WOODBURY - Claudia Pilot of Lake Shore qualified for the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship following a third-place finish in a qualifier Thursday at Prestwick Golf Club.
Pilot missed the championship last year, but after a 5-over par 77 Thursday, she will make her fourth appearance in the senior women's championship.
She dipped into red numbers quickly with a birdie on the second hole, but dropped to 1-over with a double-bogey on the ensuing hole and struggled to get things going from there.
After a bogey at the ninth, Pilot made the turn at 2-over and made three bogeys over her final nine holes to card a 5-over par 77.
Recent Minnesota Golf Hall of Famer, Leigh Klasse, carded a 1-under par 71 to earn medalist honors and qualify for her fifth consecutive U.S. Senior Women's Amateur Championship.
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Cindy Pallatino fired a 1-over par 73 to finish second Thursday and punch her ticket to the championship.
"I didn't play as well as [Klasse] and [Pallatino], but it was fun to watch. They made a mile of putts," Pilot said in a news release. "When I bogeyed (No. 18) I didn't think I even had a chance, but I played really steady.
"I hit the ball awesome today, except for that last little wedge coming in, but I couldn't make any putts. I birdied the second hole and that was it. I'm very excited, but I'm still a little surprised that I made it."
The qualifier was played to determine the field at this year's championship, which will be played Sept. 13-18 at Hollywood Golf Club in Deal, N.J. On Thursday, a field of 13 women were vying for three qualifying positions.
FINAL RESULTS
1. Leigh Klasse, St. Anthony, 32-39-71 (Qualifier)
2. Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz., 35-78-73 (Qualifier)
3. Claudia Pilot, Lake Shore, 38-39-77 (Qualifier)
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4. Alison Hurley, Minnetonka, 38-41-79 (First Alternate)
5. Brenda Williams, Minnetrista, 39-41-80 (Second Alternate)
T6. Carroll Dethrow, Nevada, Iowa, 42-43-85
T6. Mary Flynn, Eden Prairie, 41-44-85
T8. Deb Hayes, Vadnais Heights, 42-44-86
T8. Ann Bonner, Platteville, Wis., 43-43-86
T10. Cathy White, West St. Paul, 43-44-87
T10. Cherie Doyle Riesenberg, St. Paul, 42-45-87
