Birdies Early and Often Put Labrador into Lead at Minnesota Girls' Junior PGA Championship

MAPLE GROVE, Minn. – Carding four birdies over her first eight holes lifted Abigail Labrador to a round of 4-under 68 and into the early lead at the 50th Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship at Rush Creek Golf Club.

Labrador, who finished second at the Class AAA championship last month at Bunker Hills Golf Club, will take a two-stroke lead over Ellie Sticha to Tuesday’s final round.

Starting her round Monday with a pair of birdies over her first four holes, Labrador carded the third birdie of her round at the par-4 sixth before turning in 4-under thanks to a birdie at the par-5 eighth.

Capitalizing on her birdie opportunity at the par-3 12th, Labrador reached 5-under for the championship before she was slowed by her only bogey of the opening round at the 17th, giving her a two-shot advantage with her 4-under 68.

Most recently, Labrador finished tied for 14th at the Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship last month, backing up her opening-round 84 with a 7-over 79.

Putting herself in position for her best finish at a state championship this week, Sticha carded a pair of bogeys over her first eight holes Monday, before finding her stride late on the front nine, converting a birdie chance at the ninth to turn in 1-over.

A steady back nine saw Sticha card her second birdie of the round at the 13th, and she would finish the day near the top of the leaderboard with back-to-back birdies at the 17th and 18th holes, shooting a 2-under 70 to trail by two strokes ahead of Tuesday’s final round.

Genevieve Birkeland, a 2025 Ms. Minnesota Golf finalist, jumped into contention with an eagle on her final hole Monday, shooting a 1-under 71 to finish in third place, while Kieley Hanson and Abigail Stendahl each carded rounds of 1-over 73 to earn a share of fourth place, five shots off the lead.

The final round of the 50th Minnesota Girls’ Junior PGA Championship will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday at Rush Creek Golf Club.