Ledwein Medals, Herrick, Kelly and McCullough Advance to U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur

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  MEDINA, Minn. – Playing only her fourth competitive round of the 2024 season, Taylor Ledwein fired a 3-over 75 Thursday at Medina Golf and Country Club in cool and breezy conditions to earn medalist honors and a spot in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur for a second consecutive season.

The former Bradley University golfer claims her spot at the national championship, set to be played Sept. 7-12 at Brae Burn Country Club in West Newton, Mass., and will be joined by Olivia Herrick, Betsy Kelly and Paige McCullough, who claimed the final three qualifying spots following a four-way playoff.

"The [U.S. Women’s Amateur] is great—I love it, and I almost made it this year. I feel good that I can still compete at that level, but this one is just a little more fun and laid back,” Ledwein said after her round Thursday. “I’m hoping to play the way I did today, and if I make it to match play, try to remain consistent.

“I’ve really been working on my full swing, especially after [U.S. Women’s Open] qualifier earlier this summer. I got a little more confidence and today it felt good."

Ledwein, 26, carded a lone bogey during her opening nine before pulling even with a birdie at the par-4 10th.

She gave back a stroke with bogey at the 11th, and would finish the day at 3-over 75 following back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th.

“It’s tough with the wind—you’ve got to swing confidently because the wind is going to do what it wants with your ball,” Ledwein said. “I had some good looks at birdie, too. My ball wasn’t starting in line with where I wanted it to. I’m going to grind over that for the next few weeks. Really happy with my game overall.”

Ledwein qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship in 2014 before earning a trip to U.S. Women’s Amateur Championships in 2015 and 2019.

With a pair of U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball appearances in 2021 and 2022 to her credit, Ledwein qualified for the eighth USGA championship of her career Thursday.

Herrick, 36, carded a pair of early bogeys Thursday before converting her birdie chance from three feet at the par-5 fifth. She would turn in 3-over following a bogey at the ninth.

Dropping to 5-over with back-to-back bogeys at the 11th 12th, Herrick rebounded by rolling in her birdie chance from 25 feet at the 15th to get back to 4-over for the round.

Bogeys at the 17th and 18th put Herrick into a share of second before she’d earn a spot in her 11th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur with a par on the first playoff hole.

“If you’re a mid-am woman, this is like our Olympics of competitive golf, “Herrick said Thursday. “My life is full, but doesn’t always allow time for golf. I feel like I gave everything I had, which is all you can really ask for.

“I did my best to be patient today. I was not hitting it perfectly, but really trying to take it shot by shot. Qualifiers are a test of patience in a lot of ways. I tend to have the same habits show up when I’m under pressure, so it was nice to see that and know what I need to work on in the next month.”

Herrick advanced to the semifinal round of the 2016 championship at The Kahwa Club in Erie, Pa., and followed it by advancing to the quarterfinals a year later at Champions Golf Club in Houston.

Her appearance at the championship next month will be the 24th USGA event of her career.

Bouncing back from a disappointing finish at the Minnesota Women’s State Open a week ago, Kelly’s 6-over 78 earns her a spot in her first USGA event since 2013.

“I went first-first-second-second the last four years at [the Minnesota Women’s State Open], so you come in and you want to win, but at the end of the day, you just want to qualify—I’m pumped,” said the 32-year-old Kelly, who regained her amateur status earlier this season. “Any time you get into a national USGA event, it’s amazing. I’m never going to stop competing, and now that I got my amateur status back, this is like my Masters.

“It was hard today. I couldn’t buy a birdie, and I probably got a little ahead of myself. I’m not a great wind player and the pin placements were tough.”

Kelly carded a pair of early bogeys to begin her round Thursday, turning in 2-over before back-to-back bogeys at the 11th and 12th holes.

Bogeys at the 17th and 18th holes moved Kelly into a share of second place at 6-over 78.

Over the green with her approach on the second playoff hole, Kelly chipped to three feet to save par and qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

Kelly’s most recent appearance at a USGA championship came in 2013 when she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links at the Jimmie Austin Oklahoma University Golf Club in Norman, Okla.

She also qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur in 2008 and again in 2009.

McCullough, a former University of Minnesota golfer, two-putted for par on the second playoff hole to qualify for her first U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur in three seasons.

“I’m grateful to be out here with such great competition,” said the 38-year-old McCullough. “It’s a new perspective for me—it’s my first [USGA event] having two kids. Now I’m going to enjoy it, have fun and keep a positive mindset.

“I probably play once a week now, so I definitely need to get into more of a rhythm.”

Playing her opening nine holes in 2-over Thursday, McCullough was helped by holing out for birdie at the sixth. She remained steady through 15 holes, including a lengthy birdie putt from 40 feet at the par-3 13th, before taking double-bogey at the 16th to fall to 4-over for her round.

Bogeys at the 17th and 18th would put her in the clubhouse in a share of second with Herrick, Kelly and 2019 MGA Women’s Player of the Year Jasi Acharya.

A two-putt par on the second playoff hole earned McCullough a ticket to her eighth USGA championship.

Making her first appearance at the championship in 2011, McCullough qualified for five straight national championships beginning in 2015, where she advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Jasi Acharya, winner of five consecutive MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur titles, fell to Herrick, McCullough and Kelly on the second playoff hole to finish as first alternate, while Hillary Zuleger, of Edina, Minn., posted a 7-over 79 to finish as second alternate.

Brae Burn Country Club hosts its first U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship, and first USGA event since Silvia Cavalleri won the 1997 U.S. Women’s Amateur.

This season’s national event will be the eighth USGA championship contested at the 127-year-old Donald Ross design.