VanArragon and Welch Go Back-to-Back at MGA Women's Four-Ball

  ST. CLOUD, Minn. – Burying a birdie putt from 15 feet on the 18th hole Tuesday lifted the team of Kathryn VanArragon and Emma Welch to a final-round 1-under 70 at St. Cloud Country Club to claim a second consecutive victory at the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

VanArragon, a senior at the University of St. Thomas, collects her third victory of the 2026 season, while partner Welch, a former Xavier University golfer, earns her third state victory in as many seasons.

“It’s going to be fun no matter what. To come out here, play with [Welch] and stay in a hotel together, to win feels even better,” VanArragon said. “Being the third one of the season I’m very encouraged and I’m getting into the mindset of this being my last summer as a college golfer. Knowing that has made it a little more real and a little more special.”

“This is my favorite tournament that I play in and I love playing with [VanArragon],” Welch said after the final round Tuesday. “It means I’ve tied my sister winning back-to-back, so I’m excited we were able to come out with a win and, hopefully, we can do it again next year.”

VanArragon and Welch become the first back-to-back winners since Taylor Ledwein and Welch’s older sister, Megan, won three titles over a four-year span, including consecutive wins in 2020 and 2021.

Firing a 4-under 67 to begin the championship Monday, VanArragon and Welch got off to a sluggish start to the final round Tuesday by playing their first six holes in 1-over for the round.

Welch started the scoring by converting a birdie putt from eight feet at the seventh to help return her team to level par before sinking a second birdie from inside of 10 feet at the ninth to put her team in red figures for the final round.

VanArragon’s lone helper during the final round came at the par-5 10th when she rolled in her birdie chance from 10 feet to move her team to 6-under for the championship, but the two would card a pair of late bogeys to watch their lead shrink to three.

Left with 15 feet at the last, Welch’s putt dropped in the center of the cup for a final-round 70 to claim a four-stroke victory over Samantha Sommers and Hillary Zuleger at 5-under 137.

“We started off a little slow yesterday but got into a groove on the back nine and alternated birdies, which is always a good thing to do in four-ball,” Welch said Tuesday. “Today I think we were just looking to build on the momentum we created yesterday.”

“We played much better and started to make some putts,” VanArragon said. “From holes 12 to 18, I think we had all birdies, one par and one bogey, so it was a good way to finish for sure. The first few holes are tough here, trying to get through those and realize there would be birdie opportunities on the back nine.”

Heading to the U.S. Women’s Amateur in two weeks thanks her win at the MGA Women’s Amateur two weeks ago at Bearpath Golf and Country Club, VanArragon said she’s taking advantage of the extra reps and playing competitively for her final championship of the 2026 season.

“Any competition before a big tournament is important to take advantage of,” she said. “Competitive mentality is important and the more you do it, the easier it becomes. Not that anything is going to prepare you for the actual environment of [the U.S. Women’s Amateur], but it’s good to stay competitive.”

VanArragon began the 2026 season with a win at the MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship at Olympic Hills Golf Club and followed it with a 10-stroke victory at the MGA Women’s Amateur two weeks ago at Bearpath.

Welch claimed the 2024 MGA Women’s Amateur at Minnewaska Golf Club before her two four-ball wins over the past two seasons push her career total to six.

A string of three straight birdies late in the round Tuesday helped Sommers and Zuleger to a second consecutive round of even par 71 to finish runner-up at 142, while Furman University’s Ava Hanneman and Northern Colorado University’s Olivia Salonek posted a final-round 72 to place third at 143.

MGA Women's Four-Ball Championship

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