Pennington closes in on another county title
Amber Pennington closes in on county four-peat
HIGH FALLS, N.Y. >> A rough outing Saturday at Mohonk hasn’t deterred Amber Pennington from her bid for a fourth consecutive Ulster County Women’s Golf Association championship.
Pennington shot a 3-over 33 on the front nine, but a 46 on the back nine for an 82.
With Chelsea Lapp in second place carding a 39-47—86, Pennington has widened her firstround advantage from six shots to 10 heading into Sunday’s final round of the 54-hole event at the Lazy Swan Golf and Country Club in Saugerties. The 16-yearold Pennington has a 76-82—158 while Lapp is at 82-86—168.
“I know the Lazy Swan pretty well. It’s pretty open. I can use my driver a lot more, so I’ll least have my weapon able to use again,” said Pennington, who stayed away from the driver on Mohonk’s shorter course. “I hit the ball not horribly today. I had a couple of errant tee shots that just set me off to a bad path on some of the holes on the back.
“It is what it is. Really, all the mistakes are up here,” she said, pointing at her head. “I couldn’t execute some of my shots that I needed to.”
Pennington had three double bogeys and a triple bogey along with an 8 on the par-4 12th.
Lapp, who couldn’t make the
transition from the opening round at Wiltwyck, had two double bogeys and a pair of triple bogeys.
“The greens were hard to read, more so than anything,” Lapp said. “They were very hilly and a lot slower than Wiltwyck so, coming back from Wiltwyck yesterday, it was really hard to figure out where to land the ball, how to read them or how to roll it. I had a lot of three-putts. The ball just wasn’t dropping. I had a lot of putts that I missed by a hair and it just kept going.
“I’m glad it’s over. Hopefully tomorrow is a little bit better.”
Five other players are in the thick of the fight for second and third place. Diane Myers (86-86) and Cheryl Potter (89-83) are tied four shots back of Lapp at 172. Kim Hines (93-80) is at 173, while Ellen Densen (87-88) is at 175 and Mary Gersec (91-85) at 176.
Hines had the best round of the day with a 42-38—80 with eight pars, including three on the back nine.
Lapp and company are chasing Pennington, but the three-time champion is chasing someone herself.
“I’m four back from Jana,” she said, referring to someone invited to participate in the UCWGA’s 61st annual event.
Jana Kàbrtovà has the best score of the first two rounds with a 78 Friday and 76 Saturday and, if eligible, would be leading Pennington by four strokes. Kàbrtovà’s performance is providing a competitive element for the soon-to-be Rondout Valley senior.
Kàbrtovà, here on a student/work visa from the Czech Republic, has worked two summers at the Mohonk Mountain House and Golf Course and is in the middle of a full year at the resort.
“I was studying tourism, so this is my internship for that,” said Kàbrtovà, 26, who went to university in Prague. She’s been playing golf since age 15.
“I’m just having fun. I don’t have the pressure,” she said about playing in the tourney. She shot a a 2-over 35 on the front nine with three birdies on her home course and, like everyone else in Saturday’s heat, wilted a little on the back nine with a 41.
“I know this one. I don’t know the Lazy Swan for tomorrow,” Kàbrtovà noted. “I’ve never played that. That’s going to be interesting.”
Sunday’s Tee Times
At Lazy Swan Championship Flight 9:40: Lynn Formica, Kristen Osterhoudt, Brooke Bode
9:50: Cindy Woebse, Kathleen Murphy, Cynde Modjeska
10:00: Ellen Densen, Mary Gersec, Emily Jacobsen
10:10: Diane Myers, Cheryl Potter, Kim Hines
10:20: Jana Kàbrtovà, Amber Pennington, Chelsea Lapp First Flight 9:00: Helena Bladyga, Laurie Jacobsen
9:10: Mary Furey, Marge Bennett
9:20: Marianne Albamont, Kathy Riisenberg, Linda DePuy
9:30: Sandy MancusoLopez, Nancy Gogg, Jackie Roudis