Ledwein and Neisen Earn Spots in Final Women's Amateur Public Links Championship

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


EDINA, Minn. – New Prague senior Kenzie Neisen and sophomore Taylor Ledwein just seem to play better golf when they’re together. Monday Neisen and Ledwein both qualified for the 3A State Tournament as individuals, while Tuesday the pair advanced to the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship.

Ledwein earned medalist honors after carding an even par 73, while Neisen’s 1-over par 74 put her in a three-way sudden death playoff to determine the final two qualifying positions. Neisen knocked in her par putt on the first playoff hole to earn a spot in the championship.

Hailee Pieper, Watertown, S.D., carded a 1-over par 73 Monday and earned the final qualifying position as she rolled in her par putt on the first hole of sudden death.

Brenna Lervick, Chanhassen, Minn., shot a 1-over par 74 as well, but with a bogey on the first playoff hole, she would finish as first alternate.

For Neisen, Monday marks the first time she’s finally qualified for the championship having attempted a number of times. Ledwein qualified for the tournament in just her first attempt Monday, but nonetheless the tournament will garner significance as 2014 will be the final year the USGA will conduct the Amateur Public Links for both men and women.

"My sister [Steffi] has qualified a couple of times and I’m excited that I’ve finally qualified for it because I’ve tried to qualify multiple times in years past. It’ll be cool, especially since it’s the last tournament,” Neisen said after her round.

“It means a lot to advance being that this is the last one,” Ledwein said. “It was fun and I was happy to play so well today. Getting to qualify with [Neisen] means a lot because we’ve been playing golf together since we were little and we’ve known each other for a long time.”

Ledwein started her round with three straight pars before making birdie on the par-5 fourth hole, but gave a stroke back with a bogey on the sixth and would make the turn at even par 37.

A bogey on the 10th hole put Ledwein at 1-over for the day, but she would respond with a birdie on another par-5 at the 14th to get back to even. After a bogey on the par-3 17th, Ledwein left her tee shot just shy of the green on the drivable par-4 18th. She pitched her second to a few feet and tapped in for birdie to finish at even par 73.

“My driver was strong today—it’s usually the strongest part of my game, but my putter really saved me today,” Ledwein said. “My caddie helped me with my mindset after hitting a bad shot and I was able to get back into it.”

Neisen got off to a good start during her round Monday with a birdie at the par-5 second and another at the fourth to quickly get to 2-under for the day. She bogeyed the 303-yard par-4 fifth hole, but bounced right back with her third birdie on the front nine at the sixth.

Neisen was cruising at 2-under at the turn but ran into difficulties on the final nine holes with her putter. She missed par putts on 10 and 12 to draw back to even before rolling in a birdie on the 14th to again move to 1-under.

After missing par putts on 15 and 17, Neisen finished her round with a par on the 18th to finish tied for second at 74.

“I played really well on the front nine. I was 2-under and my ball striking felt really good and there were a few holes where I made some nice up and downs,” Neisen said. “On the back nine it was kind of my putting that got to me a little bit, I struggled towards the end. It felt good to make that putt on the playoff hole.”

Pieper had one birdie with one bogey to finish the opening nine holes at even par. She went to 1-under with a birdie on the 11th but made three consecutive bogeys to quickly fall to 2-over for the day. She would rally with birdies on the 16th and final hole to finish in a tie for second at 74.

Lervick carded a 1-over 38 on the opening nine holes, but fell to 2-over with a double-bogey on the 13th. She would also find a hot streak and birdied two of her final three holes to finish at 1-over par 74.

Both Neisen and Pieper found the fairway on the first playoff hole, while Lervick’s tee shot came to rest in the rough right of the fairway. Lervick’s second shot rolled through the green and into the rough behind. Pieper’s second landed just short and right of the green, but followed it with a fantastic chip to about three feet.

Neisen’s second landed on the front of the green about 25-feet from the cup but she would go on to two-putt for par. After Lervick’s third rolled past the pin, Pieper tapped in her par to take the final qualifying spot.

Sarah Burnham, Wayzata, Minn., shot a 2-over par 75 to finish as second alternate.

The 38th and final U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship will be played July 14-19 at the Home Course in DuPont, Wash.


2014 U.S. WOMEN’S APL SECTIONAL QUALIFIER
BRAEMAR GOLF COURSE
EDINA, MINN.
5,746 YARDS, PAR 73


FINAL RESULTS
1. Taylor Ledwein, New Prague, Minn., 73
T2. Kenzie Neisen, New Prague, Minn., 74 (won in playoff)
T2. Hailee Pieper, Watertown, S.D., 74 (won in playoff)
T2. Brenna Lervick, Chanhassen, Minn., 74 
5. Sarah Burnham, Wayzata, Minn., 75
6. Meagan Rachey, Waconia, Minn., 76
7. Katie Kesti, Red Wing, Minn., 77
8. Maggie Heggerston, Emily, Minn., 80
9. Haily Abel, Arvilla, N.D., 86
10. Andriel Aimua, Woodbury, Minn., 87
11. Megan Pulley, Albert Lea, Minn., WD
12. Jaclyn Shepherd, Minneapolis, Minn., WD