Ledwein, Herzog and Busker Among Quarterfinalists at MGA Women's Match Play

View full size image

 
 DELLWOOD, Minn. – In search of her first Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship win since 2018, Taylor Ledwein won her first two matches Tuesday at Dellwood Country Club to advance to the quarterfinal round.
 
Ledwein, who defeated Olivia Herrick in the championship match at Faribault Golf Club for her first match play title, downed Cora Larson to open the championship early Tuesday before a steady back nine during her match against Rose Baynes helped Ledwein to her second win of the championship, 3 and 2.
 
The former New Prague High School standout will face Shelby Busker during Wednesday’s quarterfinal round. Busker edged Isabelle Lynch during her opening-round match Tuesday, 1-up, and then rallied late to slip past fellow Detroit Lakes High School alumni Maddie Herzog, 1-up.
 
Leah Skaar, who plays at Minnewaska Golf Club, advanced to the quarterfinal round Tuesday and will square off against Lauren Contreras, who cruised during her Round of 16 matchup against Jaycee Rhodes, 6 and 4.
 
Looking to become the second straight University of Minnesota golfer to claim the MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play champion, following Grace Curran’s win last season, Joanne Free advanced from the opening round with a win over Mallory Belka, 4 and 2, before eliminating former Gopher golfer Paige McCullough, 1-up, to reach the quarterfinals.
 
Free, originally from Gullane, Scotland, will face Maggie Veenendall, who defeated Courtney Wedin in extra holes early Tuesday before ousting Mackayla Olsen, 4 and 3, to reach the quarterfinal round.
 
Leah Herzog, who recently transferred to play for the Gophers after two seasons at the University of Nebraska, picked up a win over Jordan Amelon during the opening round and was tasked with facing five-time women’s match play champion Olivia Herrick, and beat the five-time MGA Women’s Player of the Year with birdies on each of her final two holes to move on to the quarterfinal round to face Anna Tollefson.
 
The 2021 MGA Women's Amateur Match Play Championship continues Wednesday when the quarterfinal round begins at 7:30 a.m. at Dellwood Country Club.