8/28/2018

 

Leszczynski (left) wins 53rd Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur in playoff, Fortune captures Super Senior Division

 

It was 9 a.m. and the ladies were off with a shotgun start for the final round of the Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur. A short weather delay towards the end and a playoff made for an exciting end to the Championship.

 

Three birdies helped Robin Webb shoot the low round of 75 on the second day, which propelled her from tied for fifth to tied for first. Webb is no stranger to finishing at the top of IGA Women’s events, coming off of a win in the Open Division of this years Women’s Amateur.

 

Laura Leszcznski was also tied for first after round two. She was disappointed with her putting after the first day and thought it was a major contribution to her 84. She was determined to fix it in the final round.

 

“I had seven three putts and one four putt and knew I wanted to work on my short game. It really paid off today because I got up and down from all over the place and missed very few putts.”

 

During a 15-minute weather delay today Leszczynski heard that Robin Webb was playing well, but she wasn’t sure of an exact number since Webb was in the group behind her.

 

After finishing with a 76, Leszczynski put her clubs in her car and waited for results. Once she learned that she would be a in a playoff against Webb she rushed to her car and the nerves kicked in, luckily she had support.

 

“I was a little anxious so I grabbed Kathy Fortune (fellow competitor and low Super Senior) and said I just need you to come with me to talk to me. She just tried to distract me which is perfect and just what I needed.”

 

Webb was first to tee off on hole 18 for the playoff, hitting it on the fairway. Leszczynski’s shot went in the left rough, but with 113 yards to the hole, it turned out to be the perfect position. Her second shot left her with a 15 -foot putt for birdie from the fringe, putting pressure on Webb.

 

Webb’s second shot landed in a bunker, leaving her with an extremely difficult lie to get out of. After an unsuccessful attempt to get up and down Webb conceited the playoff, naming Laura Leszczynski champion of the 53rd Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur.

 

When asked about her general thoughts of the day she raved about Sunnyside Country Club.

 

“The course was in fabulous condition. It was one of the nicest golf courses I’ve played all summer and I’ve played a lot of courses outside of Iowa. It was fun to grind it out today on a really good golf course.”

 

Kathy Fortune posted an 83 for the day, naming her low Super Senior. Other top finishers included first flight winner Beth Duenow and second flight winner Bonnie Jones.  Click here to view full results.

 

 

 

8/27/2018

 

Sunnyside Country Club played host to Iowa’s largest women’s golf championship in 2011, the Iowa Women’s Amateur.  2018 brings the Iowa Women’s Senior Amateur to Waterloo. With near-perfect fairways and pristine greens, contestants were eager to tee off.

 

Day 1 brought sunshine, but players were forced to battle 19mph winds.  The lowest score of the day was an 82 (+10), shot by Michelle Klein (Jesup).  The leaderboard stands stacked behind her with 11 other competitors within six shots.  

 

After nine holes Klein was sitting at 45, but proved anything was possible and came back to fire a 37 on the back nine(+1).  She was the only player to post a sub 40 round on nine holes.

 

Creston’s Janis Owens is one shot off the lead with an 83 and currently the the low Super Senior.  Her round included five consecutive pars. Just one stroke behind Owen and within two of the leader are Kathy Fortune of Rockwell City and Laura Leszczynski  of Saint Marys.

 

Final day of play starts Tuesday with a 9:00 a.m. shotgun to determine who will be crowned winner of the 53rd Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur.  Click here for pairings.