Anderson and Goodno to Square Off at MGA Women's Senior Match Play

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  BECKER, Minn. – In search of her second win of the season this week, Linda Goodno held off Ronda Gangelhoff, 1-up, Tuesday to reach the finals of the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship at Pebble Creek Golf Club.

Goodno will face defending MGA Women’s Senior Amateur champion Lynn Anderson during the championship match Wednesday, hoping to tally another win after claiming the MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Burl Oaks earlier this month.

“I got off to a great start today,” Goodno said after advancing to the finals Tuesday. “I was so confident, and my putting was better. Hitting the ball well and getting approach shots up there. I didn’t have 30-foot putts for birdie or par.

“I’ve been pretty confident so far this season. My mindset has been ‘I can do this,’ and after some time off in the last five years, it’s kind of coming together. I feel good about my game.”

Goodno converted two birdie chances early in the round Tuesday to help build a 4-up lead through five holes over Gangelhoff, but watched her lead dwindle to one following a bogey at the par-5 14th.

Matching Gangelhoff over the next four consecutive holes, Goodno closed out the match at the 18th with a par, 1-up.

“I wasn’t trying to make any fancy shots; I was just trying to make pars, and late in the round, I didn’t do so well,” Goodno said. “The back nine came along—my irons and my putting went downhill. Bad chips and then gave myself a lot of long putts on the back.

“I have to putt tomorrow. I can’t be putting from 30 feet all the time, so that approach shot is going to be really important. I'd like to make pars and a birdie here and there—just knock it off with the bogeys.”

Goodno and partner Alison Hurley fired a 4-under 68 to open the MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship early this month before a final-round 77 helped the twosome to a two-stroke victory for Goodno’s first state championship win.

Anderson rebounded from an early deficit during her match against 2022 winner Adele Peterson Tuesday, winning four consecutive holes beginning at the fourth to take the lead, 3-up.

Peterson cut into Anderson’s advantage by winning the eighth and the 10th holes, but Anderson remained steady down the stretch to close out the match with a par at the par-3 17th, 2 and 1, to advance to the finals for the first time since back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2017 and 2018.

“I made some good up-and-downs and made some putts today,” Anderson said following her win Tuesday. “I thought I figured out the greens a little bit, but I’ve always been a feel player. When I’m confident over the ball, it’s when I’m on, but it comes and goes.

“I’ve always felt the result will take care of itself if I can just take care of me first. Tomorrow, I have to hit some good shots and make some putts.”

Winner of four straight MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championships with partner Leigh Klasse from 2015 to 2018, Anderson also claimed the Minnesota Women’s State Open in 2016 at Indian Hills Golf Club, as well as the Northland Invitational the following year.

Last season, Anderson carded a final-round 78 to claim a two-stroke victory at The Bridges for her most recent victory at the MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

Brenda Williams, runner-up to Adele Peterson in 2022, built a big lead early during her semifinal match against Cathy Cooper Tuesday, cruising to victory, 4 and 2, to advance to the final match in the First Flight.

Williams will take on Tracey Donesky early Wednesday following Donesky’s win over Beth Rubin, 6 and 5, during Tuesday’s semifinal action.

Hurley fell behind Livia Lang early in her semifinal match in the Second Flight Tuesday, but bounced back by winning three of the next four holes, going on to defeat Lang, 5 and 4, to reach the championship match.

Trailing by five with six holes to play Tuesday, Sara Martinson staged a spectacular comeback during her semifinal match against Lori Jacobson, winning five of the next six holes to tie the match at the 18th before winning the first playoff hole with a par to face Hurley in the finals Wednesday.

The final match of the 2024 MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship is set to begin at 8 a.m. Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club.