Steady Down the Stretch, Bull Edges Holtz to Win MGA Players' Championship

  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – As the Mark Twain adage goes, “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.”

At the Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship at Royal Golf Club a week ago, Joel B. Johnson became the oldest winner in the tournament’s 20-year history when the 55-year-old Johnson beat a 39-year-old Trent Peterson.

Following suit this week, Jesse Bull outlasted University of South Dakota golfer Jack Holtz in 20 holes Wednesday at Olympic Hills Golf Club to become the oldest winner of the MGA Players’ Championship since the event began in 1979.

“When you win, it’s always kind of a surprise when it’s over,” the 51-year-old Bull said after capturing the fifth state victory of his career Wednesday. “The story of the day today was hanging in there, staying around and I took advantage of some chances. It was a hard day, and it should be an advantage for the younger players.

“I’d forgotten how difficult Day Three is from a physical standpoint, I’m sick of pushing the cart around. At the end of the day, I somehow battled through a tough stretch. You’re out here competing, so I thought I better give everything I’ve got.”

Holtz struck first during the final match, taking advantage of a Bull bogey at the third, but Bull countered by capitalizing on three Holtz miscues to take a 2-up lead through eight holes.

Tallying three consecutive birdies to open his back nine, Holtz took control of the match with a 1-up lead until the 18th where Bull sank his birdie chance from eight feet to force extra holes.

Left with six feet for par at the second playoff hole, Holtz’s putt slid past the hole for a three-putt bogey, giving Bull the victory in 20 holes.

“The middle of the round, Jack took over and played great—I was able to hold him as best I could because I felt like it could’ve been five or six in a row,” Bull said. “But I felt pretty good going into extra holes.

“Mentally, navigating and getting the ball around the course is still there. I feel like it gets a little better with time. I’m not going to get sidetracked out there and pack it in. I’m going to keep going and see what happens.”

Bull kicked off his 2026 season by shooting a 2-under 70 at Oak Ridge Country Club in early May to earn co-medalist honors and advance from the first stage of qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open.

“Some springs you get going and things are working and sometimes you’re going to see your coach because you don’t know where the ball is going,” he said. “Tournaments are usually my first few rounds. We’ve had enough now that I’ve got some reps under my belt.”

Bull’s first state win came on his home course at The Club at Golden Valley when the captured the 2014 MGA Amateur Championship. He then teamed with Andrew McCain to win the MGA Amateur Four-Ball at Dellwood Country Club two years later.

A final-round 70 helped Bull secure a four-stroke victory at the 2023 MGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Island View Golf Club.

His most recent win came at last season’s Northland Invitational, defeating Will Karkoc, 8 and 6.

Despite a disappointing result Wednesday, looking for his first state title since winning the 2023 Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship at Little Crow Country Club, Holtz notched a top-5 finish for a second consecutive season after he placed fourth at the Minnesota State Open at Rochester Golf and Country Club a year ago.

“As a whole, I played really well—struck the ball well and stayed in it the whole time. I was fighting adversity at times but kept breathing and taking deep breaths,” Holtz said following the final match. “I took four days off before this week because my back was terrible. Before the week, if you would’ve told me I’d be in the championship match, I probably would’ve said no way.

“It was a great match against [Bull], we fought until the end and were both hitting good shots and putts. Obviously, I wanted a couple more to fall, but at the end of the day, it’s another day of golf and we’re fighting for what we’re trying to get to—a W.”

Holtz, who celebrated his 21st birthday Tuesday, entered the week as the championship’s eighth-seeded player and had little time getting past Jacob Ferrin during Monday’s early session, 5 and 4.

The Coyote junior tied his Round of 32 match against Ryan Cronin at the 16th hole and prevailed with a birdie on the first playoff hole to face Matt Pfingsten during the Round of 16, cruising to the victory, 5 and 4.

Following a back-and-forth front nine during his quarterfinal match against Bennett Breuer, Holtz swung momentum in his favor by winning three consecutive holes mid-round, hanging on for the victory before getting past 2013 Minnesota State Open and 2015 MGA Amateur champion Jon DuToit, 4 and 2, to reach the finals to face Bull.

During his freshman season at South Dakota, Holtz played in nine events and posted a scoring average of 73.07 to finish ninth in the Summit League.

Holtz fired a final-round 71 at Little Crow Country Club to claim the 2023 Minnesota State Junior Boys’ Championship for his first state victory.

The 49th MGA Players’ Championship will be played at Rush Creek Golf Club.