Neisen Holds Off Burnham to Win Second Minnesota Women's State Open Crown

August 16, 2017 | 5 min.


By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  VICTORIA, Minn. – After a record-breaking performance to begin the 2017 Minnesota Women’s State Open at Deer Run Golf Club Tuesday, former New Prague High School standout Kenzie Neisen won her second title by carding a final-round 74 Wednesday.

Neisen set a career-mark and tournament record by shooting a 9-under par 63 Tuesday, taking a five-shot lead over 2013 champion Sarah Burnham into Wednesday’s final round, narrowly fending off a charging Burnham by sinking a short par putt on the final hole to earn a one-stroke victory.

“This is really special—I’ve missed being home and being able to play with everyone. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to do that,” Neisen said after her victory Wednesday. “I hope to enjoy everything that I did and try to see where I can build from it and use it as momentum going into the fall season. I was a little surprised just because I was busy this summer with classes. I was able to practice a lot, but haven’t been able to play in a competitive event.”

Neisen’s scorecard was littered with seven birdies and an eagle during the first round Tuesday, but carded one bogey on each nine Wednesday as she was unable to capitalize on several birdie opportunities to distance herself from the field.

Burnham made a statement on the opening hole Wednesday by nearly dunking her approach as her ball spin within two feet of the cup. She tapped in for birdie to quickly cut into Neisen’s sizable lead.

With a pair of two-putt pars to start, Neisen rebounded after putting her tee shot in the sand at the par-4 third by sticking her approach inside of 12 feet, but was unable to convert her birdie look. She missed a short birdie at the fourth and another slider from 10 feet at the fifth.

Short and left of the seventh green, Neisen chipped inside of four feet at the seventh to save par and maintain a four-shot advantage over Burnham.

Playing 26 holes of bogey-free golf, Neisen’s first blemish came at the par-4 ninth where she missed the green short with her approach and was unable to save par from three feet.

Taking a three-shot lead to the back, Neisen and Burnham got up-and-down at the par-5 10th, but Burnham inched closer after sinking her birdie chance from five feet at the 11th to pull within two.

Neisen’s second blemish of the championship came at the 12th after missing the green short and chipping inside of four feet. Sending her par putt past the cup on the left, Neisen’s lead was trimmed to one with six holes to play.

Unable to convert short birdies at both the 14th and 15th, Neisen caught a break at the 15th when Burnham’s short par putt rolled left of the cup, regaining a two-shot advantage. With a chance for birdie from 12 feet at the 16th, Neisen would two-putt for par and again at 17 after putting her approach to five feet.

After Burnham rolled in a five-footer for birdie on the final hole, Neisen two-putted for par from four feet to earn a one-shot victory, posting a final-round 74 to finish the championship at 7-under 137.

“I had some birdie opportunities that were close and I couldn’t get them to drop and a few up-and-downs that I missed. I think we both struggled to get some putts to drop, so it was one of those days,” Neisen said.

“Sarah’s a great player and I knew she was going to give it a run and she definitely did. I didn’t want to set my expectations too high—after [yesterday’s round] it’s easy to do that. It’s tough to repeat it two days in a row. ”

After cruising to an 11-shot margin of victory at the 2015 Women’s State Amateur at Interlachen Country Club, Neisen carded fired a round of 72 to open the 2015 Women’s State Open at Hillcrest a week later followed it by shooting 67 on the final day to earn a five-stroke victory, her third of the season.

As a bookend to her incredible 2015 season, Neisen won the Big 12 individual title at the tail-end of her freshman season at Oklahoma State University and successfully defended her title a year later.

Currently a pre-med student, Neisen’s competitive golf schedule this summer was trimmed as she elected to remain in Stillwater, Okla., taking summer classes prior to starting her senior season this fall.

Neisen won the Minnesota Women’s State Match Play in 2014 and earned medalist honors at the Class AAA in both 2013 and 2014 while at New Prague High School. She has qualified for six USGA events since 2012.

Burnham followed up her round 68 Monday by posting a 2-under par 70 during the final round Tuesday, one of just five players to shoot red figures.

“Today I was going to give it my all. I fell one shot back—coming back from five down, I can’t complain,” Burnham said Tuesday. “After nine I was only three back and knew there were some birdie holes on the back and thought I could give it a run.

“I birdied the first hole and didn’t really have much after that. I had some chances out there, but the putts didn’t fall. Overall I had two good rounds—I was happy with how I played and where my game is at.”

Tuesday marked Burnham’s last state event as an amateur, the soon-to-be senior at Michigan State University will turn professional after graduation next spring. At 21-years-old Burnham will go down as one of the state’s most dominant players, winning 19 amateur events and qualifying for eight USGA championships.

Natalie Roth posted a 2-under par 70 on the final day Tuesday to finish alone in third place at 141, while Hannah Hankinson’s round of 70 earned her a fourth-place finish at 2-under par 142. Lisa Grimes, a four-time champion, finished as low professional Tuesday, shooting a final-round 73 to place tied for fifth at 144.



2017 MINNESOTA WOMEN’S STATE OPEN
DEER RUN GOLF CLUB
VICTORIA, MINN.
6,088 YARDS, PAR 72


FINAL RESULTS

1. Kenzie Neisen (a), New Prague GC, 63-74—137
2. Sarah Burnham (a), Rush Creek GC, 68-70—138
3. Natalie Roth (a), Moorhead CC, 71-70—141
4. Hannah Hankinson (a), Edina CC, 72-70—142
T5. Sydney Bormann (a), Bakker Crossing GC, 73-71—144
T5. Alexandra Stewart (a), Legends Club, 71-73—144
T5. Lisa Grimes (p), Alexandria GC, 71-73—144
T8. Olivia Herrick (a), Dellwood CC, 72-73—145
T8. Alex Schmid (a), Stonebrooke GC, 71-74—145
10. Sierra Langlie (a), Bunker Hills GC, 78-68—146


For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga17/event/mnpga1758/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
 

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