Golf can be all about timing and Sunday the timing couldn’t be better for Steve Petersen.

Petersen advanced to the semifinals of the 82nd annual Shortstop tournament at Green Lea Golf Course Sunday with a 3 and 2 victory over Phil Schmidt. It’s the first time Petersen has advanced to the semifinals and he’ll face a familiar adversary, younger brother Andy Petersen, who advanced to the semifinals with a 4 and 3 win over Brett Richards.

“It was kind of a combination of me hitting some good shots at the right time and him not at his absolute best … probably the only way I get by him,” Steve said.

Steve’s win over Schmidt had people talking around the course. Schmidt, who won the Green Lea club title and City Open, rallied twice from 2-down to halve the match, but on Nos. 14 and 15 Petersen prevailed with some well-struck shots.

On No. 14 and 1-up, Petersen hit one of the best drives of the day. Petersen hit driver on the short par-4 and ended up pin-high with a short putt for eagle. He followed that up with another win on No. 15 to go 3-up with three to play.

“I just hit two good shots in a row on 14 and 15,” Petersen said.

The match concluded on No. 16 when Petersen hit his second shot on the green and below the hole, while Schmidt had a short chip from the left side to get up-and-down.

The semifinal matchup between the Petersen brothers will likely be another good one. Last year the two went to two playoff holes before Andy won and the two have gone to as many as six playoffs holes before to decide a winner in the Shortstop.

“We get a Petersen in the finals either way,” Andy said. “We already said the loser’s going to caddie.”

Andy needed a playoff hole during his first-round match with Mike Nelson for a 1-up victory that sent him to the quarters against Richards.

Then there’s the defending champion and five-time Shortstop winner Chris Baas lurking. Baas had to go through two past champions to reach the semifinals. He defeated Dave Pilot 2 and 1 and beat Mick Hockinson 4 and 3. He’ll face Brent Miller in the semifinals beginning at 7:30 a.m. Monday.

The win against Hockinson, a three-time Shortstop champion, came suddenly as Baas sunk a 15-foot birdie that moved him to 3-up after Hockinson missed an 8-footer for birdie on No. 14.

“I was thinking I might be 1-down going to 15, but I made the putt and it ended up he missed and I was 3-up,” Baas said. “That was the crucial hole in today’s match.”

Baas was the No. 1 qualifier and his confidence is running high after putting together three solid rounds. He looks to be in good position to win a record sixth Shortstop title.

“I feel a lot more confident with my swing,” Baas said. “At least I can get it around without shanking it. The short game’s got to get a little better if I’m going to win this deal. If it doesn’t get any better I’m going to be hard-pressed to win.”

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT RESULTS

No. 1 Chris Baas def. No. 16 Dave Pilot

No. 9 Mick Hockinson def. Lance Engebretson

No. 4 Jeff Stadheim def. No. 13 Mark Heinemann

No. 5 Brent Miller def. No. 12 Tony Richie

No. 2 Phil Schmidt def. No. 15 Mike Elseth

No. 7 Steve Petersen def. No. 10 Brendan Danielson

No. 3 Andy Petersen def. No. 14 Mike Nelson

No. 11 Brett Richards def. No. 6 Nick Schossow

QUARTERFINALS

No. 1 Chris Baas def. No. 9 Mick Hockinson 4 and 3

No. 5 Brent Miller def. No. 4 Jeff Stadheim 4 and 2

No. 7 Steve Petersen def. No. 2 Phil Schmidt 3 and 2

No. 3 Andy Petersen def. No. 11 Brett Richards 4 and 3