Jade Haylock shot a combined nine-over-par on the eighth and ninth holes in the first round of the 54-hole Maine Women’s Amateur Golf Tournament on Monday.
The defending champ, who just graduated from Leavitt High School in Turner, wound up shooting an 11-over-par 83 for that first round. It left her eight shots behind 2023 Maine Amateur titlist Erin Holmes to start the tournament at the Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.
But Haylock stormed back, firing a four-over par 76 on Tuesday and a dazzling three-under par 69 on Wednesday to win by six shots over Holmes.
Haylock, who is from Hartford and plays out of the Turner Highlands Country Club, carded a 12-over-par 228.
The four-time state Class B schoolgirl golf titlist will take her talents to Sacred Heart University (Conn.) in the fall.
University of Southern Maine assistant women’s golf coach Holmes shot a 75 on Monday but had an 80 on Tuesday and a 79 on Wednesday for an 18-over-par 234.
Former Bucknell University golfer Holmes plays out of the Val Halla Golf Course in Cumberland Center.
Maria Cianchette from the Woodlands Club in Falmouth was third with a 20-over-par 236.
Ruth Colucci from the Biddeford-Saco Country Club in Saco finished fourth at a 26-over-par 242 and there was a two-way tie for fifth at 28-over-par 244 involving Danielle Rock from the Martindale Country Club in Auburn and Abby Flanagan from the Springbrook Golf Course in Leeds.
Jordan Laplume, the 2019 Maine Women’s Amateur winner, was sixth with a 30-over par 246. She plays out of the Dunegrass Golf Club in Old Orchard Beach.
Two-time champion Kristin Kannegieser (2007, 2010) from the Portland Country Club in Falmouth was seventh at 33-over-par 249.
Rounding out the top 10 were Julie Treadwell from the J.W. Parks Golf Course in Pittsfield (252) and Ruth Weeks from the Portland Country Club, Thea Davis from the Hermon Meadow Golf Club and Kathi O’Grady from the Woodlands Club who all shot a 254.
Haylock entered the final day of play four shots behind Holmes, but was tied after just three holes as she birdied the first and third holes while Holmes had a double bogey on the third hole.
Haylock took the lead for good with a birdie on the sixth hole while Holmes could only manage a par and she took control on the eighth and ninth holes, the same holes she shot nine-over on the first day.
She had a par four on the eighth hole while Holmes had a triple-bogey seven and she birdied the par-four ninth hole while Holmes posted a triple-bogey six.
Haylock notched her fifth, sixth and seventh birdies of the round on holes 14, 15 and 16.
Haylock told Bangor TV station WABI TV-5 that she knew she couldn’t give up after her early-round struggles and that she had made comebacks before, though maybe not from so far behind.
“And then having my dad on the bag and him supporting me and giving me words of encouragement was definitely really helpful,” Haylock told WABI.
