Hanneman Continues Historic June by Claiming Weather-Shortened MN State Junior Girls’ Title

  SPICER, Minn. – Ava Hanneman began her impressive month of June being named Ms. Minnesota Golf as the state’s top senior golfer.

She closed out her high school career at Orono with individual medalist honors at the Class AAA championship at Bunker Hill Golf Club three days later.

The very next day, Hanneman posted a round of even par 72 at Oak Glen Golf Course to claim the lone qualifying spot for the 2025 U.S. Girls’ Junior, earning an invitation to her first USGA championship.

On Wednesday, Hanneman earned a three-stroke victory over Alyssa Raghuveer and Ruby Reding after severe weather washed out the final round of the 80th Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship at Little Crow Golf Resort to extend one of the most memorable performances by a junior golfer over the past decade.

“All of it still hasn’t fully sunk in yet, but I think it’ll be one of those things I look back when I’m 40 or 50 and think, ‘Wow, I really did accomplish all of that,’” Hanneman said following her victory Wednesday. “I’m super excited in the moment, but right now it’s so week-to-week and looking at what event is next. I haven’t had much time to look back and think too much about it.

“It’s definitely not how I wanted the tournament to end because I was really looking forward to the third round today and finish it off strong—Mother Nature had other plans, I guess. Definitely had some confidence from the last month that has carried into the start of the event.”

A Furman University commit, Hanneman faced a four-stroke deficit entering Tuesday’s second round, but wasted little time narrowing the margin by converting back-to-back birdies at her first and second holes.

Tallying her third birdie over her first five holes, Hanneman moved to the top of the leaderboard at the par-5 fifth.

After turning in 3-under for the day, Hanneman took a bogey at the 11th before a double-bogey at the 13th put her back at even par for the second round.

She would finish the day at 1-over 73 following a bogey at the 16th, but managed to build a three-stroke advantage over Raghuveer and Reding along the way.

“I was really happy with my ball-striking during the first two rounds this week, it’s been working really well for me since the state tournament and even the entire month. Putting myself in good positions, which gave me chances and looks at birdies.

Adding to her already sensational season Wednesday, Hanneman becomes the first girls’ golfer in state history to be named Ms. Minnesota, earn Class AAA individual medalist honors, qualify for the U.S. Girls’ Junior and win the Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship in the same season.

Raghuveer, who opened with a 2-over 74 Monday, played her opening six holes in even par with consecutive pars before closing out the front nine with bogeys at the seventh and ninth holes.

A bogey at the par-3-11 moved the Benilde-St. Margaret’s senior to 5-over for the championship, and she would finish the day with a 4-over 76 following a bogey at the 14th to earn a share of second place at 6-over 150.

Reding, who posted the tournament’s only round below par during Monday’s opening round, ran into trouble early by taking a double-bogey at the fourth and a triple-bogey at the fifth.

She bounced back with her only birdie of the second round at the par-4 seventh to turn in 2-over for the championship.

A second triple-bogey at the 11th moved Reding to 5-over before she carded a bogey at the 12th, going on to post a second-round 80 to finish in a share of second with Raghuveer at 150.

Minnetonka High School senior Selena Wu followed her opening-round 75 with a 5-over 77 during the second round Tuesday. She tallied a fourth-place finish at 8-over 152, five shots off the lead.