It's Another Israelson Sweep at Birchmont

August 2, 2021 | 1 min.


BEMIDJI -- The Israelson family secured two more Birchmont titles on Saturday -- Nos. 9 and 10 -- as Andrew Israelson defeated Nate Adams 1 up, and his sister Emily Israelson beat Morgan Hetletved 3&1. Neither of them ever trailed in the finals.

Andrew took the lead against Adams on the fourth hole at Bemidji Town & Country Club. His advantage was down to 1 up after 16 holes, but both players made pars on the last two holes. This was the third -- and last -- Birchmont title for Andrew. The former North Dakota State star -- and Minnesota state high school champion -- will turn pro this week and begin playing on the Dakotas Tour.

It's the second time the Israelson siblings have taken both of the Birchmont crowns. They did it in 2016. Andrew then repeated as the Men's Division champion in 2017.

Emily, who has five Birchmont victories in all, won again in 2018, and has won the Women's Division crown every year since. The former Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference Golfer of the Year from Augustana led Hetletved from the second hole on Saturday. 

With her fourth championship in a row, the 25-year-old Israelson ties the record set by Julia Gumlia, who won her four in a row from 1972 to '75. 

The Israelson's father, Bill, won Birchmont twice, in 1973 and '79. He also won the Minnesota State Amateur three years in a row -- 1976, '77 and '78. No one else has done that since 1927, when the legendary Jimmy Johnston won his seventh in a row. Andrew didn't win the State Am, but he did finish in the top three each of the last three years, which is something that only his father and three other players have done in the last 90 years -- Carson Lee Herron 1932 (2nd), '33 (1st), '34 (2nd), '35 (3rd), Neil Croonquist 1960 (1st), '61 (2nd), '62 (2nd), Bill Israelson 1976 (1st), '77 (1st), '78 (1st), Van Holmgren 2018 (1st), '19 (2nd), '20 (3rd), Andrew Israelson 2019 (2nd), '20 (2nd), '21 (3rd). 


The Birchmont

At Bemidji Town & Country Club

Match play finals

Men's Division

Championship Flight 


(8) Andrew Israelson def. (6) Nate Adams 1 up

Women's Division

Championship Flight


Emily Israelson def. Morgan Hetletved 3&1 


 

Contact Us

Contact Us

6550 York Avenue South, Suite 411 • Edina, MN 55435 • (952) 927-4643 • (800) 642-4405 • Fax: (952) 927-9642
© 2024 Minnesota Golf Association. All Rights Reserved