Pilot, Klasse Both Advance to Match Play in U.S. Senior Women's Am

HERSHEY, Pa. -- Claudia Pilot and Leigh Klasse didn't make many birdies this weekend at Hershey Country Club in stroke-play qualifying for the U.S. Women's Senior Amateur Championship. As a matter of fact, Klasse didn't make any. Pilot made one. 

But the winners of the last six MGA Women's Senior Player of the Year awards -- and 10 MGA Women's Player of the Year awards -- between them limited the numbers of bogeys they made on a very difficult course, and they both made it comfortably through the stroke-play portion of the tournament and into the match-play part, which begins Monday.

The top 64 players after the 36 holes of medal play on Saturday and Sunday will advance to match play.  

Pilot made her lone birdie at the 334-yard, par-4 14th hole in the first round on the way to a 79. She added a 4-over-par 78 on Sunday and posted a two-day total of 157, which was good enough to tie for 14th.

The two-time Minnesota State Women's Senior Am champ is seeded No. 15 and will play No. 50 Denise Kieffer (81-83--164) in Monday's Round of 64 matches.

In 2008, Pilot made it all the way to the semifinals before losing.

Klasse, who just won her third State Women's Senior Am last week -- and thereby clinched her third consecutive Women's Senior Player of the Year Award -- followed her opening 78 with an 81 Sunday. The resulting aggregate of 159 put her in a six-way tie for 22nd.

She is seeded No. 26 and will face No. 39 Marykay Thanos-Zordani (81-81--162) of Chicago in her first-round match.  

The cut fell at 165. Eight players tied at that number for 60th place, which meant an 8-for-5 playoff. 

U.S. GOLF ASSOCIATION

U.S.  Senior Women's Amateur

At Hershey Country Club

Par 74, 6,005 yards

Hershey, Pa.

Stroke Play Qualifying (the top 64 players advance to match play, beginning Monday)

1. Lisa Schlesinger, Laytonsville, Md.,      70-79--149

2. Ellen Port, St. Louis                                  74-76--150

3. Diane Lang, Weston, Fla.                        74-78--152

T14. Claudia Pilot, Austin                           79-78--157

T22. Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony                78-81--159

Did not qualify (165 played off) 

T82. Brenda Williams, Minnetrista          84-85--159