WOODS HOLE, Massachusetts (October 9, 2024) – The Endicott Cup will make its way back to Rhode Island for the first time in a decade, as Val Blinn captured the title on Wednesday with a solid chip-in birdie to secure her second title. The champion had a 6-stroke improvement on day two, increasing her birdie count from one to four after learning her way around the course.
Earlier in the day, Natalie Galligan of Team Massachusetts, was maintaining her positioning from day one. A tough three-bogey stretch after the turn would add some pressure. As Galligan made her way up the steep hill toward the 18th tee box, she was tied with Val Blinn of Rhode Island. High spirits came from a nice birdie on the par-3 17th, but the par-4 18th had more in store. The contouring of the fairway slid her tee shot into a ground under repair area along the right hand side of the fairway. Meanwhile, Blinn had just over 100 yards from the center of the fairway to the green. With an incredible recovery, Galligan was on in two, Blinn just short of the green. A smooth bump and run from Blinn fell into the hole to close with a birdie. A tap in par for Galligan would seal the deal. Back to Rhode Island goes the Endicott Cup, and Blinn will take it home for the second time.
The low-seven gross players will compete in the Tri-State Matches and the low-seven net will compete for the Eaton Cup. Each captain will choose one alternate player for their respective teams. Team Mass Golf will be simultaneously competing against Rhode Island and Connecticut in hopes of bringing both the Tri-State and Eaton Cup titles back to Massachusetts. One (1) point is awarded for every hole won, ½ point for every hole halved and zero (0) points for any hole lost.
1- Natalie Galligan: 78-77 – 155 (+11)
2- Diane Carter: 81-83 – 164 (+20)
3- Kristen Henderson: 87-79 – 166 (+22)
4- Danielle Lee: 83-85 – 168 (+24)
5- Christine Gagner: 83-85 – 168 (+22)
6- Irene Haley: 89-83 – 172 (+28)
7- Marion Maney: 86-98 – 174 (+30)
A- Barb Hechimovich: 96-83 – 179 (+35)
1- Val Blinn: 80-74 – 154(+10)
2- Felicia Revens: 84-88 – 172 (+28)
3- Cheryl Jason: 86-88 – 174 (+30)
4- Laura Nesteriak: 93-89 – 182 (+38)
5- Martha Clancy: 95-88 – 183 (+39)
6- Kibbe Reilly: 96-88 – 184 (+40)
7- Starr Daniels: 97-90 – 187 (+43)
A- Nancy Diemoz: 97-90 – 187 (+43)
1- Debbie Johnson: 85-76 – 161 (+17)
2- Mercedese Large: 82-83 – 165 (+21)
3- Laura Pirruccello: 83-84 – 167 (+23)
4- Julie Wheatley: 82-86 – 168 (+24)
5- Lisa Fern-Boros: 89-85 – 174 (+30)
6- Myra Macmillan: 85-90 – 175 (+31)
7- Lynn Scully: 92-85 – 177 (+33)
A- Donna Forshaw: 93-86 – 179 (+35)
1- Cathy Flatley: 73-73 – 146 (+2)
2- Wendy Marchese: 78-78 – 156 (+12)
3- Abigail Vernon: 75-82 – 157 (+13)
4- Elizabeth Derwin: 76-81 – 157 (+13)
5- Caren Althauser: 80-76 – 165 (+19)
6- Megan Patrick: 78-79 – 157 (+21)
7- Val Casella: 77-75 – 152 (+8)
A- Sally Degan: 83-78 – 161 (+17)
1- Gail Lederman: 80-71 – 151 (+7)
2- Leony Hartig: 79-76 – 155 (+11)
3- Patti Rasicot: 77-79 – 156 (+12)
4- Jane Lippincott : 85-73 – 158 (+14)
5- Susan Barr: 82-78 – 160 (+16)
6- GIna Santamaria: 79-81 – 160 (+16)
7- Elizabeth Sondler: 78-83 – 161 (+17)
A- Trish Labossiere: 74-88 – 162 (+18)
1- Jackie Cahill: 81-75 – 156(+12)
2- Joyce Curran: 81-75 – 156 (+12)
3- Jill Tryon: 80-78 – 158 (+14)
4- Donna Harris : 81-84 – 165 (+21)
5- Nancy Walker: 87-78 – 165 (+21)
6- Michelle Murphy: 87-80 – 167 (+23)
7- Mod Pratinidhi: 87-84 – 171 (+27)
A-Jean Sennet: 90-82 – 172 (+27)
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.”
