Sequim, Wash. (Thursday, June 24, 2010) – Defending champion, Pamela Burneski of Surrey, B.C. and a member of Homestead Farms Golf Resort successfully defended her championship title but it did not come easily. Burneski bogeyed holes 17 and 18 for a final round of 3-over par 75 and a 54-hole total of 4-over par 220 which forced a playoff with Strauss.
Strauss entered the final round in third place but quickly moved up the leader board with two quick birdies on 2 and 4 but then began exchanging birdies with bogeys and a final bogey on hole 18 put her in a playoff as well.
The playoff between Burneski and Strauss took place on the tough 365 yard 18th hole. Both players found the green in two shots and two-putted for par so both competitors went back to the 18th hole for a second time. On the second time through Burneski hit her approach to about 20 feet and Strauss rolled just off the front of the green with a tricky 50 foot chip. Strauss’ chip rolled to 4 feet hole high and Burneski just ran her birdie putt across the left lip of the hole, leaving a tap in par which Strauss was unable to match as her putt slid by the hole wide left.
36-hole leader, Lauren Sewell of Renton, Wash. struggled in the final round with an 8-over par 80 leaving her alone in 3rd place at 7-over par 223.
In the Senior Amateur Championship, Alison Murdoch of Victoria, B.C. and a member of Homestead Farms Golf Resort finished off a wire-to-wire win after a final round of 1-over par 73 giving her a 54-hole total of even par 216 and a three stroke victory. Murdoch was very steady all day making just two bogeys at holes 5 and 18 with a lone birdie on hole 7 and the rest pars.
Ginny Burkey of Fircrest, Wash. began the round two strokes back but got hot early on the front nine, making birdies at holes 2, 7, and 8 to pull even with Murdoch, but a heartbreaking triple bogey 7 on the par-4 ninth hole put her back to a two stroke deficit. A birdie on hole 13 once again moved her to within one but a double bogey on the following hole all but dashed her hopes of catching the steady Murdoch. Burkey finished runner-up after ending with a round of 2-over par 74 for a 54-hole total of 3-over par 219.
Defending champion, Yasue Alkins of Lacey, Wash. finished in third place after a final round of 8-over par 80 giving her a total of 14-over 230.
The shot of the day came from Sun Douthit of Steilacoom, Wash. who aced the 146 yard 17th hole.
The championship called for 54 holes of stroke play. Entries were open to female amateur golfers who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 20.4 for the Amateur Championship, and 26.4 for the Senior Amateur Championship. Senior Amateur contestants must be 50 years of age or older.
