Peterson Tallies Second Win of the Season at MPGA State Public Links Championship

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  LAKE CITY, Minn. – Making over 35 starts during his four seasons at South Dakota State University, Trent Peterson quickly became accustomed to adverse conditions on the golf course. Perhaps reverting to his college days this week, the ever-steady Peterson carded a late birdie Sunday, firing a 1-under 70 in damp and breezy conditions to earn a one-stroke victory over Max Tylke at the 95^th Minnesota Public Golf Association State Public Links Championship at The Jewel Golf Club.
 
“I like wind. I hit the ball really low—I don’t hit it far, but I hit it low so the wind doesn’t affect it much,” Peterson said following his win Sunday. “I’ve got a lot of experience in the wind, where other players might not have as much. And I have a good attitude in the wind, too. Knowing how difficult it is, you’ve just got to keep putzing along.
 
“I’ve been hitting it good—I played in Sioux Falls last weekend in [a Dakotas Tour event as an amateur] and shot 16-under in three rounds, so I knew I was playing well coming in. Yesterday I played great. I missed some short birdie putts, but still held it together at even par and knew I still had a chance today.”
 
Peterson claimed his first victory at the event while at South Dakota State in 2006 on his home course at Valleywood Golf Course. The two-time Minnesota Golf Association Player of the Year posted an even par 71 during the opening round Saturday, entering Sunday’s final round two shots back of University of Minnesota golfer Noah Rasinski’s opening-round 69.
 
“I played better today. With this wind it was tough out there. I hit the driver great all week and hit it great last week, so I’ve been trusting that and not really making many mistakes,” he said. “I was hitting the irons good. Today I missed a lot of greens with these winds, but the short game was really good. I was hitting it inside of five feet and getting up-and-down.”
 
Sinking a five-footer for birdie at the eighth negated an early three-putt bogey for Peterson as he turned in even par for the championship and one shot back of 18-hole leader Rasinski.
 
Peterson made a key up-and-down at the difficult 230-yard, par-3 15^th, which was playing into the wind and saw 35 players make bogey or worse during Sunday’s final round. Landing a 3-wood short of the green, Peterson chipped inside of four feet, but watched as his ball drifted away and eventually stopped eight feet away. He rolled in a right-to-left breaker to save par.
 
Taking control of the tournament at the par-5 16^th, Peterson left his third 18 feet short of the flagstick, but drilled his birdie putt to move into the lead following late bogeys by both Tylke and Rasinski.
 
“That was kind of surprising,” said Peterson of his tournament-clinching birdie putt. “That pin was on a two-yard tier and had about 18 feet up the hill and it was a pretty straight putt and I just rocked it in.”
 
With a pair of pars on the final two holes, Peterson claimed his second win of the season and the 21^st state victory of his career. He downed Jamie Quesnel in June to win his second MGA Mid-Players’ title in three seasons.
 
“I’ve come close a couple of times, but I’m happy to win and it’s fun win an event 13 years apart.”
 
Playing with the lead briefly late Sunday, Tylke’s chances for his third win of the season came to an end following back-to-back bogeys at the 15^th and 16^th holes. He would birdie the par-4 17^th to trim Peterson’s lead, but fell one stroke shy at even par 142 for yet another strong finish.
 
“I can’t be upset with today—the conditions were tough,” Tylke said Sunday. “You make some mistakes, but it was a good round and a good finish.
 
“It’s been a good year. You can’t win them all, that’s the nature of golf. It’s good to be in contention so much more than I used to be and realizing where you’re going wrong and where you’re going right.”
 
Since 2016, Tylke has notched 13 top-10 finishes, including five victories. He won both the MPGA Four-Ball and Mid Public Links championships to begin the season before finishing tied for 14^th at the MGA Amateur and followed it with a runner-up finish at the Minnesota State Open four days later.
 
A trio of late bogeys derailed Rasinski’s bid for his first victory 2015, winning the MPGA Junior Public Links at Emerald Greens Golf Club. He posted a final-round 75 Sunday to finish third at 2-over 144.
 
 
 
THE 95^TH MPGA STATE PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP
THE JEWEL GOLF CLUB
LAKE CITY, MINN.
6,888 YARDS, PAR 71
 
 
SUNDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Trent Peterson, Valleywood GC, 71-70—141
2. Max Tylke, Links at Northfork, 73-69—142
3. Noah Rasinski, Heritage Links GC, 69-75—144
4. Justin Burleson, Valleywood GC, 71-74—145
5. Matt Armstrong, Braemar GC, 72-74—146
T6. Jesse Bull, StoneRidge GC, 72-77—149
T6. Jacob Herdine, Fox Hollow GC, 75-74—149
8. Ryan Paris, Wild Marsh GC, 78-72—150
9. Blake Onkka, Bunker Hills GC, 76-75—151
T10. Joel B. Johnson, Links at Northfork, 74-78—152
T10. Jonathan Hanner, Baker Nat’l GC, 74-78—152


 
For complete tournament results go to:  www.golfgenius.com/pages/4940130409863207046