Laorr, Herrick, Deeg and Neisen Move on at MN Women's Match Play

  ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – University of Minnesota golfer Anna Laorr took one step closer to repeating as Minnesota Women’s State Match Play champion Monday as she defeated Katie Kesti, 6 and 4, to advance to quarterfinal action at Minneapolis Golf Club.

Laorr, Hazeltine National Golf Club, earned an opening round bye as defending champion and faced Kesti, Red Wing Golf Club, during the Round of 16 Monday afternoon. Laorr took a 1-up lead on the fourth before surrendering the fifth with a double-bogey as the match was squared.

Kestie quickly took a 2-up lead after winning the seventh and eighth holes, but after Laorr birdied the 11th, Kestie’s lead was trimmed to 1-up. Laorr took advantage of a Kesti bogey on the 13th to square the match and after back-to-back bogeys on the 16th and 17th holes by Kesti, Laorr closed out the match to advance, 2 and 1.

Laorr will now face Ashli Helstrom, Gross National Golf Club during Tuesday’s quarterfinal match.

Olivia Herrick lost in the final match to Laorr last season at the Jewel Golf Club in Lake City, Minn., but moved closer to redemption Monday after downing McKenzie Swenson, Rush Creek Golf Club, in the opening round before facing Marisa Toivonen during the Round of 16.

Herrick, Dellwood Country Club, won the first two holes Monday to take a quick 2-up lead and would maintain the lead until the 14th hole.

Toivonen, Red Wing Golf Club, cut into Herrick’s lead by winning the fourth hole, but Herrick came back to win the fifth and sixth to increase her lead to 3-up.

Winning the eighth, 12th and 14th holes, Toivonen would square the match, but would falter late with a double-bogey and bogey at the 15th and 16th as Herrick took a crucial 2-up lead. Herrick clinched the match on the 17th hole with a birdie to win, 3 and 1.

Herrick now faces Brenna Lervick during Tuesday’s quarterfinal match.

McKenzie Neisen, New Prague Golf Club, won her opening match by default before cruising during the round of 16, with a 6 and 5 victory over Lynn Anderson.

Neisen will have her hands full with Cassie Deeg in the quarterfinals as Deeg breezed through her opening round, 8 and 7, before downing Lexi Bollant, Windsong Farm, during the Round of 16 Monday, 3 and 2.

Defending champion in the Senior Division, Leigh Klasse, took Bernie Brown to 19 holes before moving on to Tuesday’s semifinals.

Klasse, Keller Golf Club, will face Brenda Williams, Windsong Farm, during the semifinals.

Last year’s runner-up, Claudia Pilot, downed Nancy Harris, 4 and 3, to advance Monday and will take on Alison Hurley, Minnesota Valley Country Club, during Tuesday’s semifinal match.

The 2014 Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship continues Tuesday with tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Minneapolis Golf Club



19TH MINNESOTA WOMEN’S STATE MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP MINNEAPOLIS GOLF CLUB
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN.
6,274 YARDS, PAR 73


MONDAY’S ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Anna Laorr, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, BYE
Katie Kesti, Red Wing GC, def. Jennifer Pederson, Southview CC, 6 and 4
Ashli Helstrom, Gross Nat’l GC, def. Lilia Everson, Edina CC, 7 and 6
Lauren Johnson, Baker Nat’l GC, Wins by Default
Olivia Herrick, Dellwood CC, def., McKenzie Swenson, Rush Creek GC, 6 and 5
Marisa Toivonen, Red Wing GC, def. Christine Dean, Interlachen CC, 7 and 5
Brenna Lervick, Island View GC, def. Abby Conzemius, Chaska TC, 19 holes
Hailey Boner, Southview CC, def. Tabitha Kunst, Lester Park GC, 5 and 3
McKenzie Neisen, New Prague GC, Wins by Default
Lynn Anderson, Keller Golf Club, Wins by Default
Cassie Deeg, Golden Eagle GC, def. Krista Larsen, Fox Hollow GC, 8 and 7
Lexi Bollant, Windsong Farm, def. Katie Wortman, University GC, 2 and 1
Haley Hoag, Minnesota Valley CC, def. Celia Kuenster, Somerset CC, 19 holes
Mary Sweeney, Hillcrest GC, def. Samantha Falk, Minnewaska GC, 6 and 5
Katherine Smith, Ironman GC, def. Andria Price, Midland Hills GC, 3 and 2
Rachel Gray, Edinburgh USA, Wins by Default


MONDAY’S ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Anna Laorr def. Katie Kesti, 2 and 1
Ashli Helstrom def. Lauren Johnson, 6 and 4
Olivia Herrick def. Marisa Toivonen, 3 and 1
Brenna Lervick def. Hailey Boner, 1-up
McKenzie Neisen def. Lynn Anderson, 6 and 5
Cassie Deeg def. Lexi Bollant, 3 and 2
Haley Hoag def. Mary Sweeney, 2 and 1
Katherine Smith def. Rachel Gray, 5 and 3


MONDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
OPEN DIVISION
FIRST FLIGHT
Sarah Sontowski, Baker Nat’l GC, def. Cynthia Sargent, Riverwood Nat’l, 5 and 3
Leanne Rindahl, Island View GC, def. Ryuko Dragovich, Island View GC, 5 and 3
Sylvia Logerquist, Bent Creek GC, def. Jacklyn Cooney, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 3 and 2
Julia Hall, Burl Oaks GC, def. Kari Nelson, the Bridges GC, 5 and 4


SENIOR DIVISION
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Leigh Klasse, Keller GC, def. Bernie Brown, Wapicada GC, 19 holes
Brenda Williams, Windsong Farm, def. Cindy Pallatino, Minneapolis GC, 2 and 1
Claudia Pilot, the Pines at Grand View Lodge, def. Nancy Harris, 4 and 3
Alison Hurley, Minnesota Valley GC, def. Barbara Miller, Hillcrest GC, 4 and 2


FIRST FLIGHT
Theresa Ward, Interlachen CC, def. Kris Machut, Bearpath G&CC, 6 and 4
Deb Hayes, Keller GC, def. Ellie Layton, Rochester G&CC, 4 and 2
Jo-Ann Lindsay, Interlachen CC, def. Ede Rice, Woodhill CC, 3 and 2
Nicki Reuterfeldt, Fox Hollow GC, def. Kathy Hubert-Wyss, Forest Hills GC, 2 and 1


SECOND FLIGHT
Cherie Riesenberg, Minneapolis GC, def. Jill Nagel, 21 holes
Linda Smith, Interlachen CC, def. Liz Olson, Keller GC, 6 and 5
Livia Lang, St. Cloud CC, def. Marti Bronk, Minnesota Valley CC, 2 and 1
Audrey Richmond, Burl Oaks GC, def. Lori Wohlrabe, Fox Hollow GC, 20 holes


THIRD FLIGHT
Darlene Bell, Olympic Hills GC, def. Barbara Patrow, Bunker Hills GC, 6 and 4
Susan Ritter, Keller GC, def. Debra Hall-Draves, Chaska TC, 2-up
Molly Baker, Bent Creek GC, def. Cynthia Leaf, Minneapolis GC, 5 and 4
Ann Brilley, Baker Nat’l GC, def. Lori Eicher, Olympic Hills GC, 19 holes


FOURTH FLIGHT
Dale Ann Smith, Deer Run GC, def. Carla Rusisill, North Oaks GC, 1-up
Kathryn Kelly, Univ./Les Bolstad GC, def. Lori McCormick, Wilds GC, 3 and 1
Jan Nelson, Brookview GC, def. Carol Ellis, Univ./Les Bolstad GC, 4 and 3
Donna Bance, Keller GC, def. Toni Flaherty, Bent Creek GC, 4 and 3