Klasse Cards 74 to Claim Fifth Consecutive Senior Women's Amateur Title

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  MENAHGA, Minn. – Leigh Klasse carded a 2-over par 74 during the final round of the Minnesota Senior Women’s Amateur Championship Monday at Blueberry Pines Golf Club to win her fifth consecutive title.

Klasse, Keller Golf Club, began the day tied for the lead with Claudia Pilot and despite bogeying three of her last five holes, Klasse finished two strokes better than Pilot at 8-over par 152.

Continuing her consistent play from the previous day, Klasse began her round with five consecutive pars before dropping to 7-over with a bogey at the sixth.

Klasse rebounded with a birdie on the ninth to make the turn at 6-over before rolling in another birdie at the 10th. After three straight pars, Klasse dropped a shot on the par-4 14th hole, and another at the 16th to slip to 7-over.

She would finish the tournament with a bogey on the final hole to card an 8-over par 152, to claim her fifth straight championship.

With eight titles to her credit, Nancy Harris holds the senior women’s amateur record as she won back-to-back titles in 1992-93, another in 1995 and three straight from 1999-2001. Harris added two more titles with back-to-back wins in 2003-04.

Pilot, the Pines at Grand View Lodge, fired a 4-over par 76 during the final round Monday to finish second at 10-over par 154.

Pilot played a very solid front nine Monday, opening with four pars before making birdie at the fifth hole, moving to 5-over for the tournament.

A double-bogey on the ninth hole dropped Pilot to 7-over and she would make three more bogeys over the final nine holes to finish her day at 154.

Last year’s runner-up Brenda Williams carded a 5-over par 77 during the final round to finish third at 13-over par 157, five shots behind Klasse.

Williams, Windsong Farm, got off to a good start Monday with a birdie and a bogey over the first nine holes to make the turn at even par, but would run into trouble over the eight nine holes of the tournament.

After a birdie at the 10th put her at 7-over for the tournament, Williams carded bogeys at the 12th and 14th holes before taking a double-bogey on the 15th, falling to 11-over to the championship.

Williams made back-to-back bogeys at the 16th and 17th before making par on the final hole to card a 5-over par 77 on the final day.

Also shooting 77 during Monday’s final round, Alison Hurley finished alone in fourth place at 14-over par 158.

Hurley, Minnesota Valley Country Club, opened her final round with a birdie on the opening hole, but gave back a stroke with a bogey on the third. A double-bogey on the sixth put Hurley at 11-over for the championship before making another bogey at the ninth to make the turn at 12-over.

Back-to-back bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes slid Hurley to 14-over, but she bounced back with a birdie at the par-4 13th hole.

Hurley would drop to 15-over after taking a double-bogey on the par-4 16th hole, but again rallied to finish the tournament on a high note with a birdie on the final hole to shoot 158.



38TH MINNESOTA SENIOR WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
BLUEBERRY PINES GOLF CLUB
MENAHGA, MINN.
5,491 YARDS, PAR 72


FINAL RESULTS
1. Leigh Klasse, Keller GC, 78-74—152
2. Claudia Pilot, the Pines at Grand View Lodge, 78-76—154
3. Brenda Williams, Windsong Farm, 80-77—157
4. Alison Hurley, Minnesota Valley CC, 81-77—159
5. LeeAnn Townsend, Detroit CC, 81-82—163
T6. Barbara Miller, Hillcrest GC, 84-81—165
T6. Kathy Hubert-Wyss, Forest Hills GC, 83-82—165
8. Nicki Reuterfeldt, Fox Hollow GC, 82-84—166
9. Mary Flynn, Hazeltine Nat’l GC, 87-80—167
T10. Melanie Jaeb, University GC, 88-82—170
T10. Barb Hanson, Whitefish GC, 84-86—170

For complete tournament results go to: www.mwga-online.org/new/CalAttachments/Sr%20Am%20Final%20Results%202014.pdf