Peterson Earns Top Seed at MGA Women's Sr Match Play; Goodno, Gangelhoff and Anderson Among Final Four

BECKER, Minn. - Sinking three birdies over her final seven holes helped Adele Peterson to medalist honors Monday, carding a 4-over 76 at Pebble Creek Golf Club during qualifying for the 2024 Minnesota Golf Association Women's Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

Peterson, who earned the championship's top seed Monday, is in search of her first state title since her 2022 match play victory over Brenda Williams at Pebble Creek.

“I had some birdies and made some pretty good putts—that helped,” Peterson said following her round Monday. “Otherwise, I didn't hit the ball that great. I had one three-putt, but other than that, I putted well and that saved me.”

On Monday, Peterson played her opening nine holes in 1-over before starting her back nine with a bogey at the par-4 10th.

Peterson bounced back by converting her birdie chance from just off the green 15 feet away at the 12th, but took double-bogey at the 13th and bogey at the 14th to slip to 4-over for the round.

Sticking her approach inside of three feet at the par-4 15th, Peterson rolled in her fourth birdie of the round, but gave a stroke back with bogey at the 16th.

Capitalizing on her birdie chance from six feet at the par-3 17th, Peterson moved back to 3-over for the day, but couldn't save par from 12 feet at the last, shooting a 4-over 76 to claim the top seed ahead of Tuesday's first round of match play.

Peterson claimed her first state tournament title in 2020 at the MGA Women's Senior Amateur Championship at Woodhill Country Club.

Partnering with Christine Dean in 2022, Peterson and Dean won the MGA Women's Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship at Whitefish Golf Club.

Just a few weeks later, Peterson cruised to a 6 and 5 victory over Williams at Pebble Creek Golf Club for her most recent state championship win.

“Match play is fun, and I didn't play a practice round because I felt like I knew the course a little bit,” Peterson said. “I hope to keep putting the way I have been, but I need to hit the ball more solidly—it's kind of been that way all season so far.”

Peterson will face defending MGA Women's Senior Amateur champion Lynn Anderson during the semifinal round Tuesday.

Anderson earned the fourth seed after posting a 6-over 78 during Monday's qualifying round.

“It was a little loose on the back,” said Anderson, who fell to Peterson during the opening round of match play at the 2022 championship at Pebble Creek, “missed some greens and didn't get up-and-down. Missed some four or 5-footers. The greens move and they're all about speed—I never felt like I had a straight putt.

“I don't play match play much differently. Once in a while, depending on what your opponent is doing, it'll influence your play slightly. My game is a work in progress so far—I haven't really put anything together yet this year.”

Perhaps the steadiest round Monday belonged to Linda Goodno, who claimed the MGA Women's Senior Amateur Four-Ball Championship with partner Alison Hurley earlier this month at Burl Oaks Golf Club, carding three bogeys and a double to earn the tournament's second seed with a 5-over 77.

“I don't have a lot of experience with match play,” Goodno said Monday. “There are some strong players out there, so I need to keep playing solid golf and, hopefully, good things happen. I know that if I blow up on a hole, it's only one hole and just get back at it.

“I struck the ball well today, but putting was a struggle. I made a couple of nice three or 4-footers to save par."

Goodno squares off against Ronda Gangelhoff when the match play portion of the championship begins Tuesday.

The semifinal round of the 2024 MGA Women's Senior Amateur Match Play Championship gets underway at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club.