Late Birdies Give Donesky and Luther Win at Rain-Shortened MGA Women's Senior Four-Ball

 

ROCHESTER, Minn. – Helped by a pair of birdies during their back nine Monday at Eastwood Golf Club, the twosome of Tracey Donesky and Andrea Luther posted a 3-over 74 to claim the rain-shortened 2025 Minnesota Golf Association Women’s Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

 

Donesky and Luther defeated the 2022 champions Christine Dean and Adele Peterson (who finished in second after a scorecard playoff), and the team of Kara Salava and Amy Schintz (who took third) by three strokes.

 

“We yin-ed and yang-ed really well because I didn’t have my best game until the last four or five holes,” Donesky said following the Monday. “I got my rhythm finally and stopped being tentative and guiding it. [Luther] was the rock-solid amazing player that she is.”

 

“We had a lot of bogeys on the front, but then the back, I was trying to stay steady,” Luther added. “[Donesky] has got such a good game and then she jumped in on the last few holes and made a birdie.”

 

Donesky and Luther stumbled early in the breezy conditions Monday, carding three consecutive bogeys beginning at the par-4 fourth.

 

The two would bogey the eighth to turn in 4-over before opening their final nine with a bogey at the 10th.

 

But the two would quickly find their footing at the 11th as Doneski left herself a makeable birdie chance before Luther chipped in for birdie to help put her team back at 4-under for the round.

 

Following consecutive pars, Donesky’s putt from 25 feet found the bottom of the cup at the 15th to move the twosome in front at 4-over.

 

Closing out the round with consecutive pars once again, Donesky and Luther found themselves on top of the leaderboard with a 74.

 

“We started the last few holes where one of us could make a birdie” Luther said. “We were able to play a little more aggressively and it got fun. Tomorrow, we need to be a little less sloppy on the front.”

 

“I didn’t hit my irons well today, but the wind was really a challenge,” Doneski said. “I need to come out more aggressive tomorrow, I can’t try to guide it.”

 

Defending champions Linda Goodno and Alison Hurley fired a 78 to finish tied for fourth with four-time champions Claudia Pilot and Brenda Williams at 7-over 78, four shots back of the lead.

 

Debra Francis and Ranee Jacobus posted an 8-over 79 to claim a one-shot victory over Luanne Cortesi and Darla Phillips in the First Flight, while Dianne Frantz and partner Barb Hanson won by one-stroke in the Second Flight by carding a 10-over 81.

 

In the Third Flight, the twosome of Sharry Angell and Sally Olsen claimed a sizeable victory after a 9-over 80, defeating the team of Kathy Gregory and Sharon Kostohryz by four shots.

 

Denise Fitch and Shawna Johnson shot a 15-over 86 in the Fourth Flight during Monday’s round, defeating the team of Kay Anderson and Deb Garry by one shot.

 

In the Fifth Flight, Jackie Hewitt and Mary Leimbek combined to post a 19-over 90 to defeat the team of Dianne Nesburg and Pauline Whelan by three strokes.