New England Women’s Amateur: Lillian Guleserian Chips In On 18 To Close Gap; Carys Fennessy, Pam Kuong Still Hold Division Leads

CONCORD, New Hampshire (6/24/26) – Wednesday was moving day at the 2026 New England Women’s Amateur Championship, and though the cutline has been set, two players from both the Championship and Senior Divisions have appeared to set themselves apart at Concord Country Club.

In the Championship Division, past champion Carys Fennessy (Cochecho CC, NH) remains at the top by just one stroke over Lillian Guleserian (Blue Hill CC-MA) and just four ahead of defending champion Maddie Smith (Vesper CC-MA). In the Senior Division, past champion Pamela Kuong (Charles River CC-MA) was a lip-out on 18 away from shooting even par but shot 71 to keep a two-stroke lead over Tara Joy-Connelly.

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​The Championship Division proved to be a battleground. Guleserian, a Penn State standout, would put the pressure on Fennessy, who had a six-stroke lead at the turn but saw Guleserian get within one by the time play ended. Despite starting her day with two straight bogeys, Guleserian would bounce back on the par-4 5th hole with a birdie. Despite three straight bogeys between holes 9 through 11 she turned the momentum around with a birdie on the 13th hole.

“That was really big, that was probably one of my best iron shots of the day,” said Guleserian, who finished 3rd overall last year. “I definitely feel good about that.”

Guleserian would have another big moment on the 18th green. After taking some extra club on the tee and approach shots, she leaned on some finesse she had in the bag to end her round on a high note. After her approach shot would be just off the back, she would chip-in to close out her round. “I hit a great tee shot there, a great approach that just hopped over, and then I decided I had nothing to lose, so I just opened up the club face, swung and got lucky, and it just went in,” she said.

After taking a four-stroke lead into Round 2, Fennessy would pick up right where she left off, starting her day with five straight pars. The 6th hole would bring her first bogey of the day, but she would quickly erase it with a birdie on the par-4 8th hole to finish the front nine with a 34.

As the wind picked up later in the day, it brought chaos to the final pairings. Unpredictable gusts proved to be unhelpful for many, including the leader. Despite not making a birdie on the back nine, Fennessy clung to the lead thanks to a lengthy putt to close out the 16th to avoid triple bogey. Smith was a stroke better on the back nine on Wednesday, making a lengthy birdie putt from the front of the green on the 13th to keep pace with the leaders. Smith rallied from two strokes down last year and edged Amelie Phung in a playoff.

As Kuong and her caddy Bob Mielcarz carried on with Day 2 of the tournament and their newfound friendship, their success continued to grow.

“Like I said, yesterday, I don’t really have to think. He kind of tells me where to put it, what club to hit, where the putt should go, how far out I should place it, I really don’t have to think. It’s been very not stressful at all. I don’t know. It’s probably a bit stressful for him,” said Kuong, to which Mielcarz added, “It’s been a lot of fun. You’ve been watching someone who can hit it where I tell them and hardly ever misses a shot.”

​Kuong made birdies on the 3rd and 5th holes, and didn’t have to do too much thinking on the par-3 9th and par-5 12th, tapping in both times to finish with a 71.

When thinking about what it’s going to take to win in the final round, Mielcarz stated, “Pam has played two good, solid rounds, and, you know… like, any tournament I’ve ever played in, Pam, as well. Usually, putting is the difference.”

Leaderboard | Concord CC (NH) | Par 70
Championship Division
1 – Carys Fennessy, Cochecho CC (NH); 68-77--145 (+5)
T2 – Lillian Guleserian, Blue Hill CC (MA); 68-74--146 (+6)
3 – Maddie Smith, Vesper CC (MA); 72-77--149 (+9)
4 – Zorah Williams, Stonington CC (CT); 75-76--151 (+11)
5 – Erika Redmond, Concord CC (NH); 79-73--152 (+12)
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Senior Division
1 – Pam Kuong, Charles River CC (MA); 72-71--143 (+3)
2 – Tara Joy-Connelly, Bald Peak Colony Club (NH); 72-73--145 (+5)
3 – Kathleen Bordeau, NH Golf e-Club (NH); 76-78--154 (+14)
4 – Amy Dickinson, Breakfast Hill GC (NH); 77-80--157 (+17)
5 – Julie Rivers, Indian Mound GC (NH); 81-82--163 (+23)