Lawrence lands CSGA Open title

GOSHEN » A California-born Floridian, Kayla Lawrence, used a strong finish to win the 2017 CSGA Connecticut Open golf tournament at Torrington Country Club Wednesday.

Hitting thunderclap drives, Lawrence shot a second consecutive 71. The 142 total is two under par and one stroke better than second-place finisher Alexa Re Rancourt of Simpsonville, S.C. (143) and two shots ahead of third-place finisher Ayaka Nakayama, who lists her home base as Oviedo, Fla. (144).

Lawrence birdied the par three 17th, placing her drive a scant three feet from the hole. The tall shotmaker had a chance for birdie at the 18th after a terrific second shot, but missed the short putt which she didn’t need, as it turned out, to secure the win.

Thus ended, in bright sunshine and elevating temperatures, one of the club’s finer moments – an important state tourna-

nament that went off without a hitch. Cooperation and good planning at the club’s end as well as adroit handling by the CSGA were the keys. The weather was not completely cooperative. It rained on and off on Tuesday and the temperature was chilly. On the second day a 45-minute delay was enforced in the morning because of the danger of lightning. But, no matter, the event turned out to be a topflight success.

It was the first professional victory for the articulate winner, who is $4,000 richer and who entered the event after missing the cut in a tournament in Pennsylvania. “I went online and saw this was coming up, so I hurried and made it in, I was one of the last entries,’’ she said.

Lawrence showed grit in persevering and finally collecting the big trophy, in the ceremony at tournament’s end. “I was in the very first group off the tee yesterday (Tuesday),’’ she said. “That’s not a favorable spot, but I was able to deal with it.’’

Indeed she was, only one shot off the lead at day’s end, which set her up to play some of her best golf on the final day.

In Wednesday’s pairing, she was in a threesome with Vivian Tsui of Markham, Ontario, Canada and Tuesday’s leader, Melissa Siviter of Alpharetta, Ga. (by way of England).

This year’s Open champ started playing golf at the age of six or seven near Redding, Calif. It was her father Michael who first got her interested in the game.

Her first club swinging experience took place at a driving range where customers rented clubs and hit golf balls into a watery, pond-like target. It was fun, she discovered. Pretty soon, she was hooked on it and began playing real golf at real golf courses. Laura Davies and Annika Sorenstam became her role models. One thing led to another. Soon, she was pretty darned skilled. She played at Tulsa University and then was a graduate assistant at the University of Texas – El Paso, from which she obtained a masters degree in Business Administration.

Lawrence, 26, is married to Jason and has a six-year-old stepson, Chase.

Four golfers posted 145s, one over, Wednesday. They are: Gabrielle Shipley, Hastings, Il.; Josee Doyon, Newton Falls, Ohio; Elizabeth Breed, Waynesboro, Pa.; and Siviter.

Finishing at 146 were Brooke Baker, Sanford Fla.; Natalie Goodson, Naples, Fla.; Jessica Carafiello, Stamford, Ct.; and Tsui; at 147 were Mia Lundgren, Bridgewater, Ct; Seul-Ki Park,Winchester, Ma.; Jordan Lintz, Milford, Ct.

Lynn Valentine of East Lyme, Ct. shot 148 and Andi Slane, Stillwater, Ok, recorded 149.