Teen leads Ulster women’s tourney
Pennington goes into final round with five-shot advantage
Amber Pennington could be on the verge of becoming the youngest player to win the Ulster County Women’s Golf Association championship after a sizzling second-round performance Saturday at Mohonk Golf Course.
The 13-year-old shot a 2-under 33 that included three birdies on the front nine and had a 75 overall to take a five-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round of the 54-hole event at Rondout Golf Club.
Pennington, playing in the UCWGA tourney for the first time, has a two-day total of 84-75—159.
Saturday’s performance erased Ellen Densen’s first-round threestroke advantage. Densen, bidding for a third title, is in second place and still within striking distance with an 81-83—164. Becky Fall, who was tied for second with Pennington after Friday’s round at Apple Greens, is also within range with an 8481—165.
The lead trio tees off at Rondout at noon. The first group goes off at 11 a.m.
Two-time champion Kim Hines is in fourth place heading into the final 18 holes with a 173 and Diane Myers is fifth with 178.
Pennington, who played the Mohonk course for the first time on Wednesday, had the lead by the fourth hole. She bogeyed No. 1, then birdied the par-4 second
hole with its uphill fairway. After pars on the next three holes, she birdied the par-3 sixth, parred the next two, then birdied the challenging par-5 ninth.
Densen birdied 8 and 9 to stay within four strokes.
“I parred (10) and Amber had a double bogey on it, so I started chipping away,” Densen said, “but then I had a run of three double bogeys before I settled back down.”
Fall, who has never won the title, kept pace with a 39 on the front nine. A double bogey on 18 dropped her into third place. “It’s hard to catch up to a 33. She played a spectacular front,” Densen remarked. “This kid hits a long ball. She’s tough.
“Five shots isn’t impossible,” she noted. “It will be a challenge, but it will be fun tomorrow. We’ll see. I still have a chance.” Anything can happen. Pennington went from a 2-under 33 on the front Saturday to shooting a 7-over 42 on the back. She double bogeyed 10, 13 and 14, but righted herself with pars on the final four holes.
Pennington has the home course advantage Sunday. The soon-tobe freshman starred on Rondout Valley High’s first girls golf team this spring, winning the Section 9 title.
If she wins, Pennington will be the youngest UCWGA champion since Nancy Kolln won at age 15 in 1970. Kolln went on to win again in ‘72 and ‘74. Densen is looking to add to titles won in 2009 and ‘11. She captured the Ulster County senior title last year and would love to achieve what she calls the “Densen Slam.”
A birdie on 3 and pars on four of the first seven holes had Fall with a three-stoke lead on Densen and Pennington at the turn Friday. Densen gained ground with a birdie on the 11th.
“That was sweet. It was a nice drive, about two, three feet from the pin,” she said. The firstround leader also in 2015, Densen parred four of the final seven to close out with a 4-over 39 on the back nine. Best Bet: Songbird, Race 10 Longshot: Kitzys Rocket, Race 9 Yesterday: 4-for-11 Overall: 10-for-21 6 Furlongs. Open 3-year-olds and up. CLAIMING $12,500. Purse $25,000 [1:00 PM] IMSLOPOKERODRIGUEZ: Has won three in a row and makes his first start for David Jacobson. There’s other early speed here, but he seems like the quickest of the quick; STORM PURSUIT: Romped at this level last time out at Belmont. He did sit a dream trip that day, but it’s tough to knock a horse that’s 5-for-9 so far this year; WESTERN TRYST: Ships in from Finger Lakes for a trainer that’s had success with that move. The recent worktab indicates this 12-1 shot could be live. 1 1/16 Miles. Turf. Open 2YO. MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT. Purse $83,000 [1:33 PM] PRICE TOO HIGH: The debut is a complete throw-out. She got left at the gate as the 4/5 favorite, and the recent July 7th bullet and top-notch turf pedigree make her a logical top choice; REALISM: Is a half-sister to four-time Grade 1 winner Emollient and hails from the same female family as Machiavellian (the sire of Street Cry). Mott firsters often need a race, but there’s tons of potential here; ENSTONE: Has plenty of experience and a pedigree that screams distance. Her last race was good enough to win, and improvement is logical. DIRT SELECTIONS: SEAM, PRICE TOO HIGH, JOUST.