BEMIDJI 鈥� For the sixth and final time, Emily Israelson walked off of a green on championship Saturday as the victor of the Women鈥檚 Division.
Her 3-and-1 win over Emersyn Walker tied Julie Gumlia鈥檚 record for the most Women鈥檚 championships in tournament history. But it鈥檚 the last Israelson will ever win.
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That鈥檚 because she鈥檚 officially changing her last name.
鈥淚鈥檓 a Peterson now, but I stuck with my last name this week,鈥� Israelson quipped. 鈥淪ocial security hasn鈥檛 changed just yet.鈥�
Israelson married her husband Blake on Saturday in Breezy Point, then played in a week-long tournament at the Bemidji Town and Country Club. She admitted the annual match-play tournament was a distant focus compared to her wedding day.
鈥淭he Birchmont was way in the back of my mind,鈥� Israelson said. 鈥淏ut golf is a lot about confidence. It鈥檚 about having confidence in yourself that you can go out there and beat anybody. Boys especially, they just have confidence in themselves, and I learned that from watching my brothers play. So when I came out here this week, I said, 鈥榊ou know what? You still got game. Go win this thing.鈥欌��
Israelson won the thing鈥� again. She earned medalist honors on Tuesday before winning three consecutive matches to clinch a spot in the Women鈥檚 final.
Against Walker, a rising junior at North Dakota, Israelson never trailed. She took a 1-up lead to the turn before winning holes 16 and 17 to become a Birchmont record holder.
Israelson has the championship Saturday routine down to a science. She shows up, wins enough holes to claim the title, then celebrates with her illustrious Birchmont family.
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This year鈥檚 celebration packed a heavy punch.
鈥淚 can鈥檛 believe how many of my family members were out here today,鈥� Israelson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the most I鈥檝e ever had. I feel special and grateful to have this much family involved. My cousin won the Women鈥檚 Executive Division. My grandma, who鈥檚 93, watched me play every single day this week. It鈥檚 family. It鈥檚 so special to do this with family.鈥�
Israelson also admitted this was the hardest of her sixth titles to secure. She doesn鈥檛 play golf as much as she did during her championship pursuits in the 2010s, due to being in graduate school at Bradley.
鈥淚鈥檓 getting a doctorate as a nurse practitioner,鈥� Israelson said. 鈥淭hat has been taking up a lot of my time, and this summer is probably the least that I鈥檝e played. I pretty much only play competitive golf. I鈥檝e played about six competitive rounds, and that鈥檚 it for this summer before I got here. I鈥檓 kind of shocked I was able to play this well.鈥�
On top of her limited opportunities to play, along with a summer of wedding planning, Israelson believes the competitors around her have improved over her 15 years of playing in the Birchmont.
鈥淭he competition is definitely tougher now than it was when I first started,鈥� Israelson said. 鈥淭he girl I played today, she drove the green on No. 8. She hits it like 100 yards further than me. I do have to step up my game. But sometimes, playing against a tougher opponent makes it easier to bring the best out of yourself. It鈥檚 fun to play good golf and win on birdies instead of pars and bogeys.鈥�
Israelson is unsure if she will return to playing more regularly after she gets her doctorate. However, she said this wasn鈥檛 her last Birchmont, even if it was her last as an Israelson.
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鈥淚 think this is the one I鈥檓 the most proud of,鈥� Israelson said. 鈥淚 had to grind every day. When I was in more of my prime in college, it was a little easier. I had more confidence in my game and I hit the ball well. This week didn鈥檛 go that way. I鈥檓 proud of myself for grinding it out and winning some matches. I feel very special to be the champion at the 100th Birchmont.鈥�
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