HAVERHILL, Massachusetts – The 2019 Massachusetts Women’s Senior Amateur Championship was held on Monday at Renaissance Golf Club. Champions from all five divisions – Classes A & B – as well as the C, D & E – and the Legends Division, for those 70 years and older, were crowned on this day.
See below for complete divisional highlights from Monday’s action.
The Massachusetts Women’s Senior Amateur Championship was introduced in 1946 when Margaret and Harriot Curtis presented what was then known as the Women’s Golf Association of Massachusetts (WGAM) with the “Senior Bowl”. In 1958, a second trophy was added, presented by M.E. Philbrick, to the Senior Championship low net scorer (now known as the Philbrick Trophy).
In 1980, the age of eligibility was raised from 50 to 55 years of age. In 2010, the Gerry Baker Legend’s Trophy was introduced to recognize the overall low gross and overall low net for players age 70 or older. Beginning in 2016, the event format was changed to feature two independent tournaments – one for Classes A & B and another for Classes C, D & E. New for 2019, the age eligibility was reduced from competitors 55 & over to competitors 50 & over.
Coming off of a strong showing during match play at the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur last week, Pam Kuong (Charles River CC) out-played her opponents and made sure that she would walk away with some hardware at this week’s Women’s Senior Amateur Championship.
After making par on the first five holes at Renaissance Golf Club, Kuong would have to hit reset after back to back bogies on the 6th and 7th holes.
“This is a tough course,” said Kuong. “I remember playing here when the New England Women’s Golf Association Championship came through in 2013 and I had some notes that I could reference from that event but the way the course was set up and how accurate you have to be made it a tough day.”
Kuong would take advantage on either side of the turn with birdies on both the 319-yard par 4 9th hole and the 302-yard par 4 10th hole before heading into the difficult backside of the course. She would wrap up the round with three additional bogies which would still be strong enough for a five-stroke lead at the end of the day.
“I basically just wanted to have good swings and good course management,” said Kuong. “So with the exception of the last approach shot everything else was pretty solid and you know, I didn’t make any mistakes today. I never got into trouble so that was the key on this golf course”
Kuong finished with a score of 3-over par 75, which was five-strokes better than Cindy Fentross (Wachusett CC) and Natalie Galligan (Pocasset GC) who both tied for second with a score 8-over par 80.
Kuong, who is heading to Cedar Rapids,Iowa this week for the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur, will now have her name etched on the Senior Bowl, the permanent trophy which was first presented to the overall gross winner by Margaret and Harriot Curtis back in 1946.
“Everyone is just really nice and that’s that’s really why most of us play these events,” said Kuong. “Being able to play these events with my friends is great. They are always challenging and I am able to figure out what parts of my game needs work. It’s always a good time playing Mass Golf events.”
Looking forward to next week, Kuong will be representing the Bay State at the 58th U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship.
“I’ve been working on my putting since it wasn’t as good at the Women’s Amateur last week,” said Kuong. “I was really happy with putting today, no three putts. Now when I get out there I just have to see what the course is like what, what kind of shots it takes. I really don’t know anything about the golf course but I get two practice rounds, so I’ll figure it out by then.”
Finishing T4 and two strokes back of Fentross and Galligan were Sally DeGan (Granite Links GC) and Joanne Catlin (Oak Hill CC).
During the presentation ceremony, Joanne Gagnon (Renaissance) was presented with the Philbrick Trophy, which is awarded to the overall low net winner for Classes A & B.
Carolyn Urban (Wedgewood Pines CC) carded a 21-over par 93 to capture the Class B Division finishing just one stroke ahead of Tina Miller (CC of Wilbraham)
Karen Richardson (Ould Newbury GC) fired a 16-over par 88 to win the Legends Division, nine strokes fewer than her closest competitors.
Besting both a strong field and blistering heat all day long, Susan Block (Ipswich CC) found a way to win with a 22-over par 94 finish.
A bit of a home course advantage for Christine Rich (Renaissance) as she navigated her way to 25-over par 97 finish for the Class D title and the Legends Division title for C,D&E.
Lyda Budrys (Groton CC) rounded out the day with a 27-over par 99 to capture the Class E Division.
