burleson in 2017 at St. Cloud Country Club for his first victory at the event, adding a second title to his resume in 2019 by beating former Eagan High School teammate Jamie Quesnel at Crow River Golf Club.

Tylke went 2-1 during pool play, and advanced to the quarterfinal round after surviving a playoff against Aaron Wiemiller.

Pulling away late in his match against Jesse Polk, Tylke earned the victory, 3 and 2, to reach the semifinals against two-time defending champion Bryce Hanstad early Wednesday.

The 2021 MGA Players’ champion carded three consecutive birdies to quickly mount a lead over Hanstad, and he would never look back, claiming the victory, 2 and 1, to reach the finals during his first appearance at the championship.

“I played a lot of good golf—hit the ball well and contended all the way down until the end,” Tylke said Wednesday. “I putted well until the last two holes. I really tried to avoid making big numbers. If you’re here on the last day, it’s a good sign.

“It was a great battle with Trent. We both had hiccups and we both had good shots. It came down to the end and he won the last two."

With his first win at the Minnesota Boys Junior PGA Championship in 2011, Tylke has claimed 10 amateur victories in Minnesota during his career, recording at least one victory over the past eight straight seasons.