BRUNSWICK

It was the self-professed worst iron shot of Emily Bouchard’s life, and the end result could have been much more disastrous than losing a golf tournament.

Her level of concentration possibly dulled by a seven-shot lead with three holes remaining Wednesday in the Maine Women’s Amateur, Bouchard badly mis-hit a 4-iron to the right and through a tree about 25 yards from the tee.

It struck longtime family friend Bob Bazinet — her father and caddy John’s boss — on the top of his left shoulder before falling into the rough.

Bazinet never fell to the ground and was joking about Emily’s marksmanship and John’s job security within seconds.

But, for the remainder of the round, it was no laughing matter to Bouchard. She triple-bogeyed the hole, putting at least a smidgen of drama back into the tournament.

“I’m a little shaken up, to say the least,” Bouchard said. “Until I putted out here on 18, I was still shaken up. I still feel pretty bad about it, to be honest.”

That putt? It merely produced Bouchard’s fourth birdie of the day and punctuated her successful defense of the state title at Brunswick Golf Club.

In addition to her victory a year ago, when the SMWGA and WMSGA consolidated their championships for the first time, Bouchard also captured the WMSGA crown in 2011.

“I’m pretty excited right now about this. It’s pretty cool,” Bouchard said. “It’s a three-peat to me. I wanted it badly. I felt like I wanted it more than the past two.”

Bouchard, 23, shot 4-over 78 for a 54-hole total of 235, six shots ahead of 17-year-old Monica Austin of Yarmouth and seven in front of Calais veteran Lori Frost.

Austin, who is a protégé of Bouchard’s through the state junior program, shot 79 in the final round for a total of 241. Frost had a triple bogey one hole before Bouchard notched hers and stumbled down the stretch to an 83.

First-round leader Kris Kannegieser of Minot matched her opening-day 79 and was fourth at 243.

Brunswick’s Margaret Brann shot 86 on the final day to close at 257 to lead the Midcoast region contingent. Barbara Rondeau of Brunswick shot her best round on Wednesday, closing with an 83 for a three-day total of 260.

Also playing out of Brunswick were Terry Karkos (262), Lynn Ruddy (274), Marcia Blake (288), Nancy Fournier (291), Debbie Williams (308) and Ruth Appleyard (326).

Frost makes a run

Trailing by two shots to start the day, Frost got within one when Bouchard bogeyed the first hole. She lurked four back until a double bogey at 13 and a triple bogey on 15 ended her title hopes.

After shooting 1-over 37 on the front nine, Bouchard went into a bunker and ended up with a bogey on No. 10.

Tuesday’s 85 cost Kannegieser a chance to challenge Bouchard.

Buoyed by the mid-round news that her son, Will, had placed sixth in an international junior tournament at Sugarloaf, Kannegieser made a strong run on the back nine. She nearly aced the 14th hole.

Kannegieser finished four shots ahead of the fifth-place tie between Laurie Hyndman, Mary Brandes and Liz Wiltshire.