Smith and Burnham Among Top Seeds to Advance at MWGA State Match Play

  VICTORIA, Minn. – Both Kate Smith and Sarah Burnham won their respective matches Monday to open the 20th Minnesota Women’s Golf Association State Match Play Championship at Deer Run Golf Club as all eight of the top seeds advanced to the quarterfinal round.

Smith, Ironman Golf Course, won the first three holes to jump out to an early lead over Christine Portillo, Olympic Hills Golf Club, en route to a 4 and 3 victory.

Smith will now face Taylor Ledwein during the quarterfinal round Tuesday as Ledwein cruised to a 5 and 4 victory over Katie Kesti in the Round of 16 Monday.

Burnham, Rush Creek Golf Club, took a 4-up lead over Megan Welch after 12 holes Monday before Welch won the 13th, taking advantage of a double-bogey by Burnham.

Burnham would close out the opening-round match with a birdie on the 15th hole to win, 4 and 3. She will face Stephanie Herzog during the quarterfinal round Tuesday as Herzog, Red Wing Golf Club, downed Jill Hardy-Gringas, 2 and 1, to open the championship.

Former University of Minnesota golfer and 2013 champion, Anna Laorr, advanced during her Round of 16 match against Lilia Everson Monday, as Laorr took an early 3-up lead through five holes.

Everson would win the sixth hole to cut into Laorr’s lead, but Laorr came back to win the 10th and 12th holes before closing out the match on the 15th to win, 4 and 3.

Laorr faces Anni Heck in the quarterfinals Tuesday as Heck downed Tayler Hoag, 4 and 3, to advance.

Cassie Deeg, 2011 champion, won her first round match by default and will face 2010 champion, Olivia Herrick, in the quarterfinals Tuesday.

An eagle by Herrick at the par-5 10th hole highlighted her round Monday against Christine Dean as Herrick jumped out to an early lead.

Dean would battle back by winning the seventh and eighth holes, but Herrick answered by winning the 10th and 11th before closing out the match on the 16th, winning 3 and 2.

The quarterfinal round of the 20th MWGA State Match Play Championship gets underway Tuesday with tee times beginning at 7 a.m. at Deer Run Golf Club.