The Host with the Most
By Joe McDonald
RIGA Senior Writer
RUMFORD – Wannamoisett Country Club has been the host of many epic and historic matches in its 126-year history.
That tradition will continue during the 2024 Women’s Amateur Championship Wednesday on this iconic Donald Ross course. A total of six past champions have advanced to this season’s quarterfinal round, including a featured match between defending champion Olivia Williams and Kylie Eaton, who won in 2022.
The excitement doesn’t end there.
Alexis Florio (2020) will play recently crowned Junior Amateur Champion, Lily Dessel, who is emerging as a top player in the state. Emily Brooks (2021) squares off against Addy Douglas (2017) in what should be an epic match. Val Blinn (2007) takes on Wannamoisett’s Morgan MacLeod. These players all advanced despite rainy conditions during Tuesday’s Round of 16.
No matter how the remainder of this major championship plays out, Wannamoisett is the perfect backdrop.
Florio, who hasn’t played in this championship since she won it, decided to return this year because it’s being played here.
“It’s Donald Ross,” she simply said. “The fairways are tight. You have to place it off the tee and it requires strategy and you have to be a thinker. You don’t necessarily need to be aggressive, it’s not a long course, but if you can place your ball in the fairway off the tee then it’s fun to create different shots as you approach the green, because the greens are a little quirky out here, but in a good way. It makes for some fun golf.”
Williams, who needed all 18 holes to stave off elimination against Samantha Tinsley, wants another title. Brooks and Blinn want to prove to the “youngsters” they’ll still tough to beat. Douglas believes she can win again, too. Dessel has been playing with so much confidence it’s possible she could win her second state championship in the span of a week.
While winning is the goal for all the competitors, MacLeod is hoping to play spoiler on her home course. It’s going to be an interesting morning in Rumford.
“It’s a lot of fun,” MacLeod said. “I’m really happy it’s here. I like the home-course advantage, but it does feel a little different when it’s a tournament even though it’s my home course that I play every day.”
No doubt she’s focused on the task at hand, but the opportunity to win on her home course is something MacLeod is thinking about.
“It would definitely mean a lot,” she said. “Hopefully that can happen, but I know there’s still a lot of tough competition still out there. I think just take it one shot at a time and make pars. There are a lot of good players still out there, so there will be some tough matches, but I’m ready for it.”
The competitors either have fond memories of playing here, or they’re hoping to create some in the coming days.
“I remember winning a Challenge Cup match play tournament when I was 14 against now one of my best friends,” Florio recalled. “Golf is unique in that we have memories from each course we play, because they’re so different, so that’s a lasting memory I had where I just appreciated being in a cool tournament environment as a young person. The Challenge Cup and (Wannamoisett) made such a big deal about it, so those are the types of things that make you want to keep coming back for more and develop as a competitor. That has always stuck with me and I think about that every time.”
Meanwhile, on the course Tuesday, the women had to battle Mother Nature. Play was suspended at 10:30 a.m. and resumed at 12:15.
“It was a lot of fun despite having to manage the rain gear and the towels. I’ve played in a lot of rainy, not ideal condition, so I think it’s where people rise to the top if you can hang in there and either block it out of embrace it. It makes the tournament more interesting, for sure.”
Despite the wet conditions, all the players this week have raved about course conditions and have praised the work of superintendent Mark Daniels and his grounds crew who work tirelessly to maintain and keep Wannamoisett in pristine shape.
“It’s definitely Mark,” MacLeod said. “He puts so much work into this course. The greens are amazing and it’s always in good shape, even when it rains.”
The quarterfinals of the Net Division Championship should also be exhilarating. The top match features past champions Gail Lederman, who won in 2022, against fellow Wanumetonomy G&CC member Jane Lippincott, who won in 2021. Sarah Santos will face Jill Lancaster, while Mel Hebert plays Leony Hartig. Wendy Ossman will compete against Pamela Brissette.