Catani, Anderson, Gregory and Brellenthin Among Undefeated to Start MGA Senior Players

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  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – In six previous attempts to qualify for a Minnesota Golf Association Championship, Antonio Catani has come up short every time. Until this season, when the 56-year-old shot an 83 at Mesaba Country Club late last month to qualify for the 23rd MGA Senior Players’ Championship.

Seeded No. 32 entering the week at Royal Golf Club, Catani had the tall order of facing defending champion Jerry Rose during the opening round and took advantage of a late bogey by the four-time MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year, to claim a 1-up victory.

Catani, from Boulder Pointe Golf Course, built an early lead over Randy Jacobus during Monday’s afternoon session and notched his second victory of the tournament, one win away from the quarterfinal round.

“For me, it’s constant work—I wake up in the morning and I putt and chip,” said Catani. “I’ve got stuff hanging on my walls at my house and I’m always watching video to know where I’m at. I’m very excited to be here.”

Catani struck first with a birdie on the opening hole Monday, but Rose countered by winning the second as the two would trade jabs over four of the next five holes. Rose drew even with a birdie at the par-3 16th, but a steady Catani capitalized on a late mistake by Rose at the 17th and would hang on for the victory.

“It was an exciting day, but a little challenging to wait for the weather,” said Catani, who waited out a two-hour weather delay prior to the start of his first match Monday.

“Jerry is a great player and a great ball striker. We went back-and-forth and nobody had a 2-up lead at any point—it was a very close match all the way through. I hit my driver really well and I putted fairly well.”

Facing Jacobus late Monday, Catani fell behind early but managed a 2-up lead through nine holes. He extended his lead to four with wins at his 11th and 12th. Jacobus attempted to rally late to pull within two after winning the 13th and 15, the Catani hung on for the win, 2 and 1.

“[Tomorrow] hopefully I can hit fairways and stay focused. Focus is the main thing for me.”

The championship switched from a single elimination bracket to a pool play format last season, and benefitting from the new format was 2019 champion Jim Lehman, who battled back from an early loss to Mark Hayes during the opening round by defeating Scott Hinners during Monday’s afternoon round, 6 and 4.

“I played well, especially this afternoon,” Lehman said Monday. “I have to give Mark Hayes credit, every time I got up, he bounced back with a birdie or putt for par when he needed it. He hung in there and birdied the last two holes, so he played solid golf.

“This afternoon I made four birdies in 12 holes. I was hitting the ball in the fairway all day and finally was able to make some putts.”

Lehman, of Windsong Farm, will now have to get past 2020 champion Jay Gregory, who won both of his matches on the first day of competition Monday, to reach the quarterfinal round for the first time since his win three years ago at Crow River Country Club.

“I’m looking forward to the match against Jay. I don’t know him very well, but I know he’s a very good player and I see him around the country at various things I play in,” Lehman said. “My game is about fairways and greens and if I can make some birdies, then I have a good chance.”

Also picking up a pair of wins Monday was John Anderson, who has finished runner-up three times over the last seven seasons. Anderson edged Jay Coatta, 2 and 1, to open the championship with a win before getting past 2019 MGA Senior Amateur champion Trent Wilcox by the same margin. Anderson, of Bunker Hills Golf Club, will face Bob Cavanaugh to close out pool play early Tuesday.

Defending MGA Senior Amateur champion John Brellenthin downed Don Howe, 2-up, to claim an early victory Monday and bounced back from an early deficit to defeat Mark Sperling, 4 and 3, to finish the opening day a perfect 2-0. Shell Wheeler stands in the way of Brellenthin when the two meet during the final round of pool play before the quarterfinal round begins Tuesday afternoon.

Bob Neuberger, of Burl Oaks Golf Club, got past John Mugford and Bob Auman Monday to lead his pool, while home course knowledge paid dividends from David Anderson, who picked up wins over Tom Whaley and Mark Knutson.

Pat Smith, of The Minikahda Club, cruised during his opening match against Tim O’Neill, 5 and 3, before downing defending MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year Tim Peterson, 4 and 3.

The 23rd MGA Senior Players’ Championship resumes Tuesday with the final round of pool play beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Royal Golf Club.