RYE, New York – A team of six rising Bay State junior stars traveled to the The Apawamis Club in Rye, New York this past week to take part in the historic Junior Inter-City Cup, which is an annual competition between The Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia, the Metropolitan Golf Association (NY), and Mass Golf.
The competitors competed for three points in a Nassau match against one player from each state (threesomes). Representing Team Massachusetts this year were: Hannah Blonder (Westwood), Ellie DeAndrade (Cohasset), Emma Nedeau (Concord), Abby Jaye (Hopkinton), Alia Godek (Feeding Hills), and Emily Hunt (East Sandwich).
The format for the one-day event – which also featured a practice round by all competitors the day prior – allowed for a total of three points to be earned against each of the two opponents (one point for winning the front nine, one point for winning the back nine, and one point for winning the match). A player who wins all matches against both opponents would earn a total of six points.
Team Massachusetts earned a total of 12 points overall. Pennsylvania captured the title with 20 points, while the New York squad secured second place by just one point over the Bay State with 13 points.
Top point earners for Team Massachusetts on Wednesday were Blonder (3.5 points), De Andrade (3.5 points), Godek (3 points) and Jaye (2 points). The day prior, Blonder – who served as team captain – posted the day-low score and was recognized as medalist.
Since Massachusetts joined the Junior Inter-City Cup rotation, the Bay State has claimed 17 titles with the last one coming in 1999. The competition was held at Concord Country Club (MA) just one year ago and will return to the Bay State in 2020.
The first Junior Intercity match took place between what was the Women’s Metropolitan Golf Association (WMGA) and the Women’s Golf Association of Philadelphia [WGAP] in 1934 thanks to the efforts of WMGA Junior Girls chairperson, Mrs. Robert Ackerman.
Mrs. Frank Enos, the “mother” of WMGA junior golf, donated the trophy, which bears her name for the competition. In 1955, Boston [WGAM] fielded a team and the three-city rotation commenced. Each team is comprised of 5 players, 18 years of age and younger. Today, the Enos Cup is considered a revered event as it brings some of the very best in junior girl’s golf together “to meet, compete, win and lose gracefully.”
