Anderson and Klasse Shoot 69, Looking For Fourth Straight MGA Sr. Women's Four-Ball Title

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  HAM LAKE, Minn. – In search of a fourth consecutive title at the Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship, the pairing of Lynn Anderson and Leigh Klasse posted an opening round 3-under par 69 Tuesday at Majestic Oaks Golf Club to take the early lead over three-time champions Claudia Pilot and Brenda Williams.
 
Anderson and Klasse opened last year’s event with a three-shot advantage over Pilot and Williams following the first round, cruising to a seven-stroke victory at Minnesota National Golf Club.
 
On Tuesday, Anderson and Klasse carded seven consecutive pars before making birdie at the par-3 eights and would turn at 1-under for the championship. Back-to-back birdies by Klasse at the 12^th and 13^th holes moved the two to 3-under for the championship before surrendering a bogey at the par-4 17^th.
 
The always-steady Klasse bounced right back with a birdie on the final hole to lead her team to an opening round 69, taking a three-stroke lead to Wednesday’s final round.
 
Anderson and Klasse first teamed up in 2015 to win the championship at Northland Country Club and successfully defended their title at Faribault Golf Club a year later. Klasse has a pair of victories with partner Mary Hossier in 2011 and 2013.
 
Getting started on the wrong foot Tuesday, both Pilot and Williams, both carded double-bogey on the opening hole before taking bogey at the par-4 second to quickly fall to 3-over for the round. Rebounding with three birdies over the next four holes, Williams pulled her and Pilot back to even par after nine holes.
 
Taking a step back at the 10^th with a bogey, Pilot and Williams traded birdies at the 13^th and 14^th holes to get back into red figures with four holes to play. But the two would take one final bogey at the par-4 17^th to finish the opening round at even par, three shots back of the lead.
 
Pilot and Williams paired up to win the 2010 championship at Ridgeway Country Club and did so again in 2012 at Red Wing Golf Club. The pair’s last win came at Northland Country Club in 2014. Pilot won back-to-back titles at the event with Hossier in 2008 and 2009.
 
The team of Ellie Layton and Barb Miller posted an opening round of 3-over par 75 Tuesday to finish the initial 18 holes in third place, while Alison Hurley and Betsy Aldrich sit in fourth place with a 4-over par 76 during the first day of competition.
 
The 2018 MGA Senior Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship concludes Wednesday, with final-round tee times beginning at 7:30 a.m. on the Signature Course at Majestic Oaks Golf Club.