Chris Mangan

With the way things are going for Trent Peterson, it wasn’t a surprise he came in first.

Peterson, a senior from Eagan, Minn., on the men’s golf team, was named Summit League Athlete of the Month for August and September. Peterson finished second in the first three tournaments of the year.

“There are a lot of athletes competing in different sports at every school in the conference right now,” Peterson said. “Being recognized for my golf accomplishments this month is quite the honor.”

In the two tournaments the Jacks won this fall, Peterson finished a stroke back of the winner. As long as Peterson keeps plugging a long, he feels things will start going his way.

“I need to keep plugging along and giving myself opportunities,” Peterson said. “The more chances I get the more it will happen. I may need to take lessons from my team as we’ve won twice already.”

In three tournaments in the September, Peterson shot an average of 70.9 strokes per round, the top in the conference.

In eight rounds in the three tournaments, Peterson shot a combined 9-under with a season-low round of 67.

Peterson is getting national acclaims as well. He was ranked as high as 34th by Golf Week, but Peterson isn’t putting too much stock into the rankings.

“I think that’s pretty cool, but that was an early season ranking with not everyone in the system so I didn’t put too much thought into it,” he said.

Even though he was named Athlete of the Month, Peterson knows there is room for improvement heading into the final fall tournament and then the spring.

“I need to improve my bunker play at the moment,” Peterson said. “My stats are terrible in that department.

Heading into the spring, I just need to play a little to get my touch and feel back from it winterizing.”

Peterson and the Jacks return to action Oct. 20-21 when they head to San Jose, Calif. for the Santa Clara Invitational.