Peterson, Tylke, Burleson and Johnson Early Winners on Day One of MGA Mid-Players’ Championship

  TOWER, Minn. –  Following a four-win season for the third time in his career in 2024, three-time champion Trent Peterson put himself in position yet again by earning a pair of victories Monday at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay to begin pool play at the 19th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship.

 

Peterson will face unbeaten Mitch Scrimgeour during the final round of pool play when the championship resumes early Tuesday, with the winner advancing to the quarterfinal round.

 

“No complaints. As always, being one of the first events of the year, there’s some learning curves to feel it out a little bit,” the 38-year-old Peterson said Monday. “Getting more and more comfortable. I hit my driver well, my irons good enough and gave myself a lot of birdie looks.

 

“Now it’s winner-moves-on tomorrow. Mitch is playing well from what I’ve seen, so I need to tighten it up a little bit and make some of the putts I was missing today.”

 

Peterson jumped out to an early lead during his opening match against Tony Vanyo early Monday and never looked back, going on to win, 3 and 2.

 

Facing the 17th-seeded Casey Nelson Monday afternoon, the top-ranked Peterson grabbed an early lead with a pair of birdies over his first five holes, closing out Nelson, 3 and 2, with a par at the par-3 seventh.

 

The 38-year-old Peterson cruised during his quarterfinal match last season against Jesse Larson, and then eliminated Ryan Conn, 4 and 3, to reach the finals.

 

Peterson got the better of Tylke, 2-up, during the championship match to claim his third title at the event, and the first of his four wins during the season.

 

Winning his first title over Justin Burleson at the 2017 championship at St. Cloud Country Club, Peterson claimed his second win in 2019 over Jamie Quesnel at Crow River Golf Club.

 

Max Tylke, the 2024 MGA Men’s Player of the Year and last season’s runner-up also took two steps closer to his first match play victory since he claimed the MGA Players’ Championship at Spring Hill Golf Club in 2021.

 

Tylke won the first five holes during his opening match against Jack Retica, cruising to a victory, 8 and 6, before dispatching Matthew Ostdiek is similar fashion, winning the first four holes on his way to a second victory, 5 and 4.

 

The 31-year-old Tylke will need at least a tie during his final match of pool play early Tuesday against Bill Thompson to advance to the quarterfinal round for a second consecutive season.

 

“I might’ve gotten away with a few, but I made a lot of pars and played simple golf,” Tylke said Monday. “I kept the rounds pretty clean today, which in match play is ideal. If I can get rid of the bogeys, I should be fine.”

 

Justin Burleson, winner of the championship in 2018 and 2020, held off Matthew Foehse, 2 and 1, during his opening match before staging a late rally to defeat Jason Hasselman, 1-up, for his second victory of the day.

 

He'll face Nick Jarrett during the final match of pool play Tuesday, needing at least a tie to advance.

 

The 2021 Minnesota Public Golf Association Mid Public Links champion Joel B. Johnson moved two steps closer to advancing from pool play, downing Alex Woodhull, 4 and 3, during the morning session and cruising to victory, 5 and 4, over Bryan Orlenko during his afternoon round.

 

Johnson advances to the sudden death portion of the championship with a tie or better against Robert Schuler during the final round of pool play.

 

Also claiming a pair of victories during Monday’s first day of competition was 2018 Twin Cities Championship winner Erik Bredesen, Peter Capouch, Dylan Gergen, Jonathan Hanner, two-time MPGA Four-Ball champion Larson and Mitch Scrimgeour.

 

The third round of pool play for the 19th MGA Mid-Players’ Championship will begin at 8:34 a.m. at The Wilderness at Fortune Bay.