Paganas prevail in Iron Masters Ladies Classic by 2 strokes
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ORE HILL -- The Iron Masters Country Club Ladies Golf Classic staged its 31st annual tournament Tuesday on a hot, sunny afternoon, and veteran golfer Barb Pagana said that she has played in almost all of them.
Pagana's experience on the course and in the event proved to be an important factor in the outcome of this year's tournament.
Pagana and her daughter, Jessica Pagana-Defazio, who are both members of the Susquehanna Valley Country Club in Selinsgrove, overcame a two-stroke deficit entering Tuesday's final 18 holes of play and won the 2026 Iron Masters Ladies Classic championship with a two-day score of 149 (76-73) that placed them two strokes ahead of the second-place team of Amy Haupt and Amy Gierlak. Haupt and Gierlak, who are both from the Harrisburg area, finished with a two-day score of 151 (74-77).
Haupt and Gierlak shot a 74 over Monday's first 18 holes to take a two-stroke lead over three teams -- including the Pagana mother-daughter tandem --entering Tuesday's second 18-hole round.
The Pagana team made up its deficit on the front nine Tuesday, carding a 37 while Haupt and Gierlak combined for a 43. That turn of events gave the Pagana team a solid four-stroke lead with nine holes to play, and they did not relinquish it, although Haupt and Gierlak rebounded to shoot a 34 for the final nine.
"After that front nine in today's second round, we knew that if we could just keep the pedal to the medal that we'd be OK,'' said Barb Pagana, who estimated that she has been a member of a winning team in the event approximately 15 times, but Tuesday marked her first victory there while playing with her daughter, who is a physician in Sunbury, Pa.
"They did not play up to their potential in that front nine,'' Barb Pagana said of the Haupt-Gierlak team. "And we just ham-and-egged it in today.''
Barb Pagana said her familiarity with the course at Iron Masters was very helpful for her Tuesday.
"I'm very comfortable playing here,'' Barb Pagana said. "This course is in great shape.''
Both Barb Pagana and her daughter have taken lessons from the same golf pro at the Susquehanna club. Jessica's busy professional life as a physician doesn't allow her much free time to golf, but she tries to make the most of the time on the links that she does get.
"The people here all do a great job of running this event,'' said Jessica, who has played at Iron Masters three times.
"We complement each other very well,'' Jessica said of her golf partnership with her mother after both women carded two birdies Tuesday.
Barb Pagana said that Jessica brings a very upbeat outlook to their golfing events.
"She has such a positive attitude, and it's great fun playing with your kids,'' Barb Pagana said. "I've been playing in this event forever, but she has only been playing golf the past two years. She's a physician, so she doesn't get out golfing much.''
That may change a bit in the coming months.
"We're planning to play together in the Pinehurst Super Senior event in North Carolina in August, and the Eastern Senior event in South Carolina in October,'' Barb Pagana said.
CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT: 1, Barb Pagana-Jessica Pagana-Defazio, 76-73-149. 2, Amy Haupt-Amy Gierlak, 74-77-151. 3, Trish Corle-Julia Nesbit, 76-76-152; Chris Sisto-Michelle Day (medalists), 76-77-153. Jess Burlingame-Jenny Beach, 79-78-157; Val Andreychik-Bridget Mathias, 79-80-159; M.J. Boldin-Sally Fletcher, 79-81-160; Pam Stewart-Becky McLaughlin, Janice Evans-Anna Baldini, and Kathy Ramsey-Beth Schisler, tie, all 79-80-159.
FIRST FLIGHT: 1, Mary Ann Sanna-Sally Sheerer, 80-78-158. 2, Sue Leberfinger-Chrissy Sears, 81-79-160. 3, Beth Lunger-Merri Walter, 80-80-160. Gwen Paden-Steph Kirsch, 80-80-160; Jenn Johnston-Cathy Weitosh (medalists), 83-78-161; Cindy Trimarco-Terese Perino, 80-81-161; Andie Teeter-Nancy Blumberg, 81-83-164; Joelle Swogger-Dana Kovash, 83-84-167; Pam Rohrer-Laura Schrock, 83-88-171; Connie Bolger-Denise Kelly, 81-91-172.
SECOND FLIGHT: 1, Donna Morgan-Wava Baer, 84-84-168. 2, Brenda Kaylor-Cathy Wreski, 88-84-172. 3, Jill Hileman-Alysha Kachur, 87-85-172; Christine Corrigan-Tina Crisanti (medalists), 87-85-172; Pat Noble-Kris Lunger, 86-88-174; Kathy Bottenfield-Deb Gochnour, 88-90-178.
THIRD FLIGHT: 1, Joy Saikronburee-D. Blackburn, 91-95-176. 2, Rachelle Hopsicker-Gloria Carbaugh, 91-86-177. 3, Angela Gardner-Danene Litz, 92-86-178. Brenda Flick-Bonnie Deem, 93-94-187; Joann Freeman-Joan Welgus (medalists), 94-94-188; Lana Phillippi-Annie Cox, 96-94-190; Kate Conway-Cindy Snowberger, 95-96-191; Deb Showalter-Maureen Dodson, 101-97-198.