Kaul and Lavigne Share Lead at NYS Women's Senior at Columbia
CLAVERACK N.Y. --The NYS Women’s Senior Amateur Championships kicked off Tuesday morning with a shotgun start for all three divisions, Senior, Super Senior, and the newly-minted Legends Division, as a field of 79 played their first 18 holes of the 36-hole championship.
Related: Results / Championship Central / Preview
In the 72nd Women’s Senior Amateur, Kim Kaul, of East Aurora Country Club, and Janice Lavigne, of Ravenwood Golf Club, share the lead at nine-over par with a first-round score of 79. The two combined earlier this year to win the NYS Women’s Senior Four-Ball Championship, and will now go head-to-head on Wednesday’s final round. Kaul had no idea she was tied for the lead until her playing partner, Ingrid Narken, let her know. Kaul couldn't believe it.
"We are all really, really good friends, but when we are competing against each other, we still act like friends."
Behind Kaul and Lavigne was Nikki Fowler, of Stone Creek Golf Club, and defending champion, Teresa Cleland, of Bellevue Country Club. They both fired rounds of 80, ten-over par, and sit in a tie for third place. Wrapping up the top-five is the 2023 NYS Women's Senior Champion, Ingrid Narken, of Thendara Golf Course at 11-over par.
Bethany Bernatovicz, of River Oaks Golf Club, sits in sixth place at 12-over par. Right behind her is Louise-Anne Morin, of McCann Golf Course, at 13-over. In solo eighth is three-time NYS Senior Amateur champion Mary Sicard, of Queensbury Country Club, at 14-over. Wrapping up the top-10, two are tied at 15 over par; Pennie Carlo, of Kanon Valley Country Club, and Sandra Jackson, of Whippoorwill Club.
The Senior Amateur field course played at 5,457 yards and par 70.
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In the 18th NYS Women's Super Senior field, the leader is a familiar face from the 2023 NYS Women's Super Senior Amateur Championship, Karen Feldman, who is playing at her home club this week, Columbia Golf and Country Club. She finished her round at 10-over and two shots ahead of Susan Kahler, of Ballston Spa Country Club, who had a round of 12-over par.
Right behind Kahler is Madelyn Hornstein, of Drumlins Golf Club, who is three shots off the lead and in solo third at 13-over par. Linda Sturges, of Oswego Country Club, finished in solo fourth and at 14-over par. Wrapping up the top five is Marilyn McDermott, of Tuscarora Golf Club, in solo fifth at 18-over par.
One back of McDermott is Sandy Morely, of Burden Lake Country Club, at 19-over. Deborah Enders, of NYSGA eClub - Central NY, finished at 20-over and sits in seventh. Rudder Hulce, of The Island Green Resort and Golf Course, holds solo eighth place. Wrapping up the top-10 and one shot back of Hulce is Mimi Laboda-Stuber, of Beaver Meadows Golf Club, with a round of 22-over par.
The Super Senior field played 5,268 yards and a par 70.
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The first-ever Women's Legends Amateur Championship also had a familiar face at the top, with Barbara Harrison, of Oswego Country Club, who claimed last year's NYS Women's Super Senior Amateur Championship, holding the lead at 13-over par. Sitting in solo second is Susan Held, of Indian Hills Golf Club, with a round of 16-over par.
There is a tie for third place with both Grace Kuqali, of Beaver Meadows Golf Club, and Colleen Rutt, of NYSGA eClub - Western NY, both finishing at 17-over par. In solo fifth place is former NYS Women's Super Senior Amateur Champion from 2019, Kitty Colliflower, of Oak Hill Country Club at 18-over par.
In sixth place is Jo Ann Shupe, of Beaver Meadows Golf Club. Behind Shupe is a two-way tie for seventh place, Ellen Densen, Woodstock Golf Club, and Kathryn Oppsdisano, of Ballston Spa Country Club, both sitting at 22-over par. In solo ninth is Caroline Merritt, of Columbia Golf and Country Club. Wrapping up the top-10 are Patricia Roadramel, of Drumlins Country Club, and Gale Ketcham, of Newman Municipal Golf Course, both of whom finished tied for tenth at 25-over par.
Play for all fields resumes at 9:30 with a shotgun start, with all players starting on a hole.
