Peterson Tops Lehman to Claim MGA Senior Players' Championship

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  BREEZY POINT, Minn. – During his acceptance speech after earning Minnesota Golf Association Senior Men’s Player of the Year honors in 2021, former University of Minnesota golfer Tim Peterson joked that he’s probably the only player to win the award without ever actually claiming a state tournament title.

That season, Peterson advanced to the semifinals of the MGA Senior Players’ Championship, and placed second at the MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball. More importantly, Peterson likely sealed the award by advancing to the quarterfinal round of the U.S. Senior Amateur in Michigan.

It wasn't until 2022, when he partnered with former Gopher teammate John Brellenthin, that Peterson claimed his first state victory by winning the MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship at The Jewel Golf Club. The two successfully defended their title a year ago, earning a six-stroke Victory at Eagle Creek Golf Club.

On Wednesday, Peterson outlasted 2019 champion Jim Lehman, 3 and 2, to win the 25th MGA Senior Players’ Championship for the first individual title of his career.

“As someone who’s about to turn 60, I feel like this win has been a long time coming,” Peterson said following his win Wednesday. “It feels good—throughout six rounds I was pretty steady the whole time.

“A win is a little ironic because I felt like it was a bit of a slow spring for me to get my game going. It’s nice to get this one because it was a little unexpected.”

Peterson said he leaned on his experience from the semifinal round at the championship three years prior as the genesis for his successful approach this week.

“If I learned anything from [2021], it’s to not give away holes. I played too aggressively a couple of times, and it cost me,” he said. “I played fairly conservatively compared to how I normally play, and that worked pretty well—I made a ton of pars throughout all my matches."

Going undefeated in pool play to start the championship, Peterson cruised during his quarterfinal match against James Price, 6 and 5, to meet 2017 MGA Senior Amateur champion Dave Haslerud in the semifinals early Wednesday.

Playing 16 holes at 1-over, Peterson downed Haslerud, 3 and 2, to reach the finals for the first time in his career.

Early troubles by Lehman allowed Peterson a 2-up lead after just two holes before Lehman fought his way back to tie the match at the fifth.

Peterson chipped to eight feet at the seventh and converted his birdie chance to recapture the lead, following it by sinking his birdie opportunity from four feet at the eighth.

With a Lehman bogey at the ninth, Peterson increased his lead to three as the two went bogey-free over the final seven holes before Peterson closed out the match with a respectable two-putt par at the 16th to earn the victory, 3 and 2.

“I certainly felt like I had good control of my golf ball,” Peterson said. “I didn’t make a ton of putts this week, but I didn’t really need to. I was in play most of the time and playing from a decent spot, which made it easier for me.

“Against someone as accomplished as Jim, you have to keep the ball in play otherwise you’ll have a hard time beating him.”

Owner of 11 state titles, Lehman on Wednesday was denied his first victory since winning the 2019 MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball on his home course at Windsong Farm with partner Jerry Rose.

Prior to this week’s finish, Lehman has failed to reach the quarterfinal round since his victory at the championship in 2019, but remains optimistic and confident looking ahead.

“I’ve been working hard on my game and had a couple of good tournaments over the wintertime, so to have this runner-up finish is disappointing, but I also feel good about the direction I’m going,” Lehman said. “It’s fun to compete because I have so many friends here at these events.

“Tim played great. The difference was that he played solidly the whole afternoon and really didn’t make any mistakes. I made some mistakes on the green.”