Shannon Johnson of Thorny Lea Golf Club earned medalist honors at the 122nd Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship.
Not even temperatures in the 90s could cool off Johnson, who carded a 2-under par 70 to finish the second and final day of stroke play at 6-under. Johnson was the winner of the 2018 championship at George Wright GC.
One shot back was Molly Smith of Westford and Vesper CC. Smith posted a 3-under 69 in her second round to continue her strong summer.
Isabel Brozena of Indian Ridge CC also fired a 69 and was 3-under. The only other player under par was Rebecca Skoler of Pine Brook (1-under) after rounds of 74 and 71 at historic Concord Country Club. Skoler captured the 2023 championship.
The round of the day was turned in by Alexis Florio. The Woodland Golf Club member carded a 67 to go flying up the leaderboard and tie for fifth after stroke play. Now the tournament switches to match play.
Wednesday will feature Round of 32 matches in the morning and Round of 16 matches in the afternoon. Thursday will also be a long day at the historic venue as quarterfinal and semifinal matches are on tap.
The final two golfers will clash Friday in an 18-hole championship. Molly Smith’s two sisters also easily made the cut and advanced to match play.
Mt. Pleasant’s Morgan Smith, the defending champion and the winner of the event two of the last three years, improved four shots to shoot a 74 and tie for ninth at 152. One shot back was younger sister Maddie Smith. Representing Long Meadow GC, the Westford Academy senior-to-be posted a 77 on Tuesday.
This is the sixth time Concord CC has hosted the event and the third time in the last 21 years.
Big Boston news
Fans of Boston’s two municipal golf courses received good news Tuesday.
In 2028, George Wright Golf Course and William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park will host Massachusetts’ premier amateur championships.
Mass Golf announced that the 120th Massachusetts Amateur Championship will be contested at George Wright, while the 125th Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship will be hosted by William J. Devine at Franklin Park.
It will be the first time since 2018 that the historic events will return to Boston.
“We are thrilled to welcome Mass Golf back to our city golf courses for another exciting series of championship matches. This partnership builds on our promise to expand opportunities and create more exciting community events across Boston neighborhoods for our residents and families, and recognizes the caliber of the course design and maintenance that our city teams work so hard to provide,” said Mayor Michelle Wu in a press release. “We look forward to bringing this historic competition to Franklin Park, one of the most iconic and beloved public spaces in Boston. I’m grateful to Mass Golf and our Parks and Recreation Department for bringing exciting world class events to our parks.”
George Wright Golf Course, designed by Donald Ross, opened in 1936. To shape the rugged Hyde Park property, 60,000 pounds of dynamite, 72,000 cubic yards of topsoil, and 57,000 linear feet of drainage pipe were used.
Originally intended as a private club in the early 1930s, the project was rescued during the Great Depression through the federal Works Progress Administration, which employed over a thousand workers in its construction. After decades of neglect under outside management, the City of Boston resumed operations in the early 2000s and began a steady revitalization.
William J. Devine Golf Course at Franklin Park is also deeply rooted in Boston history. Designed into Frederick Law Olmsted’s 527-acre Franklin Park, golf has been played there since 1896, making it one of the oldest public courses in the nation.
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