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LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Past champion Tammy Blyth of Monroe Golf Club holds the early lead at the 70th NYS Women’s Senior Amateur Championship after shooting an even par 71 on Tuesday at Whiteface Club. 

The 2018 winner began with a birdie on her opening hole, No. 6 (par 5) that looks out towards the picturesque Whiteface Mountain in the distance. She then proceeded to knock in five more during the round (No. 8, 11, 12, 14, and 17).

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“It was the complete opposite of the way I have been playing. I have been pretty much struggling all summer,” said Blyth on how she felt coming into the tournament. “I came out for a practice round yesterday and did not play well at all, but today, I just did not miss a shot and every yardage was a perfect yardage.”

She captured the Anne Coupe Memorial Cup last time the championship was in the Adirondacks during a 3-for-1 playoff at Thendara Golf Course in Old Forge. 

Four strokes behind sits Ingrid Narken of Thendara Golf Course at 4-over 75. Narken recently captured the NYS Women’s Senior Four-Ball title at Sodus Bay Heights Golf Club in late July.

She saw some peaks and valleys beyond the mountainous backdrop that surrounds the golf course. She opened with a double bogey (started on No. 10) and was 3-over through four holes. She heated up on holes 16-18 with three consecutive birdies, before giving strokes back with a stretch of four consecutive bogeys on Nos. 2-5. 

2022 co-runner-up Carolyn Mancini of Binghamton Country Club sits at 5-over 76.­­ She recorded an eagle on the par-5, No. 17 before giving a shot back on the par-5 home hole with a bogey. She also had three birdies throughout the course of her round (No. 3, 5 and 10). 

Three-time champion Mary Sicard of Queensbury Country Club, who won her first title in 2016 at Whiteface Club, sits seven strokes back at 78. Beside her at that number is Kanon Valley Country Club’s Monica Hamilton.

The course was setup at 5,301 yards for the Senior Division and a par of 71.

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In the 16th NYS Women’s Super Senior Amateur, two are tied after round one at the Whiteface Club.

Two-time defending champion Mary Jo Kelly of Wolferts Roost Country Club, and 2021 runner-up Deborah Enders of NYSGA eClub - CNY sit at 7-over 78.

“When I was 6 over on the front I said heck with it, I'm just going to go for it and free swinging from there on,” said Enders after her tough front nine. She then went on to shoot 1-over on her back nine with a birdie on the challenging par 4 13th. “I didn’t make too many mistakes after that but I still have some strokes to make up, left 4 or 5 strokes out there.”

One shot behind the leaders is 2022 and 2013 NYS Women’s Senior Amateur champion, Susan Kahler (79). 

The Ballston Spa Country Club standout decided not to defend her title and instead move up into the 65 and older age group this season.

2022 runner-up Barbara Harrison of Oswego Country Club and Shelly Kron of Oneida Community Golf Course are three shots off the current lead at 10-over.

Karen Feldman of Columbia Golf & Country Club, and Linda Kolnick of Canajoharie Golf & Country Club are at 11-over (82).

The course was setup at 4,957 yards for the Super Senior and a par of 71.

Tomorrow, both fields of players will compete over the final 18 holes of the championship, with a shotgun start set for 10am.