Williams Ends Klasse's Run at Senior Women's State Amateur in Elk River

  ELK RIVER, Minn. – Carding a final-round 76 Thursday at Elk River Golf Club, Brenda Williams outlasted five-time defending champion Leigh Klasse in a three-hole playoff to claim her first Minnesota Senior Women’s State Amateur Championship.

Williams, Windsong Farm, entered the final round tied for the lead with Klasse and Alison Hurley and began her round with a birdie on the second hole before taking a bogey at the third to remain at 4-over for the championship.

A bogey at the par-4 sixth hole put her at 5-over, but she would answer by rolling in a birdie at the eighth.

Williams would turn at 1-over after a bogey at the ninth before carding five consecutive pars to open the back nine Thursday.

With two bogeys late in the round, Williams would finish the championship tied with Klasse at the top of the leaderboard at 153.

During the three-hole aggregate playoff, Williams birdied the first hole and made par on the final two, while Klasse made par on all three holes, ending her winning streak of five straight championships.

Klasse, Keller Golf Club, turned at 2-over for the round Thursday with a pair of bogeys before making two more bogeys to open the back nine, falling to 8-over for the championship.

A birdie at the 14th was nullified by a bogey at the 15th, but Klasse would finish her final round at 76 after a birdie at the 17th.

Claudia Pilot, two-time champion, fired a final-round 77 to finish in third place at 156, while first round co-leader, Alison Hurley, carded an 84 on the final day to finish in fourth at 161.