Stevens, Pedersen, Anderson and Winter Are the Last Standing at MGA Players' Championship

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  ST. CLOUD, Minn. – It’s taken just 61 holes for University of Notre Dame golfer Nate Stevens to reach the semifinal round of the 45th Minnesota Golf Association Players’ Championship at St. Cloud Country Club.

Although Stevens needed 19 holes to get past the No. 1 seed and defending MGA Men’s Player of the Year Caleb VanArragon early Tuesday, he would cruise during his afternoon match, 7 and 5, to reach the final four for the first time, in search of his third state win in as many seasons.

“Playing [VanArragon] this morning was a big test, and we both played well—I think we both shot 4-under,” Stevens said. “We traded blows on the front nine and then when you’re two down late in the match to a really good player like Caleb, you know you’re going to have to do something special."

Seeded No. 16 to start the week at St. Cloud Country Club, the two-time Class AAA individual champion Stevens trailed VanArragon by two with four holes to play during Tuesday’s morning session, and would card back-to-back birdies at his 15th and 16th holes to tie the match.

Deadlocked after regulation, Stevens sank his eagle putt from 12 feet on the first playoff hole to eliminate VanArragon and reach the quarterfinal round.

“I just tried to keep my head on straight and keep hitting shots," he said. "Match play is a lot of fun and it’s nice to have these four matches under my belt. I’m excited to be this far in."

Facing former Bemidji State University golfer Brandon Nelson during the quarterfinals, Stevens carded two birdies during his front nine and would build a sizeable 5-up lead after nine holes.

Carding a birdie at the par-4 13th, Stevens closed out the match to move on to the semifinal round.

“I hit the ball better today and I putted well. I still need to tighten up a few things with the driver,” Stevens said. “Hit it well during the school year, but it’s good when I’m playing a lot of golf to hit more drivers and shots under the gun.”

During his only previous appearance at the tournament, Stevens failed to advance from the opening round of the 2020 championship at Hastings Golf Club.

Stevens will face former University of Minnesota golfer Jacob Pedersen, who earned victories over St. John’s University’s Will Gruidl and Concordia University, St. Paul golfer Brandon Sperling to advance to the semifinal round.

Pedersen looks to become the first Gopher golfer to win the championship since Genki Hirayama defeated Trent Peterson at Interlachen Country Club in 2013.

Earning a pair of victories over University of Nebraska golfer Davis Johnson and former University of Wisconsin-Stout golfer Bradley Wohlers Tuesday, Danny Anderson moved two steps closer to his first state championship since his second Lakeland Invitational victory in 2021.

“Today I did exactly what I needed to do,” Anderson said. “I hit the driver great and hit a lot of greens. I was rarely not in the fairway.”

Already behind Wohlers by two standing on the 10th tee, Anderson hooked his tee shot into the water.

“The thing that won me that match was making par,” Anderson said of a spectacular save to remain within striking distance. “I still had 290 in and hit a 2-iron around trees to 66 yards and then hit it to three feet and split the hole.

“I knew I had to do something—I’m about to go three down against a guy who wasn’t missing much and putting great.”

Anderson won the 16th with a par and tapped in for birdie at the 17th to tie the match before hitting his approach to 10 feet at the last, sinking his birdie putt to reach the semifinal round for the first time.

Anderson will face North Dakota State University’s Brock Winter during the second semifinal match early Wednesday.

During his three seasons at North Dakota State, Winter has earned a pair of collegiate wins and has been named All-Summit League First Team his sophomore and junior seasons.

Winter won the Class AAA individual championship in 2018 to cap off his senior season at Stillwater High School. He then went on to win the Lyle Cran Shortstop Tournament at Stillwater Country Club in 2020, and again in 2022.

Last fall, Winter fell in a playoff to Chris Borgen at the Minnesota Golf Champions at Minneapolis Golf Club.

The 45th MGA Players’ Championship concludes Wednesday with semifinal matches beginning at 7:30 a.m. at St. Cloud Country Club, followed by the championship match.