Round 1 of NEGA Women's Amateur at North Conway Country Club in the Books

North Conway, New Hampshire – The start of the competitive Women’s Amateur golf season in New England began two months later than usual with a rainy first round of the New England Golf Association’s Women’s Amateur. North Conway Country Club plays host to the first year of this women’s championship, formally the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship, falling under the NEGA umbrella.

“2020 has been a challenging year for everyone, and to be able to bring some normalcy to the region’s top golfers is something we have taken great pride in,” said Greg Howell, Manager of NEGA Operations. “Today was not an ideal weather day, but it was wonderful to see so many smiling faces around the golf course.”
 
With representation from five of the six New England states, this year’s field is tight at the top after the first 18-holes with only five strokes separating the top 10 competitors. Megan Buck, a member of Thorny Lea Golf Club in Massachusetts, posted a one-over par 72 during the first round and has a one-stroke lead over fellow club member and 2019 Champion Shannon Johnson who shot a two-over par 73. Rounding out the top three is the 2019 NEGA Junior Girls Champion Allison Paik from Ledgemont Country Club in Rhode Island who carded a 74.
 
ONLINE: ROUND 1 SCORES | ROUND 2 TIMES | NEGA WOMEN’S AMATEUR
 
Established in 1956, the New England Golf Association Women’s Championship is a 54-hole event that is contested annually in one of the six New England states with hosting duties rotating among the states every six years.
“This Championship has such great history, and the NEGA Board of Directors, Staff, and Volunteers are all thrilled that we have been tasked with continuing the great legacy of this event,” said Karen Ammerman, NEGA President. “Not only is this an important year for the NEGA because of the addition of the Women’s Amateur, but the level of significance for this event is even greater now that it is one of the only regional competitions for women being run at this time.”
“I always look forward to a Summer filled with competitive golf events, so to have so many cancelled or up in the air has been difficult,” said Megan Buck “I was excited when we knew this event was going to happen. It was definitely fun to have the first tee jitters again today. While many things are different, it is nice to be at a competitive event and have a resemblance or normalcy.”
“The weather wasn’t great but no one seemed to mind. Everyone was just happy to be back out there, including myself,” said Jordan Laplume (Dunegrass GC; Maine).
 
Top 10 after Round 1
1 - Megan Buck; Thorny Lea GC (MA) (+1) 72
2 - Shannon Johnson; Thorny Lea GC (MA) (+2) 73
3 - Allison Paik; Ledgemont CC (RI) (+3) 74
T4 - Morgan Smith; Vesper CC (MA) (+4) 75
T4 - Tara Watt; Derryfield CC (NH) (+4) 75
T4 - Susan Curtin; Boston GC (MA) (+4) 75
T7 - Nicki Demakis; CC of New Bedford (MA) (+5) 76
T7 - Molly Smith; Vesper CC (MA) (+5) 76
T7 - Jordan Laplume; Dunegrass GC (ME) (+5) 76
10 - Krystal Knight; Bradford CC (MA) (+6) 77
 
“A big thank you goes to the membership and staff at North Conway CC. Their steadfast commitment to this event has been apparent in preparations leading up to, but they really showed the players today,” said Greg Howell. “Almost a dozen members braved the cold, rainy conditions today to volunteer their time to make this a great 1st round. Along with the membership, Kevin Walker (PGA Professional), Greg George (Golf Course Superintendent), and their entire staffs have gone above and beyond to make this Championship possible.”
 
For more information, visit the NEGA web site at negagolf.org. Follow the NEGA on social media @NEGA_Golf.
 
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About the New England Golf Association (NEGA): negagolf.org
The New England Golf Association ®, established in 1926, is a 501(c)3 amateur golf organization comprised of leaders from the six New England golf associations – Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.
In addition to serving the needs of golf in New England, the organization's primary purpose is to conduct the following premier tournament events: New England Amateur Championship ®, New England Junior Amateur Invitational, New England Girls’ Junior Amateur Invitational, and New England Senior Amateur Championship