MADISON, Connecticut – In the final Women’s Championship of the season, the women representing Mass Golf had a strong showing at the Endicott Cup & Tri-State Matches, which took place this week at Madison Country Club.
The Endicott Cup is the opening leg, as the two-day, 36-hole stroke play championship consists of female amateur golfers from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and took place Tuesday & Wednesday.
On Thursday, the Tri-State Matches took place with the low seven players from the Endicott Cup plus one alternate competing in two simultaneous matches against competitors from the other two associations. One (1) point is awarded for every hole won, ½ point for every hole halved and zero (0) points for any hole lost. The remaining players compete in the Eaton Cup (Net) Tri-State Matches.
After finishing runner-up to Connecticut last year, Massachusetts won back the Tri-States title on Thursday with strong performances across the board. Playing in the lead group, Natalie Galligan (Pocasset Golf Club) earned 20 of the team’s 175 points, edging out Connecticut (164.5) and Rhode Island (92.5). Georgia Peirce (Eastward Ho!) also totaled 26.5 points, including 15.5 against Rhode Island.
In the Eaton Cup, Cheryl Krueger (Orchards Golf Club) led Mass Golf to victory with 25.5 points
“To take both trophies is great,” said Mary Gale (Bedrock Golf Club), the team co-captain with fellow club member Christine Gagner. “It was a great competition because it was tight with Connecticut the entire way. We had great play from everybody, especially on a windy day and on a course with a tremendous amount of hazards.”
In the Endicott Cup, a 36-hole stroke-play competition, took place Tuesday and Wednesday with former Mass Women’s Amateur champion Natalie Galligan shot a tournament-best 4-over 74 on Wednesday, but rally came up one stroke shy of champion Debbie Johnson, of Connecticut. Both players made birdie on the final hole (par 5, 416 yards), and Galligan’s eagle chip, which would’ve put her in a tie hit the edge and rolled out.
Still, Galligan captured the Net title, and Mass Golf took seven of the top 10 positions in the Endicott Cup.
“I have been to many Endicott Cup/Tri-States Tournaments, and this was the best,” said M.J. O’Neill (Beverly Golf & Tennis Club), who played for Team Mass Golf. “We have won many other times, but this time we were a great and cohesive team and that starts at the top. Many thanks to our fearless captains [Mary Gale (Bedrock GC) & Christine Gagner (Bedrock GC)].”
In 1926, the first Endicott Cup tournament was held at Hartford Golf Club (CT) as a 36-hole stroke play competition between members of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Women’s Golf Associations. The Endicott Cup was presented by Priscilla Maxwell Endicott as the winner of the competition. The plan was that the first person to win the trophy three times would retire the cup.
Edith Baker won the Cup in 1926 and 1928 and requested that the trophy be perpetual, with the winner keeping it in her possession for the year. In 1929, Massachusetts (whose membership included Rhode Island) and Connecticut played the Kittredge Cup as the third day match play competition for the nine low gross players from each team. In 1930, Rhode Island joined as a third team and the Kittredge Cup was retired and replaced with the Tri-State Trophy.
Today, Endicott Cup competitors play two rounds of stroke play over the first two days. The seven low gross and seven low net players (plus an alternate from each state for the gross and net teams) compete in the Tri-State Matches (Gross) and the Eaton Cup (Net) on the third and final day.
“The Endicott Cup is truly a fun tournament which not only provides a great format for excellent golf but good competition against one another in an effort to make the match play teams as well as keen competition with the other states,” said former Massachusetts Endicott Cup captain, Marie Butera (2000). “More importantly, it provides an excellent opportunity for camaraderie and to develop friendships with golfers from Connecticut and Rhode Island.”
