Salonek Leads VanArragon by Two to Begin MN Girls' Jr. PGA Championship

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  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – After an up-and-down opening nine Monday, Olivia Salonek carded a pair of birdies against one bogey to shoot a 1-over 72 to take the first-round lead at the 46^th Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship at Bent Creek Golf Club.
 
Bouncing back from a double-bogey late during her outward nine, Salonek found her footing with two birdies to get back to even par before she carded a bogey at the last to take a two-stroke lead over Kathryn VanArragon.
 
The medalist and runner-up following Tuesday’s final round will advance to the 2021 National Girls’ Junior PGA Championship, set to be played July 27-30 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
 
VanArragon, who earned a spot in next week’s U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur, turned in 1-over Monday before taking back-to-back bogeys at the 11^th and 12^th holes, falling to 3-over for the day. She picked up a stroke by rolling in her birdie chance at the par-4 15^th but finished the day in second place at 3-over 73 following a bogey at the 17^th.
 
Playing her final 11 holes in even par Monday, Kate Burke fired an opening-round 76, and will begin Tuesday’s final round tied for third with Ava Hanneman and Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen.
 
The 46^th Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship concludes Tuesday, when the final round gets underway at 7 a.m. at Bent Creek Golf Club.
 
 
 
THE 46^TH MINNESOTA GIRLS’ JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
BENT CREEK GOLF CLUB
EDEN PRAIRIE, MINN.
5,648 YARDS, PAR 71
 
 
MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Olivia Salonek, Roseville, Minn., 37-35—72
2. Kathryn VanArragon, Blaine, Minn., 36-38—74
T3. Kate Burke, Minneapolis, Minn., 40-36—76
T3. Ava Hanneman, Orono, Minn., 37-39—76
T3. Lauryn Finley, Apple Valley, Minn., 38-38—76
6. Saachi Deshmukh, Plymouth, Minn., 37-40—77
T7. Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen, Lake City, Minn., 38-40—78
T7. Camille Kuznik, Orono, Minn., 40-38—78
T7. Hannah Boraas, Alexandria, 35-43—78
T10. Izzy Olson, Brainerd, Minn., 35-44—79
T10. Nicole Reineke, Chaska, Minn., 41-38—79
T10. Emma Welch, Lakeville, Minn., 38-41—79
 
 
For complete tournament results go to:  https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr21/event/mnpgajr219/contest/5/leaderboard.htm