After Three Close Calls, Anderson Finally a Winner at MGA Women’s Senior Match Play

  ELK RIVER, Minn. – Finding herself trailing Alison Hurley twice during the finals of the 2025 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Senior Amateur Match Play Championship Thursday at Elk River Golf Club, Lynn Anderson rallied during her back nine to earn her first state title in two seasons.

A late eagle gave Anderson the lead she would need to defeat Hurley, 2 and 1, winning for the first time since she claimed the 2023 MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.

“This is the one tournament that has eluded me. I have been in the finals a couple times, lost in extra holes one year so it feels good to win this one,” Anderson said Thursday. “Falling behind early wasn't the plan, but I didn’t panic. My focus was just on staying patient and trusting my swing. I knew that if I could minimize mistakes and get a few key putts to drop, I’d have a chance to turn it around.”

Hurley jumped out to the early lead Thursday by winning the first and third holes, before Anderson took advantage of a pair of bogeys by Hurley at the fourth and fifth to even the match.

Winning the sixth and seventh holes, Hurley took a 2-up advantage once again, but Anderson countered by winning the eighth and ninth to tie the match once again.

Anderson took her first lead of the championship match at the 10th with a par, but Hurley reciprocated by winning the par-3 13th.

An eagle at the par-5 14th would give Anderson a slim 1-up lead before she’d close out the match with a par at the 17th to earn the 13th amateur victory of her career.

“Elk River Golf Course demanded solid ball striking to very small greens and probably more demanding was chipping up to the small, domed greens,” Anderson said following her win Thursday. “Very little room for error. My short game and putting kept getting better as the week went on and that was the difference today.

“This must be my week. I got my third hole-in-one on the Fourth of July on Flag Day at [Keller Golf Course], shooting 68, and now winning today.”

Anderson fell to 2024 MGA Senior Women’s Player of the Year, Linda Goodno, during last year’s championship, 1-up, as Goodno won for the second time during the 2024 season.

Anderson previously finished runner-up to Leigh Klasse at Bent Creek Golf Club in 2017 and dropped the final match in 2018 against Betsy Aldrich at Faribault Golf Club.

Seeded No. 5 to begin the championship Tuesday, Anderson got past recent MGA Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball champion Tracey Donesky, 3 and 2, during the quarterfinal round before defeating defending champion Goodno in a rematch of last year’s final, 5 and 3, to reach the championship for a second consecutive season.