Resorters Golf Tournament: Aldrich takes Women’s title

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The Women’s Division championship came down to youth versus experience on Saturday.

St. Louis Park’s Betsy Aldrich was looking to earn her second Women’s Division title and second consecutive Resorters championship after she captured the Executive Women’s title last year.

Standing in her way was Alexandria’s Molly Leland. Fresh off leading the Cardinal girls’ golf team to another state tournament appearance this past spring, Leland was looking to end her summer by capturing her first Resorters title before heading to Augustana College for her freshman year.

It looked like Leland was poised to make a run at the championship in the early going on Saturday. In the end, though, it was Aldrich who persevered for a 4-2 victory and her first Women’s Division title since 2003.

Leland came out strong early, parring her first two holes to go 2-up after Aldrich went two over to start her round. Aldrich came right back on the third with a par of her own to cut Leland’s lead in half.

That got Aldrich going in the right direction as she shot even through the final 13 holes. Leland was not about to go down without a fight, though. A birdie on seven moved her lead back to 2-up. That lead did not last long, as Aldrich parred Nos. 8 and 9, taking both holes as the two went into the turn all square.

The back is where Aldrich took control, and she did not waste any time doing so. A par on 10 gave her a one-hole lead before a birdie on 12 helped her separate herself from Leland. Another birdie on No. 14 moved her to 3-up before both players bogeyed No. 15.

That gave Aldrich an opportunity to put the match away on 16 if she could take the hole. She did just that after a bogey by Leland opened the door. Aldrich took advantage of the opportunity by making par to take the hole and another Resorters’ title.

Tags: sports, resorters, golf, tournament, womens, division