Late Birdies Give Anderson Early Lead at MGA Senior Amateur

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  EDINA, Minn. – Searching for his first state victory since the 2020 Twin Cities Senior Championship, John Anderson carded a 2-under 70 Monday at Edina Country Club to pace the field following the opening round of the 103rd Minnesota Golf Association Senior Amateur Championship.

Anderson tallied three birdies over his final five holes Monday to help him take a one-stroke advantage over 2020 MGA Senior Players’ champion Jay Gregory and Scott Fenwick to Tuesday’s second round.

“One of those days where everything goes right,” Anderson said following his first round of play Monday. “I’ve been playing awful, and today you make the right decisions, you’ve got the right club in your hands and putt decent.

“I came out today with no expectations and I need to keep that same attitude—pretty stress-free.”

Anderson teed off on the 10th hole Monday, starting with an early birdie before drawing even with a bogey at the 16th to turn in even par for his opening round.

Sinking his birdie opportunity from six feet at the fifth, Anderson moved into red figures once again before giving back a stroke with bogey at the sixth.

The 65-year-old Anderson chipped to a foot at the eighth for a kick-in birdie, and finished his day by nearly chipping in for eagle at the ninth, tapping in for back-to-back birdies to claim the opening-round lead at 2-under 70.

“[Previously] I didn’t have any idea where the ball was going,” Anderson said of his recent struggles. “Then you come out today and the confidence is there, you have the right swing and the results were pretty darn good."

A winner of eight state titles, including the 2009 Minnesota Senior Open, Anderson has notched 16 top-10 finishes since his last victory four years ago. He placed 19th at the championship a year ago.

Gregory, who’s lone state victory came at the MGA Senior Players’ championship at Cannon Golf Club when he defeated Jerry Rose in the final match, got off to a rough start Monday, carding four bogeys over his first six holes.

“I didn’t get off to start I was looking for, I was 4-over through six holes after three-putting from 15 feet on six,” Gregory said Monday. “Kind of the way my summer has been, to be honest. I broke my arm in March and it’s been a long road back.”

Gregory quickly bounced back by sinking his birdie chance from 12 feet at the seventh and two-putted for birdie at the eighth to fight his way back to 2-over for his round.

Following a birdie at the 10th, Gregory wedged his approach to tap-in range at the 14th, and finished his round by converting one final birdie chance from six feet at the 16th to post an opening-round 71.

“The golf course is in awesome shape, and the greens are scary fast if you get out of position,” Gregory said. “Tough to control the ball on greens if you hit it in the rough. I would think anything within a couple shots of par will be in contention going into final day.”

Getting off to a hot start for the second consecutive season, Fenwick played his first 12 holes in 2-under Monday before a bogey at the 15th put him in the clubhouse in a share of second with Gregory at 1-under 71.

Fenwick fired an opening-round 69 a season ago to open the championship on top of the leaderboard at Wayzata Country Club before going on to finish tied for sixth.

The 103rd MGA Senior Amateur Championship continues Tuesday with second-round tee times beginning at 8 a.m. at Edina Country Club.