Folsom takes Washington Women's Mid-Amateur
15 Aug 2012
by Washington Golf
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Moses Lake, Wash. (Aug. 15, 2012) – Leslie Folsom of Seattle, Wash. survived a stiff test from Sandra Turbide of Maple Ridge, B.C. before pulling away to win the 3rd Washington State Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship.
Folsom and Turbide separated themselves from the field early in the final round and battled back and forth for much of the day. Turbide pulled even with Folsom through the front nine with a 3-over-par 39, but Folsom took over on the back nine, rattling off birdies on 10 and 12 to take a four stroke lead through 13 holes.
“I played much better on the back nine,” she said after the round. “I hit the ball better, putted better. My experience on the challenging greens at Rainier (Golf and Country Club) was a big help.” Once she took the lead, Folsom never let up as she cruised to a final round 4-over-par 76, a two day total of 9-over-par 153, and a six stroke victory over Turbide, who finished alone in second place at 15-over-par 159. Folsom, the 8-time champion in the Washington State Women’s Best-Ball Championship, finally earned her first individual championship, and it was a relief. “I finally got the monkey off my back,” she said. “This is huge and great to have my name alongside Lisa (Smego).” (Watch Folsom’s interview here.) Two-time defending champion Lisa Smego of Olympia, Wash. finished in a tie for third with Ginny Burkey of Fircrest, Wash. at 19-over-par 163 for the championship, 10 strokes off the pace set by Folsom.