Larson didn’t need to make up much ground, however, and it’s not the first time he’s been in that position.

Sitting in second place overall heading into the final nine-hole round of the Championship Flight Sunday, Larson took the lead for the first time all tournament during that final round and secured his eighth championship stein.

The weekend’s cooler, cloudier weather, which featured a little rain Friday, added some challenges – and some opportunities.

“The whole course played difficult,” Larson said. “It was kind of an awkward wind the whole tournament. You don’t see it out of the east or northeast very often without getting some severe weather with it. So it was fun, very difficult, but with that said, if you’re trying to make a little comeback, gives you a chance to hit a couple good shots that last nine and put myself in a spot to win.”

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Springfield’s Johnny Larson watches a shot of his on the 17th hole during the New Ulm Invitational Sunday at the New Ulm Country Club.

Larson shot a 1-over-par 72 on Saturday, but he had tough competition ahead of him as Brett Benson shot a 1-under-par 70 to lead the way after Day 1. Larson stayed in second place after carding a 75 on his second 18 holes Saturday, this time trailing two-time Invitational winner Shane Kvidera. Kvidera was consistent Saturday and Sunday during the first two rounds with a 73 in each round to take a 146 into the final championship nine-hole round. Kvidera kept his lead over Larson in the final nine holes until Larson recorded a key eagle on Hole 13.

“I made an eagle on 13 and that was actually the first lead I had all tournament,” Larson said. “So it was kind of nice to get the eagle on 13 and I played really good on the last five holes. It was excellent. It was fun to hit some really good shots coming in, made some birdies, so it gets sweeter every time.”

Larson’s strong finish to the Invitational gave him 45-hole total score of 181, while Kvidera finished with a 183.

The Championship Flight continued to feature new younger players also, such as New Ulm High School’s Mason Buegler and 2025 New Ulm Cathedral grad Owen Strei. Buegler tied with Aiden Guggisberg for 11th in the Championship Flight with a 45-hole score of 195. Strei didn’t qualify for the final nine holes, but he carded a 163 in his first two rounds of the Championship Flight.

Martin Luther College student, Minnesota Valley Lutheran grad and 2024 All-Journal Boys Golfer of the Year Ben Pearson made his Invitational debut and made it count in the Championship Flight. After a 77 on Saturday saw him sitting seven shots behind Benson, Pearson shot a 73 in his second 18 holes Sunday and finished his final nine-hole round with a 1-under-par 34 to jump ahead and finish third in the tournament. Pearson had just one bogey in his final nine on Hole 10 and two birdies on Holes 13 and 18.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Shane Kvidera watches his tee shot from the 18th hole during the Championship Flight of the New Ulm Invitational Sunday at the New Ulm Country Club.

“It’s awesome to see the young guys playing,” Larson said. “It’s awesome to see the young kids playing good and competing in these tournaments and getting some exposure. They’ve got some good talent over here.”

Benson ended up tying for fourth with John Enter as the two each carded a 186, while Scott Paa finished with a 189 for sixth place.

After padding his Invitational wins record on Father’s Day, Larson was able to greet his wife, Missy, and kids Ihler and Crew after sinking his final putt of the day, a par putt on the 18th hole.

“We look to make it work every year now that we can fit it into our schedule,” Larson said of playing in next year’s tournament. “It’s always a fun weekend, this weekend is a little bit later with Father’s Day, so it’s extra special. But we’ll try to make it happen every year.”

In the Regular Division First Flight, Andis Kancans took first with a two-day score of 154, while Randy Kirchberg won the Second Flight with a 167, winning a playoff over Jackson Ahlness and Phil Fischer, who finished tied for second. In the Third Flight, Patrick Bakken grabbed a win with a 161, a 10-stroke lead over Mike Peterson and Corey Hillesheim, who tied for second.

Staff photo by Travis Rosenau Ben Pearson putts on the 17th hole at the New Ulm Country Club during the final nine holes of the New Ulm Invitational’s Championship Flight on Sunday.

In the Regular Division Fourth Net Flight, Paul Buboltz took first with a 144.

The Senior Division First Flight was won by Darren Anderson, who shot a two-day total of 139, while the Senior Division Second Flight was won by Bruce Gieseke with a 141. The Senior Championship Flight was won by Jason Wieland, with a 155.

FINAL RESULTS

(Day 1-Day 2 Total *Championship Flight includes extra nine holes at the end)

*Championship Flight: Johnny Larson 72-75-34 181, Shane Kvidera 73-73-37 183, Ben Pearson 77-73-34 184, Brett Benson 70-77-39 186, John Enter 75-73-38 186, Scott Paa 79-74-36 189, Ethan Kraus 84-72-37 193, Jay Kautt 73-78-42 193, Luke Stull 76-80-38 194, Paul Andersen 80-73-41 194, Mason Buegler 78-77-40, Aiden Guggisberg 78-78-39 195. (Players who didn’t make the cut) Colin Huffman 77-82, Andrew Metzen 79-83, Owen Strei 84-79, Hunter Hoaglund 80-83, Ethan Kirchberg 78-85, Nate Weisenburger 81-83, Ryan O’Keefe 89-84, Kurk Altmann 94-85, Joey Fingland 89-94.

First Flight: Andis Kancans 72-82 154, Dean Welsh 82-81 163, Matt Holm 82-84 166, Patrick Reagan 90-77 167, Anthony Sanders 81-86 167, Peter Guggisberg 84-85 169, Nate Voges 88-82 170, Jack Ballard 88-82 170, Nathan Lassas 89-82 171, Brodie Raymond 88-84 172, Jeremy Makepeace 86-87 173, Ryan Neuman 93-84 177, AJ Lassas 96-82 178, Jordan Simonette 93-85 178, Matthew Eichten 97-87 184, Patrick Bock 100-93 193.

Second Flight: Randy Kirchberg 84-83 167 (playoff), Jackson Ahlness 88-79 167, Phil Fischer 87-80 167, Quinn O’Connor 89-85 174, Dan Reinhart 88-86 174, Gunnar Cowing 85-89 174, Zach Quiring 82-93 175, Greg Schmitz 83-92 175, Kurt Bain 92-85 177, Tom Steinbach 92-87 179, Ben Calhoun 91-88 179, Adam Loose 87-92 179, Jason Holduhl 90-93 183, Alex King 96-94 190, Doug Dittbenner 88-127 215.

Third Flight: Patrick Bakken 82-79 161, Mike Peterson 83-88 171, Corey Hillesheim 84-87 171, Eric Hensler 87-85 172, Todd Liebrenz 90-84 174, Tim Berg 86-88 174, Tony Kliber 90-88 178, Jim Wirtz 89-89 178, Collin Gardner 94-87 181, Rick Webber 92-89 181, Peter Kliber 90-91 181, Jason Tyler 89-92 181, Keith Pryor 95-88 183, Bob Skillings 102-88 190, Ted Skillings 91-102 193, Jake Holm 90-DNF.

Fourth Net Flight: Paul Buboltz 93-71 144, Gregg Holm 70-77 147, Josh Sabatino 71-78 149, Johnny Eichten 70-81 151, TJ Gloege 79-74 153, Nick Tarlason 76-77 153, Matt Weight 74-81 155, Brent Reinarts 74-82 156, Tony Sowder 78-82 160, Kevin Anhut 79-82 161, Tony Hudson 77-84 161, Jerry Henning 88-74 162, Ron Kelm 87-75 162, David Hirth 79-84 163, Brian Bailey 81-84 165, Cody Kohn 96-82 178, Jeff Kresh 94-99 193.

Senior First Flight: Darren Anderson 69-70 139, Jerry Boddy 72-74 146, Mike Ballard 78-76 154, Chuck Gerber 79-75 154, Jim Henning 83-73 156, John Kvidera 81-75 156, Patrick McCall 77-79 156, Joe Horan 75-82 157, Dean Warta 88-79 167, Jeremy Raths 82-87 169.

Senior Second Flight: Bruce Gieseke 73-68 141, Don Olson 74-75 149, Ray Sagedal 83-77 160, Gary Kumerfield 80-82 162, Randy Wiltscheck 70-92 162, Pete Eichten 78-84 162, Brian Deinken 81-84 165, Dan Zarembinski 85-82 167, Jim Gibbons 84-84 168, Joe Nichols 90-86 176.

Senior Championship Flight: Jason Wieland 79-76 155, Matt Pearson 80-78 158, Tim Andersen 80-82 162, Ron Atkinson 82-82 164, Guy Strandemo 82-84 166, Todd Mckeeth 85-83 168, Tony Andersen 89-85 174, Randall Paa 87-87 174, Jeff Anderson 85-89 174, Larry Hahka 92-89 181.