Peterson, Bull, Jacobson, McCormick and Schmitz Among Contenders at MGA Players'

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  LAKE CITY, Minn. – Despite a handful of upsets to begin the 39th Minnesota Golf Association Players’ Championship Monday, three former champions remain in contention as the field of 64 players was trimmed to 16 following the first two rounds of competition at The Jewel Golf Club.

Defending champion Trent Peterson, who also won the 2008 championship at Northland Country Club, had little trouble getting past Bruce Johnson to begin the tournament Monday, 7 and 6, before surviving a dog fight with Mark Giorgi during the Round of 32, winning 1-up.

Joe McCormick, champion in 1990 at White Bear Yacht Club, edged Harrison Cooper, 3 and 2, to start play on Monday and would defeat Scott Thomas, 3 and 2, to advance to Tuesday’s Round of 32.

“Two matches today and I was just happy to get through them,” McCormick said after his second round Monday. “I was a little inconsistent—hit some good shots and some bad shots and kind of grinded it out. I had very few birdies and was winning with pars.”

“My game feels like it’s almost there but there are some wild and errant shots that are showing themselves, so I need to clean that up, but I’m excited to come back and compete." 

Taking a 1-up lead over Thomas during the second round Monday, McCormick’s second shot at the par-4 ninth found the cup to increase his lead over Thomas. McCormick won four of the next seven holes by making par to earn the victory.

“I’m going to have to play better, but I’m up for the challenge,” McCormick said of facing the two-time winner and defending champion Peterson during the Round of 16 early Tuesday. “What makes this course great are the variety of holes and I don’t think it favors any one player.”

Andy Jacobson, winner of the 2012 championship at Windsong Farm, bettered Topher Baron, 3 and 1, to begin the championship Monday before downing Jordan Ryan, 4 and 3, during Monday’s afternoon session to advance.

Jacobson will now face University of Minnesota golfer Charlie Duensing during the Round of 16 after Duensing defeated Riley Gannon before getting past 2015 MGA Mid-Players’ champion and last year’s MGA Players’ runner-up, Joe O’Brien.

Duensing’s Gopher teammates, Grady Meyer and Riley Johnson, were pitted against each other to begin the championship Monday, with Meyer getting the better of Johnson, 4 and 3.

Meyer would then down Jesse Larson, 2 and 1, to advance to play 2014 MGA State Amateur champion Jesse Bull in the next round Tuesday.

“In match play I’ve only had to play a close friend of mine once before,” Meyer said of facing teammate Johnson Monday. “It was a little weird right out of the gate, but I guess I should’ve played a little better in qualifying because he was exempt.

“I played well against Riley; I had a good front nine and we were pretty social and on the back nine it got a little more intense. I putted well all day—I only had one three-putt. I made a lot of putts and the greens are nice and rolled well."

Monday’s action for Meyer was his first round of tournament golf since the Big Ten Championships at the end of the season for the Gophers. Working on swing changes over the last several weeks, Meyer’s game showed glimpses of improvement Monday.

“My back nine was better in the second round and I was able to make a couple birdies. I’m just trying to take it one shot at a time and give myself the best chance of birdie on every green, whether it means iron off the tee or driver. You’ve just got to step up and hit some good tee shots on a lot of these holes.”

Brennan Rothgarn, who notched a top-25 finish at the state Class AA championship as a junior at Lake City High School last week, was among those moving on Monday. He will face former Edina High School standout Sam Foust during Tuesday’s Round of 32.

Justin Burleson downed Tim Peterson before defeating Scott Fudenberg Monday afternoon to move on and will face recent Foley High School graduate Preston Kopel Tuesday.

Sammy Schmitz, a five-time MGA Men’s Player of the Year award winner, will face Jamie Quesnel early Tuesday after Schmitz took down Scott Threinen, 2 and 1, before advancing past Van Holmgren, who entered the tournament Monday after winning the state Class AAA individual title to finish his high school career at Wayzata.

Noah Lawson defeated 2014 Players’ champion Johnny Larson before ousting defending Minnesota State Open champion Ben Greve Monday afternoon. He will face Devon Johnson in the next round Tuesday.

The 39th MGA Players’ Championship continues Tuesday with the Round of 16 scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. The Jewel Golf Club.