Acharya Back in the Hunt, Looking for Fourth Straight MGA Women's Mid-Amateur Title

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  STILLWATER, Minn. – In the 25 previous Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Mid-Amateur Championships, only three players have won three or more consecutive titles.

Claudia Pilot accomplished the feat first, winning in 2001, 2002 and 2003 before Leigh Klasse won five straight from 2004 to 2008.

Jasi Acharya won her third straight Women’s Mid-Am title last season, and with her round of even par 72 Thursday at Indian Hills Golf Club, Acharya moved a step closer to becoming the second woman in state history to collect her fourth in a row.

“The swing was not that comfortable today, but I got it around,” the 38-year-old Acharya said following her opening round Wednesday. “I had a couple of nice, long putts go in.

“I didn’t play a practice round, so it was my first time playing the course, but it’s pretty much right in front of you.”

Acharya played a steady front nine Wednesday, carding a lone bogey to turn in 1-over before converting her birdie opportunity from inside of six feet at the 10th to draw even.

Again, sticking her approach inside of six feet at the 12th, Acharya moved into red figures with her second birdie of the round, but would take a couple steps back with bogeys at the 13th and 14th holes.

“I benched the driver on the back nine, again, because it was just not feeling comfortable,” Acharya said. “It was both misses, so I went with 4-wood off the tee for the most part.”

Carding her final birdie of the round at the par-4 16th, Acharya got up-and-down after finding a greenside bunker at the last, sinking a 20-footer for par to post an opening-round 72 to take a one-stroke lead over the six-time champion Klasse and Ashleigh Wolseley.

“Expectations are not very high. I know there are some strong players this week, so I just wanted to come out, have fun and put work away for a few hours,” Acharya said. “I feel pretty comfortable with the sightlines tomorrow—there’s nothing really tricky about it. I hope the driver feels a little better tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to it.”

Acharya, a regional sales manager for PXG, took a new job in February that was supposed to relocate her to Texas. Accepting a new position recently, Acharya will continue to reside in Minnesota, while still spending time on the road frequently.

“I’ve been working a lot and really missing [the golf season]. I was travelling a lot and haven’t played very much,” Acharya said. “The company is growing so fast, it’s hard to keep up. I don’t feel like there’s a lot of time to play, but I’m very excited that we’ll be spending a good part of the summer here next year.”

Acharya, formerly from Montana, claimed her first state title in 2019 at a rain-shortened MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

She successfully defended her title the following year at Northland Country Club before cruising to a five-stroke victory at Hastings Golf Club last season.

Klasse, 11 years removed from her last win at the event, battled back from three bogeys early during her back nine Wednesday by sinking a birdie from three feet at the 16th to card a 1-over 73 to remain in contention ahead of Thursday’s final round.

“For the most part I was hitting the ball in the middle of the fairway and staying in play,” the 62-year-old Klasse said following her round. “I hit some nice shots, like on 17, and made some birdies. It was fun to come back here and play—it’s been a while.

“I probably have to make a few more putts tomorrow. I had some good looks—I probably should’ve made that birdie on 18 to finish even, but I just didn’t get it to the hole."

Wolseley got off to a sluggish start Wednesday with back-to-back bogeys at the first and second, but found her footing by rolling in a birdie opportunity at the fourth.

In a moment of déjà vu, the 34-year-old Wolseley began her inward nine with back-to-back bogeys to drop to 3-over for the championship.

She would respond by converting her birdie chance at the 12th before rolling in one final birdie at the 17th to pull within one shot of the lead at 1-over 73.

The 26th MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship continues Thursday when the final round gets underway at 11:30 a.m. at Indian Hills Golf Club.