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EAST PROVIDENCE – There are no strangers on top of the leaderboard at the Rhode Island Golf Association’s 108th Julie Greene Women’s Amateur Championship.
And those friendships won’t change based what happens the rest of the week.
It was no surprise to see Kylie Eaton, last year’s champion, finish as the medalist on Monday, July 20, after firing a 5-over 76 at Agawam Hunt. Right behind her was 2023 champion Olivia Williams, tied at 6-over with 2024 finalist Morgan McLeod. More familiar names filled out the top 16, as the Rhode Island’s new generation takes over the women’s golf scene.
“Just another round on the course to prepare for the week,” Eaton said. “I tried to put a good number out there and see where it would put me. First would have been the goal and I didn’t have my best stuff, but at least we finished and we’re good.”
More: These public golf courses are the best you can play in Rhode Island
“Just one shot at a time,” McLeod said of her mentality. “It was just play my game and don’t do anything crazy and take it easy.”
“The first day you want to do the best as you can, always,” Williams said. “It’s just about trying to keep it together and not having too many big numbers and make it to match play.”
The amount of young talent in the field is staggering, but shouldn’t be a surprise. Of the 16 players who qualified for the match play portion of the Women’s State Amateur, 10 are playing high school or college golf and an 11th – Jordan Vrees – isn’t only because she’s playing college soccer.
Eaton wasn’t happy with her finish – four bogeys in the final five holes – but was pleased with how her game has continued to grow since her days playing for Moses Brown.
“Being at Illinois for two years, conditions are super windy and it truly forced me to take a step back in different type of shots,” Eaton said. “… Definitely maturing in terms of course management and the wind. I’m still trying to mature in terms of finishing strong, clearly seen today.”
Eaton will have to beat some formidable foes. Williams and MacLeod are teammates at Merrimack College. Three players tied for fourth, with Hanley Correia – a finalist at last year’s RIGA Junior Amateur – Elizabeth Kue – an All-Stater at Johnston who’s verbally committed to Bryant University – and Samantha Tinsley – an All-Stater at Smithfield who now plays at Assumption – all coming in at 7-over par.
Barrington All-Stater Emma Lockhart and Vrees were two of the three players tied at 11-over and former Eagle star and current Holy Cross player Lily Dessel – last year’s Junior Am champ – tied for 11th. Recent Barrington grad Claire McTaggart didn’t have her A-game, but the Providence College-bound All-Stater should prove to be quite a test in Tuesady’s first round as the No. 15 seed.
No one needs to be informed of any of these players’ resumes. Outside of seventh-seeded Una Gibson – who is from England, plays college golf in Scotland and summers in Rhode Island – the field has a very intimate knowledge of each other’s game.
It creates a unique dynamic, where friends become foes, at least for 18 holes.
“We know when we’re on the course, we want to beat each other,” MacLeod said. “When we get off the course, we’re best friends.”
“I’m trying to win but I also want my friends to do good,” Williams said. “I don’t want someone to play bad and then I beat them. I hope all my friends do a really good job and if they were to beat me, I’d be happy for them.”
Some of Tuesday’s first-round matchups will be interesting. Williams is the No. 2 seed but draws a player in McTaggart who could easily grab an upset win. MacLeod didn’t draw a friend or foe in the round of 16 – she drew her mother, Angel.
Dessel is another player in the bottom half of the bracket who could spring a first-round upset and with her talent, there’s no reason why she couldn’t win the whole thing.
While the new generation of players will certainly be favored, the veterans of the tournament won’t back down from any challenge. Val Blinn, who was among the three tied for eighth, is a past champion. Theresa Howarth and Martha Clancy both came in at 12-over par, tying for 11th, but those scores won’t matter come Tuesday because match play is a different beast.
“It’s just one shot at a time,” Morgan MacLeod said. “Just play my game and don’t do anything crazy and take it easy.”
“It’s match play so you never know,” Williams said. “You could think you’re going to win easy and it doesn’t turn out that way. Kylie is a very good player and could go very far in this, but there’s a lot of players who can also do good in this.”
No. 1 Kylie Eaton vs. No. 16. Amanda Parker
No. 2 Olivia Williams vs. No. 15 Claire McTaggart
No. 3 Morgan MacLeod vs. No. 14 Angel MacLeod
No. 4 Hanley Correia vs. No. 13 Martha Clancy
No. 5 Elizabeth Kue vs. No. 1`2 Theresa Howarth
No. 6 Samantha Tinsley vs. No. 11 Lily Dessel
No. 7 Una Gibson vs. No. 10 Jordan Vrees
No. 8 Val Blinn vs. No. 9 Emma Lockhart
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Familiar names leading the RI Women's Amateur Championship
Continue reading...
And those friendships won’t change based what happens the rest of the week.
It was no surprise to see Kylie Eaton, last year’s champion, finish as the medalist on Monday, July 20, after firing a 5-over 76 at Agawam Hunt. Right behind her was 2023 champion Olivia Williams, tied at 6-over with 2024 finalist Morgan McLeod. More familiar names filled out the top 16, as the Rhode Island’s new generation takes over the women’s golf scene.
“Just another round on the course to prepare for the week,” Eaton said. “I tried to put a good number out there and see where it would put me. First would have been the goal and I didn’t have my best stuff, but at least we finished and we’re good.”
More: These public golf courses are the best you can play in Rhode Island
“Just one shot at a time,” McLeod said of her mentality. “It was just play my game and don’t do anything crazy and take it easy.”
“The first day you want to do the best as you can, always,” Williams said. “It’s just about trying to keep it together and not having too many big numbers and make it to match play.”
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The amount of young talent in the field is staggering, but shouldn’t be a surprise. Of the 16 players who qualified for the match play portion of the Women’s State Amateur, 10 are playing high school or college golf and an 11th – Jordan Vrees – isn’t only because she’s playing college soccer.
Eaton wasn’t happy with her finish – four bogeys in the final five holes – but was pleased with how her game has continued to grow since her days playing for Moses Brown.
“Being at Illinois for two years, conditions are super windy and it truly forced me to take a step back in different type of shots,” Eaton said. “… Definitely maturing in terms of course management and the wind. I’m still trying to mature in terms of finishing strong, clearly seen today.”
Eaton will have to beat some formidable foes. Williams and MacLeod are teammates at Merrimack College. Three players tied for fourth, with Hanley Correia – a finalist at last year’s RIGA Junior Amateur – Elizabeth Kue – an All-Stater at Johnston who’s verbally committed to Bryant University – and Samantha Tinsley – an All-Stater at Smithfield who now plays at Assumption – all coming in at 7-over par.
Barrington All-Stater Emma Lockhart and Vrees were two of the three players tied at 11-over and former Eagle star and current Holy Cross player Lily Dessel – last year’s Junior Am champ – tied for 11th. Recent Barrington grad Claire McTaggart didn’t have her A-game, but the Providence College-bound All-Stater should prove to be quite a test in Tuesady’s first round as the No. 15 seed.
No one needs to be informed of any of these players’ resumes. Outside of seventh-seeded Una Gibson – who is from England, plays college golf in Scotland and summers in Rhode Island – the field has a very intimate knowledge of each other’s game.
You must be registered for see images attach
It creates a unique dynamic, where friends become foes, at least for 18 holes.
“We know when we’re on the course, we want to beat each other,” MacLeod said. “When we get off the course, we’re best friends.”
“I’m trying to win but I also want my friends to do good,” Williams said. “I don’t want someone to play bad and then I beat them. I hope all my friends do a really good job and if they were to beat me, I’d be happy for them.”
Some of Tuesday’s first-round matchups will be interesting. Williams is the No. 2 seed but draws a player in McTaggart who could easily grab an upset win. MacLeod didn’t draw a friend or foe in the round of 16 – she drew her mother, Angel.
Dessel is another player in the bottom half of the bracket who could spring a first-round upset and with her talent, there’s no reason why she couldn’t win the whole thing.
While the new generation of players will certainly be favored, the veterans of the tournament won’t back down from any challenge. Val Blinn, who was among the three tied for eighth, is a past champion. Theresa Howarth and Martha Clancy both came in at 12-over par, tying for 11th, but those scores won’t matter come Tuesday because match play is a different beast.
“It’s just one shot at a time,” Morgan MacLeod said. “Just play my game and don’t do anything crazy and take it easy.”
“It’s match play so you never know,” Williams said. “You could think you’re going to win easy and it doesn’t turn out that way. Kylie is a very good player and could go very far in this, but there’s a lot of players who can also do good in this.”
Here's the full schedule of matchups:
No. 1 Kylie Eaton vs. No. 16. Amanda Parker
No. 2 Olivia Williams vs. No. 15 Claire McTaggart
No. 3 Morgan MacLeod vs. No. 14 Angel MacLeod
No. 4 Hanley Correia vs. No. 13 Martha Clancy
No. 5 Elizabeth Kue vs. No. 1`2 Theresa Howarth
No. 6 Samantha Tinsley vs. No. 11 Lily Dessel
No. 7 Una Gibson vs. No. 10 Jordan Vrees
No. 8 Val Blinn vs. No. 9 Emma Lockhart
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Familiar names leading the RI Women's Amateur Championship
Continue reading...
