Bogey-Free on the Final Day, Peterson Wins Fifth MPGA Public Links Title for 42nd Career Victory

  WOODBURY, Minn. – Only a small number of golfers have the opportunity to hoist a state championship trophy over the course of the season, and even fewer are able to accomplish the rarity of doing so on multiple occasions.

Trent Peterson is one of those players, and he’s done it regularly.

Earlier this season, Peterson fired a final-round 68 at Fox Hollow Golf Club to earn a two-stroke victory at the Minnesota Public Golf Association Mid Public Links Championship, extending his streak to 13 consecutive seasons with at least one state win.

Posting a final-round 70 Sunday at Prestwick Golf Club, Peterson claimed the 42nd state title of his career by winning the MPGA Public Links Championship to mark his seventh consecutive season with multiple victories.

“Any time you win I think it would be considered a successful season,” Peterson said Sunday. “Every year one of my goals is to be player of the year, but that’s really hard because you’ve got to play well in a lot of events. But a successful season would also be finishing with enough points to not worry about qualifying for anything next year. That makes life a lot easier.”

Peterson fired a 5-under 67 to share the first-round lead Saturday before a bogey-free 70 earned him a one-stroke victory over Matt Armstrong and Josh Esterley Sunday to claim his second win of the season.

“I was hitting my driver so well yesterday, hoping I could just do that again today—keep it straight and have confidence off the tee, and for the most part I did that,” Peterson said. “I was giving myself opportunities. I had so many birdie putts and hit a lot of good putts, but they just didn’t go in.

“Every par putt I made was because I gave myself a good look. What kept me in front was just not making mistakes. I made them come and get me, and they were with me for a while. Had a lot of birdie looks, but most of the time pars were pretty easy and stress-free.”

An early birdie and a par save from 10 feet helped Peterson pace the field during the final round Sunday before he sank his birdie opportunity from inside of six feet at the ninth to turn in 7-under for the championship.

The ever-steady Peterson went mistake-free over his final nine holes, helped by a crucial two-putt to save par at the 15th before getting up-and-down for par at the 17th to preserve a one-shot advantage.

A two-putt par at the 18th gave Peterson his fifth MPGA Public Links title by shooting 7-under 137.

“I played really well both days,” said Peterson, who played the final 23 holes of the championship in 3-under par this week. “I hit a lot of greens and I wish I would’ve made more putts, but if I can play like this Tuesday and Wednesday at the [MGA Amateur Four-Ball], it should translate well.”

Despite racking up more than three dozen victories since his first win in 2002, Peterson acknowledged there are still nerves present in the waning moments of a championship.

“Coming down 18 you can definitely feel it a little more,” he said. “Had a little bit longer of a birdie putt than I would’ve liked, but having two and a half feet for a win, I’ll take it.

“I peeked at the leaderboard every couple of holes on the back nine, but it doesn’t really change how I’m going to play holes. I’m not going to hit 3-wood off the tee, it’s not really what I do.”

Peterson collected his first win at the championship in 2006 on his home course at Valleywood Golf Course. He’d have to wait 13 seasons before winning his second at The Jewel Golf Club in 2019.

The former South Dakota State University golfer bettered Ryan Conn by one stroke in 2021 at Pebble Creek Golf Course for his third title before shooting back-to-back rounds of 67 last season at Loggers Trail Golf Course to earn a three-stroke victory for his fourth MPGA Public Links victory.

Armstrong, who earned the second state victory of his career at the 2023 championship at Royal Golf Club, entered the week coming off an appearance at the U.S. Amateur at The Olympic Club in San Francisco.

Bouncing back from a double-bogey late during the opening round Saturday, Armstrong eagled the par-5 16th to post a 3-under 69, three shots back of the lead.

A string of four birdies over a five-hole stretch during the final round helped Armstrong earn a share of the lead, but a double-bogey at the 13th and a bogey at the 15th proved costly.

Rolling in his birdie chance from six feet at the 18th gave Armstrong his third top-10 finish in as many seasons, carding back-to-back rounds of 69.

“I had a lot of fun playing at the U.S. Am—I thought I played well, it’s just a different beast,” Armstrong said after shooting 79-76 to miss the cut for match play last week. “It’s a lot more fun playing in your home state.

“Hit driver really well and that set me up the last couple of days here. Putted well and just had a few mistakes late. Bounced back with some birdies, but hit some loose shots. Driver is usually my weapon, but I have to clean up my irons and my short game.”

Also posting a 3-under 69 to open the championship Saturday, Concordia University-St. Paul’s Esterley played his opening nine in 1-under before slipping to even par with a bogey to begin his inward nine Sunday.

The former Chaska High School golfer found his footing by carding three birdies over his final seven holes to earn a share of second with a round of 69 for the second straight day.

First round co-leader Kurt Lambert posted a final-round 73 Sunday to finish in fourth place at 4-under 140, while 2024 MGA Men’s Player of the Year and MGA Mid-Players’ champion Max Tylke carded a 3-under 69 Sunday to place tied for fifth with Eric Rislove, Alex Rhode and Mitch Scrimgeour.

The 104th MPGA Public Links Championship will be played at Baker National Golf Course.