Compared to her golfing peers, Elizabeth Lacognata didn’t have many bad rounds during her senior season at Scarborough High. She was a key member of the Red Storm’s Class A championship team and won the girls’ individual title.
But when she did miss a shot or struggle a bit, she would think about some of the last words her beloved grandfather said to her.
“I was really close to him, and he had told me to do well in golf and do well in school, and I tried to harness that and honor him. I knew there was no better way to do that than seizing my talents,” Lacognata said. “In good and bad rounds, it allowed me to never get discouraged and keep fighting.”
Lacognata is the Maine Sunday Telegram Girls’ Golfer of the Year.
Angelo Lacognata died April 17, a day after Easter and a month shy of his 90th birthday.
A former professor at the University of Southern Maine and a World War II veteran, Tony Lacognata was more than a devoted grandfather. He was integral in helping his son, Stu, an international pilot, raise Elizabeth and her brother, Alex.
Elizabeth Lacognata wears a necklace with some of her grandfather’s ashes in a locket.
“I always fix the necklace and it feels like he’s right there with me,” she said.
A soccer and lacrosse player growing up, Lacognata didn’t take up golf until she was a freshman.
“She hit thousands of balls and put in hours on her putting to work and improve her game,” said Red Storm Coach Mike Murphy.
As a junior, Lacognata flashed her abilities and was a contributor to the Red Storm varsity. The difference as a senior was her consistency that came from “believing in herself and believing in her game,” Murphy said.
Lacognata averaged 39.2 shots per nine-hole round for the Red Storm, playing in the No. 2 spot behind the eventual boys’ champion, Anthony Burnham. In the Class A team championship, her 2-over 74 at Natanis’ Tomahawk course was pivotal in Scarborough’s three-stroke victory over Cheverus.
The next week, playing the shorter Arrowhead course at Natanis, Lacognata shot a 6-under 30 on her first nine holes and had a 2-under 70 to win her first individual state title.
Lacognata is intent on playing college golf in Florida. She has visits lined up at Central Florida in Orlando, Rollins College in Winter Park and the University of Tampa.
“My hopes are to get on as a walk-on,” Lacognata said. “It would be a huge help for me to be down there and see how intense it is to play and practice every day. I really want that year of practice to get where I can be able to play and compete at the top level.”
ALL-STATE TEAM
Cole Anderson, Camden Hills junior: Anderson earned a share of his third straight Class A title with a 2-under 70 on the Tomahawk course at Natanis. A three-time Telegram All-State pick, Anderson verbally has committed to play at Florida State.
Anthony Burnham, Scarborough junior: A returning All-State pick, Burnham was a strong No. 1 all season for the Class A champion, averaging 37.9 for nine holes. His even-par 72 in the team competition tied for medalist honors and he shared the Class A individual title with Anderson.
Elizabeth Lacognata, Scarborough senior: The Red Storm’s No. 2 player averaged 39.2 in team play. She shot a 2-over 74 to help Scarborough win the Class A championship, then won the girls’ individual title with a 2-under 70.
Jordan Laplume, Thornton Academy senior: Thornton’s No. 1 player averaged 38.0 during the season and was the runner-up in the girls’ individual tournament with a 1-over 73.
Austin Legge, Cape Elizabeth junior: After helping Cape win its second Class B title in three seasons, Legge won the Class B individual title by three strokes with a 2-under 70.
Conner MacDonald, Cheverus senior: The Stags’ No. 3 player was consistent with a 38.7 scoring average. His co-medalist even-par 72 led the Stags to second in Class A.
Caleb Manuel, Mt. Ararat sophomore: A returning All-State player, Manuel tied for Class A medalist honors in the team competition and finished fifth in the individual tournament.
Armand Ouellette, Thornton Academy sophomore: Thornton’s No. 3, Ouellette averaged a team-low 37.5 and had just two holes worse than bogey the entire season. His team-best 75 helped Thornton place third in Class A and he was fourth individually with a 1-over 73.
Lucas Roop, Gorham senior: A returning All-State player, Gorham’s No. 1 golfer shot a 72 to finish third at the Class A individual tournament.
Logan Thompson, Mattanawcook Academy senior: Thompson, the Boys’ Golfer of the Year, won his fourth Class C title with a 6-under 66. He also led the Lynx to their third straight team championship.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Mike Murphy, Scarborough: Under Murphy’s tutelage, the Red Storm developed team depth and posted an exceptional 305 for their four scoring rounds – with none of the five players shooting worse than 80 – to edge Cheverus by three strokes for the Class A title.
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