ALEXANDRIA — The 104th Resorters Tournament featured a highly anticipated matchup in the first round of Women’s Championship match play between Ale Heinen and Madi Hicks. Both competitors have previously claimed titles at the Resorters, making this initial clash particularly exciting. Hicks, who secured the 2023 Women’s Resorters title, is set to begin her senior season at North Dakota State University, while Heinen, an assistant coach at Wichita State’s women’s golf team, took home the title in 2020.
As expected, the match was closely contested, with both players trading leads and neither able to establish a dominant position. The encounter culminated in a thrilling finish, where Heinen triumphed with a dramatic 1-up victory on the 18th hole.
Another noteworthy match involved Madison Herzog, the No. 16 seed, who upset the top-seeded Samantha Sommers with a score of 4-3. Herzog, a native of Detroit Lakes and head coach of the Concordia College women’s golf team, started strong, clinching the first two holes with birdies and maintaining a lead throughout the match, despite Sommers’ attempts to catch up.
In matches featuring seeded players, MacKenzie Olsen defeated Mila Jenniges 2-up, overcoming an early deficit. Jenniges had initially surged by winning three of the first four holes but Olsen showcased tremendous resilience by coming back to win after a series of pars and a crucial birdie on the final holes.
On the other hand, fourth-seeded McKenzee Sullivan showcased her skill against 13th-seed Mackayla Olsen. Sullivan quickly took control of the match, establishing a comfortable lead with steady pars and birdies, ultimately winning 4-3.
An extra hole was required to determine the winner between No. 10 seed Annika DeBoer and No. 7 seed Lauren Klick. After an evenly matched front nine, DeBoer clinched victory on the 19th hole, demonstrating her determination and ability to rise to the occasion.
Other significant results included Avery O’Donnell defeating Emily Renner 4-3 and Cora Larson edging Ellie Sticha 2-1, marking a day filled with competitive spirit and unexpected outcomes.
