NEW PRAGUE, Minn. – As one of the state’s most dominant players over the past 15 years, Trent Peterson is still surprised that he’s quickly approaching 50 state titles.
“It’s crazy to think it’s been that many,” said Peterson, who won six times in 2025 to finish second in the Minnesota Golf Association Player of the Year standings. “I just love tournament golf and competing and getting into the final group. Having a lead, the swings up-and-down and having to keep your emotions in check.”
All the while, the 39-year-old Peterson maintains there is no secret to his success on the golf course.
“People always tell me, ‘This is Trent’s course because it’s short and tight,’ but everyone can do the same thing I do,” he said, “You don’t have to hit driver on every hole—I hit driver because I don’t hit it that far. A lot of these guys can hit 2-iron just as far as I’m hitting my driver and be where I am with a wedge.
“It’s really about giving yourself opportunities; the more you’re up there, the more chances you’ve got. Sure, I’ve won on shorter courses, but it doesn’t mean anyone else can’t.”
Peterson fired a 4-under 67 to pace the field by three strokes during Saturday’s opening round of the 2026 Minnesota Public Golf Association Mid Public Links Championship at New Prague Golf Club, and followed it with an even par 71 Sunday to earn a two-stroke victory over Jesse Larson and Blake Onkka for his sixth victory over the past seven seasons at the championship.
“I played well yesterday—it was one of those rounds that could’ve been better, but it could’ve been worse, so I wasn’t complaining,” said Peterson, who collected the 47th win of his career Sunday. “Both today and yesterday I kept it pretty straight and didn’t have any issues in the trees, other than a couple today.
“A dumb three-putt on nine kind of killed my momentum with a bogey, but I still had about a four-shot lead. Figured I’d let them come after me and just kept making pars. Doesn’t matter how many you win by as long as you win.”
Peterson carded a pair of birdies over his first eight holes before his bogey at the ninth. He bounced back by rolling in an 8-footer for birdie at the 13th before tree trouble at the 15th led to his first double-bogey of the week.
Converting one final birdie chance from inside of eight feet at the 16th, Peterson carried a three-stroke lead to the final hole, where he was forced to punch out and two-putt for bogey to claim a two-stroke victory.
Starting the day five shots off the lead, Larson tallied two bogeys over his first eight holes but pieced together a strong finish by making good on five birdie chances over his final 10 holes to card a final-round 67 to finish two back.
Even through his first 12 holes Sunday, Onkka carded a pair of birdies over his final six holes to climb the leaderboard on the final day to finish in a share of second place thanks to a final-round 69.
Recent MGA Mid-Players’ champion Joel B. Johnson bettered his opening-round score by one stroke Sunday, shooting 1-under 70 to finish tied for fourth with New Prague, Minn., native Jack Pexa, who matched Johnson’s round of 70 on the final day.