A 71 Has Herrick in Position to Claim Third MGA Women's Mid-Am Title

View full size image

  NEW PRAGUE, Minn. – A pair birdies on her back nine Sunday propelled Olivia Herrick to a round of 1-under par 71 at New Prague Golf Club to take a two-stroke lead over Paige McCullough and Alexandra Stewart, searching for her third Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in four years.

Herrick won the 2014 championship at Victory Links Golf Club in her first year of eligibility at the age of 25 and successfully defended her title the following year at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

“I played well today and the course is in great shape,” Herrick said after her round Sunday. “The greens out here are really fun. Should be a great day tomorrow.”

The four-time MGA Women’s Player of the Year winner carded eight consecutive pars to begin the first round Sunday before taking a bogey at the par-4 fifth to turn at 1-over.

Herrick hit her approach at the 13th to six feet and converted her birdie look to get back to even par for the tournament before rolling in a five-footer for birdie at the 15th and would finish the opening round with a two-shot advantage at 1-under par 71.

Stewart carded back-to-back bogeys at the fourth and fifth holes Sunday to fall to 2-over for the day, but quickly found her footing by rolling in eight consecutive pars before drawing even with back-to-back birdies at the 13th and 14th holes.

She would finish her day with a bogey on her final hole to shoot 73, two shots back of Herrick and into a tie for second.

“It was a solid round of golf. The front nine was a little unsteady, I only hit one fairway but a way to scramble some pars,” Stewart said after the opening round Sunday. “The back nine was much more easygoing.

“I’ll have to hit some fairways to start and hope some birdie putts will drop if I want a chance tomorrow. It’s a very narrow course and I’ll have to have my A-game for tomorrow’s round.”

McCullough started quickly Sunday with a birdie on her first hole before taking a pair of bogeys at the third and fourth holes to slip to 1-over. She bounced back with a birdie at the par-5 sixth, but McCullough carded her third bogey on the front at the ninth to turn at 1-over.

Drawing even by converting her birdie look at the par-5 11th, McCullough made consecutive pars until making bogey on the final hole Sunday to shoot 73 to finish in a tie with Stewart for second.

Leigh Klasse, a six-time winner who won five consecutive titles from 2004-2008, fired a round of 74 Sunday to sit in third place, while five-time winner and defending champion Claudia Pilot and Samantha Sommers carded rounds of 75 and will begin the final round tied for fourth, four shots back.

The final round of the 2017 MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. Monday at New Prague Golf Club.