Herrick and Yang to Square off in MWGA State Match Play Final in Monticello

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  MONTICELLO, Minn. – After cruising during her quarterfinal match Tuesday, Olivia Herrick defeated Alex Schmid, 3 and 1, during the semifinals at the 21st Minnesota Women’s Golf Association State Match Play Championship at Monticello Country Club.

Herrick reaches the final match for the fourth time and will face Athena Yang during the finals Wednesday in search of her second MWGA State Match Play title.

“I’ve played in a lot of match play events in my career and, for me, the best way to approach the match is to do my own thing,” Herrick said following her semifinal win Tuesday. “I have my own game plan and no matter what else is going on, I’m focusing on that.

“There are some interesting holes out there and I don’t think there are any where you can grip it and rip it,” she said. “Every hole has sort of defining feature—a dogleg, water, trees—so you have to be careful out there. I hit a lot of greens today but probably didn’t putt as well as I could have.”

Facing Schmid in the semifinals Tuesday, Herrick took advantage of early bogeys by Schmid to take a 3-up lead through five holes before Schmid answered by winning the sixth with a birdie.

Herrick, Dellwood Country Club, watched her lead trimmed to just one as Herrick carded a double-bogey at the eighth, missing a 2-footer to win the hole and missed another 2-footer to lose the hole.

She would regain a 2-up lead at the ninth with a par. “I was feeling really good and that was a momentum swing, so I had to try and rally myself a little after that,” Herrick said of her three-putt at No. 8.

Carrying a 2-up advantage to the 15th, Schmid couldn’t get up-and-down for par as Herrick extended her lead to 3-up with three holes to play. Schmid birdied the 16th to cut into Herrick’s lead late as Herrick missed her first green of the match, but Herrick closed out the match at the 17th with a par to win, 3 and 1.

During her quarterfinal match against Hauer, Herrick won four of the first six holes Tuesday to take a 3-up lead to the ninth. She would win the next three consecutive holes with par to clinch the match at the 13th to win, 6 and 5.

“I made two birdies all day so that was a little disappointing,” Herrick said. “I’m looking to putt a little better tomorrow and I’m excited to be in the finals.”

Herrick defeated Mary Narzisi to claim her first Minnesota Women’s State Match Play title in 2010 at Baker National Golf Club.

Yang, Edinburgh USA, took an early lead after the opening hole of her semifinal match after a bogey by Ledwein before Yang and Ledwein halved the third hole with birdies.

Ledwein drew even at the fifth when Yang got too aggressive with her birdie putt and three-putted for bogey. Ledwein was unable to get up-and-down at the par-4 ninth and Yang took a 1-up lead into the turn before Ledwein quickly evened the match with a par at the 10th.

After winning the 11th with a par, Yang took a 2-up lead at the 13th by rolling in her birdie chance from 12 feet. Ledwein narrowed the margin by winning the 15th with a par, but the two would each par the final three holes, giving Yang a 1-up victory to advance to the final match against Herrick Wednesday.

“Taylor [Ledwein] is a great player and I had a lot of fun out there,” Yang said. “She definitely put pressure on me. I thought if I just stayed consistent then I would have a chance to win.”

Carding a birdie at the fourth hole during her quarterfinal match against Jordan Price Tuesday, Yang took a 1-up lead before winning five of the next seven holes to take a commanding 6-up lead after 11 holes. Yang closed out the match at the 13th with a par to advance to the semifinals, 7 and 5.

“I felt like I was in control for both matches and knew if I just kept my head steady and focused and played consistent, that I would have a good chance,” Yang said. “I putted really well today, which saved a lot of. I had to make a lot of par putts—it was a strength today.

“It’s really rewarding knowing that I had to fight my way into the next match,” Yang said of playing in the final Wednesday.

It will be the first time Yang and Herrick will face each other in competition, but not the first time they’ve played together. The two played a practice round together during the U.S. Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Streamsong Resort in May. Yang will be a freshman at Mississippi State University this fall.



21ST MWGA STATE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
MONTICELLO COUNTRY CLUB
MONTICELLO, MINN.
6,081 YARDS, PAR 71


TUESDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Athena Yang, Edinburgh USA, def. Taylor Ledwein, New Prague GC, 1-up
Olivia Herrick, Dellwood CC, def. Alex Schmid, Stonebrooke GC, 3 and 1


TUESDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Athena Yang, Edinburgh USA, def. Jordan Price, Somerby GC, 7 and 5
Taylor Ledwein, New Prague GC, def. Jade Newman, Bulrush GC, 3 and 2
Alex Schmid, Stonebrooke GC, def. Karissa Fischer, River Oaks GC, 7 and 6
Olivia Herrick, Dellwood CC, def. Halle Hauer, StoneRidge GC, 6 and 5