News

WILTON, N.Y -- Rising-star Kennedy Swedick captured the 92nd New York State Women’s Amateur Championship on the final hole Tuesday afternoon at McGregor Links Country Club. 

Related: Final Results / Photos / Day 1 Recap / Championship Central

The 15-year-old, who's a NYSGA eClub - Capital District member, was tied with the MET PGA Junior Golf Club’s Lauren Peter at nine-under heading to the 18th tee. Swedick found the green with her tee shot while Peter ended up in the sand to the right of the green.

Peter escaped the bunker and left herself with a manageable putt to save par, but her attempt slid just to the right of the hole, and she tapped in for bogey.

Swedick, who had left her birdie attempt just short, tapped in a two-footer for par and a state title in her first NYSGA event. 

“I really wanted to win this tournament, but I try to stick to one shot at a time,” Swedick said. “It’s obviously tough because this is such an amazing tournament and Lauren [Peter] is such an amazing competitor.”

Swedick came into Tuesday’s final round with a one-stroke lead over Peter, but the two players exchanged the lead throughout the day. Entering the final nine holes, Peter had a stroke advantage over Swedick. The Albany Academy student converted a birdie on 10, bogeyed 11, then birdied 12 to square the score up again. Peter also bogeyed 11, and birdied the short par-5 12th and the two stayed tied through the rest of the back nine leading up to the final hole.

“I always believed I had a shot,” Swedick said. “It was going to take some work to get there, but I never thought I didn’t have a chance. It wasn’t until I was over the two-foot putt that I thought oh my gosh I can win this.’’ 

The two top players were the only players in the field to shoot each of their three rounds under par and Swedick’s first round 67 broke the record for lowest round in a New York State Women’s Amateur Championship during the stroke play era. She finished at (67-71-69) 207, which is now the lowest total score during the stroke play era (previous was 216).

This is the capital district native's second win at McGregor Links in as many months. She won the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship on there in June.

Peter finished at (68-71-69) 208. Her first-round 68 is the second lowest round of the stroke play era. Although she lost, the Ohio State University athlete was happy with her performance.

“I was just trying to play my own game,” Peter said. “I knew it was going to be be close, so the whole back nine I was just trying to go out there and hit good shots just like I did on the front.”

Peter thinks her strong performance in this tournament will help her moving forward.

“I didn’t really even pay attention to what I was doing today, and I realized that I shot three-under and didn’t think anything of it,” she said. “I’m just happy with the tournament I played, it’s really good going into my next event confidence wise.”

Indian Hill Country Club’s Emily Montagnino was in the lead group going into the final round. She ended the tournament at seven-over 223 in third place.

Olivia Deakins, of Ardsley Country Club, finished in fourth place at 225. Wiltwyck Golf Club’s Amber Pennington took sole possession of fifth place with a 10-over 226. 

--

The 13th New York State Women’s Mid-Amateur ended with a familiar face taking home the title. Christy Schultz pulled away from Lauren Cupp, of Yahnundasis Golf Club, in the final round to win her fourth Women’s Mid-Amateur championship.

Schultz, of Oak Hill Country Club, and Cupp were neck-and-neck going into the final round, but a one-under 71 second round propelled her to victory. She totaled one-over 145 for the tournament.

“Once I got through 15 … I felt a little more comfortable coming down the stretch,” Schultz said. “I played the last three holes better than yesterday because I knew what club to hit.”

This title brings Schultz’s total to nine (1996 and 1997 Girls’ Junior; 2004, 2007 and 2008 Women’s Amateur; 2009, 2010, 2021 and 2022 Women’s Mid-Amateur). She said that competing for state titles has always been a part of her life.

“I feel like the New York State Golf Association is so much a part of my life,” she said. “I won my first tournament when my dad was really sick, and he passed away shortly thereafter. The friendships and relationships that I’ve formed with the staff and the players … This is special to me and I love to compete.”

Cupp was just one shot off the lead going into the final round and kept it close for most of the day but couldn’t keep up with Schultz on the back nine. 

“It was really fun to be in the final group today,” Cupp said. “We had some back of forth for a while out there … I’m a little disappointed with the outcome. I was hoping to come away with the win today but next year.” 

Cupp won the 2017 Women’s Mid-Amateur, but this is the second straight year that she has finished as the runner up, both years to Schultz.

“This is one of my favorite parts of summer, playing in New York State events” Cupp said. “It’s run so beautifully, it’s always a great venue and it’s so much fun every year to be a part of.”

Three-time Mid-Amateur champion Teresa Cleland, of Bellevue Country Club, finished tied for third with Stone Creek Golf Club’s Nikki Fowler at 12-over 156.