NDSU's Larson Remains Steady, Eyeing First State Win at MGA Women's Amateur

  MEDINA, Minn. – With a pair of runner-up finishes already this month, North Dakota State University golfer Cora Larson is looking to close out July on a high note with the first state victory of her career at the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Championship.

Posting a round of even par 72 for a second consecutive round Tuesday at Medina Golf and Country Club, Larson will carry a two-stroke victory over two-time champion Kathryn VanArragon and University of Minnesota golfer Madison Le to Wednesday’s final round.

“Today’s round ended up the same as yesterday, but was a lot different,” Larson said Tuesday. “Yesterday I struggled with the driver, and today I really struggled making putts. Hopefully, I can put those two together tomorrow.

“Didn’t have many expectations coming into the week. I knew that my game has been in a good place, so I just wanted to out and keep doing what I have been doing.”

Larson began the month by placing second with her brother, Carver, at the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Hastings Golf Club, two shots behind college teammate Madi Hicks and older brother Ben.

Larson and Hicks would team up two weeks ago at the MGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship and post back-to-back rounds of 68 to finish second behind the team of VanArragon and partner Emma Welch.

A late bogey during her opening round Monday kept Larson from posting one of only three rounds below par of the day, finishing three shots back of first-round leader Le with her round of 71.

Getting off to a slow start to the second round Tuesday, Larson tallied two early bogeys before converting her first birdie opportunity from inside of four feet at the seventh to get back to 1-over par for the championship, but she’d turn in 2-over for the round following a bogey at the eighth.

Wedging her approach inside of three feet at the 11th, Larson tapped in for her second birdie of the round and would drop her birdie chance from 12 feet at the 12th to draw even once again for the championship.

After saving par from 30 feet at the 15th, Larson gave back a stroke with a bogey at the 16th, but a late birdie from four feet at the 17th would give her the clubhouse lead with another round of even par 72.

“The key has been not getting too high and not getting too low. Staying in the moment and thinking about the next shot and the next hole,” Larson said.

VanArragon, who captured her first win at the event in 2019 at Town and Country Club before adding a second win two seasons ago at Baker National Golf Course, bounced back from her opening-round 74 by carding a pair of birdies against two bogeys during her second round Tuesday to earn a share of second place heading into the final 18 holes of play.

“Yesterday, I struggled on the greens—my speed control wasn’t there, and it took me a long time to figure out the greens,” the University of St. Thomas junior said Tuesday.

“New day today and putting was a lot better and that was helpful, especially getting off to a good start.

Looking ahead to Wednesday’s final round, VanArragon said it’ll take her best round of the week to remain in contention by the end of the round.

“It’ll take a lot of good golf and very consistent golf,” she said. “This course can is getable—if you can put the ball in the fairway. If the driver’s not working, then you’ll face a lot of challenges.

“I've been working a lot on my driver—I’ve been struggling with consistency with that. Finding confidence in that was my main goal coming into the week.”

Pacing the field by authoring the championship’s second round below par this week, first-round leader Le failed to card a birdie during her second round Tuesday, posting a 5-over 77 to slip into a share of second, two shots back.

“I kind of strayed away from what was helping me yesterday—hitting fairways and greens,” Le said Tuesday. “Especially the first couple of holes and didn’t put myself in good positions. I managed to get myself out of it, and I hit some good shots into greens.

“It’s just not sustainable when you’re fighting every approach from the rough, even if it’s a wedge. Especially on these greens; you’re not going to get it close. And then having 60-foot putts on greens that are so undulated like this is not going to serve you well.”

Ava Hanneman followed her opening-round 71 with a 5-over 77 during her second round Tuesday and she will begin the final round in a share of fourth with Tommie golfer Emma Davies at 4-over 148.

The final round of the 2025 MGA Women’s Amateur Championship begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Medina Golf and Country Club.