Burnham Jumps out to Early Lead at Minnesota Women's State Amateur at Brackett's Crossing

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By Nick Hunter
nhunter@mngolf.org


  LAKEVILLE, Minn. – In search of her third win of the season and second Minnesota Women’s State Amateur Championship title, Sarah Burnham carded a 1-over par 72 in breezy conditions Monday to lead the field following the opening round at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.

Burnham will take a one-shot lead over two-time winner Olivia Herrick into Tuesday’s second round. 

“I played well on the front nine but didn’t start the back very well,” Burnham said after her round Monday. “It was definitely a tougher day with the wind; tomorrow could be a whole different golf course.”

At the Minnesota Women’s State Open a week ago, three bad holes proved costly for Burnham as she finished in sixth place, just three shots back.

“I was happy that I didn’t make a big number today. I had two triples and a double and it cost me [the Women’s State Open],” she said.

Burnham, a two-time Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Player of the year, started by rolling in her birdie look from eight feet at the third and another from 20 feet at the fifth before getting up-and-down to save par at the par-4 ninth to turn at 2-under for the round.

As winds picked up Monday afternoon, Burnham ran into difficulties early on the back nine, carding four bogeys over her first six holes to fall back to 2-over par. She would take advantage of the par-5 final hole, converting her birdie chance to shoot an opening-round 72.

Herrick, who won back-to-back titles in 2009 and 2010, got off to a rough start with a double-bogey at the par-5 second before getting up-and-down at the third to save par and remain at 2-over for the round.

At the par-3 fourth Herrick would regain her footing by sinking her birdie putt from 18 feet and added a second birdie from eight feet on the following hole to draw even, but would turn at 1-over after a bogey at the seventh.

Herrick would cruise over the next 11 holes, carding one bogey at the tenth to shoot 73 and she will begin Tuesday’s second round one shot off the lead.

“After I made the double I told myself it’s Day One and hang in there and do my best because it’s windy out. I put my head down and tried to keep grinding out pars,” Herrick said after her round Monday. “I feel pretty good about it.

“There are some really hard holes out there and some long holes into the wind. We’ve had a really calm summer; some rain, but this is the windiest it’s been in a tournament this year.

In difficult conditions Monday, Herrick said she tried her best to revert to her college days at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

“I need to channel my inner Iowa girl; I spent four years in this in a college conference in the Midwest. I pushed my cart and didn’t have a caddy so I feel like I’m in college again.”

University of Minnesota golfers Emie Peronnin and Heather Ciskowski each carded rounds of 4-over par 75 Monday and will begin the second round tied for third along with 2016 Class AA individual co-champion, Anni Heck.

Emma Welch carded a 12-over par 83 on her home course to lead the First Flight, while Joan Frie leads the Second Flight following her round of 88 Monday.

The 2016 Minnesota Women’s State Amateur Championship continues Tuesday with tee times scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. at Brackett’s Crossing Country Club.