Emily Bouchard of Saco has won the last two Women’s State Amateurs in opposite ways. A year ago, she led wire-to-wire at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.
Last week, Bouchard, 22, had to rally at Augusta Country Club in Manchester. Both times, though, she ended up winning by eight shots. A first-round 66 a year ago gave her a five-shot lead over Karli Soracco of Turner, who shot her own impressive round of 71. Bouchard stayed comfortably in front with rounds of 78 and 80.
Last week, Bouchard’s final-round 71 quickly erased a four-shot deficit. She finished with a 54-hole score of 233. After opening with an 85, Bouchard shaved eight strokes off her first round with a 77, and then six more shots on her final round.
Leslie Guenther of Norway was second at 241. First round leader Pennie Cummings of Wayne couldn’t continue her stellar play from the opening round, which had her in front by five with a 74. She closed with rounds of 85 and 83 to place third at 242.
This was the first year that the Women’s Maine State Golf Association and the Southern Maine Women’s Golf Association joined forces to have one true state amateur.
“I’ve only played in the tournament the last two years, but I think this is the way it should be,” said Bouchard. “It brings out the best players in the state, and I think the tournament will only get better.
Bouchard struggled in the first round when she shot 85.
“Everyone has those types of rounds,” she said. “I couldn’t get anything to work. I played really well in the second round. I hit the ball great and it could have been an even lower round. I knew I had to start fast in the last round.”
Bouchard is working this summer as a director of the First Tee of Maine at Val Halla for head golf professional Brian Bickford.
“It’s enjoyable bringing more kids into the game. With the nine core values the First Tee program teaches using golf as its vehicle, these kids will grow up to be leading citizens of our communities,” she said.
Bouchard will return to Daniel Webster College in Nashua, N.H., where she is two classes away from earning a degree in air traffic control. A year ago, Bouchard wasn’t sure if she would be in the state to defend her title, because a job as an air traffic controller could place her anywhere in the country. Bouchard is hopeful of returning next summer and vying for a three-peat.
“It can take a while to get placed as an air traffic controller so there’s a good chance I could be around for the tournament next year,” she said.
Next year’s tournament will be at the Brunswick Golf Club.
JOHN HICKSON captured his second State of Maine Championship last week at Sugarloaf Golf Course. Hickson, the golf pro at Dick’s Sporting Goods in Topsham, bested Jeff Seavey, an assistant pro at the Samoset Resort in Rockport, on the first playoff hole after both tied after 36 holes of regulation, Hickson parred while Seavey bogeyed.
TEE TO GREEN: The Maine Junior Championship will be played Wednesday and Thursday at Val Halla. There are 108 players in three age categories. Austen Truslow of Islesboro and Meghan Flanigan of Pittsfield are defending champions in the 15-17 age group.
The sixth annual cPort Credit Union Junior Golf Classic at Riverside Golf Course was another success. Over 100 juniors competed and $3,500 was raised for The First Tee of Maine. In the boys’ 18-hole competition, Zach DeBlois won with a 71 and Andrew Cloutier was second at 72, followed by Brett Braasch at 73. Participants from the Maine Golf and Tennis Academy in Belgrade swept the girls’ 18-hole division, with Victoria Valverde taking first with an 80 on matching cards, followed by Maria Lopez Ceron, who also shot an 80, and Michele Dicke with an 82.
Hugo Cepeda won the boys’ nine-hole tournament for ages 9-12 with a 43. Valerie Doucette won the girls’ nine-hole tournament with a 51.
At the Travelers Insurance Chipping Challenge in conjunction with the Yarmouth Clam Festival, The First Tee of Maine received a check for $2,000,
The Maine Golf Hall of Fame will hold its first annual Hickory Demo Day Aug. 15 at Poland Spring Golf Course and Driving Range. The event is being held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For a donation to the Hall of Fame, golfers will be able to hit hickory shafted clubs from the early 1900s to the persimmon woods of the 1960s. Participants will also be able to visit the Golf Hall of Fame exhibit in the Maine State Building at Poland Spring. For more information, call 368-4907.
The Auto Buying Assistant Charity Golf Tournament will be held Sunday, Sept. 9, at Toddy Brook Golf Course in North Yarmouth. Entry fee is $400 a team. The tournament benefits Day One and Crossroads; in addition to golf, there will be door prizes along with contests for putting, long drive, closest to the pin and others. A hole-in-one will win a car. Contact Richie or Mary Axelsen at 838-6082 or richie.axelsen@autobuyingassistant.com.
Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:
tchard@pressherald.com
Twitter: TomChardPPH
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