Three-time MGA Senior Four-Ball Champs Brellenthin and Peterson Headed to U.S. Senior Amateur

  FOREST LAKE, Minn. – Prior to becoming teammates at the University of Minnesota, Tim Peterson and John Brellenthin grew up competing against one another in junior golf.

Now playing together in state championships as seniors, Peterson was named Minnesota Golf Association Senior Men’s Player of the Year in 2021 before Brellenthin followed suit by earning the same honors in 2022.

Last season, Brellenthin and Peterson became just the second team in the 51-year history of the MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship to win three consecutive titles.

So, it’s only fitting that Brellenthin and Peterson would post rounds of 71 and 69, respectively, at Forest Hills Golf Club Monday to qualify for the 2025 U.S. Senior Amateur—together.

“It’s what I was hoping for,” Peterson said after qualifying Monday.

“[Peterson’s] the best—he’s a great partner and we’ve been fortunate to win [three MGA Senior Amateur Four-Ball titles] together,” said Brellenthin. “He’s without question one of the better players in the state.”

Peterson carded a 3-under 69 on his home course Monday to earn medalist honors and a spot in his third U.S. Senior Amateur since 2021, while Brellenthin will make his inaugural appearance at the championship Aug. 23-28 at Oak Hills Country Club in San Antionio following his round of 1-under 71.

“I’m on the every other year plan,” said Peterson, who previously qualified in 2021 and 2023, advancing to match play on both occasions. “USGA events are such a treat to go to. I’ve played in a couple of them, so I’ve gotten to know a lot of the players. It’ll be fun to see a lot of those guys and try and compete.

“Patience is the number one thing. They’ll have the course set up pretty difficult, they always do, so you’re going to make a few bogeys out there. You’ve got to roll with it and keep pressing on.”

Brellenthin, who qualified for the U.S. Junior in 1981, the U.S. Amateur in 1985 and the U.S. Mid-Amateur in 1994, now completes the rotation by qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur.

“It’s a lot more rare than people think,” Brellenthin said Monday. “This is a big deal because they are incredible events. Looking forward to it—hopefully, I can stay healthy, and I’ve love to play well and have a chance to make the cut. Winning a couple of matches would be great.

“I had to withdraw from [the MGA Senior Players’ Championship] because of my back. I had surgery in 2023 and when it went out in early June, I didn’t think I’d play the rest of the year. It was in tough shape. I’ve had a lot of treatment and work done, but I don’t know how long it’s going to last.”

Playing on his home course Monday, the 61-year-old Peterson played his opening nine in even par with a pair of birdies nullified by two bogeys.

He returned to red figures by sinking his birdie chance from 10 feet at the 11th before a tap-in birdie at the par-5 14th.

Holding a one-stroke lead at the last, Peterson sank his birdie chance from 35 feet at the 18th to earn medalist honors at 3-under 69.

“I was making quite a few pars,” Peterson said. “The course was playing fairly difficult—I had the fortune of playing on my home course, so that was definitely an advantage. It adds a little pressure, but I feel like knowing the greens as well as I do, that part of the game was fairly easy for me compared to sites I don’t know so well.”

Playing his first seven holes in even par Monday, the 61-year-old Brellenthin converted his first birdie from inside of three feet at the par-3 10th.

Brellenthin, an Edina, Minn., resident, would give back a stroke with a bogey at the 15th, but would post a 1-under 71 with consecutive pars to close out his round two shots back of Peterson.

“Obviously today went well any time you shoot under par,” the 2021 MGA Senior Amateur champion Brellenthin said. “The course was really difficult—possibly one of the harder I’ve played as a senior; it played really long. A good golf course, but very tough.

“I drove the ball well and hit most of the greens today. Fortunately, I didn’t have to chip much.”

Scott Ainsworth, from Eden Prairie, Minn., finished as first alternate, while Terry Cook, of Norwalk, Iowa, finished as second alternate.

Oak Hills will conduct its third USGA championship next month, previously hosting the 2001 U.S. Junior and last season’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

The club was the site of the 1987 Tour Championship as well as the PGA Tour Champions’ AT&T Championship from 2002 to 2010.

A distinct characteristic of the A.W. Tillinghast design at Oak Hills Country Club are the par-3s that close out each nine, making it one of only a few courses in the world with a par-3 at the ninth and 18th holes.