VanArragon, Stevens, Herron and Coahran Among Winners on Day One at MGA Players'

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ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Prior to the start of their respective collegiate golf careers, former Blaine High School standout Caleb VanArragon and Northfield prep star Nate Stevens were considered among the state’s most accomplished junior golfers of the past decade.

VanArragon, now a fifth-year senior at Valparaiso University, claimed a pair of Minnesota Junior PGA Boys’ Championship victories and three top-10 finishes at state events following his junior year of high school, including a fourth-place finish at the Minnesota Golf Champions in 2018.

Stevens, who will begin his sophomore season at the University of Notre Dame later this year, won back-to-back Class AAA individual titles and earned the Mr. Minnesota Golf award to close out his prep career last June.

With VanArragon and Stevens each earning a pair of victories at St. Cloud Country Club Monday, the two will now face off during the Round of 16 at the 45th Minnesota Golf Association Players’ Championship when the tournament resumes Tuesday.

“It’s going to be a fun matchup,” VanArragon said. “I know Nate is a really solid player and think his game will set up pretty well at this course. He’s accurate off the tee and he’s got a great short game.

“It’s a little similar to my home course [Bunker Hills Golf Club] in terms of being tight off the tee. There’s a lot more elevation change here, but I feel like there are a lot of fun risk-reward holes that make it a great match-play course.”

Falling to Ryan Conn during the semifinal round last season at Burl Oaks Golf Club, VanArragon enters the week as the tournament’s No. 1 seed.

VanArragon took an early lead during his opening-round match against Matthew Foehse and never looked back, on his way to a victory, 5 and 4.

Taking a 2-up lead over Beck Erholtz late on his back nine during the afternoon session, VanArragon held on and would close out the match at the 16th, 3 and 2.

“This afternoon I played more solidly. This morning I had some loose iron shots and didn’t get a whole lot to fall with the putter,” he said. “I’m happy with where my game is, overall, and I really like this golf course.

“My ball-striking has been really solid, but the thing that burned me was my putting. That’s been a goal of mine coming into the summer—to improve my putting. I talked to my sister a lot because she’s one of the best putters I’ve ever met, and my coach Luke Benoit, so I’m hopeful that I’m heading in the right direction.”

VanArragon’s younger sister, Kathryn, closed out her prep career Wednesday with a runner-up finish at the Class AAA championship, winning individually in 2018 and 2022.

Stevens, seeded No. 16 this week, faced Joe Conzemius to begin the championship Monday and built a 3-up lead through nine holes, eventually winning the match at the 16th, 4 and 2.

Winning three of his first four holes to begin his second-round match against Aaron Wiemiller, Stevens cruised to his second win of the day, 6 and 4.

“I really haven’t had a ton of experience with match play,” Stevens said Monday. “I didn’t hit the ball great today, but I got it done in other ways. I putted well today—something I’ve worked on a lot for a few weeks after the college season ended.

“If I can clean up the driver and continue rolling it the way I am, I think I’ll have a pretty good chance against a really good player in Caleb.”

VanArragon and Stevens both advanced to the NCAA Division I Bath Regional at Eagle Eye Golf Club in Bath, Mich. Stevens placed tied for 29th at 1-over 214, while VanArragon finished 59th at 221.

“Everything has met or exceeded expectations,” Stevens said of his freshman year at Notre Dame. “I played well and played consistent. It was really nice to travel to all of the events and be in the lineup.

“I know where I am, but I got to play with some of the best amateurs in the world—seeing what they’re doing that I’m not doing yet. But at the same time, I’m not far off.”

Danny Anderson, a two-time Lakeland Invitational champion and two-time Minnesota Public Golf Association Combination champion, chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Casey Nelson to advance to the Round of 16 against University of Nebraska golfer Davis Johnson.

“It’s interesting because I’ve been doing this since my high school years. My mind still thinks I’m a young kid, but my body doesn’t,” said the 39-year-old Anderson, who is now the oldest remaining player in the field. “It’s fun and match play suits me well. I don’t hit as many drivers as I used to—the part that gets easier is managing the type of shots you hit.

“It was hot, but I hit the ball well all day. When I play a small course like this where it’s all about position, if my ball-striking isn’t there, then I’m in trouble. With the short games these kids have now, I have to hit greens.”

This week, Anderson said he hopes to channel his inner Dave Carothers, who won the 2017 at Interlachen Country Club at the age of 48, the second oldest in tournament history.

“He’s a great player, but to do that at that place? At the time, remember saying that I hope I can play like that when I’m 50.”

Among the others to advance to the Round of 16 was University of New Mexico’s Carson Herron, who defeated Bailey Sawyer, 5 and 4, before edging Tennessee Tech golfer Anders Larson in a playoff.

Herron will face former Bemidji State University golfer Brandon Nelson during the Round of 16 early Tuesday.

Former University of Minnesota golfer Jacob Pedersen picked up a pair of victories Monday, including his Round of 32 match against MGA Mid-Players’ runner-up Ryan Conn, 3 and 2. Pedersen squares off against St. John’s University’s Will Gruidl during the third round Tuesday.

Peyton Coahran, the defending Minnesota State Junior Boys’ champion, earned two wins over Jack Reinardy and Matt Armstrong to reach the Round of 16 to face former University of Wisconsin-Stout golfer Bradley Wohlers.

The 45th MGA Players’ Championship continues Tuesday, when the Round of 16 begins at 8 a.m. at St. Cloud Country Club.