Lincoln Academy freshman Bailey Plourde, 14, of Newcastle, shot a personal best 76 on the Arrowhead course at Natanis in Vassalboro on Saturday to win the Maine Schoolgirl Golf Championship. Plourde tied for the state title with Presque Isle’s Jenna Hallett.
Plourde birdied two holes, 12 and 15, and hit par on 12 holes, on the par 72 Arrowhead course. She hit a 37 on the front nine and a 39 on the back to bring home the first schoolgirl golf title for the Eagles.
Plourde was seeded in the number one group, of which Hallett was not a part. Plourde held a two stroke lead over Monica Austin, of Yarmouth Academy, after 10, but double bogied 11, locking the two leaders into a tie. Plourde played Austin even over the next three holes. Austin triple bogied 15, and Plourde birdied to take a four stroke lead. Austin put the heat on 17 with a birdie. Plourde double bogied, but held a one stroke lead going into the 18th and final hole.
Kelsie Dessent (Lawrence), Brianna Morris (OH) and Austin all ran into trouble on the their second shot when they landed in one of the two ponds surrounding 18. Plourde, after witnessing the other three splash down, hit a solid shot onto the green. Plourde hit par on 18, while Austin hit her fourth shot into the pond sealing her fate.
When asked what was going through her mind after witnessing the three girls in her group hit into a water hazard, Plourde responded,”I kept telling myself it didn’t matter, I had nothing to prove, just hit the ball.”
Going into the final hole, Plourde said she was “nervous because I heard my mother say I was only up by one. I was a little more nervous after I saw the first three in the pond, and saw all the people up here” watching.
Plourde plays in the summer at Samoset under pro Gary Soule. She won the Maine Juniors in the 13-14 age group. Her previous best score of 77 was during the MSGA Tournament on Arrowhead last summer.
She is the daughter of Lynne and Bob Plourde of Newcastle, and the granddaughter of Barbara and Tom Wright on Nobleboro, and Francis Plourde of Jefferson.
Eagle teammate Natalie Whitney also qualified for the State tournament, and shot a 106.
Matel Class B runner-up
Lincoln Academy senior Seward Matel, shot a two over par 74, to place second at the State Class B Schoolboy Golf on the Tomahawks course at Natanis in Vassalboro on Saturday. Maranacook’s Luke Ruffing won the State B title with a one under par 71.
The State Class B runner-up trophy was the second for Matel, who also earned the honor his freshman year.
Matel birdied five holes (1,3,7,15, and 18) and hit par on five. He started on 14 and was two under after his first nine holes. He scored 37 on the front nine and 37 on the back nine.
Matel is the son of Jim and Sarah Matel of Round Pond.
Longfellow Class C runner-up
Wiscasset High School senior Chandler Longfellow shot a four over 76 on Arrowhead course at Natanis in Vassalboro to tie for second with Winthrop’s Adam Hachey and St.Dom’s Mitch Lorenz. Robbie Watson of Fort Fairfield was the State Class C winner with a one under 71.
Longfellow struggled on his final hole on 11, after hitting his tee shot into the trees.
Wiscasset teammate Daren Wood also qualified for States and shot an 89.
