Ledwein Struggles Late as VanArragon Pulls Out a Victory at Women's State Open

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By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org
 
 
  LAKE CITY, Minn. – Following a pair of runner-up finishes earlier this season, back-to-back rounds of 2-over 73 gave 15-year-old Kathryn VanArragon her first win of the 2020 season Tuesday, claiming a one-stroke victory at the 20^th Minnesota Women’s State Open at The Jewel Golf Club.
 
Entering the final round three shots off the lead, VanArragon trailed by as many as seven shots after a string of bogeys to close out her front nine. Chipping away hole-by-hole on her back nine, the defending Minnesota Golf Association Junior Girls’ Player of the Year carded a late birdie to become the youngest winner in Minnesota Women’s State Open history.
 
“I’m honored and grateful—it was a really fun week,” said VanArragon, who becomes the eighth player to win both the MGA Women’s Amateur and the Women’s State Open. “I don’t think I’ve really grasped it yet, but it’s really exciting.
 
“It’s been a good summer for me and this is a similar win [to Women’s Amateur] because they are such great fields, so it’s amazing to get the win this week.”
 
A pair of late bogeys put VanArragon in the clubhouse at 2-over 73 following the opening round of play Monday. Carding three bogeys over her final five holes of her front nine Tuesday, VanArragon trailed first-round leader Taylor Ledwein by seven strokes before rolling in 10-footer for birdie at the par-4 10^th to move to 4-over.
 
The soon-to-be sophomore gave back a shot with a bogey at the 13^th, but bounced back by chipping inside of 15 feet at the par-5 15^th and converted her birdie look for what proved to be the difference, putting her in the clubhouse lead at 146. VanArragon learned shortly after that Ledwein had played her final six holes in 7-over, stumbling to a second-place finish at 5-over 147.
 
“I wasn’t really aware of anything happening on the leaderboard. I was happy with how I played but I wasn’t really expecting much,” VanArragon said. “It was a nice surprise. I knew there were going to be a lot of good players at the top, I just sort of came in thinking that if I could get off to a good start and put down a good number, to see where that got me.
 
“I came out on one and two with a couple good iron shots, but just couldn’t really putt. That was really the story on the front nine. Going into the back nine I was a little bit discouraged with a few bogeys, but tried to start fresh with a new mindset. Getting the birdie on 10 did a lot for my confidence and gave me a new nine and a new start.”
 
VanArragon first caught the attention of Minnesota golf enthusiasts when she advanced to the finals of the 2016 Drive, Chip and Putt competition at Augusta National Golf Club. Two years later she became the youngest golfer to claim the Class AAA individual title as a seventh-grader playing varsity golf for Blaine High School. She entered the record books once again last season when she became the youngest player to win the MGA Women’s Amateur Championship just days after her 14^th birthday.
 
She fell to University of Minnesota golfer Grace Curran at the MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship in June and finished two shots back of Isabella McCauley at the Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship in early July.
 
For the first time this season, VanArragon had older brother, Caleb, a golfer at Valparaiso University, on the bag this week, helping recreate some magic after he caddied during her win last year at Town and Country Club.
 
“He helps me a lot whenever he caddies—keeping me focused on the next shot, which is something that’s really important for every golfer, but it’s especially important when you’re playing in a big tournament.”
 
A devastating finish for Ledwein Tuesday, who was coming off a victory last week at the MGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Megan Welch for her eighth state championship win. Seemingly in full control Tuesday, Ledwein turned in 1-under for her round before converting a short birdie at the 10th, sticking her approach inside of four feet.
 
Ledwein’s problems off the tee during Tuesday’s final round were magnified over the next eight holes as she missed the green at the par-3 11^th, leading to a bogey before she lost her tee shot left of the 14^th fairway, leading to the first of two triple-bogeys to finish her round.
 
Getting back on track at the par-3 15^th by getting up-and-down for par, Ledwein managed a two-stroke lead walking to the 18^th tee box, but again she would lose her ball in a wooded area left of the fairway. Playing her provisional, Ledwein’s fourth missed her target and after missing her putt for double-bogey to force a playoff, a visibly upset Ledwein tapped in for a second-place finish.
 
“Obviously the ending today wasn’t what I was hoping for, but I have to take the good with the bad. I think I can really learn from today and take it into trying to build myself to be a better player,” an emotional Ledwein said after her round Tuesday. “Making sure that I finish rounds and don’t get too into my own head is what is key. I really like how I am rolling the ball right now. I made a lot of good saves for up and down today and my chipping was right where I wanted it.”
 
Ledwein will return to Bradley University in hopes of a fifth season after a shoulder injury sidelined the New Prague, Minn., native for most of the fall season in 2019.
 
“Since my shoulder issue I really have tried to stop over-swinging, which is what I was doing today on the swings that put me into trouble. Making sure I keep my swing short and compact rather than long and loose is the main focus. This summer was another solid summer of golf.”
 
University of Missouri golfer, and Red Wing, Minn., native Sophia Yoemans posted the low round Tuesday, firing a 1-under 71 to finish in a five-way playoff with four-time champion Lisa Grimes, University of Minnesota’s Grace Kellar, Molly Stevens, and former Red Wing teammate Leah Herzog at 6-over par 148.
 
 
 
THE 20^TH MINNESOTA WOMEN’S STATE OPEN
THE JEWEL GOLF CLUB
LAKE CITY, MINN.
5,977 YARDS, PAR 71
 
 
TUESDAY’S FINAL RESULTS
1. Kathryn VanArragon, Bunker Hills GC, 73-73—146
2. Taylor Ledwein, New Prague GC, 70-77—147
T3. Sophia Yoemans, Mississippi Nat’l GL, 77-71—148
T3. Grace Kellar, Olympic Hills GC, 75-73—148
T3. Molly Stevens, Northfield GC, 74-74—148
T3. Lisa Grimes (p), Alexandria GC, 72-76--148
T3. Leah Herzog, Mississippi Nat’l GL, 72-76—148
T8. Betsy Kelly (p), TPC Twin Cities, 75-74—149
T8. Cassidy Laidlaw, Brookings CC, 71-78—149
10. Katherine Smith, Detroit CC, 72-78—150
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpga20/event/mnpga2027/contest/1/leaderboard.htm