Two Ballston Spa Players Lead After First Round of NYS Women's Senior Championships
ITHACA, N.Y.- Susan Kahler put herself at the top of the leaderboard with a strong performance in the first round of the NYS Women’s Senior Amateur Championship Tuesday.
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Kahler, of Ballston Spa Country Club, already has one NYS Women’s Senior under her belt. She took home the title in 2013 and is well positioned after the first day of competition to bring home another title this year at RaNic Golf Club.
With four birdies on the day, Kahler turned in a 1-over 73. She sits three strokes ahead of Carolyn Mancini, of Binghamton Country Club, who is alone in second place at 4-over.
“I felt really calm out there, I had a great group of gals to play with,” Kahler said. “We were all very encouraging of each other and my putter really helped me today.”
Players battled the elements as heavy rain passed through Ithaca for the second day in a row.
“Thankfully it wasn’t a constant downpour the whole day, so we had a really long stretch of nice weather,” Kahler said of the tricky conditions. “It didn’t seem to affect it too much.”
Behind Mancini is Pinehaven Country Club’s Mary Scatena. She finished the day at 6-over in solo third place.
Rounding out the top five were two players tied for fourth at 7-over. Three-time champion Mary Sicard, of Queensbury Country Club, and Beaver Meadows Golf Club’s Melinda Kuhn both carded 79 in round one.
The course played at 5,401 yards and to a par of 72 for the senior division.
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Another Ballston Spa member took ownership of the lead in the 15th NYS Women’s Super Senior Amateur.
Kathy Harkins sits in first place after the first day of the tournament. She turned in a 5-over 77 performance to edge Columbia Golf & Country Club’s Karen Feldman by one stroke.
“I was really happy with how I hit the ball today, even my short game, but not the putting,” Harkins said. “I just have to play my game, be calm and putt better.”
Feldman left herself within striking distance of Harkins heading into day two. She entered the clubhouse sitting at 6-over 78.
“I tend to play better the second day, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed that will be the case tomorrow,” Feldman said, as she waited for Harkins to finish her round. “The first day can be a little bit rusty, but it’s almost as if you get into the competition and you get a little more tournament tough.”
Feldman holds a three-stroke lead over the three players currently tied for third place. Oswego Country Club’s Barbara Harrison, defending champion Mary Jo Kelly, of Wolferts Roost Country Club, and Casperkill Golf Club’s Rudder Hulce all finished at 9-over 81.
The course was set up at 5,057 yards for the super senior division, and played to a par of 72.
Tomorrow, golfers will complete their last round of 18 holes, with a shotgun start set at 9 a.m.
