Oberholser wins State Open with torrid finish

The victor shot a 2-under-par 69 in her final round. It was the only sub-par round of the tournament.

By BRIAN STENSAAS, Star Tribune

Last update: August 6, 2008 - 12:00 AM

Angie Oberholser's personal assessment of her two days at the Minnesota Women's State Open is elementary: three good nines and one bad.

Lucky for her, the "bad" happened early.

The former Angie Rizzo was 5 over par at the turn Monday, but settled down and entered Tuesday's final round at Stonebrooke Golf Club in Shakopee two shots off the lead at 4 over.

She proceeded to play the front nine at 1 under par Tuesday, then got a boost on the back when she eagled the 438-yard par-5 12th.

She parred the final seven holes. But her 2-under-par 69 for the day and 2-over 144 for the tournament was good for a four-shot victory over first-round leader Katie Detlefsen.

Oberholser's second-round score was the only one under par in the entire field over two days. It assured her a second State Open title; she also won in 2002.

"I got off to a rough start -- a very rough start," Oberholser said. "This is one of those golf courses where you have to hit the ball in the right spot. One missed shot, and you're done."

So how did she rebound from that forgettable first nine?

"I was just Steady Eddie out there," she said. "A lot of pars."

With that, she flashed a smile with what looked to be a bit of disbelief in clutching the championship trophy.

Maybe it's because as recently as last week she said she didn't expect to win, citing lack of practice because of lingering injuries.

But for someone who on Tuesday said she wasn't making many putts during the two-day event, she sure picked a good one to nail on No. 12.

After taking a flyer out of the rough and knocking it to the center of the green -- a shot she thought was short -- Oberholser was left with a 35-foot attempt for eagle. According to her read, the putt would initially break left, then turn right near the cup.

"We [she and her husband and caddie, Arron] went back and forth," on how much break to hit, she said. "It was one of those you kind of have to feel, and we did."

Detlefsen, meanwhile, couldn't get much going on Tuesday.

The four-time Minnesota Class 1A individual champion (2004-07) from Minnehaha Academy began her day with a bogey. After two more bogeys on Nos. 11 and 13, she put her drive on No. 14 into the water en route to a double-bogey 6 that pretty much sealed her fate.

"Not enough birdies," she said. "I had a couple of errant shots, and I don't think I putted as well as I could have. It's one of those things where you look back and say, 'Ugh, I could have so easily shaved shots here or there.' But, overall, I was happy with how I did."