Monday-Saturday, July 22-27, 2002
Bemidji Town & Country Club, Bemidji, Minnesota
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2001 Ladies Championship

		WILLIAMS CLAIMS LADIES TITLE
		BY JOHN J. McRAE The Pioneer of Bemidji BEMIDJI, Minn.     It's said that, invariably, success and failure in match play comes down to putting.     A person wouldn't have to argue that point too strongly to Brenda Williams of Minnetrista who claimed the 2001 Birchmont Ladies Division title Saturday with a 3-1 victory over Dana Hasselberg of Staples. Brenda Williams (right) receives her first place trophy from Birchmont Co-Chairperson Sylvia Wildgen     "I played real steady all week," said Williams, who was also the division medalist for the second year in a row. "But I was really happy with my putting. It was one of those weeks where it just felt good standing over every putt."     Williams started out her championship run with a 19 hole win over Brittany Williamson of Bemidji. Williams then defeated Laura Lundbohm of Roseau 1-up before downing Anne Fraser of Deerfield Beach, Fla., 2-up in the semifinals.     In the final against Hasselberg, Williams took an early 1-up lead on the par-3 second hole by nearly holing out for an ace. Hasselberg came back to take a 1-up lead of her own with pars on the next two holes.     But Williams birdied six to even the match. It remained that way to the turn.     Both players birdied 10 to keep the match even. "That was the point where I really started to feel good about the match," said Williams. "I made a 15 footer for birdie."     A par on 11 put Williams back in the lead and she made it 2-up with a par on 14 when Hasselberg couldn't up and down from a greenside grass bunker.Hasselberg came back with a birdie on 15 to reduce the lead to 1-up. But Williams responded by playing the par 4 16th hole to perfection.     She hit her drive long down the middle and her approach stopped six feet above the hole. Williams calmly stroked the tricky putt into the back of the hole for birdie and a 2-up lead with two holes to play. She then won the 17th hole with a par to claim the championship.     "I really enjoyed playing against (Hasselberg)," said Williams. "She's a strong player and has a great attitude out there."     Williams came into The Birchmont not feeling all that great about her game. The loss of a family member this past spring was very difficult and made it difficult for her to concentrate on the course. But Williams said she quickly felt at home at the Bemidji Town and Country Club and parlayed that feeling into a 71 in the qualifying to take medalist honors.     "I know what's said about there being a medalist jinx," she said with a smile. "I just tried to keep it out of my mind all week."     It obviously worked. In addition to putting extremely well, Williams also hit her irons solid all week. "From the first day, I was hitting everything right at the target. I wish that could happen more often for me," she said.     Williams reported she hopes her putting touch will continue for another few days as the Minnesota Women's State Amateur is set to be contested Monday-Wednesday at Minneapolis Golf Club.     "Hopefully, I can keep the flow going through next week," she said.      View 2001 Ladies Championship Brackets