Late Birdies Help Tommie Golfer Davies Pull Away at MGA Women’s Amateur

  MEDINA, Minn. – Set up by a round of even par 72 during her second round Tuesday to remain within striking distance of the lead, University of St. Thomas golfer Emma Davies poured in birdies at a ferocious pace late in the final round Wednesday at Medina Golf and Country Club  to capture a three-stroke victory at the 2025 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Championship.

Tallying four birdies over a six-hole span to begin her back nine Wednesday lifted Davies to a final-round 70, helping her to a second state victory in three seasons.

“It’s still sinking in—I’m in shock and don’t really have the words for it,” Davies said following her first state win since the 2023 MGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship with fellow Tommie golfer Katie Foley at Faribault Golf Club. “I’m definitely happy to come away with a trophy.

“I’m going into my senior year of college, so the past summer I’ve been learning how to play fun golf and enjoy it. Just trying to soak everything in.”

Davies’ final-70 Wednesday was just the third round below par surrendered by Medina’s difficult conditions this week. University of Minnesota’s Madison Le fired an opening-round 69, while Ava Hanneman’s 1-under 71 during the first were the only players to shoot in red figures.

Beginning her final round four shots off the lead Wednesday, Davies carded three birdies against three bogeys to turn in even par for the day, narrowing the deficit to three strokes.

Sinking her birdie chance at the par-4 10th would move Davies within one shot of the lead, and she would take the outright lead for good by converting a second straight birdie look at the 11th.

Finding her stride on the putting surface, Davies rolled in a 25-footer for birdie at the 13th, and followed it with a 35-footer to save par at the par-5 14th.

“I was just really liking the lines I was getting,” Davies said after carding seven birdies through the first 15 holes of the final round. “Sometimes you kind of get a feeling—my caddie helped me out with that and they just started dropping.”

Taking advantage of her birdie chance from six feet at the 15th, Davies found herself with a three-stroke advantage.

Thanks to her flurry of birdies late, a double-bogey on the final hole proved inconsequential as Davies’ final-round 70 put her on top of the leaderboard by four shots at 2-over 218.

“I was just hoping to go out, have fun and hopefully shoot a good score,” Davies said Wednesday. “I’ve been dealing with some back issues, so the goal wasn’t to win or anything crazy. It was really to see how much I could push my back.

“Playing this course, you really had to have good course management and know your way around. You really couldn’t do anything crazy, especially today with some of the tucked pins. It was like, ‘Why even go for it?’ You’re putting bogey into play, so just hit it to the safer spots.”

With her victory Wednesday, Davies also earned an exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn.

Hanneman, who bounced back from a second-round 77 with a 2-over 73 Wednesday, earned a share of second place with Tommie golfer and two-time champion Kathryn VanArragon at 5-over 221.

“It was a grind today—really an up-and-down battle,” Hanneman said Wednesday. “I wasn’t able to make as many birdies as I would’ve liked, but I’ll take away nothing but positives from the week, especially heading into the college season.”

Hanneman opened with a 71 Monday before carding a pair of late bogeys during her second round Wednesday to post a 5-over 77.

Bouncing back from an early bogey Wednesday, Hanneman birdied the ninth to draw even for the day.

Following a bogey at the 14th, Hanneman again answered by converting her birdie opportunity at the 16th, but she would finish her day with a final-round 73 after a bogey at the par-3 17th.

Kathryn VanArragon, winner of the championship in 2019 and 2023, opened the championship with a 2-over 74 before shooting even par during her second round to sit two shots back of the lead with 18 holes to play.

Despite a pair of bogeys to close out her front nine Wednesday, VanArragon remained within three shots of the lead.

Following her only birdie on the final day at the 17th, VanArragon would bogey two of her final three holes to shoot a final-round 75 to earn a share of second at 5-over 222.

“Up-and-down for sure and definitely had some shots where I got lucky,” VanArragon said following her third runner-up finish at the championship Wednesday. “It’s encouraging to be in contention again. Not the dream finish, but I’m happy having more experience under pressure in that situation, especially going into the college season.”

New to this year’s championship was a College Cup, for any school with at least two players in this week’s field. Earning a 10-stroke victory, St. Thomas claimed the inaugural College Cup, combining for a 7-over 439.

With her score of 5-over 221 this week, Hanneman earned Low Junior honors—another new aspect to the championship this season.

Hanneman capped off her senior season at Orono High School by being named Ms. Minnesota Golf three days before capturing the Class AAA individual title at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

The following day, Hanneman earned a spot at the U.S. Girls’ Junior Amateur and finished on top of the field at the Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship at Little Crow Golf Resort two weeks later.

North Dakota State University golfer Cora Larson, who held a two-stroke lead coming into Wednesday’s final round, posted a final-round 78 to finish in fourth place at 6-over 222, while first-round leader from the University of Minnesota, Madison Le, finished in fifth place at 7-over 223.