Stephanie Rodrigue of Lewiston High and Janelle Bryant of St. Dominic Academy are scholastic golf rivals, but even better friends, which is why they are delighted that the Maine State Golf Association has bestowed college scholarship funds upon them.
In the fall, Rodrigue will be attending Mt. Olive, a Division II college in North Carolina, while Bryant will matriculate to Merrimack College in Massachusetts. Bryant’s MSGA scholarship provides $1,500 a year for four years. Rodrigue is the recipient of Frank Langlois award of $5,000 for one year. The two of them can be seen regularly playing at Fox Ridge or Martindale.
Rodrigue, who won the Junior Golf of Maine championship in 2016 and was fourth in last fall’s Maine Principals Association State Tournament, was recruited by Mt. Olive, which has made her eager to be on campus, because she knows that North Carolina weather will be much more conducive to playing year-round golf than it has been in Maine. And she is grateful for the Langlois financial assistance through the MSGA.
“The MSGA has been good to me over the years,” said Rodrigue, who has reciprocated being good to golf through the First Tee of Maine, a program in which she received “Eagle” status. That means she fulfilled all of the First Tee requirements as a player and a solid citizen. “I love the game and can’t wait to play in North Carolina.”
To become good at golf was not an easy task for Rodrigue, who is 4-11 and 100 pounds. She averages 78 for 18 holes and 77 per round in tournament competition.
“My hard work has paid off,” said Rodrigue, who will graduate with a 3.0 GPA.
Bryant, who has four older brothers (Chris, Joe, Pat and Mike), played three sports for St. Dom’s — three years of basketball, and four each in softball and golf. She played almost every softball position this spring, while finishing at No. 4 in her class academically with a 4.2 GPA. She finished among the top five in the state golf tournament in her junior and senior years, posting an 18-hole average of 80 and a tournament average of 79.
Many people think that Bryant’s home life with four older brothers could have been a struggle. With that assessment she would strongly disagree. Being the youngest of five has worked out well for her, causing Bryant to comment: “I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
Eight others students have been designated as MSGA scholarship recipients. The seven who received $1,500 for four years are: Ryan Collins of Cape Elizabeth High, Kaitlin Dixon of Carrebec High, Ryan Kaczmarek of Gorhan High, Jordan LaPlume of Thornton Academy, Blake Marden of Messalonskee High, Cohen Storer-Donnell of Oak Hill High, and Hunter Walter of Southern Aroostook High. Collins also is the recipient of the one-time, $1,000 Winchenbach Award. Logan Thompson of Mattanawcook Academy also was a Langlois award recipient.
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The Maine State Golf Association will begin its version of the U.S. Golf Association’s Play 9 program June 9 at Salmon Falls. It is a direct attempt to encourage golfers to play nine holes as twosomes when they cannot play 18. There will be multiple formats — scramble, alternate shot, and individual scores.
To register for events bis the internet, click onto MESGA.org. Adults pay $15, and players 18 and under are charged $12. Tee times will be posted on MESGA.org. Scorecards must be turned in.
Overseeing the Play 9 will be Alton Simokaitis, who can be contacted at AJ@mesga.org.
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Summit Spring Golf Course will conduct a one-week junior golf camp July 9-15 daily from 9 a.m.-2 p.m. under the supervision of instructors Tyler Curtis and Stephen Daily, for children ages 8-15. For more information telephone 998-3333 and ask for Mary.
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The New England Amateur Championship is scheduled July 17-19 at the Portland Country Club, with a June 18 qualifier at Webhannet … The New England Women’s Golf association is conducting its championship July 9-11 at The Woodlands.
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The Maine State Golf Association has its Weekend Events June 8 and 9 at Old Marsh. Women’s better ball will be June 5 at Falmouth and Cape Arundel. This weeks Senior Tour competition will be June 6 at Waterville.
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