Burnham, Bollant, Herrick and Klasse Move on to Semifinals at MWPGA Match Play

  COON RAPIDS, Minn. – Defending Minnesota Women’s Public Golf Association Match Play champion Sarah Burnham needed a pair of birdies over the final nine holes Friday to defeat Haley Tollette and advance to the semifinal round Saturday at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

Burnham trailed early as Tollette rolled in birdie at the first hole before Burnham evened the match by winning the fourth. A birdie by Burnham at the par-5 sixth wasn’t good enough as Tollette carded an eagle to regain the lead.

After winning the seventh, Burnham took the lead for good with a birdie at the 11th before taking a 2-up lead with a birdie at the 16th. Both players made bogey at the 17th as Burnham clinched the match, 2 and 1.

Burnham will now face Lexi Bollant in the semifinal round after Bollant beat 2007 champion Lynn Anderson by forfeit.

Olivia Herrick, a two-time champion, took an early 2-up lead after winning the first two holes and would never look back as she went on to beat Tabitha Kunst, 3 and 2, as Herrick will face three-time winner Leigh Klasse during the semifinals Saturday.

Klasse, Keller Golf Club, trailed Brenda Williams late in the match Friday before back-to-back birdies at the 14th and 16th holes shifted the lead to Klasse with two holes to play. Klasse closed out the match on the 17th, 2 and 1.

The semifinal round of the 2016 MWPGA Match Play Championship is scheduled to begin Saturday at 8 a.m. at Bunker Hills Golf Club.



2016 MWPGA MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
BUNKER HILLS GOLF CLUB
COON RAPIDS, MINN.
5,485 YARDS, PAR 72


FRIDAY’S RESULTS
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Sarah Burnham, Rush Creek GC, def. Haley Tollette, Rum River Hills GC, 2 and 1
Lexi Bollant, Wild Marsh GC, def. Lynn Anderson, Keller GC, forfeit
Olivia Herrick, Manitou Ridge GC, def. Tabitha Kunst, Lester Park GC, 3 and 2
Leigh Klasse, Keller GC, def. Brenda Williams, Pioneer Creek GC, 2 and 1


FIRST FLIGHT
McKenzie Swanson, Rush Creek GC, def. Shelley Peterson, Monticello CC, 6 and 5
Sally Deyak, Wapicada GC, def. Jacqueline Santopietro, EWGA, 2 and 1
Krista Larsen, Fox Hollow GC, def. Carey Dubbs, Keller GC, 2-up
Kaitlyn Alvarez, Bunker Hills GC, def. Kathy Hubert-Wyss, Bunker Hills GC, 4 and 2


SECOND FLIGHT
Claire Pobanz, Keller GC, def. Elizabeth Moon, Bunker Hills GC, 5 and 3
Lynn Cunningham, Rum River Hills GC, def. Ann Brilley, Baker Nat’l GC, 2 and 1
Molly Baker, Braemar GC, def. Teresa Compton, Rum River Hills GC, 4 and 3
Beth Rubin, EWGA, def. Angie Christo, EWGA, 6 and 5


THIRD FLIGHT
Alicia Barber, EWGA, def. Sherry Gabrielson, EWGA, 22 holes
Cheryl Lombardi, Hollydale GC, def. Jeri Meola, 1-up
Lori Shore, Rum River Hills GC, def. Jane Covart, Rum River Hills GC, 3 and 2
Joan Frie, Monticello CC, def. Colleen Boerboom, Geneva GC, 7 and 5


FOURTH FLIGHT
Lola Heinrich, Spring Brook GC, def. Jill Barnes, EWGA, 6 and 5
Jan Nelson, Brookview GC, def. Marion Holly, Keller GC, 20 holes
Sarajane Meyers, Dwan GC, def. Tammy Smith-Foyt, EWGA, 2 and 1
Pauline Whelan, EWGA, def. Jeanne Drewes, Bunker Hills GC, 7 and 5


FIFTH FLIGHT
Tammy Nermyr, Monticello CC, BYE
Carol Dennis, Baker Nat’l GC, def. Nikki Stiller, Monticello CC, 19 holes
Kathy Gerber, Inver Wood GC, def. Kathryn Sartain, Bunker Hills GC, 6 and 4
Wendy Haisley, Rum River Hills GC, def. Judy Hoy, Hollydale GC, 3 and 2