Liucci recovers with pair of birdies to remain third in state amateur

Canton’s Nikki Liucci

SOUTHBURY, Aug. 16 – Canton’s Nikki Liucci nearly stumbled at the end of the second round of Tuesday’s Connecticut Women’s Amateur golf championship at the Heritage Village Country Club.

Liucci had an eight on the par-four 16th hole Tuesday. But she recovered with birdies on the 17th and 18th holes to finish with a three-over par 77 for the second day in a row.

Liucci, representing Farmington Woods Golf Club, and 14-year-old Maisie Fuller are each tied for third place with 154, seven shots behind the leader, defending champion Catherine McEvoy, who shot a four-under-par 69 to take the lead. McEvoy leads by six strokes over Ellen Nighbor, who shot an 80 and has shot 153 over two days.

The third and final round begins Wednesday morning in Southbury. The tournament is the state’s most prestigious women’s amateur tournament.

After an opening round of 78 that left her five strokes behind the leader, McEvoy wasted no time making a charge up the leaderboard on day two. Her front nine of three birdies and zero bogies was nearly flawless, and with the leaders struggling to keep pace, she quickly vaulted from a tie for fifth place to leading the tournament.

“I had three birdies on the front nine and didn’t make any mistakes, which was a good momentum booster going into the back nine,” said McEvoy. “I felt pretty confident after that start and just tried to keep plugging along on the back nine. I made a bad bogey on the 16th hole, but I was able to finish strong by getting up-and-down on #17 for par and I hit it close on 18 for a birdie.”

McEvoy captured the Women’s Amateur at Indian Hill Country Club in 2015. “I feel like I’m hitting the ball really solid and only had 26 putts for my round, so I think if I can hit the ball as well as I did today and make a few putts, I’ll be in good shape.”

The women’s amateur marks the last amateur tournament of the summer for McEvoy, who will beginning her freshman year at Michigan State University in just a few weeks.

McEvoy is seeking to become just the 10th player in tournament to successfully defend their title. Kelly Whaley of TPC River Highlands was the last player to accomplish that feat, winning in 2013 at Rockledge Golf Club and 2014 at The Farms Country Club.

Although overnight leader Ellen Nighbor struggled to a round of seven over-par on Tuesday, she stands just six strokes back of McEvoy and well within striking distance. The reigning NEC Conference Player of the Year who is a rising senior at Sacred Heart University grabbed the first round lead with a round of 73 that included four birdies. 

Filler, the 2015 CWGA Junior Champion, and Liucci, runner-up at the 97th CWGA Championship, both equaled their day one scores, shooting consecutive rounds of 77 for a total of 154 (+8). MacKenzie Hawkes, the reigning CWGA Champion, shot a second round score of 79 and sits in fifth place at 155 (+9). 

Avon’s Donna Harris (Farmington Woods), who shot an 84 on Monday, shot an 82 in the second round. She is tied for 14th place with Burlington’s Nicole Elliott (Pequabuck GC), who shot an 86 in the second round on Tuesday.

Nine-hole scoring for all groups and hole-by-hole scoring for the leaders will be available online at CTWomensAmateur.com.

Leaders
Catherine McEvoy       78-69 — 147
Ellen Nighbor               73-80 — 153
Nikki Liucci                   77-77  — 154
Maisie Fuller                77-77  — 154
MacKenzie Hawkes     76-79  — 155