Danny Anderson receives congratulations from his Team Minnesota teammates
(Tom Larson/West Central Tribune photo)

Anderson, of Eagle Creek, shot a three-day total of 208, one shot better than Minnesota teammates Andy Jacobson, also of Eagle Creek, and Justin Burleson. Team Kansas' Bradley Lane also tied for second.

Jacobson made a spirited run on Sunday, shooting a 7-under 65 for a runner-up finish.

Team Minnesota claimed the team title of the Cup, which features 10-player teams from Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska playing 54 holes.

The Cup tournament rotates to a different state each year, and playing this year at Eagle Creek presented advantages and disadvantages, Anderson said.

"When you play your home course, there is some pressure," Anderson said. "You know the course but you really want to play well there, too. It's fun to get it on your home course. I'd rather win it here than anywhere else."

Anderson went on a birdie spree on Eagle Creek's back nine and he also dropped a 50-foot putt for eagle on No. 13. He capped his round with a birdie on his finishing hole, No. 1.

But he was most pleased by having five Minnesota players finish in the top nine.

"That's fun to see," Anderson said. "An individual win is fun but this is a team event. We came to win for the team."

Jacobson's performance inspired Team Minnesota, he said.

"He wants to win; he was pumped up," Anderson said. "The guy's a grinder. He loves it."

Anderson also had the pleasure of playing the final round with his Tuesday league partner Matt Gorans, who tied for ninth with a 4-under 212.

"We joked about it, that it feels like a Tuesday afternoon with me and Matty on the same cart," Anderson said. "We fed off each other."

Jacobson, the Team Minnesota captain, said he wasn't aware he was playing himself into contention until later in his round.

"I didn't think I was in the hunt," said Jacobson, who was seven strokes back after Saturday's round. "I wish I'd finished a bit stronger but it was my day today. I had chances to go super, super low, but it was awesome."

Jacobson, despite sitting at even par heading into Sunday, wasn't worried about Team Minnesota picking him up.

"This is a phenomenal group of guys," Jacobson said. "When you're seeding these guys—sixth seed, seventh seed—they can all shoot 6-under par. It's pretty easy: put 'em out there and let 'em go."

Anderson and Jacobson said Eagle Creek received high marks for quality from the competitors, a credit to the club's crew.

"Guys asked me, 'How do you have a public course without pitch marks on the greens?' " Anderson said. "The guys really put in some time to make the course look like it did. And the greens were pure. If you missed a putt it was on you, not the green."

--Tom Larson, West Central Tribune