Stewart Medals, Klasse Earns 13th Trip to U.S. Women's Mid-Am

View full size image

By Nick Hunter
nick@mngolf.org


  CHASKA, Minn. – Posting a round of 1-over par 73 Wednesday at Chaska Town Course, Alexandra Stewart earned medalist honors as well as a spot in the 2017 U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.

A field of 10 players competed for one of three spots to this year’s national championship, which will be played Oct. 7-12 at Quail Creek Country Club in Naples, Fla.

Joining Stewart at the championship will be Canadian Judith Kyrinis, who posted a 4-over par 76 Wednesday, as well as Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame member, Leigh Klasse, who carded a round of 78 to earn the final qualifying spot.

“It’s been a while since I’ve qualified for a USGA event, but I’m feeling good about my game and think I can do well in Florida,” Stewart said after qualifying Wednesday.

“I’ve played in seven or eight [U.S. Public Links Championships] and one [U.S. Women’s Amateur] and I’ve made it to match play, but the furthest I’ve advanced was to the Round of 16. For my first U.S. Mid-Am, I’d like to play well enough to get to match play and see what happens.”

Stewart, who lives in Rosemount, Minn., got the scoring started early Wednesday by rolling in an eight-foot birdie at the second before nearly holing her chip from 30 yards at the third, tapping in for birdie to quickly move to 2-under.

At the par-3 sixth, Stewart knocked a 5-iron to four feet and converted her birdie look to go to 3-under, but took a bogey at the par-5 sixth to drop a shot and would turn at 2-under.

Recording a triple-bogey at the 11th, Stewart fell to 1-over and added a bogey at the 12th to give back another stroke before regaining her composure and sticking an 8-iron inside of five feet at the 13th for her fourth birdie of the round.

A wedge in her hands at the par-4 16th, Stewart’s approach stopped 15 feet from the pin and she would sink her birdie chance to draw even for the round before taking a bogey at the 17th to card a 73, earning a three-stroke victory and punching a ticket to the national tournament in October.

“I started off well on the front nine—something about the front nine really suits my eye,” Stewart said Wednesday. “I had a couple small errors on the back and made a mess out of 11, but I recovered with a couple of birdies and overall, felt like I played well out there.”

Kyrinis, from Thornhill, Ontario, recorded a bogey and two birdies before a double-bogey at the par-5 ninth put her at 1-over for the tournament. Another double-bogey at the 11th put the Canadian at 3-over, but she rebounded by converting her birdie chance at the 16th. Carding bogeys on the final two holes, Kyrinis finished the day at 76 to earn a qualifying spot.

Finishing as an alternate a year ago, Klasse, who turns 58 next month, posted a round of 78 Wednesday to earn a trip to her 13th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur since 2002. She failed to qualify for the championships in 2005, 2013 and 2015, but has moved on to match play in all but one of her appearances at the national event.

“I actually think my game is better now than it was 15 years ago—I know my handicap is lower,” Klasse said Wednesday. “I’m definitely shorter off the tee, but I’m straighter and feel I also putt better inside 10 feet.

“The invention of hybrids has also helped my game. I got new irons last winter and that has definitely helped as well. My distance with those has improved and I’m hitting the ball where I was 10 years ago.”

Klasse carded an early birdie before drawing even by taking a bogey at the par-3 sixth. She would write three double-bogeys on her scorecard with nine pars to finish the day five shots back at 78.

“I’m very excited to have qualified,” Klasse said. “I thought I played very well today, except the three holes I double-bogeyed, mostly due to being sloppy.”

Klasse said she’s got a little bit of clean-up work to do before competing in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship Sept. 9-14 at Waverley Country Club in Portland, Ore.

Olivia Herrick advanced to the semifinal round a year ago at The Kahkwa Club in Erie, Pa., to earn an exemption into this year’s national championship.

Susan West, of Tuscaloosa, Ala., and Paige McCullough, Maple Grove, Minn., finished as first and second alternates, respectively.