Tilton, NH – The opening round of the New Hampshire Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at Lochmere Golf & Country Club featured tightly packed competition, with Tara Watt of Derryfield Country Club emerging as the round-one leader after posting a 4-over-par 76. Just behind her on the leaderboard is Julie Rivers from Indian Mound Golf Club who carded five-over-par 77 to sit in contention with one round left in the championship.
Watt’s round was anchored by her stellar play on the par-3s, where she went 2-under with birdies at holes 8 and 13. She complimented those par-3 birdies with three additional birdies on holes 2, 12 and 18. Despite encountering trouble on the longer holes, most notably double bogeys on the par-5 7th and par-4 17th, Watt remained composed and carded a 37 on the front nine and 39 on the back. Her consistent ball striking and strong putting kept her one stroke clear of the field with 18 holes to play.
Close behind is Julie Rivers of Indian Mound Golf Club, who sits just one shot back after a 5-over 77. Rivers showed resilience throughout her round, highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 12th. She stayed steady through most of the day but dropped a few strokes late, including a double bogey on the par-4 15th and a bogey on the 17th hole. Despite that, her round of 38-39 keeps her well within striking distance heading into the final round.
Just a few shots back is Tracey Marshall of Abenaqui Country Club, who posted a 79 (+7) to sit in solo third. Like Watt and Rivers, Marshall’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-4 12th hole at Lochmere. Corey Richardson of Duston Country Club followed with an 80 (+8), while two players, Amy Dickison (Breakfast Hill Golf Club) and Sharon Hill (North Conway Country Club) finished at 81 (+9). A trio of golfers, Kat Bordeau (Canterbury Woods Country Club), Beth Hamilton (Beaver Meadow Golf Course) and Dawn Bellamo (Cochecho Country Club) all finished at 82 (+10), keeping themselves in the mix.
Lochmere Golf & Country Club, with its rolling fairways, elevation changes, and challenging greens, is proving to be a true test of golf for the field competing this week. The par-5 7th and par-4 17th holes stood out as the toughest on each nine during the opening round, demanding precision and punishing any miscues. On the flip side, the uphill par-4 12th offered a glimmer of opportunity, yielding the most birdies of the day, as six players managed to go under par there.
With just 18 holes left to play and only a handful of strokes separating the leaders, Thursday’s final round promises a dramatic finish as some of the state’s top mid-amateur women battle for the championship at Lochmere.
NH Women’s Mid-Amateur | Leaderboard
