Khang leads Connecticut Women’s Open golf; Avon’s Grillo in top 20

Megan Khang leads the Connecticut Women’s Open in Avon after one round. (Photo courtesy Connecticut State Golf Association)

AVON, August 18 — Two-time champion Megan Khang of Rockland, Mass., would like to add a third Connecticut Women’s Open championship trophy to her collection. With eight birdies and just one bogey, Khang shot a seven-under-par 65 Tuesday and leads the tournament by three strokes at the Golf Club of Avon.

Only four golfers broke par, led by Khang. Anna Ausanio of Hopewell Junction, N.Y., is three shots back after shooting a four-under par 68. Lindsay McGetrick of White Plains, N.Y. and Ashlan Ramsey of Greenville, South Carolina each shot a one-under 71.

Avon’s Marissa Grillo, who will be a sophomore at Boston College this fall, is the top golfer among the local participants. Grillo is tied for 17th after shooting a five-over-par 77. She had one birdies and 12 pars.

Avon’s Marissa Grillo competes at the Connecticut Women’s Open Tuesday in Avon. (Photo courtesy Connecticut State Golf Association)

Competition in the two-round event resumes this morning at 7:30 a.m. The public is invited to watch. There is no admission charge. Live scoring, pictures, stories, and updates can be found on the official tournament website at CTWomensOpen.com

“I think that a lot of my birdie putts came from the par fives,” Khang told USGA intern Katie Vrabel. “I gave myself a lot of chances out there and I relatively hit them close so I didn’t have to worry about those long, birdie putts and stressing out about having to two-putt for par.” Khang previously won the tournament in 2012 and 2013. She was the youngest player in tournament history to win as a 14-year-old in 2012.

The top Connecticut golfer in the tournament is Bloomfield amateur Natalie Fuller, who is 11th after a one-over-73.

Grillo had her only birdie of the day on the 17th hole but had a double bogey at 18 to finish with a 77.

Avon’s Autumn Serruta is tied for 24th place with a 7-over-par 79. She had one birdie and nine pars on the day. Avon’s Donna Harris, a 10-time club champion at the Golf Club of Avon, is tied for 41st after shooting a 10-over-par 82 along with Burlington’s Nicole Elliott. Harris had one birdie and eight pars while Elliott had nine pars.

Canton’s Nikki Liucci shot an 84. She didn’t have a birdie on the day but had 10 pars.

The 17th annual Connecticut Women’s Open Championship is open to any amateur or professional female golfer and is the CSGA’s only championship that is open to non-residents of Connecticut.