(July 16, 2024) – With a second round 2 under 70 Maisie Filler moved to 5 under and into the lead at the 59th Connecticut Women’s Amateur.
On a second consecutive blistering hot day at Tashua Knolls Golf Course Filler played a steady round of golf that included three birdies and just one bogey. Her play will give her a two-stroke lead entering the final round over first round leader Yvette O’Brien (Greenwich CC) and Violet Robbins (EClub of Robbins).
“I just want to keep working on my goals and continue to hit good shots and give myself birdie chances,” said Maisie Filler who competed in the U.S. Women’s Open earlier this year. “I’m going to take it one shot at a time and see what happens.”
The day began with Yvette O’Brien leading by two shots over Filler and after O’Brien birdied Nos. 10 and 11 for a second straight day she was 6 under and ahead of Filler by two shots.
However, as the back nine proceeded Filler began to surge while O’Brien faded slightly. Following her consecutive birdies to begin the back nine O’Brien bogeyed Nos. 12-14 in succession to fall back to 3 under.
Meanwhile, Filler held steady waiting for her moment to strike. That opportunity came on the par-5 14th hole. Filler, a recent member of the victorious Arnold Palmer Cup Team USA squad, found the fairway off the tee and then struck a gorgeous 5-wood from 215 yards out leaving herself a 30-foot eagle putt from just off the green.
Filler took her time sizing up the putt and rolled her eagle try just past the cup setting up a short birdie putt that moved Filler to 5 under and firmly into the lead.
Following her lone birdie on the back nine Filler played steady golf to the house parring the remaining four holes. The recent University of Florida graduate and longtime Hartford Golf Club member now finds herself in a position to win in her return to the Connecticut golf scene.
“It’s been great,” said the 46th-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. “It’s nice to be close to home and I’m happy to be back. The last time I played at Tashua Knolls GC was in a Connecticut PGA event nine or ten years ago so I have a lot of memories here. I’m just happy to be back in Connecticut.”
O’Brien, a TCU commit, began the second round at 5 under and had it going for much of the day before settling for a 2 over half 74 that leaves her at 3 under and still very much in the mix.
The biggest move on Tuesday came from Violet Robbins. Beginning the day 2 over, Robbins fired a stellar 5 under 67 to jump up the leaderboard. Robbins, a Rollins College commit, got off to a quick start with birdies on each of her first two holes. With the tone for the day set Robbins went on to birdie six times while bogeying just once. Her final two birdies came on Nos. 16 and 17.
Rounding out the top five are Annie Dai (CT PGA Junior Golf Association) and Arabella Lopez (Redding CC) who are both tied for fourth at even-par.
The final round of the 59th Connecticut Women’s Amateur will begin at 8 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The top 24 players and ties made the cut and advanced to the final round.
About the Connecticut State Golf Association
The Connecticut Women’s 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.
