Top Seeds Have Little Trouble to Begin 12th MGA Mid-Players' Championship at Brackett's

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LAKEVILLE, Minn. – The common phrase is that anything can happen when it comes to match play in golf, but that wasn’t particularly the case Tuesday at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club where nine of the top 10 seeds advanced from the opening round of the 12^th Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship.
 
Defending champion Trent Peterson took the first step toward retaining the hardware Tuesday, downing Austin Eaton, 2-up. Peterson, who defeated Justin Burleson at St. Cloud Country Club in his first year of eligibility at the 30-and-over tournament, fell down after a birdie by Eaton at their 12^th hole.
 
Peterson rallied to even the match at the 15^th before winning the final two holes to earn a 2-up victory. He will now face Jamie Quesnel, who defeated Nathan Sitzmann during the Round of 32 Tuesday.
 
Jesse Bull, the 2014 MGA Amateur champion, cruised to a 6 and 4 victory over Joe McKean Tuesday, advancing to the Round of 16 against Daryl Schomer Wednesday. Schomer advanced in a victory over Ben Strauman, 3 and 2.
 
Andy Jacobson, who defeated Joe McCormick at the 2016 tournament at Bent Creek Golf Club, advanced from the first round with a 6 and 5 victory over Paul Schubring and will square off against Howard Hoffman, who downed Erik Hultne by the same margin.
 
Defending MGA State Amateur champion Dave Carothers got help from three birdies over his first five holes Tuesday to take all the lead he would need over Blake Onkka to advance to the Round of 16 Wednesday. Carothers will face three-time champion Troy Johnson, who needed extra holes to get past Ryan Alsleben.
 
Sammy Schmitz, a six-time MGA Men’s Player of the Year, advanced in impressive fashion Tuesday, defeating Andy Peterson, 8 and 7, and will face Ralph Baxley Wednesday during the second round.
 
Schmitz carded three birdies on his opening nine, but was helped by two bogeys and a double by Baxley as Schmitz went up by six after nine holes. A pair of bogeys by Baxley to open the back nine gave Schmitz the victory at the 11^th, 8 and 7.
 
Joe O’Brien, who defeated Schmitz at the 2015 championship at Wayzata Country Club, fell to Corey Schommer, 2 and 1, during the day’s biggest surprise Tuesday. O’Brien took the early lead with a birdie, but fell into bogey trouble to give Schommer a 1-up lead after five holes.
 
After O’Brien squared the match at the ninth, Schommer took control with a pair of birdies at the 11^th and 12^th holes and hung on to win. Schommer will face Joel B. Johnson during the Round of 16 Wednesday.
 
Justin Burleson, runner-up from a year ago, edged Joe McCormick in 19 holes and will face Topher Baron, who earned a 2-up victory over Chris Baas, while Tyler Obermueller and David Erickson were both victorious during the opening round Tuesday and will square off during the second round.
 
The 12^th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship continues Wednesday with Round of 16 matches scheduled to begin at 8:34 a.m. at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.