For Second Straight Year Yoemans and Herzog Qualify for Girls' Junior PGA Championship

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  MINNEWASKA, Minn. – For the second time in seven days, Sophia Yoemans finished on top of the leaderboard, while Red Wing High School teammate Leah Herzog wasn’t far behind as the two punched their tickets to the 2018 Girls’ Junior PGA Championship Wednesday at Minnewaska Golf Club.
 
Yoemans earned medalist honors with a state tournament scoring record thanks to an opening round 63 en route to the Class AA individual title last week. Opening the championship with a 1-under par 71 Tuesday, Yoemans turned in yet another solid round of 73 to earn a five-shot victory over her friend and teammate.
 
During an up-and-down front nine Wednesday, Yoemans eagled the par-5 sixth hole to move to 3-under for the championship, but stumbled late on her front nine by posting back-to-back double-bogeys to drop to 1-over for the tournament.
 
Following a bogey at the 10^th, Yoemans came surging back with a string of three birdies to get back into red figures before taking a bogey at the 17^th to finish the championship at even par 144, qualifying for her second straight Girls’ Junior PGA Championship.
 
Herzog fired a round of 74 during the opening round of play Tuesday and ran into trouble early Wednesday by taking double-bogey at the par-3 second to fall back to 4-over for the tournament. She would limit the damage by sinking her birdie look at the seventh to turn at 1-over for the round.
 
Trading a bogey at the 10^th with a birdie at the 13^th, Herzog remained at 3-over but with bogeys at the 14^th and 18^th holes, she would turn in a final round 75 to claim the second and final qualifying spot at 5-over par 149 to make her second straight appearance at the national event as well.
 
Isabella McCauley bounced back from an opening round 78 by posting a 2-over par 74 Wednesday to finish third at 8-over par 152, while Joanna Kim placed fourth at 153.
 
The 2018 Girls’ Junior PGA Championship will be played July 9-12 at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington, Ky.
 
 
 
2018 MN GIRLS’ JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
MINNEWASKA GOLF CLUB
MINNEWASKA, MINN.
5,920 YARDS, PAR 72
 
 
FINAL RESULTS
1. Sophia Yoemans, Red Wing, Minn., 71-73—144
2. Leah Herzog, Red Wing, Minn., 74-75—149
3. Isabella McCauley, Inver Grove Heights, Minn., 78-74—152
4. Joanna Kim, Edina, Minn., 78-75—153
T5. Molly Stevens, Northfield, Minn., 76-79—155
T5. Alayna Eldred, Osakis, Minn., 75-80—155
T7. Kathryn VanArragon, Blaine, Minn., 85-73—158
T7. Hanna Morin, Buffalo, Minn., 82-76—158
T7. Aayushi Sarkar, Woodbury, Minn., 79-79—158  
T10. Megan Munneke, Champlin, Minn., 80-79—159
T10. Catherine Monty, Stillwater, Minn., 81-78—159
T10. Janice Kim, Edina, Minn., 82-77—159
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr18/event/mnpgajr1829/contest/5/leaderboard.htm