Late Birdie Gives Herzog Slim Lead at Minnesota State Junior Girls' Championship in Monticello

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  MONTICELLO, Minn. – Bouncing back from a pair of late bogeys Monday, Madison Herzog carded a birdie on her final hole to post a round a 2-over par 73 to take a one-stroke lead at the 73^rd Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship at Monticello Country Club.
 
Herzog, who was an integral part of three straight Class AA team championships for Detroit Lakes, will enter Tuesday’s final round with a one-shot advantage over Janice Kim and Camille Kuznik.
 
Starting her day with consecutive pars before taking a step back with a bogey at the sixth, Herzog rebounded with a birdie to close out her front nine at even par for the championship. Unable to save par at the 10^th, Herzog fell back to 1-over before carding another bogey at the par-4 13^th.
 
Herzog would limit the damage by recording birdie at the par-3 14^th, but would fall back to 3-over par after bogeys at the 16 and 17^th holes. Taking advantage of the 475-yard, par-5 finishing hole, Herzog rolled in her birdie look to take a slim lead following Monday’s opening round.
 
A part of three consecutive Class AA team titles, Herzog claimed three straight top-15 finishes during her final three high school seasons, including a fifth-place finish in 2017. She looks to improve on a 14th-place finish at Legacy Golf in Faribault a year ago, posting rounds of 78 and 81, respectively. 
 
Kim, who recently finished in a tie for 16^th to conclude her sophomore season at the Class AAA tournament last month, got off to a slow start Monday with six bogeys during her opening nine holes. She answered by stringing together three birdies early on her back nine to remain in contention, one shot off the lead with a round of 74.
 
Finishing her freshman campaign with a fifth-place finish at the Class AAA tournament at Bunker Hills last month, Kuznik carded a pair of early birdies Monday before taking three straight bogeys to finish her front nine at 1-over.
 
Answering with a birdie to begin her back nine Monday, Kuznik would stumble late with three bogeys over her final six holes to finish in a tie for second with a round of 74.
 
Megan Welch, of Lakeville, Minn., will begin Tuesday’s final round two shots off the lead, while Northfield, Minn., native Molly Stevens will face a three-stroke deficit in fourth place to begin the final 18 holes.
 
The 73^rd Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship concludes Tuesday as the final round is scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Monticello Country Club.
 
 
 
73^RD MINNESOTA STATE JUNIOR GIRLS’ CHAMPIONSHIP
MONTICELLO COUNTRY CLUB
MONTICELLO, MINN.
5,889 YARDS, PAR 71
 
 
MONDAY’S RESULTS
1. Maddie Herzog, Detroit CC, 35-38—73
T2. Janice Kim, Timber Creek GC, 41-33—74
T2. Camille Kuznik, Lester Park GC, 36-38—74
4. Emma Welch, Brackett’s Crossing CC, 39-36—75
5. Molly Stevens, Northfield GC, 36-40—76
T6. Aayushi Sarkar, Youth on Course, 39-39—78
T6. Megan Welch, Brackett’s Crossing CC, 41-37—78
T8. Madison Hicks, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 36-43—79
T8. Megan Munneke, Tianna CC, 42-37—79
T8. Jessica Smith, Brackett’s Crossing CC, 41-38—79