News
Check out what has been happening in Utah Golf.
Leigh Klasse Introduces Herself with Opening-Round Lead at Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur
A look at the opening-round leaderboard of this week’s Utah Senior Women’s State Amateur raises an obvious question for some Utah golf fans: Who is Leigh Klasse?
UGA regulars may recognize the name from this year’s Women’s Spring Open, where Klasse teamed with former Senior Women’s State Amateur champion Robin Krapfl to finish fourth. Dig a little deeper, though, and you’ll find a player whose name is already well known in Minnesota and Arizona golf circles.
Leigh Klasse has earned multiple honors from the Minnesota and Arizona golf associations for her play, highlighted by her induction into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame in 2014.
Klasse is a multiple-time player of the year and senior women’s state amateur champion whose competitive résumé spans both states. She was inducted into the Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame in 2014.
Her goal this week at Bountiful Ridge Golf Course isn’t about introducing herself to Utah golf. It’s about getting through-36 holes of stroke play and earning one of eight spots in Wednesday’s championship match-play bracket.
Klasse already has a strategy in mind if she gets there.
“I don’t hit it long so my goal in match play is to bore my opponent to death. Just make pars,” Klasse said.
So far, that approach is working just fine.
Defending champion, Kareen Larson, is one-shot back heading into Tuesday’s final round of stroke play qualifying.
Klasse set the early pace Monday at Bountiful Ridge, opening with a 1-over 73 to take a one-shot lead over defending champion Kareen Larson. Larson posted a 2-over 74, with Molly Steffes, this year’s Senior Women’s Stroke Play champion, third at 4-over 76. Sharon Briggs and Steph Belnap share fourth after rounds of 5-over 77, leaving the top five separated by just four shots heading into Tuesday.
The second round will complete the 36-hole stroke-play portion of the championship, where net and gross prizes will be awarded, and determines the eight players advancing to match play. Quarterfinal matches are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon, followed by Thursday morning’s semifinals and the championship match Thursday afternoon at Bountiful Ridge GC.
Click here for the complete leaderboard.
Story and photos provided by Fairways Media/Randy Dodson.