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Class 3A girls golf: Blaine’s Kathryn VanArragon holds off McCauley sisters for state title

jace frederick, pioneer press
·4 min read

Kathryn VanArragon had too much club for her tee shot on the par-3, 17th hole at Bunker Hills on Wednesday.

So the Blaine junior choked down on the club to take a little off. The result was not as planned.

VanArragon caught the ball thin, sending a screaming bullet toward the green. The shot landed just short of the putting surface, then raced past into the rough.

“We can pretend it was planned, though,” VanArragon joked.

The tee shot “misfire” left a tricky chip against the grain. Luckily for her, her brother recently taught her how to hit such shots. She found it funny his wisdom came into play in such a critical moment.

VanArragon was protecting a two-shot lead over Simley senior Isabella McCauley. With only the 18th remaining, the chip was essentially to secure the state title. She hit it beautifully, cozying her ball to within two feet of the cup to lock in a par and go on to win the Class 3A state tournament title by two shots at 9-under-par 135.

“I was very nervous about that particular shot … under the circumstances and that particular lie,” she said. “To make the putt felt even better.”

It was a highlight of a day in which VanArragon found herself scrambling after some poor tee shots in the middle of her round. Yet she consistently emerged with birdies and pars — including a couple critical six-foot putts — en route to her second day, 2-under 70.

That was the same score turned in by McCauley. In the end, it was VanArragon’s 65 on Day 1 that proved to be the difference. Simley sophomore Reese McCauley, Bella’s little sister, finished in third at 5-under 139, four back of VanArragon.

Those three were the last three individual state champions. VanArragon won her first title in 2018, followed by Bella McCauley in 2019 and Reese McCauley in 2021, with a COVID-19 cancellation in between.

Between those three, this week marked an exhibition of golf excellence. As much is true every time the three take the course.

“I really love playing with the McCauleys and I just love that we’re really good friends and I love their family. I just love golfing with them, and I’m just so proud of them for having won in the past. It’s just been great to share that experience with them,” VanArragon said. ”They’re just so consistent and just so good, both of them, that whoever wins just deserves it, you know what I mean? Every time we play together. That’s why it’s just so fun. I really, really enjoy playing with them, and honestly, I hope it’s made me a better golfer.”

Reese made an early push with three birdies in her first four holes Wednesday. But those strokes dissipated with three bogeys over a seven-hole span in the middle of the round.

All three golfers made just one birdie each on their respective back nines.

Bella McCauley — making her first appearance at state since 2019, after missing the 2021 edition to play in the U.S. Women’s Open — had impressive saves in her own right, including a lengthy par save on No. 15 to keep herself within shouting distance of the lead. But that was the issue: The highlights were pars, which doesn’t help much when you’re in catchup mode.

“It was the story of the day. My short game was really good, that was solid. Ball striking was not so good today, and that just made it difficult to get it close and make birdies,” Bella said. “But Kathryn played really well and would’ve been hard to beat either way.”

McCauley admitted there was a little pressure this week, but she was able to focus on her game. Any ball-striking struggles Wednesday were less to do with pressure and more to do with, well, golf.

Now off to the Gophers, McCauley, who this week was named Minnesota Ms. Golf, said the end of her high school career is “a little bittersweet.”

“I’m not a super emotional person, so I’m like, ‘Alright, it’s OK,’ ” she said. “But I’m just looking forward to the next chapter, sort of. It’ll be really fun at the U, and I’m looking forward to it. Looking forward to the things ahead, and I’m happy with how things went for my season.”

Alexandria won the girls team title, with Maple Grove placing second.

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