Ritter wins First Flight title

LAKE CITY — Three local golfers competed at the Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championships at The Jewel Golf Club. Though none were part of the top 16 in the Championship Flight, Red Wing graduate Kathleen Ritter did the next best thing — she won top honors in the First Flight.

Ritter, who lost a tiebreaker to miss out on the Championship Flight after a qualifying round, earned the top seed and a first-round bye in the First Flight.

She then defeated Lizzy Carl of Rutgers University in the semifinals and Megan Gormley of Bowling Green University Friday for the title. Both scores were 3-and-1 in favor of Ritter, who will be a junior at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Fellow Red Wing grad and current Maverick Jaymie Halvorson was defeated by Gormley in the first round, while Lake City grad Devon Harteneck pushed Natalie Lansing to two extra holes before falling in the first round.

Red Wing girls golf coach Mark Herzog caddied for his niece, Christine Herzog, the defending champion in the Championship Flight. She lost Thursday in the semifinals.

Tags: red wing, kathleen ritter, sports, golf