New England Women's Am Round 1

Morgan Smith tees off at the 2022 Girl's Junior. (David Colt, file)

MANCHESTER, Connecticut – It was a beautiful day in central Connecticut as Manchester Country Club (par 72, 6,130 yards) hosted the first round of the New England’s Women’s Amateur Championship. First played in 1957, the New England Women’s Amateur Championship is a 54-hole stroke play competition that is contested annually in one of the six New England states, with hosting duties rotating among the states every six years.

Online: Starting Times & Scores | New England Women’s Amateur Homepage

Last year’s championship winner, Morgan Smith (Vesper CC), opened her title defense with a strong 1-under 71.
“(I was) pretty steady today. Ball striking was good, putter wasn’t as good but I’ll work on it,” Smith said. After making a three-putt bogey on the par-5 fourth, Smith closed her round with two birdies on the back nine en route to a bogey free 34. She sits in second place behind her best friend and sister Molly Smith (Mount Pleasant GC).

Molly, who recently qualified for the 2023 Mass Am, opened the championship with an impressive 3-under 69, with three of her five birdies coming in the final five holes. “If you asked me who my biggest competition is, I’d definitely say Molly, ” Morgan commented. “Her game is really solid and she’s playing some really good golf right now.”

2022 Anne Marie Tobin Women’s Player and the 2020 New England Women’s Amateur Champion Megan Buck (Thorny Lea GC) had a solid round of 1-over 73 to put herself in contention headed into the final two rounds. She sits at T3 with Lillian Guleserian (Blue Hill GC), who also posted 1-over 73 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 14th. Rounding out the top five was Grace Farland (Malbourough CC) who had five birdies on the day. After the first round she sits at 2-over, five shots back of leader Molly Smith.

In the Senior Championship, Massachusetts golfers took the leaderboard by storm. Tara Connelly (Bay Club at Mattapoisett), a Mass Golf Hall of Famer, fired a round of even-par 72, highlighted by a bogey free 1-under front nine 35. Connelly holds a four shot lead over fellow Bay State natives Tracy Welch (Winchester CC) and Susan Curtin (Boston Golf Club), who both shot 4-over 76s. 2023 Mixed Four-Ball Winner Pamela Kuong (Charles River CC) sits five back at 5-over 77.

Mary Gale (Bedrock GC) holds a six shot lead in the Legends Championship as she was the lone player to post a sub 80 score. Nancy Walker (Ellington Ridge CC) closed her round out strong with a rare birdie at the par-3 18th to post a score of +13 (85). Hollis Barry (Fox Hopyard GC) and Doreen DiPilato (Green Hill Muni GC) sit in third and fourth respectively, with scores of 105 and 108. 
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A DEMANDING FINISH
Manchester Country Club proved to be a challenging test as the Smith sisters were the lone two players in the field to post under-par rounds. As winds gusted in the afternoon, scoring became difficult coming down the stretch. The daunting par-3 18th, which hugs the Glob Hollow Reservoir only yielded two birdies the entire day and should provide some excitement on Wednesday afternoon.
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The 18th hole at Manchester Country Club. (MassGolf)

Round 1 Leaderboard (By State):
Connecticut 
T9. Kenna Roman, (Shuttle Meadow CC);  77 (+5)
T9. Zorah Williams, (Stonington CC); 77 (+5)
T12. Yvette O'Brien, (Greenwich CC); 78 (+6)
T15. Cindy Cao, (USGA/CSGA GC); 79 (+7)
T20. Kate Hong, (Greenwich CC); 80 (+8)
Massachusetts 
1. Molly Smith (Mount Pleasant GC); 69 (-3 )
2. Morgan Smith (Vesper CC); 71 (-1)
T3.  Megan Buck (Thorny Lea GC); 73 (+1)
T3. Lillian Guleserian (Blue Hill CC); 73 (+1)
5. Grace Farland (Marlborough CC); 74 (+2)
New Hampshire
T6. Carys Fennessy, (Cochecho CC); 75 (+3)
T15. Delaney Nadeau, (Cochecho CC); 79 )+7)
T44. Alexis St Laurent, (Ridgewood CC); 90 (+18)
T48. Nicole Butkus, (Abenaqui CC); 91 (+19)
Rhode Island
T21. ​Morgan Macleod, (Wannamoisett CC); 81 (+9)
T39. Anna Gardner, (Sakonnet GC); 88 (+16)
Vermont
T39. Jazz Bruce, (Links at Lang Farm); 88 (+16)