Smith Defeats Brellenthin at MGA Senior Players' Championship for First State Victory

June 16, 2022 | 3 min.
By Nick Hunter

  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – A pair of early bogeys put Pat Smith behind in the final match of the 23rd Minnesota Golf Association Senior Players’ Championship Wednesday at Royal Golf Club, but Smith charged back with two consecutive birdies to recapture the lead on his way to victory over John Brellenthin for his first state championship win.

Smith made an improbable comeback earlier in the day, holing out for eagle on the final hole of his semifinal match against 2020 champion Jay Gregory to force a playoff, where he would prevail with a par on the first playoff hole.

Birdies at the fifth and sixth holes during the finals against Brellenthin put Smith back in front with the only lead he would need, closing out the match on the 17th hole with a birdie to defeat the defending MGA Senior Amateur champion, 3 and 1.

“First win in the MGA, so I’m really excited,” Smith said following his win Wednesday. “I plan on playing some more competitive golf; my schedule is finally allowing me to do that.

“I drove the ball well and putted pretty well this week—those two things probably saved me.”

Smith took advantage of a bogey by Brellenthin on the opening hole of the championship match to take the early lead but gave it right back with a pair of bogeys at the third and fourth to fall behind by one.

Wedging his approach to 12 feet at the fifth, Smith again drew even by sinking his birdie chance and rolled in another from 15 feet on the following hole to take the lead for good.

Smith watched as Brellenthin rolled in a 20-footer for birdie at the 10th and countered by sinking his 18-footer for birdie maintain a slim, 1-up lead.

“Those two early birdies definitely turned the tide, but the biggest swing was on 10 when I made my birdie on top of his,” Smith said. “I was able to keep my lead and then extend it over the next few holes.”

Back-to-back bogeys by Brellenthin at the 11th and 12th put Smith up by three, but Brellenthin revived his chances by winning the 13th with a par. Up by two with two to play, Smith birdied the par-5 17th to finish off the championship for his first state win.

“I’ve played with John previously at a couple of social events, but playing him today, I figured I’d have to be at even par or a couple under,” said Smith, a fellow member of The Minikahda Club along with Brellenthin.

“He made a few mistakes that he doesn’t normally make, and I was fortunate to benefit from those.”

Opening the pool play portion of the championship, Smith defeated Tim O’Neil, 5 and 3, before taking down the defending MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year Tim Peterson, 4 and 3.

Advancing from his pool undefeated following his third win of the week over Ron Eskierka, 5 and 4, Smith cruised through the quarterfinal round with a victory over Bruce Hegland, 5 and 4.

Smith played in the 2007 Trans-Mississippi Amateur on his home course at The Minikahda Club in 2007, where he advanced to the Round of 32. His previous best performance at a state championship came in 2013, placing fourth at the MGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Alexandria Golf Club.

More recently Smith finished tied for eighth at the MGA Senior Amateur Championship in 2019 at StoneRidge Golf Club.

Posting a perfect 3-0 record during pool play this week, Brellenthin edged 2016 MGA Senior Men’s Player of the Year John Anderson during the quarterfinal round late Tuesday. He got the better of David Anderson by carding two birdies against one bogey early Wednesday to advance to the championship match, 5 and 4.

A proven senior player, Brellenthin defeated Don Berry in 2018 at the Minnesota Senior Open at Hastings Golf Club for his first state victory. Last season he became the first player in two decades to win the MGA Senior Amateur Championship on his home course when Minikahda hosted the 100th edition of the event.

 

Nick Hunter

Nick Hunter got his start covering sports for the Mankato Free Press while attending Minnesota State University, Mankato. 

He then contributed to several online outlets, including Bleacher Report, prior to turning his focus to golf.

Hunter enters his 11th season covering golf in Minnesota as news editor for the MGA website. He resides in New Prague with his wife and two sons.

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