The 59th Senior Women’s Amateur Championship contested at Stone Creek Golf Club in Williamsburg, ended in picture perfect fashion for one player who’s been chasing an individual victory for several seasons. 

Jesup’s very own Michelle Klein (right) put on a clinic during the final round. She carded a smooth 70 (-1) finishing at 143 (+1), and could not be more ecstatic about her first solo tournament win.

“I am excited that this was my first win as an individual,” Klein said.

With past IGA tournaments have been held at Stone Creek GC, Klein knew to stay patient, have a positive mindset and to have fun. 

“This 9-hole course has been a favorite of mine. I just had a positive mindset, shots were coming, and I was making a lot of putts,” Klein mentioned.

She has been living in the shadows watching her fellow competitors and friends win, but knew this was her time to shine.

“My husband and I always joke that I am the bridesmaid, I don’t want to be that anymore. But now I get to finally be the bride that I won,” Klein added.

Runner-up belonged to Kim Kieckhaefer shooting a 36-hole total of 148 (+6) and only two shots behind her in solo third was Geri Huser. 

Kathy Fortune of Rockwell City delivered the win today in the Super Senior Division carding a respectable 76 (+5). Fortune ended the tournament at 156 (+14) and won by three shots. Coming in runner-up was Janece Schwartzkopf, sitting in solo third at 161 (+19) was Janis Owens.

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The first round of the 59^th Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur Championship featured high temps and low scores as the state’s best senior women worked their way through Stone Creek Golf Club in Williamsburg. By the time the day ended, two players rose to the top of the leaderboard as Kim Kieckhaefer and Laura Leszczynski posted matching rounds of (+1), 72.

Kieckhaefer’s scorecard featured consistent play from start to finish. Thanks to a birdie on the par five ninth, she opened up the championship with an even-par 36. A birdie on the par-three 14^th helped offset back-to-back bogeys as the Cedar Rapids resident closed with four-straight pars for her second straight 36. Ten years removed from her lone Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur title, Kieckhaefer will look to once again hoist the trophy.

Co-leader Leszczynski had a much different go of the nine-hole track. Opening the championship with a triple bogey eight on the first, she rebounded nicely, playing her final 17 holes in two under par. Rolling in six birdies, including two on the final three holes, the three-time defending champion put herself in contention to become the first player since 2005 to capture four straight Iowa Senior Women’s Amateur titles.

Just behind the past champ is Jesup’s Michelle Klein who earned a final round pairing following a two-over-par round of 73.

In the Super Senior Division, Creston’s Janis Owens leads the way following her opening round of (+5), 76. Going out in 41, Owens steadied the ship and reeled off nine straight pars to post an even-par 35 on her closing nine. Just behind Owens sits defending Super Senior Champ Jennifer Corkrean after posting (+7), 78. Rounding out the top three is Janece Schwartzkopf of Sebring with a solid round of (+8), 79.

Final round action gets underway this morning,

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