EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Already one win to her credit this season, two-time champion Kathryn VanArragon came out firing to begin the 2026 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Tuesday, carding a 5-under 67 at Bearpath Golf and Country Club to take the first-round lead.
The University of St. Thomas senior will take a two-stroke advantage over Minnesota State University, Mankato golfer Emerson Garlie when the second round begins Wednesday.
“Smart golf—I didn’t hit driver every tee shot, and I didn’t go for every par-5,” VanArragon said following her round Tuesday. “Making sure you’re putting yourself in good positions off the tee or into the green; there are places to be and places not to be.
“I didn’t always hit my approach shots super close. Being able to two-putt and not having to stress over par putts was something I was happy with today.”
Starting her round with a pair of birdies over her first five holes, VanArragon holed out for eagle from 93 yards at the seventh and would turn in 5-under for the day.
Hitting her third to a foot at the par-5 15th, VanArragon converted her third birdie of the round and rolled in her putt from six feet on the ensuing hole to reach 6-under.
But failing to reach the 18th green in regulation led to her lone bogey Tuesday, putting her into the clubhouse lead at 5-under 67.
“Off the tee was really solid for me today—I don’t think I missed a fairway until the last hole, which was beneficial for scoring,” she said. “I really like this course, it’s fun to play.”
With four top-5 finishes, including a win at the MGA Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship last season, VanArragon claimed the MGA Women’s Player of the Year honors for the second time in three seasons.
Last month, VanArragon downed Olivia Salonek at Olympic Hills Golf Club to earn her first win at the MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship, crediting a change to her practice routine for her strong play in recent months.
“I’ve been better at practicing this summer,” said the 21-year-old former Blaine High School standout. “I’ve been able to add a lot of variation to my practice, which has helped me transfer that to the course. I’ve been seeing that more in tournaments and competition.
“Being smarter about the way I practice—a lot of that goes to my coach, but it can be tempting to hit the same shot over and over and get good at one thing. It’s allowed me to become more versatile on the course.”
VanArragon became the youngest winner of the MGA Women’s Amateur when she claimed the 2019 championship at Town and Country Club just two weeks after her 14th birthday. She’d earn her second win at the event four years later at Baker National Golf Course.
A pair of late birdies Tuesday helped Garlie remain within striking distance of VanArragon’s lead following the first 18 holes of play by shooting 3-under 69.
Level par through her first nine, Garlie carded back-to-back birdies at 11 and 12 before a bogey at the 13th slowed her momentum. She’d fight back by converting back-to-back chances at the 16th and 17th to take over sole possession of second place, two shots back.
“I trusted my game, didn’t try to force anything and played very good target golf,” Garlie said Tuesday. “Coming in I made some great putts to help me card some birdies. I had some difficult lies but didn’t let that get in my way and kept hitting shots.
“Going into the next two days I’m going to try to rest up, make sure to stay hydrated and just keep trusting myself.”
Coming off a victory at the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship a week ago, James Madison University’s Grace Petzold carded back-to-back birdies to begin the day before rattling off consecutive pars to go bogey-free to start the week, shooting 2-under 70 after the first 18 holes of competition.
“I hit a lot of greens, didn’t get many to drop, but bogey-free is always fun,” Petzold said Tuesday. “Made it pretty easy on myself—a couple of scrambles to get up-and-down, but got it in.
“I made some putts I had to make for par, 6-footers and some testers, but they all went down. I gave myself a lot of chances, but a lot of easy two-putts.”
Avery Bartels, a junior at North Dakota State University, birdied two of her final four holes Tuesday to post an opening-round 71 to sit alone in fourth place, while Tommie junior Amelia Morton will begin her second round Wednesday in fifth place, five shots back at even par 72.
The second round of the 2026 MGA Women’s Amateur Championship begins at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.