VASSALBORO — Bailey Plourde knew she had something special going Saturday at Natanis Golf Club. It wasn’t until she joined the growing throng of people craning their necks to see the manually updated scoreboard on the wall of the scoring shed that she realized just how special.
Plourde, of Lincoln Academy, fired a 2-under-par 70 on the Arrowhead Course at Natanis on Saturday to earn her second Maine state girls’ golf championship in three years, and first solo title. In 2013, she shared the crown with Presque Isle’s Jenna Hallett.
“My putting, my putting was really helpful today,” Plourde said. “I was a lot more confident on the greens today. If I was inside of 10 feet, I felt like I could knock it down.”
Plourde was four shots clear of Greely’s Erin Holmes (74), and seven clear of defending champion Hashilla Rivai of Thornton Academy. All three golfers were in the same group, which started its day on the ninth hole.
“Coming in, I was thinking mid-70s would probably win it, depending on the weather,” Plourde said. “I was trying not to focus on the people in my group or on the people behind me. I was just trying to focus on my game.
“I would rather start on 1 or 10, obviously, so that was a little weird, but I know the course well enough, so that helped, too.”
Plourde’s day started well, considering her starting position. She rattled off four birdies against just a pair of bogeys in her round, which was also the lowest round of the day for any golfer, regardless of class or gender.
“Only four,” Plourde said with a laugh after being asked how many birdies she’d made. “
Jordan LaPlume of Thornton Academy placed fourth, and Janelle Bryant of St. Dominic Academy, who has closed out her season in fine fashion, earned a top-five finish with an 82.
Lewiston High School’s Stephanie Rodrigue and St. Dom’s Markella Gammaitoni carded 87s to also crack the top 10, finishing in a tie for ninth position. Valerie Doucette of Lisbon finished tied for 22nd with a 97.
Owens on the podium in Class C
After helping lead the Winthrop Ramblers to a third-place finish at the Class C team championships a week ago, Anthony Owens had to change his thinking Saturday.
“The way I looked at it, I took more risks today than I would have with the team,” Owens said. “It’s just me instead of the whole team depending on me.”
Owens wrapped his head around the task at hand and fired an 80, earning a third place finish of his own.
“I made the turn late because I started on 14,” Owens said. “I kind of got on a bogey train there and couldn’t stop. I was 4-over at the turn, all I needed was some pars, and I made four bogeys in five holes. Still third, though. I’m happy with that.”
Logan Thompson of Mattanawcook shot a 77 on the Arrowhead course to earn his second consecutive Class C individual title. Ryan Dee of Houlton started strong and shot a 78 for second.
St. Dom’s placed four golfers in the top 10, including Brendon Donovan (81), Justin Keaney (82) and Nate Richard (83) in fourth, fifth and sixth positions. Adam White shot an 86 to tie for ninth. Dirigo’s Mike Kersey finished just outside the top 10, placing tied for 11th with an 87.
Other area golfers in the Class C field included St. Dom’s Nick Gammaitoni (17th, 92) and Zac Robertson of Winthrop (T-19, 95).
Anderson solid for Camden Hills
Cole Anderson of Camden Hills went as low as a few under par Saturday and carded an even-par 72 to earn the Class A state golf title. Anderson led a strong contingent of Class A North golfers, who took the top four places on the Tomahawk course at Natanis. Dylan Burton of Messalonskee placed second with a 74, and Billy Rollins of Messalonskee and Cameron Cox of Mt. Ararat tied for third at 75.
Cox has had a strong season for the Eagles, and was pleased with his play Saturday.
“I started on 17 and 18, made some good pars,” Cox said. “I had an unfortunate bogey on one, but came back with birdies. On the front nine, every time I had a bogey, I came back with a birdie, so I ended up even on the front. I had some trouble, got a double bogey on the back, but then I parred out. Not a bad day.”
Drew Kane of Scarborough shot a 76 to round out the top five. Other area golfers in Class A included Mac Kim of Oxford Hills (T-9, 78), Brendon Croteau of Lewiston (T-26, 86) and Alex Robert of Lewiston (T-35, 91).
Shootout, and a tie, in Class B
Ryan Collins of Cape Elizabeth and Oceanside High School’s Nick Mazurek carded matching 74s Saturday to earn a share of the Class B state title. Kyle Lamson of MDI placed third with a 76, while Tyler Walker of Lake Region, Eric Dugas of MCI and Cole Daniels of Old Town shared fourth place, each shooting 77.
Area golfers in Class B included Cohen Donnell of Oak Hill (T-16, 84), Connor Drouin of Oak Hill (T-20, 85) and Ethan Mason of Poland (30th, 94).
jpelletier@sunjournal.com
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