VanArragon Shoots Final-Round 72 to Win Second MGA Women's Amateur

• 2023 MGA Women's Amateur Championship Round 3
• 2023 MGA Women's Amateur Championship Round 2
• 2023 MGA Women's Amateur Championship Round 1

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  MEDINA, Minn. – A week after older brother Caleb VanArragon claimed the Minnesota Golf Association Amateur Championship at Minneapolis Golf Club, Kathryn VanArragon followed suit Wednesday, firing a 1-under 218 to win the MGA Women’s Amateur Championship by one-stroke at Baker National Golf Course.

The VanArragons become the first brother-sister combo to win the MGA Amateur in the same season since Nancy and John Harris won their respective championships in 1989.

“I didn’t quite match the 23-under [as Caleb] last week, but it’s really an honor to be the first brother and sister duo to do that in 34 years,” said VanArragon, a soon-to-be freshman at the University of St. Thomas. “Going into college and having my game in a place where I feel comfortable is really key.

“Learning from doing well under pressure or playing really bad under pressure, because I’ve done both, has helped put me in a position where I feel more comfortable playing in the final group or being in contention.”

Carding four birdies during her final nine holes Wednesday lifted VanArragon to a final-round 72 to edge Xavier University golfer Emma Welch for her second win at the event in five seasons.

Entering the round tied for the lead with Welch, VanArragon struggled with her putter during her opening nine, carding a trio of three-putt bogeys over her first seven holes.

“My mindset coming in was the same as it always is—to keep things simple. I really didn’t start well today. I had trouble with my putter, I wasn’t hitting it close and then I would three-putt.

“My dad [and caddie, Raymond] really helped me to stay patient because in that situation, it’s easy to let that dominate your whole round, which I’ve done before. It can be a defeated feeling.”

Turning in 3-over for the round, VanArragon converted her second birdie of the round at the par-5 10th to build momentum and move within two shots of the lead.

“I started to feel more confident with my swing,” she said. “I hit a couple of good shots and that helped me feel better about my driver and irons.”

Getting a boost from her putter late in the championship, VanArragon curled in a 12-footer for birdie at the 13th to move into a three-way tie for the lead at 1-over for the tournament.

“I made a putt on 10 that really helped get my putter started, and then I avoided a three-putt on 12,” she said.

She took the outright lead for good by sinking her birdie chance from four feet at the 14th.

Unfazed after Welch dropped her birdie chance from 25 feet to get back to even par for the round, VanArragon rolled in her final birdie of the day, a 20-footer to maintain a one-stroke advantage.

VanArragon found a fairway bunker at the last, leaving her second just short of the green before chipping to four feet and rolling in her par putt to card a final-round 72.

“My first win at this tournament was a very unknown feeling—I didn’t really know what I was doing,” the two-time MGA Junior Girls' Player of the Year said. “Now that I’ve been in this situation, it doesn’t get easier, but you get a little more comfortable.”

Notching her third win of the season Wednesday, VanArragon has now collected 10 victories at state events since 2018.

She began her season with her third consecutive win at the Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship before teaming up with her brother to claim the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club in June.

VanArragon’s first state victory came at the 2018 Class AAA championship on her home course at Bunker Hills Golf Club to become the youngest to win individual medalist honors at the tail end of her seventh-grade season.

The following summer, VanArragon became the youngest to win the MGA Women’s Amateur with her four-stroke victory over Kate Smith at Town and Country Club a month after her 14th birthday.

After her win at the Twin Cities Junior Championship in 2020, VanArragon then became the youngest to win the Minnesota Women’s Open with a one-stroke victory over Taylor Ledwein at The Jewel Golf Club.

Last season, VanArragon claimed her second Class AAA individual before winning her second Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship.

Welch, whose most recent victory came at the 2021 MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Pebble Creek Golf Club, proved to be the most consistent player in the field during the week, carding three consecutive rounds of even par 73.

“My mental game has improved a lot over the years,” Welch said, “so being able to play three great rounds in a row is really huge for me.”

She carded 12 consecutive pars to begin her final round Wednesday before taking her only bogey of the final round at the par-5 13th to join a four-way tie for the lead at 1-over par.

A lengthy birdie putt at the 17th helped Welch get back to even par for the championship, where she would collect her 15th top-10 finish over the past seven seasons.

“I was trying to play my own game today and not focus on what other people were doing. At the end of the round, I had no idea where the leaderboard was at,” Welch said after her best finish at the championship Wednesday.

“I just kept making pars, and if someone’s going to beat three even-par rounds, then hats off to them. Kathryn played amazing; she made a lot of birdies and I’m happy for her, but I’m proud of myself for being able to keep my composure through all three rounds.”

First-round leader Isabelle Lynch carded a final-round 73 Wednesday to earn a third-place finish at 221, while two-time champion Oliva Herrick finished tied for fourth with North Dakota State University golfer Madi Hicks at 3-over 222.