The Minnesota Women’s State Amateur Championship will commence on Monday, hosted at the Medina Golf and Country Club, located in the western suburbs of the Twin Cities. While the defending champion, Emma Welch from Minnewaska, will not participate this year, six players from southeastern Minnesota are set to compete. Their goal is to win this prestigious amateur title and earn a full exemption into the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship, which is scheduled for August 3-9, 2026, at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tennessee.
Local Competitors in the Championship
Flora Bolster, Rochester
Flora Bolster is gearing up for her senior year at Mayo High School this fall. Coming off a remarkable junior season, she led her team with an average score of 83.0 per 18 holes. Bolster placed seventh in the Section 1, Class 3A meet and successfully qualified for the state meet, where she finished tied for 36th place with scores of 89 and 76 (total 165) in a field of 88 golfers. In the first round of Monday’s competition, Bolster will tee off from hole No. 10 at 1:40 p.m.
Carly Bronson, Hayfield
Carly Bronson, a senior-to-be at Hayfield High School, is a seasoned competitor with five years on the varsity golf team. This past spring, she had her best performance yet, averaging 83.83 per 18 holes and earning medalist honors at the Section 1, Class 1A meet. Throughout her high school career, Bronson has qualified for the Class 1A state meet each year, finishing tied for 12th with a score of 88 and 85 (total 173). She will start her first round at 10 a.m. on Monday from hole No. 1.
Carmen Jirele, Owatonna
Representing Owatonna High School, Carmen Jirele is another contender to watch this year. As a senior, she captured the Class 3A individual state championship in 2024 and achieved five Minnesota Junior PGA Tour victories last summer. This spring, she played a crucial role in helping her team secure the Section 1-3A title, finishing as the individual runner-up, and earned a 12th place finish at the state level. Jirele will tee off from hole No. 10 at 12:20 p.m. on Monday.
Marin Keller, Winona
Marin Keller, a 2024 graduate of Winona High School, showcased her skills for the Warriors over five seasons. Averaging 84.69 in her senior year, she secured a third place finish at the Class 3A state meet. Keller will transition to South Dakota Mines as a sophomore this fall. In her freshman year, she placed 29th at the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference championships. Keller is scheduled to start her round at 11 a.m. on hole No. 1 on Monday.
Dylan Raukar, Rochester
Raukar has been a pivotal player for Mayo High, pairing with Flora Bolster to form a strong top duo on the varsity team. As a freshman, she finished the season with an average score of 89.07, and notably shot 84 or better in five of her last six regular-season matches. Raukar placed 13th at the Section 1-3A meet and will tee off at 12:30 p.m. on Monday from hole No. 1.
Jordana Windhorst Knudsen, Lake City
Jordana Windhorst Knudsen has left a lasting impact on the Lake City High School golf program. Following her freshman season at the University of Minnesota this past spring, where she participated in both team and individual events, she is a notable competitor. Windhorst Knudsen won the Class 2A individual state championship in 2024 and played a significant role in her high school’s back-to-back team titles in 2021 and 2022. Last summer, she triumphed at both the Minnesota girls Junior PGA championship and the Minnesota Junior PGA Players Tour Tournament of Champions. She is set to start her round at 10:40 a.m. on Monday from hole No. 1.
