FALMOUTH, Maine – Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC) is one round away from capturing what would be her first career NEWGA Championship title.
On Tuesday at The Woodland Golf Club in Falmouth, Maine, the Norton resident and 2018 Edith Noblit Baker Trophy winner distanced herself from the rest of the field by posting a second-round score of 4-under par 68. With just 18 holes remaining in this 54-hole championship event, Johnson stands at even par 140 and holds a four-stroke lead over East Falmouth’s Hannah Ghelfi.
“I was a little more conservative off the tee today, and I think that helped get some better yardages to the pins,” said Johnson. “The course set up is playing short so being in the correct sports in the fairway to attack the pins is critical. I was able to do that well today”
The next closest competitor to Johnson and Ghelfi is Sophie Dipetrillo, who stands at 7-over par 147. Alison Eleey of South Shore Country Club and New Hampshire’s Chelsea Sedlar are T4 at 12-over par 156.
A competitive dual is nothing new for Johnson and Ghelfi. Just last month, the two competitors were paired together through two days at the Edith Noblit Baker Trophy which saw Johnson – after a back-and-forth battle through the final 18 holes – eventually prevail by four strokes.
After posting an even par 70 on Monday, Johnson was a picture of perfection on Tuesday as she registered four birdies and zero bogies during a round where she made birdie on three of his last five holes.
“I had a very steady day,” said Johnson. “I hit the ball well all day and finally had some birdie opportunities on the back nine. I was able to convert a few of them coming down the stretch on the last couple of holes.”
The complexion of the tournament appeared to change on Monday after Johnson made a double bogey on the 10th hole. Since that time and through her last 26 holes, Johnson has played 6-under par golf. It has been a stretch where she he posted seven birdies and just one bogey.
For Johnson, who moved to Massachusetts from South Dakota in 2012, the chance to capture yet another Mass Golf Championship and her second in as many months would be a strong start to the 2018 season.
“I didn’t hit the ball that great at the Baker, so I brought my clubs home with me so I could get a lesson with my coach Dave Hanten in Sioux Falls,” said Johnson, the 2016 Massachusetts Women’s Player of the Year. “He has been my coach since I was 13, and we were able to get things dialed in. I hadn’t picked up my clubs in a week before teeing it up on Monday so there was definitely some rust. I was able to get a little more dialed in with my coaches advice from our lesson and hit the ball very well. For me getting on the course is the most important thing I can do to get ready for events, and today I was able to settle in a little more. July is a very busy month with the Ouimet and Mass Am, and I’m really looking forward those events.”
Following Tuesday’s second round, the field was reduced to the low 70 scorers. Only those competitors will return to The Woodlands Golf Club on Wednesday to compete in a third and final round of play.
For more information, visit the NEWGA web site at newenglandwga.org.
