Harwinton, Connecticut (July 12, 2023) – Annie Dai began the final round of the 2nd Connecticut Girls’ Junior hosted by Fairview Farm Golf Course with a two-shot lead. By the time she walked off the green on the second hole the lead was five and Dai was well on her way.
Following a par on the opening hole Dai found the fairway on the par-4 second hole leaving herself only 110 yards into the elevated green. With a green light to attack the pin, Dai stuffed her second shot to a foot and a half resulting in a birdie that opened up a lead nobody could catch.
“I am really excited to have won,” said Annie Dai who was a member of the 2019 PGA Junior League Fairview Farm GC team. “It is such an honor to win the 2nd Connecticut Girls’ Junior. It was a really exciting two days for me.”
Dai (CT PGA Junior Golf Association) opened with a first round 3-under 69 to carry a lead into the final round over Aoife Devaney (CC of Waterbury) who began her week with a 1-under 71. Devaney struggled early in the final round before making a late move up the leaderboard with three birdies in the last five holes including one on the closing par-5 18th.
However, the late charge wouldn’t be enough to track down Dai. “My irons were the better part of my game today. I had some good ups and downs and my putting under five feet was also solid,” Dai said.
After turning in even-par 36 Dai continued her steady golf and after holing a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 14 she was 3-under with four holes remaining and comfortably in the lead. It was an advantage Dai would end up needing.
Standing on the tee of the short par-4 17th she pumped her drive out of bounds. After taking a drop Dai sent her next shot into a hazard. Following a two-putt she walked off the penultimate green with a triple-bogey seven but still held a three-shot lead.
Despite the unexpected triple bogey, Dai eliminated any potential drama from the final hole when she found the fairway with her tee shot. Moments later when Dai, who finished the tournament even-par, tapped in for par she had finished off a wire-to-wire victory.
Devaney took second place at 2-over, Arabella Lopez (Redding CC) finished third at 4-over, Laniah Moffett (EClub of Connecticut) was fourth at 11-over while Cindy Cao (USGA/CSGA GC) and Zorah Williams (Stonington CC) shared fifth at 13-over.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Girls’ Junior Amateur 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.
