Buerman Captures Third Forever 39 Title
For the second straight event, Julie Buerman (pictured above right) walked away victorious. The Cedar Rapids resident collected her third Iowa Women’s Forever 39 Match Play Championship with a 2&1 over Nicol Jones of Ankeny after making birdie on two of her last three holes. Last Saturday (June 6th), Buerman was the winner of the first Women’s Mid-Am series event of the year held at Irv Warren GC in Waterloo.
Buerman defeated Nancy Lorenzini 3 &1 to reach the finals while Jones defeated Creston’s Janis Owens 2 up in the morning match. An IGA ‘rookie’, Jones made the most of her championship debut as she defeated Creston’s Janis Owens 2 up to advance to the championship match.
In the first flight, Sue Harmon (pictured above second from right) defeated Kathy Fortune 3&2 in the finals to capture the bracket title. Harmon advanced to the finals via a 10-hole victory over Jesup’s Michelle Klein. Like Harmon, Fortune’s morning match featured extra holes as she secured an 11-hole victory over Nicki Clayton.
In the second flight, 2019 Forever 39 Champion, Kelly Grimes (pictured above second from left), won the bracket title after a 1 up victory over Noreen Christians. Grimes advanced to the flight finals after she defeated Urbandale’s Ardrae Parmenter 3&2. Christians posted one of the largest margins of victories in the morning matches as she posted a 5&3 decision over Laura Leszczynski.
In the third flight, Clive’s Leighann LaRocca (pictured above left) posted a 2&1 victory over Ankeny’s Becky Schwiete. LaRocca advanced to the finals following a 1 up win against Urbandale’s Cathy West. Schwiete posted a 2 up victory over Karol Hare during the morning matches.
Waterloo’s Kelly Nelson (right), who captured medalist honors during the stroke play qualifying round, defeated Ila Gilbert in her final match of the tournament.