Championship Links:
Leslie Folsom of Tukwila, Wash. shot rounds of 78-75 to win the 19th Washington State Senior Women’s Amateur Championship; while Sue Ursino of Sammamish, Wash. won the 5th Super Senior Women’s Amateur.
Folsom and Karen Johnson of Auburn, Wash. finished the Senior Women’s Amateur tied at 9-over, and Folsom went on to par the first playoff hole to secure the win. She had started the day tied for ninth, but shot a steady round today to leap over the logjam of players.
Folsom had previously won the 2012 and 2013 Washington State Women’s Mid-Amateur, and was named the WSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year both years.
“It feels wonderful,” Folsom said, after securing the title. “Winning never gets old, and today is really rewarding. I didn’t finish well yesterday, bogeying the final five holes of the day. With so many players within three shots of the lead (after round one), I knew I had to bring it in better today.”
Folsom said she didn’t know exactly where she stood on the leaderboard during the final holes of today’s round, “but I knew I had to keep making pars, just keep making pars. Lake Spanaway has always been special to me; I met Jane (Harris, her partner) here 20 years ago. I lost my dad three years ago to a stroke, and he was on my shoulder today.”
For Ursino, this is the first time she has competed in the Super Senior Amateur; last year, she missed the age eligibility by one week. She is a three-time champion of the Senior Women’s Amateur (2003-05). She began today’s round tied for second, but shot 3-over 75 in today’s final round to cruise to a 6-shot win.
“I played well today, and yesterday,” Ursino said. “And that is very satisfying to me, along with the title. The greens and the surrounds here at Lake Spanaway were in really good shape, and the course really opened their arms to us.”
To join the conversation on social media, use the hashtag #WSGAWomensAm and follow WSGA Championships on Twitter @WSGAChampions.