Championship News June 27, 2018

Benzin leads big in WSGA Women's Amateur; Fallgren, Shek lead Mid-Amateur; Herbert leads Senior Amateur; Madison leads in Super Senior

Olivia Benzin of Tacoma fired a 3-under par 69 to take a big early lead after round one of the Washington State Women’s Amateur. Benzin was the only player in the field to break par, and has a five-shot lead heading into tomorrow’s second round.

Benzin is a junior on the Oregon State University women’s golf team, and has won the last three Washington State Women’s Golf Association Championships. She is a graduate of Bellarmine Prep in Tacoma.

Victoria Fallgren of Spokane and Kim Shek of Bellevue each shot 1-over 73 to share the lead of the Women’s Mid-Amateur. Fallgren is looking for her second consecutive win in this championship. She was named the WSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year last year, and is the assistant golf coach for the women’s golf team at Gonzaga University. Shek has had several top-10 finishes on Golf Channel’s Amateur Tour.

Jill Herbert of Phoenix, Ariz. sits atop a crowded leaderboard in the Women’s Senior Amateur, shooting a 3-over 75 to hold a two-shot lead over seven players. Herbert spends her winters in Arizona, and is active in the Arizona Women’s Golf Association.

Karen Madison of East Wenatchee, Wash. holds a one-shot lead after today’s round in the Women’s Super Senior. Madison won this title in 2016, and in 2015 was named the WSGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year.

Tied for second in the Super Senior are Sue Ursino (Sammamish, Wash.), Ann Denhart (Bellevue) and Joanna Ellis (Lakewood, Wash.). Ursino won the Senior Women’s Amateur three times (2003-05).

The championships are being held concurrently at Lake Spanaway Golf Course in Tacoma, Wash., and are conducted by the Washington State Golf Association.

The final round of the Women’s Senior and Super Senior Amateurs will be held tomorrow, while the Women’s Amateur and Mid-Amateurs consist of 54 holes, with the final round being held June 28.