VanArragon Widens Lead at MGA Women's Amateur, Leads Petzold by Three

  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Leading by two following Tuesday’s opening round of the 2026 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur at Bearpath Golf and Country Club, University of St. Thomas golfer Kathryn VanArragon extended her lead during Wednesday’s second round by carding a 2-under 70 to carry a three-stroke advantage to Thursday’s final round.

A step closer to her third victory at the championship, VanArragon will have to fend off James Madison University golfer Grace Petzold, the only other player in the field this week to post back-to-back rounds below par.

“I felt my ball striking today was solid, but I was also able to save par a few times when I was slightly off with my tee shots or approach shots,” the Tommie senior said Wednesday. “I didn't chip much at all yesterday, I believe only once, so that was slightly different from today's round.

“Tomorrow, I'll just need to stay patient and not get rattled by any mistakes. This course can be tricky, so it's important to think through each shot and consider the best places to hit the ball as well as the ideal spots to miss it.”

In sweltering conditions once again Wednesday, a steady VanArragon began her second round with consecutive pars before sinking her first birdie of the round from 12 feet at the fifth.

Wedging her approach in close at the ninth sent the two-time champion to her inward nine at 7-under for the tournament, but she would stumble with back-to-back bogeys at the 10th and 11th.

A late rebound saw VanArragon roll in her birdie chance from 12 feet at the 15th before she knocked a 6-iron to a foot at the last, tapping in her fourth birdie of the round to improve her cushion to three shots with 18 holes to play.

VanArragon led by seven strokes ahead of the final round in 2023 before claiming a five-stroke victory at Baker National Golf Course.

Petzold, who claimed her second state title last week at the MGA Mixed Amateur Team Championship at Oak Glen Golf Course, began her second round Wednesday on the 10th tee and quickly went to work with a birdie to start, moving to 3-under for the tournament.

Capitalizing on her birdie chance at the 17th, Petzold would move to 4-under, but just as her counterpart, Petzold bogeyed the first two holes to begin her back nine to fall back to level par for the round.

Staging a late rally, the former Providence Academy standout rolled in her birdie opportunity at the par-4 seventh before taking advantage of the par-5 ninth with her fourth birdie of the day to pull within three of VanArragon at 4-under 140.

“The key the last few days has definitely been patience,” Petzold said Wednesday. “The birdie on my first hole today definitely helped settle me in and then it was just pretty steady from there. I had to scramble a little for par on 16, and then after two bogeys, I knew I needed to get a few back. Trying to stay patient and then I was able to take advantage of some good opportunities and make a few birdies on the way in.

“Overall, striking the ball really well and short game has been solid. Game plan for tomorrow, I would say, is just continuing to be patient and trust the work that I have put and know that if I do that, I can put up a solid round.”

Following her opening-round 71 with a 3-over 75 during Wednesdays’ second round, North Dakota State University golfer Avery Bartels will begin the final round Thursday nine shots back of the lead at 2-over 146, while Minnesota State University, Mankato’s Emerson Garlie sits in fourth place at 147.

The final round of the 2026 MGA Women’s Amateur is scheduled to get underway at 9 a.m. Thursday at Bearpath Golf and Country Club.

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