McCauley Sisters on Top After First Round of Minnesota Women’s State Open

  LAKE ELMO, Minn. – Coming off her second appearance at the U.S. Women’s Amateur a week ago, University of Minnesota senior Isabella McCauley birdied the final two holes of her opening round Monday at Royal Golf Club, carding a 4-under 68 to begin the 25th Minnesota Women’s State Open.

McCauley will take a three-stroke advantage to Tuesday’s final round over Gopher teammate and younger sister, Reese, in search of her first state victory in four seasons.

“A little disappointing with my finish, but it was such a treat to play,” McCauley said after shooting back-to-back rounds of 77 at Bandon Dunes last week to miss the cut for match play. “A fun experience and the course was incredible.

“Steady through the first nine today and then on the back nine, kind of got the putter rolling.”

Tuesday’s final round marks the first time the McCauley sisters will play in the final group of a state championship since the final round of the 2020 Minnesota State Junior Girls’ Championship, where Isabella carded a final-round 69 to cruise to a five-stroke victory at Bent Creek Golf Club.

“Both of us really want to win, but we’re not super competitive with each other,” the elder McCauley said following the opening round Monday. “I think we both just want each other to do well. It’s not going to be cutthroat out there—we’re going to have a good time.”

Playing her opening nine in even par Monday, Isabella McCauley began her inward nine by rolling in a pair of putts from inside of 10 feet at the 10th and 12th holes before a bogey at the 13th set her back to 1-under for the championship.

The 2022 Ms. Minnesota Golf award recipient took advantage of a short birdie opportunity at the 15th to return to 2-under and would roll in her birdie look from 10 feet at the 17th to move to 3-under.

Spinning a wedge back to three feet at the last, she would finish the day with her fifth birdie of the back nine to take a three-stroke lead to the final 18 holes of play.

Owner of seven state titles, Isabella McCauley’s last victory came at the 2021 Minnesota Golf Champions at Minneapolis Golf Club where she remains the championship’s only female winner since it began in 1975.

Defeating Olivia Salonek at the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship earlier this season at Spring Hill Golf Club, the younger McCauley played herself into contention with a 1-under 71 Monday, looking to claim the fourth state victory of her career.

“I grinded pretty well today,” the Gopher sophomore said following her opening round Monday. “The front nine I missed a couple of birdie putts, but made some really solid pars that I could’ve easily bogeyed—kind of evened out.

“Had a few shots that were off, but had to grind through to shoot a good score. Overall, it felt pretty steady today.”

Bouncing back from a bogey at the par-3 fourth, Reese McCauley chipped in for birdie at the fifth and would turn in even par for the round.

Wedging her approach to 15 feet at the 14th, she converted her birdie chance to move to red figures for the day before failing to get up-and-down to save par at the 17th.
Sticking her approach inside of four feet at the par-5 18th, the 2024 Ms. Minnesota Golf award winner rolled in one final birdie to post one of two scores below par on the opening day, a 1-under 71.

“Tomorrow is going to be so fun,” Reese McCauley said, looking forward to Tuesday’s final round playing alongside her older sister. “I think we were more competitive in high school. As we’ve gotten to college, we’re just really rooting for each other. The majority of our rounds have been together, so it’ll probably feel pretty normal.”

Aliisa Helminen, a senior at Shattuck St. Mary’s School, will begin her final round in third place Tuesday after posting a round of even par 72.

Carding two birdies against one bogey during her front nine to begin the championship Monday, Helminen carded just one bogey during her inward nine to finish her round at level par.

Professional Lisa Grimes, a four-time winner of the championship, carded a 1-over 73 to finish her opening round in a share of fourth place with amateurs Grace Petzold and Mila Jenniges, five shots off the lead.

The 25th Minnesota Women’s Open continues Tuesday with the final scheduled to begin at 8 a.m. at Royal Golf Club.