Goodno and Hurley Fire 68 to Lead MGA Women's Senior Four-Ball

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  MINNETRISTA, Minn. – Looking to improve on a fifth-place finish a season ago, the twosome of Linda Goodno and Alison Hurley fired a 4-under 68 Monday at Burl Oaks Golf Club to take the opening-round lead at the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

Goodno and Hurley will take a sizable four-stroke advantage over 2022 champions Christine Dean and Adele Peterson to Tuesday’s final round.

“We were able to sink some putts and stayed out of trouble,” Hurley said following the opening round Monday. “We got up-and-down and scored. [Goodno] was able to give me looks and pace on puttts—we played together well."

“My putting was really good today,” Goodno said. “I didn’t drive the ball or hit my approaches particularly well. It’d be nice to have a few more tap-ins."

Goodno and Hurley carded a pair of birdies over their first eight holes before taking a step back with a bogey to close out their first nine Tuesday.

Starting their final nine holes with a birdie at the par-4 ninth, the two moved to 2-under before Goodno took advantage of a short birdie opportunity at the 13th.

Dropping a 10-footer for birdie at the 15th, Goodno helped move her and Hurly to 4-under for the championship, while Hurley contributed by tapping in for birdie at the par-5 16 to reach 5-under for the round.

A bogey on their final hole would put Goodno and Hurley into the clubhouse with a four-shot lead by firing a 4-under 68.

“A little more consistency for tomorrow,” Hurley said, looking ahead to Tuesday’s final-round game plan. “We left some strokes out there, but the putts rolled in, and we played well enough.”

Teaming up for the first time in 2023, Goodno and Hurley posted an opening-round 76 at Owatonna Country Club before a final-round 79 put the two into a share of fifth with Vicki Raport and Guff Van Vooren at 9-over 155, nine shots off the lead.

Hurley is in search of her second amateur victory, winning the MGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship in 2009 at Mankato Golf Club, while Goodno eyes the first state victory of her career.

Former champions Dean and Peterson started fast with a birdie on their second hole Monday, but it would be the only circle on the scorecard during the first round of the play.

A bogey at the par-4 eighth put the two alone in second place with a round of even par 72.

Claudia Pilot and Brenda Williams, winners of four senior women’s four-ball championships, face a five-stroke deficit heading into Tuesday’s final round after carding a 1-over 73 to open the championship Monday.

Mary Flynn and Lili McMillan combined to post a 4-over 76 in the First Flight to take a four-stroke lead over the twosome of Christina Payton and Cheryl Raithel.

The team of Sheri Hoistad and Chris Schommer carded a 6-over 78 during Monday’s opening round in the Second Flight, and will take a share of the lead with Ann Leahy and Sue Sajevic to Tuesday’s final round.

In the Third Flight, an 11-over 83 gave the twosome of Sharry Angell and Ella Polster a slim, one-stroke advantage over the teams of Janice Barstad and Jeri Meola and Melanie Jaeb and Emi Sako following the first day of competition.

Denise Fitch and Shawna Johnson shot a 17-over 89 to begin the championship Monday, and will enter the final round deadlocked atop the Fourth Flight with the pairing of Amy Anderson and Julie Jones.

Following a 15-over 87 Monday, Kelly Link and Beth Trautman jumped out to a one-stroke lead in the Fifth Flight, leading the team of Brenda Breckheimer and Kay Rasmussen with 18 holes left to play.

The 2024 MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship continues Tuesday when the final round gets underway at 8 a.m. at Burl Oaks Golf Club.