Reineke Outlasts Kuznik to Win First State Title at MGA Women's Match Play

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  HASTINGS, Minn. – Entering the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship at Hastings Golf Club this week, University of St. Thomas golfer Nicole Reineke had never finished higher than fourth in six state championship appearances.

Helped by two birdies during her back nine Wednesday, Reineke defeated the University of Wisconsin’s Camille Kuznik, 4 and 2, to claim the first state title of her career.

“A win means a lot and gives me a lot of confidence,” Reineke said Wednesday. “It kind of jump starts me into the rest of the summer, so it’s a really good feeling.

“I’m most proud of my mental game this week. When I hit a bad shot, I felt like I did a good job of putting it behind me.”

Steady from her opening tee shot during Wednesday’s final round, Reineke carded 10 consecutive pars to take a 3-up advantage over Kuznik before dropping her first birdie putt of the round—a 20-footer at the 11th to go up by four.

Kuznik fought back by winning the 12th and 14th to pull within two of Reineke, but it was all the closer she’d get.

Reineke won the difficult par-3 15th with a par to recapture a 3-up lead before an errant second shot at the par-5 16th resulted in Kuznik conceding Reineke’s birdie to close out the match, 4 and 2.

“I was definitely a little nervous [for the final match], but mostly excited,” Reineke said. “I had so much fun playing against Camille—she’s such a good player.

“I wanted to play my own game, not focus on the outcome and play shot-by-shot.”

Reineke fired an even par 72 during the qualifying round Monday, earning the tournament’s second seed behind defending champion Hannah Boraas.

Pulling away late during her Round of 16 match against University of Nebraska-Omaha golfer Maddie Simon, Reineke advanced, 4 and 3.

A pair of birdies to close out her back nine early Tuesday helped Reineke defeat 2021 MGA Mixed Amateur Team champion Emma Welch, 3 and 2, to reach the semifinal round.

Taking advantage of a slow start by St. Catherine University’s Grace Petzold, Reineke quickly built a 3-up lead through three holes and held on for the victory, 4 and 3, to reach the finals for the first time in her first appearance at the championship.

While the grind of a match play event takes its toll on many players in the later stages of the championship, Reineke only grew sharper and stronger.

After tying Emma Welch on the seventh hole of her quarterfinal match Tuesday, Reineke never trailed again over the final 40 holes of the tournament.

She played 80 holes in a cumulative 8-over par, and never played beyond the 16th hole during her four matches.

Last season, Reineke tallied a fourth-place finish at the Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship prior to a second fourth-place finish at the Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship a week later.

During her final event of the summer season, Reineke posted back-to-back rounds of 75 to place fourth at the Minnesota Women’s State Open at StoneRidge Golf Club.

Carding a 4-over 76 during qualifying Monday, Kuznik earned the championship’s No. 5 seed and began the match play portion of the championship by defeating St. Catherine’s Kyra Venne, 3 and 1.

Kuznik then got past Minnesota State University-Mankato’s Samantha Youngquist, 4 and 3, to reach the semifinal round early Wednesday.

Squaring off against the defending champion Boraas, carded a lone birdie during her opening nine to grab a 1-up lead, and took advantage of Boraas’ troubles to begin the back nine, winning three of the first five holes before closing out the match at the 15th, 4 and 3.

Falling to Reineke during the final match, Kuznik was denied her first state championship win since her and partner Aayushi Sarkar claimed the 2022 MGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in 2022 at Monticello Country Club.

“I feel like I played well and pretty consistently the last two days—except for the last nine holes,” Kuznik said Wednesday. “Sometimes it comes down to the wire and [Reineke] was a little more consistent than I was, and it paid off.

“I thought I putted well this week; it’s what I’ve been focusing on this week, so it was nice to see that shine through. I need a little more consistency with my irons.”

Kuznik won back-to-back Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championships in 2018 and 2019 before winning the Minnesota PGA Junior ‘Sota Series Match Play Championship the following season.

She then added a Minnesota Public Golf Association Junior Public Links title to her credit in 2021 after earning Ms. Minnesota Golf honors to cap off her senior season at Orono High School.