Saying “the course beat me today,” Emily Bouchard of Saco still managed to grind out a 5-over-par 78 in the second round of the Women’s Maine State Golf Association Championship Tuesday and maintain a five-shot lead at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono.

Bouchard, 21, playing in her first state amateur, was 12 shots higher than her opening-round 66, giving her a 36-hole total of 2-under 144 heading into today’s final round.

Karli Soracco of Turner remained five shots behind after matching Bouchard’s 78. Soracco opened with a 71 and stands at 3-over 149.

“The greens were very fast and it was a huge adjustment to make from the first round. The hole locations were much more difficult,” said Bouchard.

“I struggled with my putting, but everything was off. I was pulling and pushing my shots. I was short and long with them. But despite my problems, I was pleased that I stuck with it and grinded it out,” she said.

Bouchard registered nine birdies in the opening round. She had two birdies in the second round, both on par-5 holes, but unlike in the first round, she made a double bogey and several bogeys.

Advertisement

“I’m still confident, very confident in fact, with my game. Five shots isn’t as much as I would like to have for a lead with a round to go, but as poorly as I played, it’s not bad,” said Bouchard.

The type of round it was for the former Thornton Academy player was summed up on the short, par-4 17th hole.

“I drove the green with a 3-wood and then three-putted. I three-putted seven times. It wasn’t easy trying to make the adjustment on extremely fast greens,” she said.

Ann Probert of Waterville shot a second straight 75 and was in third place at 4-over 150. Pennie Cummings of Leeds, a six-time champion, was next at 11-over 157, defending champion Kristin Kannegieser of Minot was fifth at 159, and Leslie Guenther of Norway and Susan Gilpatrick-Smart of Kennebunk were tied at 160.

Bouchard, Soracco and Probert will play in the final group starting at 11 a.m.

 

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be contacted at 791-6419 or at: tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 


Only subscribers are eligible to post comments. Please subscribe or login first for digital access. Here’s why.

Use the form below to reset your password. When you've submitted your account email, we will send an email with a reset code.