Klasse, Williams Tied for 1st in State Senior Women's Am

FIFTY LAKES -- Leigh Klasse turned 50 -- and became a senior golfer -- in September of 2009. There weren't any senior tournaments to play in during the remainder of that year. So she had to wait until the following year.

Since then, however, Klasse has won nearly every state  senior event she's entered, including three State Women's Senior Publinxes, two State Women's Senior Amateurs and the 2012 State Women's Senior Match Play.

The one title that got away was the 2011 Women's Senior Match Play. She made it to the final of that tournament, but lost to Brenda Williams, who happens to be one month and a week younger than Klasse.

This week, Klasse is attempting to win the Women's Senior Amateur for the third time in as many tries, and once again it appears that the main obstacle is Williams. Klasse and Williams, who finished second in this tournament a year ago, both shot 77's at Golden Eagle Golf Club on Tuesday. As a result, they're tied for the lead going into Wednesday's final round.

Luanne Cortesi is in third place, one stroke behind at 78.

Jo-Ann Lindsay, a former two-time winner of the Women's Senior Am, shot 80 and is fourth. Then comes another former two-time champ, Claudia Pilot, who's tied for fifth with Mary Flynn at 81.  

MINNESOTA WOMEN'S GOLF ASSOCIATION

State Women's Senior Amateur

At Golden Eagle Golf Club

Fifty Lakes

First-round results

T1. Leigh Klasse                  41-36--77

T1. Brenda Williams            40-37--77

3. Luanne Cortesi                71-37--78

4. Jo-Ann Lindsay                41-39--80

T5. Claudia Pilot                   44-37--81

T5. Mary Flynn                      44-37--81

7. Alison Hurley                    42-40--82

8. Ellie Layton                       43-40--83