CANNON FALLS, Minn. – Needing to make par on his final hole to preserve a one-stroke victory at the Minnesota Public Golf Association Senior Public Links Championship at Cannon Golf Club Sunday, J.T. Johnson curled in his putt from 10 feet to post a final-round 73, edging Jesse Larson for his first win since the 2022 season.
Making his 13th appearance at the championship this week, Johnson collects his sixth win at the event to become the winningest player in the tournament’s 88-year history.
“I wasn’t nervous—I was very, very calm,” Johnson said, even standing over his final putt to clinch his 15th state championship. “Weirdly—usually you kind of feel those [putts], but it was left-to-right and I love those. You couldn’t have written it any better; give me a left-to-right putt to win the tournament.
“I was thinking about it coming into today, if I can hang on and win this thing, it’d be pretty cool to win half of tournaments that I’ve played in.”
Johnson birdied his final hole during the opening round Saturday to card a 3-under 69 and carry a two-shot advantage to Sunday’s final 18 holes of play over Larson.
Finding his footing after an early bogey during the final round, Johnson carded 10 consecutive pars to remain in the lead at 2-under before he’d sink his birdie opportunity from 12 feet at the par-5 13th.
His lead was trimmed following a bogey at the 14th, but he’d hold a slim one-stroke advantage over Larson, who pulled within one shot of the lead with a short birdie at the 17th.
Trouble reaching the green on the final hole, Johnson was left with 10 feet for par to win his third title over the past six seasons and dripped his final putt over the edge to card a 2-under 142.
“Today was kind of weird—I didn’t hit many greens, got up-and-down a lot and left a lot of putts short,” Johnson said. “Just hanging in there and made a putt I probably shouldn’t have on 13.”
“The last few years for me have been kind of nonexistent; I missed exemptions for match play and won a couple of events in Wisconsin, but a big swing change and the driver has been almost too straight. I’ve got some work to do, but I’m excited.”
Johnson’s first win came in his first year of eligibility at Pokegama Golf Course in 2014. He’d win back-to-back titles in 2017 at Monticello Country Club and 2018 at Southern Hills Golf Course. before winning consecutive titles again in 2021 at Eastwood Golf Club and 2022 at Oak Marsh Golf Course.
A three-putt par on the final hole Sunday denied Larson of his first win of the 2025 season, but he enters next week’s Minnesota Golf Association Amateur with momentum as he tallied his third top-3 finish over the past two months.
“I played pretty solid, overall. Made a lot of good par putts but did not make some birdie opportunities that I had,” Larson said following his final round Sunday. “Putted well, but they didn’t fall.
“Game is good—feel really good about [StoneRidge Golf Club], love the course. I’m excited.”
Tony Vincelli and Matt Erredge each posted rounds of 2-under 70 Sunday to finish in a share of third place with Jeff Roseland at even par 144.
Playing on his home course this week, Tim Luhman posted back-to-back rounds of 2-over 74 to earn medalist honors in the 65 & Over Division, edging Tom Nordstrom by two strokes at 148.
Steve Whittaker, winner of the 2015 MPGA Mid Public Links Championship at Riverwood National Golf Course, carded an opening-round 77 Saturday and followed it with a 1-over 73 during the final round Sunday to earn medalist honors in the 70 & Over Division.