Larson qualifies for U.S. Amateur Championship

Minneota native Jesse Larson earned the third trip of his golfing career to the U.S. Mid-Amateur Golf Championship after finishing second in the Mid-Amateur Qualifying Tournament on Aug. 7.
Larson, a 1993 Minneota graduate who now resides in Shakopee, carded a 3-under 68 to earn one of the three qualifying spots. Jesse Bull of Hopkins finished in the top spot with a 6-under 65.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship will be held Sept. 9-14 at Sleepy Hollow Country Club in Scarborough, NY.
Larson’s qualifying round featured seven birdies, two bogeys and a double-bogey.
He also qualified for the U.S. Amateur Championship in 2010 and 2019. The first two 18-hole rounds there are stroke play and those making the cut compete in match play for the final 18 holes. In 2010, Larson double-bogeyed the 36th and final hole of stroke play and missed the cut by one stroke. In 2019, he birdied the last three holes of stroke play to move into an 18-player playoff for six spots to advance to match play, but did not secure one of those spots.
“I feel I’m a better player now,” he said. “I’ve been improving every year as I’ve done a lot of dedicated training to get stronger. I know it’s going to be difficult competing against a lot of 25-year-old college players and the clock is maybe starting to click for me, but I’m excited to have another chance.”
The winner of the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship gets an exemption to play in The Masters next year.
Larson started out at the Mid-Amateur Qualifying by notching three straight birdies on the front nine and finished the round at 2-under par.
He proceeded to birdie the first three holes on the back nine, and eventually was at 6-under after his seventh birdie of the day on the 14th hole. “I got a par on 15 to stay at six-under,” he said. “Then on 16, which is a tough par-three, I misjudged the wind on my tee shot and flew over the green and ended up with a double bogey.”
Larson regrouped and shot a par on 17 before missing a three-foot putt for par on 18 and finishing with a bogey.
“I usually don’t get too upset if I play a shot poorly,” he said. “I’m pretty even-keel. I’ve figured out over time what the best mindset for me is. I’ve learned that it’s important to play one shot at a time and not let one shot affect the next.”
Larson attempted to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship July 23-24 at Wayzata Country Club, but finished fourth despite a 4-under par 140.
Larson also ended up fourth in last summer’s attempt to qualify, finishing with a 2-under 70 at The Wilds Golf Club in Prior Lake. He was chosen as an alternate for the U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, but didn’t get a chance to compete.
Larson is no stranger to winning tournaments, though. He is an 11-time champion at the Wynston Boe Open, named in honor of his grandfather, despite not competing over the last few years because of other commitments. He also won the men’s club championship at LeSueur Country Club nine of 11 years from 2007-2017.