With a birdie on the 54th hole the three-time WSGA Junior Girls’ Player of the Year and two-time WSGA Women’s Player of the Year, Erynne Lee of Silverdale sealed her victory at the 18th Washington State Women’s Amateur Championship being held at The Home Course in DuPont, Wash.
The field battled tough, windy conditions on the 6,066 yard setup during the final round, yet Erynne found a way to cap-off her first WSGA title with a final round 3-over par 75 that consisted of two birdies, three bogeys, and a lone double bogey. Erynne’s 3-under par, 54-hole total of 213 was two shots better than co-runners-up, Kristen Rue of Gig Harbor and younger sister Katie Lee who both shot a three day total of 1-under par 215. Katie had the round of the championship as she posted an opening round course record 5-under par 67 on Tuesday.
Both Kristen and Katie found themselves one-shot back of leader Erynne heading into the par 4, 378 yard, 18th hole with a chance to force a playoff. Erynne left little opening for the two as she found the fairway with her drive and made her approach to within three feet of the hole. A stylish birdie on the final hole gave her the victory. Erynne will try to ride the momentum of her win today and her co-medalist showing at last year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur, to the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open where she will play in two weeks.
In the Senior Amateur Championship, Ginny Burkey of Fircrest came from 3-shots back to win her first Washington State Senior Women’s Championship. Burkey has been the runner-up for the past four years in a row and finally broke the streak with her victory today. Burkey quickly took a three shot lead over 36-hole leader and 2009 Champion, Yasue Alkins of Lacey, Wash. after a solid opening nine of 1-over par 37. Burkey would hold on down the stretch for the victory posting a final round 2-over par 74 bringing her 54-hole total to 9-over par 225. Alkins would finish runner-up with a three day total of 14-over par 230.
Burkey was recently married this year and when asked how she felt today she said, “I’ve been runner-up in this championship too many times, always a bridesmaid never the bride. Then I got married this year and what do you know?”
