Former MTSU golfer Hanley Long is in 7th place after the opening round of stroke play at the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur Championship outside of Boston
photo by Contributed
While most of the field at the 37th U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship struggled to navigate the Brae Burn Country Club in Saturday’s opening round of stroke play, Clarksville’s Hanley Long found the layout to her liking.
The former Middle Tennessee State University golfer is tied for 7th heading into Sunday’s stroke play finale, posting a 2-over 74 to put herself in prime position to advance into match play.
Long started play on No. 10 where she recorded a pair of birdies to go along with two bogeys and a double bogey to make the turn in 2-over 39. She then eased through the front side of the course, tallying seven pars plus a bogey and birdie on the par-3 No. 8 – her 17th hole – to seal her tidy afternoon.
Long is a five-time Tennessee Golf Association champion, having won the 2019 Tennessee Women’s Amateur along with four Tennessee Women’s Four-Ball titles with former MTSU teammate Jenna Burris in 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2021.
Only one golfer among the field of 132, Alexandra Austin of Fairfax, Va. who was competing while six months pregnant, managed to break par with a 2-under 70. The average score on Saturday at iconic Donald Ross design in West Newton, Mass. was 80.10.
Ciara Smith, a member of Chattanooga’s Black Creek Club, was the next best finisher among the Tennessee contingent. Smith shot 9-over 81 to land in a tie for 71st, but a triple bogey on the par-4 No. 9 – her final hole on the day – dropped her outside of the Top 64 that will advance to Monday’s match play portion of the tournament.
Bethany Burns, a Signal Mountain native who now lives in New York City, is tied for 93rd after an 11-over 83. Burns struggled to a 44 on her opening nine, but managed three birdies for the day while shooting 2-under over her final five holes.
Clarksville native Caroline Ludwikowski posted a score of 13-over 85, tied for 109th after the first day.
The low 64 scores after 36 holes of stroke play move onto Monday’s match play Round of 64. The Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches take place on Tuesday, followed by the Quarterfinal and Semifinal matches on Wednesday.
The 18-hole Championship match is slated for Thursday.
For complete results, go to U.S. Women's Mid-Am results.
Paul Payne can be reached at paulpayne6249@gmail.com