Former U of M Teammates Brellenthin and Peterson Set New Record with Fourth Straight Win at MGA Senior Four-Ball

  CANNON FALLS, Minn. – Capturing a third straight Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Four-Ball title last season at Bent Creek Golf Club, John Brellenthin and Tim Peterson tied John Reichert and David Rovick’s mark of most consecutive wins at the championship, which had an extra special meaning for Brellenthin.

“Ironically, I caddied for David Rovick when I was a kid,” Brellenthin said. “He’s a wonderful guy and a great, great player.”

Sentiments aside, Brellenthin then set his sights on a new goal—becoming the first team in state history to win four straight titles.

“I told Tim in April that I will be more prepared for the [MGA Senior Four-Ball] than any other tournament I’ll play this year because I want to win four times in a row,” Brellenthin said.

Frustrated by a pair of mid-round bogeys during the first round Monday, Brellenthin and Peterson answered by tallying five birdies during the final round Tuesday at Cannon Golf Club to post a bogey-free 5-under 67 to earn a one-stroke victory, accomplishing the goal set five months ago.

“If you would’ve told me five years ago that we’d win four in a row, I would’ve said, “I don't know about that, there’s a lot of really good players,’” Brellenthin said. “I'm not sure what to say—to win four in a row is crazy.”

“My biggest emotion is gratitude,” Peterson said following the final round Tuesday. “The fact that we’re able play and we're healthy, each of us, when you get to our age, have our health challenges. But four in a row is pretty special and I’m very happy about that and to have done it with John.”

Entering the final round two shots back of the lead, a pair of short birdies by Brellenthin helped him and Peterson to move within three shots of the lead at 6-under for the tournament.

In control of his swing during the final round Tuesday, Brellenthin left himself with tap-in birdies at both the par-3 12th and par-5 13th to earn a share of the lead with Brad Johnson and Bob Neuberger at 8-under before it was Peterson’s turn to deliver a knock-out blow, sticking his approach inside of three feet at the 16th to put his team in front for good.

A par save at the 17th and a two-putt par at the last gave Brellenthin and Peterson a one-stroke victory over Johnson and Neuberger, as well as Rick Frieburg and John Spreiter.

“I’m kind of surprised still that we won—there’s a lot of good players and it’s really hard to win. I’ve got a great partner. Tim made a great three on 16 and a great three on 17 and that was the difference in us winning. It’s kind of cool to do something no team has ever done. To play with Tim—we played junior golf together and played a Minnesota together, so it’s really special.”

“We did a good job of staying in play and having both of us in the hole throughout the day,” Peterson said. “Pretty much all of [Brellenthin’s] birdies were tap-ins because he hit it so close to the hole. Had some other good looks and didn’t make them, but it was a very solid round.”

Partnering for the first time at the 2020 championship at Southern Hills Golf Course, Brellenthin and Peterson finished second to Dave Haslerud and Matt Yeager. The following year they’d finish third, again to Haslerud and Yeager.

The former Gopher teammates earned their first win in 2022 at The Jewel Golf Club before successfully defending at Eagle Creek Golf Club in 2023.

Last season, a late flurry of birdies helped Brellenthin and Peterson to a three-stroke victory over 2019 champions Jim Lehman and Jerry Rose at Bent Creek.

Johnson and Neuberger, who paced the field during Monday’s opening round with a 7-under 65, came out firing Tuesday with a pair of birdies over their first four holes to reach 9-under for the championship and extending their lead to two.

But a bogey at the par-3 ninth slowed any momentum, as the two were unable to capitalize on any birdie chances over the final nine holes to post a final-round 71 to place second at 8-under 136.

Frieburg and Spreiter carded a lone birdie during their opening nine Tuesday, and wouldn’t convert another birdie chance until the final hole when Spreiter rolled in a two-footer to put him and partner Frieburg in the clubhouse with a final-round 70 to improve on a third-place finish from a season ago.

The 53rd MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship will be contested at Forest Hills Golf Club.