Peterson, Matthew, Hanner and Onkka Remain at MGA Players' Championship at Spring Hill

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By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  ORONO, Minn. – After winning the Minnesota State Open last summer, the one tournament that had eluded him during his amateur career, Trent Peterson now has his sights set on the Minnesota Golf Association Players’ Championship.

Peterson has one title to his credit already, winning in 2009, but after finishing as runner-up each of the last two seasons, the 2014 MGA Men's Player of the Year won’t be satisfied with anything less than a second title at the event.

Peterson, Valleywood Golf Course, took down Justin Doeden, 3 and 2, during his Round of 16 match Tuesday at Spring Hill Golf Club before facing Taylor Sundbom in the quarterfinals during the afternoon session.

After jumping out to a big, 5-up lead early over Sundbom, Peterson struggled late on the back nine Tuesday. He saw his lead shrink to just two after making bogey at the seventh, double-bogey at the eighth and another bogey at the ninth.

Peterson bounced back with a birdie at the 11th, but Sundbom answered by winning the 13th and 14th, to cut the deficit to one. Peterson would clinch the match on the final hole, sticking his approach shot from the right rough to 10 feet as Sundbom would concede the hole after failing to chip in for birdie.

“This morning I caught on fire and birdied 10, 11 and 12 which was a nice little stretch, I made three sweet putts and carried that lead all the way through,” Peterson said. “This afternoon I got off to a great start again with birdies at one and two and had short looks for birdie at three and four.”

“I hit a sweet shot coming into 18. I just wanted to hit the green but it was right at it the whole way and it looked perfect,” he said. “I’m putting really well—I’m making a lot of good putts so that’s keeping me in it. This tournament takes grit and being steady. I'm just trying to make pars and throw in a few birdies and definitely keep the patience.”

Peterson will face 2013 Minnesota State Amateur champion, Sam Matthew, in the semifinals Wednesday, as Matthew defeated J.T. Johnson during the Round of 16 Tuesday before beating Dominic Kieffer, 2 and 1, in the quarterfinals.

Matthew, North Oaks Golf Club, rolled in three birdie putts on the front nine but took a slim 1-up lead to the back nine against Johnson. Matthew increased his lead at the 10th with a birdie before carding another at the 12th to go 3-up and would close out the match on the 17th with a par, winning 2 and 1.

Facing Kieffer in the quarterfinals, Matthew took an early lead with a birdie on the opening hole, but Kieffer answered with a birdie at the third. Kieffer birdied the fifth before driving the green at the par-4 sixth and rolling in a big, swooping putt for eagle to quickly take a 2-up lead.

Matthew regained the lead after the tenth hole after three consecutive bogeys by Kieffer at the midway point of the quarterfinal round Tuesday.

Increasing his lead to 2-up after a birdie at the 13th, Kieffer battled back to cut the deficit to one at the 14th, but Matthew would finish the match with a birdie at the 17th to win, 3 and 2.

Blake Onkka won both of his matches Tuesday to move on to the semifinals where he will face Jonathan Hanner who downed both Jesse Bull and Erik Christopherson to advance.

Onkka, Bunker Hills Golf Course, faced David Erickson in a back-and-forth match during the Round of 16 Tuesday, trailing after 14 holes.

Onkka rolled in his par putt to even the match at the 15th before taking the lead with a birdie at the par-3 17th and clinched the match with a par on the final hole, winning 2-up.

Facing Ryan Alsleben during quarterfinals, Onkka jumped out to a quick lead by dropping an eight-foot putt for par on the second hole and followed it with a 25-foot putt for birdie at No. 3 to go 2-up.

Carrying a 2-up lead to the back nine Tuesday, Onkka continued his steady play as Alsleben began to struggle, making two consecutive bogeys, increasing Onkka’s lead to three after the 11th.

Winning the 12th and 13th holes with a par, Onkka closed out the match on the 14th and sealed a spot in the semifinals as he downed Alsleben, 5 and 4.

“I kept the ball in play and that was the main thing, but it’s been a struggle as far as my play goes,” Onkka said after advancing Tuesday. “My swing’s a little weird and I’m getting the ball in the hole with a couple of up-and-downs, but I’m not hitting the ball close. My swing’s just not where I want it to be or where it has been recently.

“I love match play, though,” he said. “It keeps you from getting down too much; I get a little bent out of shape when I think about my score sometimes, so here, if you have a bad hole you can move on." 

Onkka will have the tall order of facing Jonathan Hanner during the semifinals Wednesday as Hanner has been one of the most consistent players in the championship to this point.

Hanner, Baker National Golf Course, faced 2014 Minnesota Amateur champion, Jesse Bull, during the Round of 16 Tuesday and with three birdies over the first five holes, took a commanding 5-up lead over a struggling Bull.

With back-to-back birdies at the ninth and tenth holes, Hanner went 7-up and would close out the match on the 11th hole, making quick work of Bull to win, 8 and 7.

Hanner faced Erik Christopherson during quarterfinals Tuesday as the two played extremely tight through the first 10 holes.

Hanner took a 1-up lead with a birdie at the par-3 11th and increased his lead to 3-up late after back-to-back bogeys by Christopherson at the 14th and 15th.

Christopherson conceded Hanner’s birdie chance on the final hole as Hanner advanced to the semifinals Wednesday, winning 4 and 2.

“I got off to a steady start this morning and had a lot of good chances,” Hanner said Tuesday. “I made a birdie putt on five so I was 5-up through five and I pretty much cruised at that point. It was the best I’ve played all summer because I’m never going to beat [Bull] 8 and 7 if he’s playing anywhere near his capabilities.”

While Hanner said most aspects of his game have been solid for the first three rounds, he knew facing the former champion Christopherson, who claimed his 2010 title at Spring Hill, would be his toughest match yet.

“I knew [Christopherson] was going to be tough, he’s a super experienced player and he’s won this event before on this course, so he knows the course well. I was a little more nervous playing him this afternoon.”

“I had a huge birdie on 11 and played really solid after that. Everything is pretty steady right now; my putter started out slow yesterday and it warmed up as the day went on today. I probably putted my best this afternoon against [Christopherson],” Hanner said.