Burnham, Herrick and Klasse Advance to Semifinals at MWPGA Match Play Championship

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 COON RAPIDS, Minn. – Sarah Burnham, Olivia Herrick and Leigh Klasse each cruised through their opening round matches Friday to begin the 2015 Minnesota Women’s Public Golf Association Match Play Championship at Bunker Hills Golf Club.

Defending champion and top-seeded Sarah Burnham defeated Lynn Anderson, 6 and 5, during the first round Saturday as Burnham took an early lead on the second hole before winning back-to-back holes at the fifth and sixth hole to go 3-up.

Burnham, Rush Creek Golf Club, won back-to-back holes again at the eighth and ninth to take a commanding 5-up lead at the turn and after rolling in a birdie at the par-3 12th, Burnham closed out the match with a par on the 13th to win, 6 and 5.

Herrick, Manitou Ridge Golf Club, made quick work of Brenda Williams Friday as Herrick won five holes on the front nine to take a 5-up lead to the back.

Williams, Pioneer Creek Golf Club, rolled in a birdie at the par-5 11th to cut into Herrick’s lead, but Herrick came firing back with a birdie at the 12th and closed out the match with a par on the 13th hole to win, 6 and 5.

Herrick is a two-time winner of the event, claiming the 2008 and 2010 titles.

Klasse, Keller Golf Club, won the first five hole of the day Friday with five consecuitive pars to take a very quick 5-up lead over Kathryn Huff.

The three-time champion Klasse increased her lead to 6-up with a birdie at the par-4 eighth hole, but Huff answered by winning the ninth to keep the deficit at five.

Klasse increased her lead by winning the 10th hole and after rolling in three consecutive pars, closed out her match on the 13th hole as she downed Huff, 6 and 5.

Amanda Bigger, Geneva Golf Club, advanced from the opening round Friday as she defeated Lexi Bollant, 3 and 2. Bigger took an early lead by winning the opening hole, but Bollant won the next two as she took a 1-up lead after three holes.

Bigger evened the match after Bollant made bogey at the par-5 sixth hole, and she took the lead for good on the seventh, with a double-bogey by Bollant.

With birdies at the 11th and 14th holes, Bigger took a 3-up lead late, and would eventually close out the match on the 16th to win, 3 and 2.

Burnham will face Klasse in a rematch of last year’s final, while Herrick faces Bigger during semifinal matches Saturday beginning at 8 a.m. at Bunker Hills Golf Club.