Peterson Fires 68, Looking for First Win at Minnesota Golf Champions

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  EDINA, Minn. – Posting a 4-under 68 Friday, two-time Minnesota Golf Association Men’s Player of the Year winner Trent Peterson jumped out to the early lead at the 45^th Minnesota Golf Champions at Edina Country Club.
 
With over 20 state victories to his credit, the Minnesota Golf Champions is the one championship Peterson has yet to add to his long list of career wins.
 
Rolling in back-to-back birdies at the second and third holes, Peterson quickly jumped to 2-under for the championship before adding another pair of birdies at the seventh and eighth holes to turn in 4-under par.
 
A string of three birdies moved the defending MGA Mid-Amateur champion to 7-under for the opening round before he would bogey three of his final four holes to card a 4-under 68, taking a one-stroke lead over former Winona State University golfer and Simley High School sophomore Isabella McCauley, who each carded rounds of 3-under 69.
 
Peterson notched his first victory of the season at the MGA Mid-Players’ Championship at Crow River Golf Club in June MPGA before claiming the MPGA Public Links Championship at The Jewel Golf Club in August. Peterson claimed his first win at the Lyle Cran Shortstop in early September, defeating Ben Warian, 2-up, for his third win of the season.
 
Schmitz opened the championship Friday with a bogey on the first hole, but would play his next 12 holes in 5-under before stumbling with a double-bogey at the 14^th. Carding a birdie at the par-4 15^th, Schmitz would finish the opening round in a tie for second at 69.
 
McCauley, who looks to become the first female champion at the event since the tournament’s inception in 1975, tied a Class AAA state tournament record in June on her way to a 10-stroke victory at Bunker Hills.
 
On Friday, McCauley carded a pair of birdies during her outward nine before taking a step back with a birdie at the par-5 10^th. After rolling in her birdie chance at the 13^th, McCauley finished strong by sinking her fourth birdie of the round on the final hole to move into a tie for second at 69 and will begin the second round one shot off the lead.
 
Don Berry, a five-time champion whose last victory came in 2010, fired a 2-under 70 Friday and will start the second round in fourth place, two shots back of Peterson.
 
The second round of the 2019 Minnesota Golf Champions is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at Edina Country Club.
 
 
 
THE 45TH MINNESOTA GOLF CHAMPIONS
EDINA COUNTRY CLUB
EDINA, MINN.
6,695 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
FRIDAY’S RESULTS
1. Trent Peterson (a), Valleywood GC, 31-37—68
T2. Isabella McCauley (a), Southview CC, 33-36—69
T2. Michael Schmitz (a), The Bridges, 33-36—69
4. Don Berry, Edinburgh USA, 36-34—70
T5. Kathryn VanArragon (a), Bunker Hills GC, 34-37—71
T5. Brent Snyder, Troy Burne GC, 33-38—71
T5. Sam Matthew, North Oaks GC, 35-36—71
T8. Justin Burleson (a), Valleywood GC, 32-40—72
T8. Jesse Larson (a), LeSueur CC, 35-37—72
T8. Max Tylke (a), Legends Club, 34-38—72
 
 
For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga19/event/mnpga1932/contest/1/leaderboard.htm