Alexa Rancourt of South Portland breezed to her first Maine Junior Amateur girls’ golf championship last week at the Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland. She plays out of the Sable Oaks Golf Club in South Portland and she attends David Leadbetter’s IMG Academy in Florida.
Rancourt served notice to all other competitors – with her opening round 71 – that she was the player to beat in this year’s group of lady golfers. And that score of 71 was one of only two-sub-par rounds on the day one of the event. (The opening day of play at the Maine Junior tourney is stroke play with low scorers moving on and qualifying for the match play portion of the tournament.)
The high school junior closed out her quarterfinal match against Emma Seymour with a 10 and 8 win on Wednesday, Aug. 8. Her impressive play continued one day later when she defeated Danielle Willey of Auburn by an 8 and 7 score in the semifinals before toppling Kate Merrill by a 6 and 5 score in the final.
While Rancourt was working her way through the girls division, 10-year-old Reese McFarlane of Cape Elizabeth was doing the same in the 12-and-under category. McFarlane had the fifth best score after the opening day of stroke play. His 48 (the 12-and-under division plays just nine holes until the championship match) sent him into the match play portion of the competition against Laura Grant.
The young Purpoodock Club member closed out Grant after six holes taking a 4 and 3 victory. His quarterfinal win over Kyle Bickford went eight holes with McFarlane taking a 3 and 1 win.
On Thursday, Aug. 9, McFarlane topped Sam Grindle (Deer Isle) for a 1-up semifinal victory. (Grindle was the top seed after the opening round after firing a 39 to lead all 12-and-under golfers.) McFarlane then moved into the 18-hole final against Red Desmith of Yarmouth and he continued his solid play for a 3 and 1 win for the junior title in his age group.
The Maine Junior title (15-17 age group) was won by Ryan Gay of Augusta with a 6 and 5 win over Will Delano of York. And the 13-14 age division went to Henry Fall of Topsham – a 4 and 3 winner over Seth Sweet of Madison. (Sweet won last year’s 12-and-under division.)
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