A Pair of Champions and a Pair of Runners-Up Remain in Semifinals of MGA Mid-Players'

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  LAKEVILLE, Minn. – In a potential rematch of last year’s championship match, Trent Peterson and Justin Burleson remain in contention following Wednesday’s quarterfinal round of the 12^th Minnesota Golf Association Mid-Players’ Championship at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.
 
Peterson, who defeated Burleson a year ago at St. Cloud Country Club, downed Jamie Quesnel during the Round of 16 early Wednesday before getting past 2014 MGA Amateur champion Jesse Bull during the quarterfinals in the afternoon session, both by scores of 3 and 2.
 
A trio of bogeys on the front nine put Bull in trouble early during his quarterfinal match, giving Peterson a 3-up advantage before a bogey by Peterson to close out the front nine. Regaining a 3-up lead with a birdie at the 11^th, Peterson gave back a hole with his second bogey of the round at the par-4 13^th.
 
Carding birdie at the par-5 14^th the two-time MGA Players’ and defending MGA Mid-Amateur champion Peterson claimed a 3-up lead once again and closed out the match at the 16^th with a par to win, 3 and 2.
 
Peterson will face off against three-time champion Troy Johnson during Thursday’s semifinal round after Johnson earned a pair of victories over 2017 MGA Amateur champion Dave Carothers, 6 and 5, and then edging 2016 champion Andy Jacobson, 1-up.
 
Burleson had little trouble getting past Topher Baron early Wednesday, 5 and 4, and cruised to the semifinal round following a victory over David Erickson, 4 and 3.
 
During his quarterfinal match, Burleson took advantage of a bogey by Erickson on the opening hole and increased his lead to 2-up with a birdie at the third. It was all the help Burleson would need as he increased his lead to three with a birdie at the 14^th and closed out the match at the 15^th following a bogey by Erickson to win, 4 and 3.
 
Burleson takes on Joel B. Johnson, who earned a pair of slim victories Wednesday, first downing Corey Schommer, 1-up, before outlasting six-time MGA Men’s Player of the Year, Sammy Schmitz, by the same margin.

The semifinal round of the 12th MGA Mid-Players' Championship is slated to begin at 7:46 a.m. Thursday at Brackett's Crossing Country Club.