Paige Hillman wins weather-shortened Minnesota Women’s State Open

Mother Nature and Minnesota PGA officials combined to give Paige Hillman an extra-special birthday.

Hillman won the Minnesota Women’s State Open played Friday at Edinburgh USA Golf Course in Brooklyn Park after Thursday’s first round was hit by rainy weather. The tournament was condensed to one round, and Thursday’s partial scores were washed out.

Hillman said her score of “1- or 2-over-par through about four holes” was rendered null and void.

“It was kind of a rough start,” said Hillman, who calls White Eagle Golf Club in Hudson, Wis., home. “So I was glad I had a restart today.”

Making the most of the ultimate mulligan, Hillman celebrated her 22nd birthday Friday with her St. Catherine teammates, the winner’s glass cup and the top amateur prize of an Edinburgh Golf Course gift certificate worth $550.

She carded a 2-under 70 to edge two-time tournament winner Betsy Kelly by one stroke.

Hillman, who made the Wisconsin state high school gymnastics tournament while at Hudson High School, said her birthday victory provides confidence and momentum heading into her fall season as a senior at St. Kate’s. She had previous stops at the University of Sioux Falls and Ball State.

Starting on the back nine Friday helped Hillman, who had a double bogey and four birdies, as well. She didn’t have to face a ferocious wind that hampered Kelly’s title bid on the par-4 17th.

”It’s target golf; the hole is surrounded by water,” said Kelly, a Forest Lake native who won the 2021 and 2022 State Opens. She reached the green in two and prepared to settle for a two-putt par.

”But I freaking missed the two-foot putt,” Kelly said of a bogey on the hole. “That lost me the tournament. Yesterday, I was 1-under through four, and it meant nothing.”

Kelly, a 32-year-old playing out of TPC Twin Cities, was paired with Isabella McCauley, the Inver Grove Heights native and current Gophers standout who in April tied for a share of the Big Ten title.

On Friday, however, McCauley posted a quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 17.

”That was definitely one of the tougher holes today,” said McCauley, who led the field at 3-under through nine holes before dropping to a tie for fifth with a 2-over 74. “I just hit some pretty poor shots.”

Lauren Chambs, a rising junior at Wayzata High School, finished third in the 68-player field by shooting a 72. Kelsi Mauzy, a former Lakeville South standout who plays at Furman, was fourth at 73. Twelve of the top 13 players were amateur, with Jennifer Huber of Hazeltine shooting a 75 and winning $1,450 as the top pro.