The CSGA Links Volume 5 Issue 2 June 2017 | Page 30

CHAMPIONSHIPS
Kayla Lawrence Wins 19th Connecticut Women’s Open
A
total of fourteen players began the final
round within four shots of overnight
leader Melissa Siviter of Alpharetta,
Georgia, whose opening round of 70 gave her
a one shot advantage. Things only got tighter
throughout the day, with eight different players
holding a share of the lead throughout the day and
no player holding more than a one-shot lead.

Playing in the final group with Siviter,
Kayla Lawrence of Deland, Florida played steady
throughout much of the day, keeping pace with the
leaders and holding a share of the lead until a bogey
on the 13th hole dropped her to even par for the
tournament. Even still, standing on the 16th tee,
she was one of ten players that were within a shot
of the lead.
30 | CSGA Links // June, 2017

“I was just trying to keep it together for
most of the day,” said Lawrence. “Fortunately, I hit
some great shots and made some great putts down
the stretch when it mattered most.”

After a monster tee shot on the par-5
16th, Lawrence was left with only 185 yards into
the green. She hit a 4-iron onto to the green to
within 25 feet of the hole, nearly missed her eagle
opportunity, and tapped in for birdie to get into
red numbers at one under-par.

“After I made birdie on #16, we heard a big
roar up at the clubhouse, so I wasn’t quite sure what
was going on but I had a feeling it was something
big and I figured I needed another birdie to have a
chance,” said Lawrence.

There isn’t much doubt that the shot of the
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