First played in 1922, the MGA Senior Amateur Championship has a rich history.  The Championship was played at Somerset Country Club for the first 33 years as an Invitational.  Beginning in 1956, the Minnesota Senior Golf Association was created and took over sponsorship and conducted the event through 1986.  Finally, in 1987, the MGA took over the event and has been responsible for it ever since.

Runcie Martin holds the record of most Senior titles won with five (1935, 1938, 1939, 1942, 1944) but also had four runner-up finishes. Dave Tallman won four titles, including three consecutively (1926-1928) to go with his four runner-up finishes.  There are many others with multiple wins, including the "Loyal one", Bud Chapman (Minneapolis Golf Club), and recent two-time winners Jerry Gruidl (Golden Valley Golf & Country Club), Rick McArdle (Olympic Hills Golf Club) and 2008 and 2010 Champion Leif Carlson (Hastings Country Club).

In 2011, Pebble Creek GC's Steve Whittaker fired a final round 72 (even par) to overcome a two-stroke deficit and win his first Senior Championship.  His victory helped propel him to his second consecutive MGA Senior Player of the Year.  His even par, 216 total was the lowest since Ron Clayton's 215 total at Alexandria GC in 2007.

Alone in second place one stroke back was second round co-leader David Kokesh of Bent Creek GC.  Don Howe (Olympic HIlls GC) and Pat Vincelli (Brackett's Crossing CC) shared third at 218.  Mike Cleland (Pebble Creek GC) was alone in fifth after three consecutive 73s (219).  The other second round co-leader Jeff Wiltse (Bemidji T&CC) struggled with a 79 and tied 2010 champion Leif Carlson (Hastings CC) for sixth.

Local legend Ray Galarneault (St. Cloud CC) claimed the Grand Master Division by five strokes over John Harrigan (The Minikahda Club), while Vincelli took the Master Division title by three strokes over Hazeltine's Robert Leaf.