Laorr and Neisen Will Meet in Finals of State Women's Match Play

By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. – Just 18 holes separate Minnesota Gopher Anna Laorr and her second straight Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship as Laorr won both her quarterfinal and semifinal matches Tuesday at Minneapolis Golf Club.

Laorr, Hazeltine National Golf Club, downed Ashli Helstrom during the quarterfinals, 1-up, Tuesday before facing 2010 winner Olivia Herrick during the semifinals.

Laorr took an early 2-up lead after winning the first and third holes before Herrick cut into the lead by winning the fourth. Herrick would take a 1-up lead through nine holes by winning the eighth and ninth, before Laorr rallied to win the 10th to square the match.

Taking advantage of a Laorr bogey on the 11th, Herrick regained a 1-up lead, but would bogey the 13th and the match was squared again. Herrick rolled in a birdie on the 15th to take her third lead of the match but gave away the 17th as she missed a short par putt and the two remained deadlocked through 19 holes.

Herrick’s approach on the second playoff hole found the left green side bunker and put her third 15 feet past the pin. After she missed her par putt, Laorr put her birdie chance to less than a foot and Herrick conceded.

“I played pretty well during my first match against [Helstrom], but played really well on the front—I think I made the turn at even,” Laorr said. “I was very consistent but we both started to slip up late in the match.”

Laorr defeated Herrick a year ago and knew it would be a tall order to beat her a second time Tuesday.

“I think we both knew going into the semifinal match that it was going to be really close,” Laorr said. “I beat her in the finals last year but we both played really well. I have so much respect for her and it seems like every tournament she plays in, she’s always in the top 5.”

“[Herrick] got off to a shaky start but I knew she was still going to be in every hole,” Laorr said. “It was a battle but it was a lot of fun because we started winning with birdies instead of winning with pars.”

Laorr will face yet another tough opponent in McKenzie Neisen during the finals Wednesday.

“She’s a great player and it will be another battle. It should be interesting because I think she can reach all these par-5’s in two, but it’ll be fun. Anything can happen in match play.”

Neisen, New Prague Golf Club, ousted 2011 champion Cassie Deeg from the quarterfinals Tuesday, 1-up, before facing Katherine Smith during her semifinal match.

Neisen got out to a big lead early as she won the first three holes to take a 3-up lead. Smith, Ironman Golf Course, cut into Neisen’s lead on the sixth hole, but Neisen came right back on the seventh to regain her 3-up lead.

Smith won the final hole on the front nine to trail by just two as she took advantage of a bogey by Neisen on the 333-yard, par-4 ninth.

Smith would bogey back-to-back holes at the 10th and 11th and Neisen would capitalize by making par to take a 4-up lead before Smith rolled in a birdie on the 12th to show some signs of life.

It would be all the closer Smith would get as Neisen closed out the match on the 14th hole with Smith make two final bogeys, as Neisen would win, 5 and 4.

"It was a fun match, we both played well," Neisen said of her early match against Deeg. "She made a couple birdies and then I made a couple of birdies so it was a very even match. [Deeg] drained a couple on the last few holes to make it really close. I putted pretty good and I felt better about my ball striking than I did yesterday." 

"I didn't hit the ball quite as well as I did this morning, but I had a few good putts. I had a couple shaky holes, but that happens. Tomorrow I want to go out and have fun and stay relaxed," she said.

Leigh Klasse, Keller Golf Club, will look to make it three straight championships Wednesday as Klasse downed Brenda Williams during the semifinal match Tuesday, 1-up, to advance.

Standing in Klasse’s way is Alison Hurley, Minnesota Valley Country Club, who had no small task in defeating Minnesota Hall of Famer, Claudia Pilot, in 19 holes during Tuesday’s semifinals to advance to the championship match against another hall of famer, Klasse.

The Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship concludes Wednesday with the final tee times beginning at 9:06 a.m. at Minneapolis Golf Club.



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


TUESDAY’S QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
OPEN DIVISION
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Anna Laorr, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, def. Ashli Helstrom, Gross Nat’l GC, 1-up
McKenzie Neisen, New Prague GC, def. Cassie Deeg, Golden Eagle GC, 1-up
Olivia Herrick, Dellwood CC, def. Brenna Lervick, Island View GC, 4 and 2
Katherine Smith, Ironman GC, def. Haley Hoag, Minnesota Valley CC, 1-up


TUESDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Anna Laorr def. Olivia Herrick, 20 holes
McKenzie Neisen, def. Katherine Smith, 5 and 4


TUESDAY’S SEMIFINAL RESULTS
OPEN DIVISION
FIRST FLIGHT
Sarah Sontowski, Baker Nat’l GC, def. Leanne Rindahl, Island View GC, 1-up
Julia Hall, Burl Oaks GC, def. Sylvia Logerquist, Bent Creek GC, 20 holes


SENIOR DIVISION
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Leigh Klasse, Keller GC, def. Brenda Williams, Windsong Farm, 1-up
Alison Hurley, Minnesota Valley CC, def. Claudia Pilot, Pines at Grand View, 19 holes


FIRST FLIGHT
Ellie Layton, Rochester G&CC, def. Theresa Ward, Interlachen CC, 5 and 4
Jo-Ann Lindsay, Interlachen CC, def. Nicki Reuterfeldt, Fox Hollow GC, 5 and 4


SECOND FLIGHT
Linda Smith, Interlachen CC, def. Cherie Riesenberg, Minneapolis GC, 4 and 3
Livia Lang, St. Cloud CC, def. Audrey Richmond, Burl Oaks GC, 7 and 6


THIRD FLIGHT
Susan Ritter, Keller GC, def. Darlene Bell, Olympic Hills GC, 2 and 1
Molly Baker, Bent Creek GC, def. Ann Brilley, Baker Nat’l GC, 2 and 1


FOURTH FLIGHT
Dale Ann Smith, Deer Run GC, def. Kathryn Kelly, Univ/Les Bolstad GC, 4 and 2
Jan Nelson, Brookview GC, def. Donna Bance, Keller GC, 5 and 4