Lincoln Academy junior Bailey Plourde has become the first golfer in school history to win two state championships. Plourde shot a two-under par 70 on the Arrowhead course at Natanis in Vassalboro on a cool and windy Saturday to beat out the field of 42 qualifiers and win the 2015 Maine Schoolgirl championship.
Her second state golf title was the sweetest, as she won it outright. In 2013, as a freshman, Plourde tied for first place. Last year, as a sophomore, she tied for runner-up.
Plourde said “it felt great,” especially since she did “not have to share it.”
Plourde bogeyed her first hole, then settled down and hit five birdies and 10 holes for par. She had three bogeys on the day. Plourde said her two-under-par score of 70 was the first time she had shot below par. Only once during the regular season did Plourde shoot a 35 for nine holes.
Plourde was on the green in 12 of 18 shots in regulation.
Plourde shot so well, she had the best score on the day out of all male and female competitors, and out of all classes. The Class A boys winner, Cole Anderson, of Camden Hills, shot a 72; Class B winner Ryan Collins, of Cape Elizabeth, shot a 74; and Class C boys winner Logan Thompson, of Mattanawcook, shot a 77.
Plourde went undefeated in the Kennebec Valley Athletic Conference during the regular season against the number one golfers in the league. She averaged 38.4 for nine holes in the KVAC this season.
Plourde beat Schoolgirl runner-up Erin Holmes, of Greely, by four strokes. Last year’s state winner, Hashilla Rival, of Thornton, took third with a 77.
Plourde starting focusing on the 2015 title after she finished second in 2014. “She told me last year as we drove out of the parking lot, ‘I will not lose to her next year.’ Her physical and mental prep the past two weeks were as intense as I have ever seen her getting ready for competition,” said her father, Bob Plourde.
“She certainly has some talent, no doubt about it. She did exceptionally well. What impressed me the most was her level of maturity in the game. She certainly had the skills going in. The mental aspect of the game has been a challenge at times. She did well getting her head in the game and focusing on what she needed to do,” coach Todd Brackett said.
“Her game was solid all-around. Her approach shots were good. She stayed out of trouble. Plourde’s second hole was the only one she hit in the rough all day. She kept the ball in the fairway and made decent approach shots. Her finesse around the green was terrific,” Brackett said.
Plourde is the daughter of Lynne and Bob Plourde, of Newcastle.
Lincoln Academy teammate Marla Springe just missed medaling and a top-10 finish by two strokes. She shot an 89 to tie for 11th place. She shot an eagle for the first time in the tournament
Wiscasset independent golfer Grant Hefler shot an 84 to medal in 7th place in State Class C. Medomak Valley’s Adam Wilcox placed 24th with an 88.
