Simsbury, Connecticut (June 7, 2022) – Alexsandra Lapple won the 23rd Connecticut Women’s Open presented by Crescent Point Private Wealth but it wasn’t easy. With the victory Lapple became the first amateur to win the Connecticut Women’s Open since Megan Khang’s victory in 2015.
Lapple began the final round two shots clear of the field following a first round 3-under 69 however on Tuesday the 17-year-old struggled right out of the gate playing the first four holes at Hop Meadow Country Club in 3-over to fall back to even-par for the tournament.
Lapple’s round started with a bogey on No. 1 and despite her lone birdie of the day on the par-5 second the struggles continued with a double-bogey on the par-3 third and a bogey on the fourth.
Meanwhile, as Lapple slid back towards the field Millbrook Club First Assistant Golf Professional Samantha Morrell made a charge. After starting the day four shots back Morrell got off to a quick start.
Playing two groups in front of the final group Morrell started her round with a bang as she rolled in a birdie from 20-feet on the first. Following a string of pars Morrell got up and down from the bunker for a birdie on the short par-5 fifth. Two holes later on the par-3 eighth Morrell moved into a tie for the lead with a sweeping 12-foot birdie putt. Morrell did bogey the downhill par-3 ninth but she was still able to head for the back in 2-under 34 and at 1-over for the tournament.
“I went into today with no expectations and I think that was the key to the round,” Morrell said. “I wouldn’t say that I wasn’t expecting to be in contention because anything can happen out there but it wasn’t really the focus out there. I thought I could just play a little looser than someone who had slept on the lead.”
As Morrell surged Lapple steadied herself. “I think the key to my round was settling down after the first four holes. I struggled through the [first four holes] but I was able to stay consistent and loose.”
Lapple, who moved from Connecticut to Pinehurst, North Carolina after eighth grade, recorded a much needed par on the par-4 fifth and with it she began to settle into her round. Pars on the next four holes kept Lapple at even-par as she made the turn with a one-shot lead over Morrell.
With the winds picking up the back nine became a battle of attrition between Lapple and Morrell with the lead changing hands multiple times. Following a bogey by Lapple on No. 10, Morrell moved in front thanks to a kick-in birdie on the par-3 12th.
“On the 12th I got the yardage and I felt that the wind was with us and I just said to my playing partners, ‘Hey guys do you mind if I go?’ I knew that I had made my decision and that I was ready to go,” said Morrell a two-time competitor in the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
One hole later Morrell made a nifty par to maintain her lead however two bogeys on the way to the house dropped her back to 2-over for the tournament. Morrell had shot the round of the day, a 1-under 71, but with her work done she was one shot behind Lapple and it now became a waiting game.
“I didn’t know where I was all day,” Morrell said. “Sometimes I feel it is better not to know.”
With Morrell’s round complete all eyes shifted to Lapple. The Notre Dame commit had a solid par save on No. 16 and then saved par again from a greenside bunker one hole later. Lapple now had one hole left to navigate.
On the closing par-5 a good drive led to a good lay-up which led to a third shot that came to rest 30 feet below the hole. Despite all her earlier struggles all that Lapple needed now was a two-putt par. That proved to be easier said than done. Her first putt came up well short and when the 10-foot par putt slid by it was onto a playoff with Morrell.
“I was a bit frustrated with my round but I love pressure situations so I knew I would have fun in the playoff no matter what,” said Lapple who signed for a 5-over 77 in the final round.
Playing the par-4 first hole in the playoff Lapple had all the fun. Lapple blasted her drive 240 yards and only had 127 yards into the green. Her approach shot came to rest on the fringe 40 feet below the hole.
Meanwhile, Morrell was struggling. She was fortunate to find her drive and then was fortunate again when her second shot clanked off of a bunker rake and stayed in the rough behind the green rather than rolling into a bunker.
The first playoff hole was now a short game contest. Lapple played first and left herself three feet for par. Now it was Morrell’s turn and she hit a deft chip that came to rest five feet from the cup. It looked as if play would be heading for a second extra hole.
Then the inexplicable happened when Morrell missed her sharp breaking par putt. Lapple now had a putt for the victory for the second time in twenty minutes. This time she didn’t miss as she rolled in the short par putt to secure the title.
“It was a really good win just because I am back in Connecticut and it was my first win in a while,” Lapple said. “I had fun seeing all my friends, family, and [Director, Women’s Golf, Competitions & Development] Marsha [Rupp] so it meant a lot to be back in my home state and to win.”
2011 champion Jordan Lintz (Oronoque CC) was part of the early final round story as she finished 5-over in a tie for third along with 2021 champion Melissa Siviter (GC of Georgia), and amateur Sydney Nethercott (MGA e-Club – Connecticut).
Other division winners included Lapple in the amateur standings, Morrell was the low professional, in the Senior Division 2009 winner CJ Reeves captured the title while Debbie Johnson won the Senior Amateur Division, and in the Senior Professionals Reeves earned the top spot.
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.
