Herrick Survives Playoff to Win Fourth MGA Women's Mid-Amateur

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  CHASKA, Minn. – The last time Olivia Herrick hoisted a state championship trophy, she defeated Jasi Acharya in a playoff to claim the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Legends Club in 2018.

In a moment of déjà vu Wednesday, Herrick outlasted Acharya in a two-hole playoff at Chaska Town Course to claim her fourth MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur title for her first victory in six seasons.

“It’s tough because on one hand, my life is so full and wonderful, but I still really care about golf and competing. Winning and playing well matters to me,” Herrick said following her victory. “I’ve felt like I’ve been in the orbit of winning a few times. To actually get it done—I proved something to myself, most importantly, today.

“Nerves were present. I definitely felt like I haven’t lived up to my potential the last couple of years.”

Winner of 26 state titles from 2006 to 2018, Herrick had previously never gone more than one season without winning a state championship.

In the six years since her last win, the 36-year-old Herrick has finished inside the top-5 11 times, including a pair of runner-up finishes.

“Earlier this season, I was really discouraged, and my husband told me right before the [U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur qualifier] that I just need to keep showing up, to keep practicing and to keep entering tournaments. If I have faith that everything will come together, I will win.

“To qualify for the women’s mid-am and to win this—I’m really happy.”

Herrick will travel to West Newton, Mass., next week to compete in her 11th U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at Brae Burn Country Club.

As they did in 2018, Herrick and Acharya shared the opening-round lead Tuesday before Herrick began her final round Wednesday with a bogey at the first.

She countered by chipping in for birdie at the second to draw even for the day, but briefly fell behind Acharya with a double-bogey at the third.

Steady over her next six holes with consecutive pars, Herrick built a two-stroke advantage heading to the par-5 18th before finding a fairway bunker with her second.

Unable to get her par putt from 20 feet to drop, Herrick watched Acharya roll in a short birdie to force extra holes.

A two-putt par on the second playoff hole earned Herrick the 27th state victory of her career.

“I’m tired right now because I feel like I’ve just been surviving for the last 12 holes,” Herrick said. “I’ve really tried my absolute hardest. I’m out there on my own, it’s easy to get distracted and it’s a long day. I tried to stay committed and tried to make the right decisions—I didn’t always execute the right decision.

“Jasi is such a good player; I knew it was going to take a good round to contend against her. She’s really solid and reliable—fairway and green.”

Unable to get up-and-down to save par on the second playoff hole Wednesday put an end to Acharya’s string of five consecutive wins at the championship.

“I’m happy for Olivia—we always have a pretty good battle,” Acharya said following Wednesday’s final round. “I think I need to practice more because it’s hard to have high expectations when you’re not working on your game as much. It’s always fun to come out and see the ladies, so I’ll be back next year.

“I was trying to play more conservative to start out and hit the middle of the green, but just did not execute in many areas. Off the tee, I was hitting my lines again, but from there I wasn’t hitting anything close."

Carding one bogey over her first four holes to begin her final round Wednesday, Acharya was tripped up by a double-bogey at the par-4 fifth to fall back to 7-over for the tournament.

A pair of three-putt bogeys at 12 and 14 put Acharya at 10-over for the championship, and she would slip to 11-over after failing to get up-and-down to save par at the 15th.

Acharya would roll in her short birdie chance from three feet to post a final-round 78, while Herrick made bogey, to finish in a share of the lead at 10-over 154.

A three-time Montana State Women’s Amateur champion, Acharya claimed her first state victory at the 2019 championship at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

The following season, Archarya claimed a three-stroke victory at Northland Country Club, and cruised to a five-stroke victory in 2021 at Hastings Golf Club.

Acharya emerged from a playoff to claim the 2022 championship at Indian Hills Golf Club before she earned her fifth straight title following a three-hole playoff last season at Island View Golf Club, matching Leigh Klasse’s mark of five consecutive wins from 2004-2009.

Carding back-to-back rounds of 7-over 79 this week, former LPGA professional Adele Peterson placed fourth at 14-over 158 Wednesday, four shots behind Herrick and Acharya for her best finish at the championship in three appearances.