Burnham, Herrick and Ledwein Advance at MGA Women's Amateur Match Play

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  EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – In the first playing of the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship Monday at Bent Creek Golf Club, top seeds Sarah Burnham and Olivia Herrick were among those advancing to the quarterfinal round Tuesday.

The tournament is a combination of the Minnesota Women’s Public Golf Association Match Play Championship and the Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship following a merger of the two organizations last fall.

Burnham won her third straight MWPGA Match Play Championship in a dominating performance last year at Bunker Hills, while Herrick claimed her second Minnesota Women’s State Match Play Championship, defeating Athena Yang, 4 and 3, at Monticello Country Club.

On Monday Herrick defeated Leah Herzog, 4 and 3, to open the championship and will face recent Edina High School graduate, Grace Kellar in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

Helped by putting three birdies on her scorecard, Kellar had little trouble getting past Kari Opatz Monday, earning a 7 and 6 victory to advance.

After taking an early 2-up lead over Hannah Kohls early in her round Monday, Sarah Burnham controlled the match the rest of the way by sinking two late birdies at the 15th and 16th holes to clinch the match, 3 and 2.

Burnham will face Taylor Ledwein in Tuesday’s quarterfinal round as Ledwein won seven consecutive holes Monday on her way to a 7 and 6 victory over Annemarie Fisher.

Alexandra Stewart defeated earned a 4 and 3 victory over Kate Schaaf Monday and will face Alex Stone, who defeated Yang, 4 and 2. Stephanie Herzog prevailed in 19 holes over Samantha Somers and will face Haley Tollette Tuesday after Tollette downed Madeline Messin, 4 and 3.

The 2017 MGA Women’s Amateur Match Play Championship continues Tuesday with the quarterfinal round beginning at 7:30 a.m. at Bent Creek Golf Club.