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VSGA member Amy Ellertson (Farmington CC) earned one of three qualifying spots for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open on Wednesday during a qualifier at Springfield Golf & Country Club.
Sweden’s Sofia Gronberg Whitmore earned medalist honors after posting a 4-over 76 on Wednesday. Whitmore played college golf at the University of Alabama and played on the Ladies European Tour from 1989-2001. The 53-year-old Whitmore has eight professional wins.
Ellertson, who has teamed with Natalie Easterly to win the last two VSGA Senior Women’s Four-Ball titles, shot 79 and tied for second with MAPGA teaching professional Joy Bonhurst, who works at Blue Mash Golf Course in Laytonsville, Md. One of Bonhurst’s pupils, Mimi Hoffman (Belle Haven CC), was the 2017 VSGA Senior Women’s Golfer of the Year. Hoffman participated in the qualifier Wednesday but did not make the cut.
On a tough day for scoring at Springfield, Whitmore made two key birdies, opening her round with one at No. 1 and adding another on the par-4 17th.
Ellertson made her lone birdie on Wednesday at the par-3 11th hole. She qualified for match play at the 2016 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.
Bonhurst made two birdies to counter a pair of double bogeys, helping her into the U.S. Senior Women’s Open field.
Amateur Lisa Schlesinger posted an 81 and will be the first alternate from the Springfield qualifier. Professionals Liz Rowland and Liza Abood are the second and third alternates, respectively.
The U.S. Senior Women’s Open will be contested July 12-15 at Chicago Golf Club in Wheaton, Ill.