The duo of Shawn Farmer of Bellevue and Leslie Folsom of Tukwila combined on a 4-under par 68 in today’s final round to pull away in winning the 17th Washington State Women’s Best-Ball Championship.
The two-day championship was held at Bear Creek Country Club in Woodinville, Wash. and conducted by the Washington State Golf Association (WSGA).
At the start of today’s play, Farmer and Folsom were tied for the lead with Ann Johnson of Kent and Chris Zavada of Issaquah, after both teams shot 1-over 73s in the first round. Paired together in today’s final round, Johnson and Zavada jumped to a quick lead with a birdie on the par-4 first hole, but couldn’t hold the lead, as they made the turn at a combined 2-over par while Farmer and Folsom stood at a combined even par after nine holes.
Farmer and Folsom turned it on for the back nine, making three birdies and no bogeys, winning the title by six shots over Johnson and Zavada.
Johnson and Zavada won the net title with an 11-under par 133.
For Folsom, this is her ninth title in this championship, with the previous eight coming with partner Jane Harris.
“This is my first time playing in this championship,” Farmer said, then added with a laugh, “I got lucky when Jane (Harris) was unable to play, and Leslie called to ask if I’d be her partner, and I was happy to do it.”
Said Folsom, “It’s great that I can help Shawn warm up for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, to be held in a couple weeks. We’ve played a lot of golf together.”
In explaining today’s round of 68, Farmer said, “I think we played a little angry today. We never got it going yesterday, so today was a little bit of payback.”
Farmer won the 2014 WSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur and qualified for both the 2014 and 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. Used to playing together, Farmer and Folsom were selected to represent Washington in last year’s USGA Women’s State Team Championship.
Click here for final results of live scoring and for complete information about the championship.