Schlesinger Hoists Match Play Trophy

LPGA International Golf Course in Daytona Beach hosted the Women’s Senior Match Play Championship, the final Championship of the year! The Hills Course challenged the fierce competitors but was no match for Lisa Schlesinger, of Laytonsville, Maryland, who hoisted the Women’s Senior Match Play trophy on Wednesday, December 16.
 
Championship Division

The Round of 16 began on Monday with some great golf and several close matches. Taffy Brower, runner-up of the 2014 Women’s Senior Match Play Championship, teed it up with a vengeance, on a hunt for a victory this year. Brower, of Boynton Beach defeated Tama Caldabaugh, Semifinalist in the 2015 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, six and four in the Round of 16 and continued to advance to the Semifinals after winning her Quarterfinal match against Therese Quinn, three and two. Number 15 seed, Debbie Court, of Mississauga, won two-up over number two seed, Mary Jan Hiestand but was defeated by Janice Wilson in the Quarterfinals. Weston resident, Diane Lang played her way to the Semifinals where she faced Lisa Schlesinger, 2015 Women’s Senior Amateur Champion.

Number one seed, Lisa Schlesinger continued her winning streak after battling to a one-up victory over Diane Lang in the Semifinals. Taffy Brower earned a five and four win against Janice Wilson to advance to the Finals where she would be challenged by Schlesinger. The finals are no stranger to Brower, who was in the same position last year when she fell to MJ Hiestand. 

After a 30 minute fog delay on Wednesday, the Final match was underway. Schlesinger and Brower went back and forth making for a close match with Lisa turning to the back nine one-up. Despite Brower’s tough competition, Schlesinger held onto her lead and defeated Brower three and one!  Lisa had an impressive year advancing to the Round of 16 in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, playing in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, finishing first in the FSGA Women’s Senior Amateur and finally being named 2015 Women’s Senior Match Play Champion! 

In the Championship First Flight, number one seed and defending Champion, Sandie St. Onge won her Quarterfinal and Semifinal match, both one-up wins, to face Ginny Orthwein in the Finals. Sandie, of Jensen Beach never faltered and captured an impressive four and three victory to be crowned Championship First Flight winner for the second consecutive year.

Middle Division
  
Three matches would be played in the Middle Division with the number one seed, Karen Lesch advancing to the Semifinals where she faced Kathy Copelin, number five seed. After a close match and two-up victory, Copelin moved on to the Finals. Elizabeth Breza, of Saint Augustine advanced past the number three seed, Patricia Hughes-Gelardi, in the Quarterfinals and earned a three and two win over Nora Faller in the Semifinals. The Final match between Copelin and Breza ended with a three and two win for Breza. Elizabeth ended her year strong after claiming the Women’s Net Championship in September, playing on the North Team in the Women’s Florida Cup, and winning the last Championship of 2015.
 
The Middle Division First Flight saw a great Final match between the number two and number four seed. Lori DesRuisseaux and Maria McDavid, both from Stuart, went head-to-head with McDavid defeating DesRuisseaux three and two. 

Forward Division

Kay Waltman, of Pinecrest seized a close, one-up, win over Lory Cassens, of Orlando in the Finals. Waltman was named the 2014 Women’s Net Champion and competed on the South Team in the Women’s Florida Cup in 2015.  

Each flight had a consolation bracket after the Quarterfinal Matches. Joann Ferrieri, Kathi Lundstrom, Nancy Jackson, Sheila Brocki, and Debi Ladig each won their respective consolation bracket! Thank you for a year of impressive golf and exciting Championships. We are looking forward to a great year of golf on wonderful golf courses in 2016! 

Match Play Brackets

2016 Championship Schedule