Simsbury, Connecticut (June 6, 2022) – Notre Dame commit Alexsandra Lapple fired a stellar 3-under 69 on day one of the 23rd Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth and she will carry a two-shot lead into Tuesday’s final round.
On a gorgeous day at Hop Meadow Country Club Lapple (Ridgewood Country Club) got her round off to a quick start with a birdie on the par-5 2nd. Lapple missed the green with her approach shot but was able to chip it to 10-feet setting up her first of three birdies on the front nine.
“I putted really well today,” said Lapple who turned in 3-under 33. “Putting was the key to my round. I didn’t miss any putts until my last hole.”
The 17-year-old amateur added birdies on Nos. 5 and 6 before giving back her only stroke of the day with a bogey on the par-4 10th. Unfazed Lapple responded with a birdie two holes later on the par-3 12th to return to 3-under for the round where she would stay for the remainder of the day.
Originally from Connecticut, Lapple moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina after eighth grade for the better weather and her golf game has thrived. A rising senior at The O’Neal School, Lapple has won two AJGA events, played in three U.S. Girls’ Junior Championships, and played in a Girls’ Junior PGA Championship.
However, Lapple is enjoying being back in Connecticut and competing for a state open. “I think it is really cool to be back in the home state and being able to compete. I love the course so it was nice to play a good round.”
Lapple will begin the final round two shots clear of rising Fairfield junior Sydney Nethercott (MGA eClub – Connecticut) who signed for a 1-under 71 to post the only other under-par score of the first round.
Even-par at the turn following a three birdie, three bogey opening nine Nethercott got her round going with consecutive short birdies on Nos. 10 and 11. On the par-4 10th she knocked her approach shot from 110-yards to five feet and then did the same thing from 155-yards out on the ensuing par-4.
Now 2-under for the tournament Nethercott slipped up with a bogey on No. 13 before righting the ship and parring her way to the house.
“I knew the course was short so that was an advantage,” said Nethercott who birdied five times in the first round. “However, it was narrow and the pins were in some hard places so I was just trying to keep it below the pin and luckily I hit some good shots and had a lot of birdies.”
Reigning Liz Janangelo Caron Player of the Year Mia Grzywinski (CC of Farmington) will begin the final round in third place at 1-over, Angela Garvin (The Ranch GC) is in fourth place at 2-over while four players share fifth place at 3-over. The fifth-place group includes Samantha Perrotta (Philmont CC), defending champion Melissa Siviter (GC of Georgia), Linna Yamauchi (Japan Golf Association), and Samantha Morrell (Millbrook Club).
The shot of the day belonged to 16-year-old Kenna Roman (Shuttle Meadow CC). On the par-3 12th she recorded her first career hole-in-one with a 6 iron from 160-yards.
12-year-old Arabella Lopez (Golf Performance Center) birdied her first two holes and spent most of the day around the top of the leaderboard. Lopez ended up shooting a 5-over 77 and is tied for 16th place.
“It is cool to play with people a lot better than me so that I can learn stuff from them,” Lopez said. “What I learned today is that you don’t have to be playing amazing to score. You don’t have to hit good shots all the time.”
The final round of the 23rd Connecticut Women’s Open will begin at 8 a.m. on Tuesday morning.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Women’s Open is one of 20 championships conducted by the Connecticut State Golf Association. The CSGA functions as an extension of the USGA and provides stewardship for amateur golf in Connecticut. Founded in 1899, it is the country’s oldest state golf association and conducts over 60 Championships, Qualifiers, and One Day Tournaments throughout the year.
