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KILLEEN, WILL (-11) LEAD AFTER 1ST ROUND OF ARIZONA SENIOR WOMEN’S OPEN

Duo makes six birdies in seven holes on back nine for one stroke lead heading into final round

For Immediate Release
April 25, 2023

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David Bataller, Director of Communications
(602) 944-3035 | [email protected]

MESA – Denise Killeen and partner Maggie Will took the first-round lead of the 2023 Marilynn Smith Arizona Women’s Open Tuesday at Longbow Golf Club in Mesa to take a one-shot lead in Wednesday’s final round. Playing in a scramble format for the first round, Killeen and Will made 11 birdies on a clean scorecard for a 61, finishing ahead of three teams at -10 (60). The final round will be played in a Fourball format.

“Denise was great – that backside we shot 30, and we had a lot of good shots and didn’t make the putts starting out the first few holes,” said Will, a three-time LPGA Tour winner and longtime Tour veteran. “But then we got the speed down and it started rolling along. And we had great playing partners – they were playing well.”

The teams of Jackie Gallagher-Smith and Leta Lindley; Dana Ebster and Jill McGill; and Michele Redman and Tammie Green are all one shot behind Killeen and Will, with each team recording clean scorecards. Another seven teams sit one shot behind tied for fifth, setting the stage for an exciting final round.

Named for LPGA Co-Founder Marilynn Smith, the Arizona Senior Women’s Open brought out 80 of the country’s best professional and amateur players, competing for a $15,000 first prize and $60,000 total purse. The second-place team will take home $12,000, with third place winning $10,000.

The public is invited out to Longbow Golf Club to watch Wednesday’s final round free of charge. Click Here for a live leaderboard and final round pairings.