VanArragon in Front at MN Girls' Jr. PGA Championship, Looking for Third Straight Win

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  FARIBAULT, Minn. – Firing a 4-under 68 Monday at Legacy Golf, Kathryn VanArragon took one step closer to her third consecutive win at the Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship.

VanArragon played her first 15 holes in 5-under, but would card a late bogey to take a two-stroke lead over Ava Hanneman into Tuesday’s final round.

The University of St. Thomas commit closed out her front nine with three consecutive birdies before tallying back-to-back birdies at the 15th and 16th holes.

A bogey at the par-5 17th dropped VanArragon to 4-under, going on to finish the day two shots ahead of the field with a 68.

VanArragon enters the week coming off a strong performance at the Minnesota State High School League Girls’ Class AAA Championship, finishing two shots back of individual medalist Reese McCauley at 6-under 138.

Following her first win at the event in 2021 at Bent Creek Golf Club, VanArragon fired a 6-under 66 during the opening round last year, on her way to a nine-stroke victory.

Hanneman, who carded a top-5 finish at the Class AAA championship Wednesday at Bunker Hills Golf Club, played her opening seven holes in 2-under Monday before dropping back to even with a double-bogey at the par-5 eighth.

She answered quickly with birdies at the 10th and 11th, and would tally her fifth birdie of the round at the 16th. Hanneman carded a bogey at the last to finish two shots back of VanArragon with 18 holes to play.

A double-bogey on her final hole Monday would put Nicole Reineke into third place following her round of even par 72.

Reineke bounced back from an early bogey to begin her round to turn in 1-under.

After trading a birdie at the 11th with a bogey at the 12th, Reineke moved to 2-under with a birdie at the 16th.

Abigail Labrador will begin Tuesday’s final round in fourth place with her 1-over 73, while Selena Wu sits six shots back after her 2-over 74.

The 48th Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship continues Tuesday when the final round begins at 7:30 a.m. at Legacy Golf.



THE 48TH MINNESOTA GIRLS’ JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP
LEGACY GOLF
FARIBAULT, MINN.
5,779 YARDS, PAR 72


MONDAY’S FIRST ROUND RESULTS
1. Kathryn VanArragon, Blaine, Minn., 33-35—68
2. Ava Hanneman, Orono, Minn., 36-34—70
3. Nicole Reineke, Chaska, Minn., 35-37—72
4. Abigail Labrador, Albertville, Minn., 38-35—73
5. Selena Wu, Eden Prairie, Minn., 37-37—74
T6. Olivia Salonek, Roseville, Minn., 37-39—76
T6. Jordana Windhorst-Knudsen, Lake City, Minn., 37-39—76
T6. Amelia Morton, Maple Grove, Minn., 36-40—76
T6. Kieley Hanson, Chanhassen, Minn., 36-40—76
T10. Elizabeth Fong, Bloomington, Minn., 38-39—77
T10. Jovie Ordal, Lakeville, Minn., 39-38—77
T10. Avery O’Donnell, Elk River, Minn., 38-39—77
T10. Avery Bartels, Oxbow, N.D., 37-40—77
T10. Victoria Woytassek, Jordan, Minn., 38-39—77


For complete tournament results go to: https://mnpgajr.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/mnpgajr23/event/mnpgajr2310/contest/13/leaderboard.htm