The Minnesota Golf Association’s 125th Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner will be held on Monday, Oct. 26 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis. The evening’s highlights include recognition of the MGA Players of the Year (in six categories); the MGA Warren J. Rebholz Distinguished Service Award, the MGA Fritz Corrigan Evans Scholar of the Year; the MGA Member Club of the Year; and the MGA Giles Kobilka Award winner.
“As we close out our year-long celebration of the MGA’s 125th anniversary, we’re reminded of the people, clubs and traditions that have shaped the game of golf in Minnesota over the past 125 years. This year’s honorees reflect the very best of Minnesota golf—from outstanding competitive achievements to the leadership, volunteer service and stewardship that sustain our game and ensure its future. It has been a privilege to serve the MGA during this milestone year, and I look forward to celebrating their contributions at our annual meeting and awards dinner.”
— Paul Meierant, Outgoing MGA President
Established in 1975, the MGA awards player points for top finishes in MGA and allied association championships, as well as select regional, national and international events. Notable Minnesota golf champions who have achieved MGA Player of the Year honors include: John Harris, the 1993 U.S. Amateur champion, Hilary (Homeyer) Lunke, the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open champion, and Caleb VanArragon, who is currently playing on the Korn Ferry Tour.
The players listed in the following categories have earned the distinction, the 2026 MGA Player of the Year:
Henry Johnson
240.00 points
Johnson, 18, of Chaska, and a member of the USGA/Minnesota Golf Club, made a statement early in the season by winning the MSHSL Class AA Boys’ State Tournament and the 100th Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship. Also in June, he advanced to the Round of 32 at the MGA Players’ (match play) Championship. Johnson qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and was a local qualifier for the U.S. Amateur Championship.
This is Johnson’s first MGA Junior Boys’ Player of the Year honor.
Joel B. Johnson
625.50 points
Johnson, 55, of Ramsey, and a member of The Links at Northfork, made the most of his first year of eligibility competing as a senior player by winning the MGA Mid-Players’ (match play) Championship and the MGA Senior Amateur Championship, as well as taking low-senior honors at the 123rd MGA Amateur Championship, the Minnesota State Open, the MGA Amateur Four-ball Championship and the MPGA Combination Tournament, the latter two with partner Brad Johnson. A highlight of Johnson’s summer was earning a trip to the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship where he made it to the first round of match play. Additional stellar finishes included reaching the Round of 32 at the MGA Players’ Championship, a second place with partner Brad Johnson at the MGA Senior Amateur Four-ball Championship, a fifth place the Minnesota Senior Open, and three top-10 finishes at the MPGA Mid-Public Links (T4), the MPGA Senor Four-ball (T3) with B. Johnson, and the Twin Cities Open (T9).
This is Johnson’s first MGA Senior Player of the Year honor.
Leigh Klasse
215.00 points
Klasse, 67, of Cumberland, Wis., and a member of the MN Golf Community: Metro, turned in a consistent season of strong performances including a win at the MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-ball championship with partner Lynn Anderson. She tied for fourth place at the MGA Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and reached the semifinals of the MGA Women’s Senior Match Play Championship. A highlight of the summer featured a trip to the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship where she reached the first round of match play.
This is Klasse’s 12th MGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor, her 16th POY overall.
Trent Peterson
583.50 points
Peterson, 39, of Eagan, and a member of the Bunker Hills Golf Course, enjoyed a stellar season winning four times and finishing runner-up or second thrice more. His wins came at the Minnesota Public Links Championship, the MPGA Mid-Public Links (match play), the MPGA Four-ball with partner Nick Jarrett, and the Loren Krugel Invitational. Peterson’s second-place finishes included the MGA Mid-Players’ (match play) Championship, the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship (T2) and the MPGA Combination Tournament (T2) with Jarrett. Peterson finished on the leaderboard on four additional occasions including the 123rd MGA Amateur Championship (9th), the Minnesota State Open (T7), the Twin Cities Open (8th) and the MGA Amateur Four-ball Championship where he tied for 7th place with partner Brett Benson. He also qualified for the MGA Players’ (match play) Championship.
This is Peterson’s fourth MGA Player of the Year honor, his fifth POY overall.
Ruby Reding
197.50 points
Reding, 18, of Minnetonka, and a member of Hazeltine National Golf Club, showcased her winning ways at the junior amateur level with a win at the MSHSL Class AAA Girls’ State Tournament and the Minnesota PGA Junior Match Play Championship. She reached the quarterfinals of the MGA Women’s Match Play, earned a fourth-place finish at the Minnesota State Junior Girls’, tied for fourth at the Minnesota PGA Section Girls Junior PGA and took third place at the Minnesota PGA ‘Sota Series Tournament of Champions.
This is Reding’s first MGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year honor.
Kathryn VanArragon
475.00 points
VanArragon, 21, of Blaine, and a member of StoneRidge Golf Club, successfully finished the race to the top for the second consecutive season, thanks to first-place finishes at the MGA Women’s Amateur Championship, the MGA Women’s Match Play Championship and the MGA Women’s Amateur Four-ball Championship with partner Emma Welch. She also earned a trip to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship.
This is VanArragon’s third MGA Women’s Player of the Year honor, her seventh POY overall.
A complete list of player points can be found at mngolf.org/player-points.
Richard N. “Rick” Soskin
Minnetonka
Established in 1994, the Warren J. Rebholz Distinguished Service Award—affectionately known as the “Rebbie”—honors individuals whose passion, dedication, and service have made a meaningful and lasting impact on the game of golf in Minnesota and beyond.
This year’s recipient, Richard N. “Rick” Soskin, 70, of Minnetonka, has spent more than three decades amassing a remarkable record of volunteer leadership, thoughtful counsel and behind-the-scenes work on behalf of the MGA and the broader golf community. An MGA director for 35 years, he served as the association’s president from 2003 to 2004 and has remained actively involved in its work ever since.
Throughout his tenure, Soskin has contributed to important initiatives shaping the future of Minnesota golf, including the merger of Minnesota’s Women’s Golf Associations with the MGA in 2016. He continues to provide strategic guidance to the association and plays an active role in the MGA Foundation, supporting its efforts to expand fundraising and grow the game among young golfers.
His service extends well beyond Minnesota. For more than 20 years, Soskin has served as a director of the Western Golf Association, where he helped advance the effort to build a new Evans Scholars House at the University of Minnesota, supporting a program that provides college scholarships to deserving caddies. At Spring Hill Golf Club, Soskin also spearheaded a member-giving initiative that helped make the club one of the state’s leading contributors to the Evans Scholars Foundation.
Soskin’s volunteer contributions include service on the USGA Regional Affairs Committee and work at major competitions, including the 2006 NCAA Championship and the 2016 Ryder Cup. He also captained the 2012 Minnesota Team at the USGA’s State Team Championship at Galloway National Golf Club in New Jersey and has volunteered at numerous USGA championships. His commitment to making golf more accessible is evident in his work with Barrier Free Golf, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for people with physical disabilities.
Whether helping guide the MGA, strengthening support for Evans Scholars, volunteering at championships or advising fellow golf leaders, Soskin has consistently given his time and experience to advance the game and expand its opportunities for others.
The Warren J. Rebholz Distinguished Service Award honors individuals whose actions exemplify the spirit of golf and whose contributions have made a substantial difference to the game. Soskin’s decades of service—and his continued involvement in the work of the MGA and the MGA Foundation—embody that spirit.
The MGA congratulates Soskin on this well-deserved recognition and thanks him for a lifetime of service to Minnesota golf and the people who sustain it.
Awards for the MGA Fritz Corrigan Evans Scholar of the Year, the MGA Member Club of the Year and the MGA Giles Kobilka Award will be announced during the evening program on Oct. 26. The awards program begins at 6:00 p.m. For more information, please contact Anne Colehour Mullen at the MGA office 952-345-3969.
The Minikahda Club, established in 1898, was one of the Minnesota Golf Association’s original founding member clubs. Named for its location along the shores of Lake Calhoun (Bde Maka Ska), Minikahda was designed by William Watson, Robert Foulis and Donald Ross. The renowned club has hosted numerous national, regional and state championships including the 1916 U.S. Open and the 1927 U.S. Amateur, won by Chick Evans and Bobby Jones, respectively. Most recently, the membership played host to the 100th edition of the Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship, won by Henry Johnson.
Founded in 1901, the Minnesota Golf Association (MGA) serves as the governing body for amateur golf in Minnesota. The MGA administers the Rules of Golf, conducts major state championships and USGA qualifiers, and provides key services including handicapping, course rating, and golf news through The Minnesota Golfer magazine and mngolf.org.
Through the MGA Foundation, the association is dedicated to making golf more accessible to all Minnesotans, fostering personal growth and community through the game, and ensuring the sport’s sustainability for future generations.