Jul. 17—SACO — Jade Haylock held the Maine Women’s Amateur trophy tightly with both hands, her foot injury suffered on the driving range Tuesday a distant memory.
After a swing on the driving range before Tuesday’s second round, Haylock felt a sharp pain at the base of her right toes and was worried she wouldn’t be able to complete the three-day tournament. By Wednesday afternoon, any remaining pain had faded and Haylock was champion after a 9-over 225 at Biddeford-Saco Country Club.
“I don’t think it really impacted my game much today. I think that riding (in a cart) definitely helped,” she said.
A rising senior at Leavitt Area High School playing out of Turner Highlands Country Club, Haylock took the lead Tuesday, and pushed it to as many as nine strokes over the second-place finisher, older sister Ruby Haylock (12 over), also of Turner Highlands.
Ruby, who won this tournament in 2020 and 2022, finished three shots behind in second place. Erin Holmes, last year’s winner from Val Halla Golf Course, and Abby Flanagan of Springbrook Golf Course tied for third place at 18 over.
The Haylocks are the first sisters to each win a Maine Am title since Martha Page White and Pennie Page Cummings. White last won the tournament in 1992; Cummings prevailed in 2006. The medal awarded to the Maine Women’s Amateur winner is named after White and Cummings.
“There’s not many golfers out here who have siblings they’re competitive with, so I love having my sister out here. We’re always pushing each other,” Jade Haylock said. “You know, she’s my biggest competitor out here and also my sister, so it means a lot.”
High scores ruled the tournament. Of the 219 completed rounds, only one — Jade’s 1-under 71 on Tuesday — came under par. Flanagan’s even 72 on Tuesday was the only round played at par.
Ruby Haylock said her sister handled the pressure of playing with a lead throughout Wednesday’s final round with ease.
“Watching your little sister grow and how well she’s progressed over the years, it’s so beautiful to watch. She’s such a great player and a great person,” said Ruby, who will be a junior at Bates this fall. “She wins with elegancy. We had fun the entire round. We’ve never been in the leading group together like this, so that was really special to share.”
Harry Haylock, Jade and Ruby’s father, caddied for Jade throughout the tournament. He credited Jade with persevering through the foot injury, adding her grit helped her win the title.
“That’s who she is. She’s determined. She’s mentally tough. I’m so proud of her,” he said.
Jade said the key to her victory was staying calm and playing simple, steady golf.
“Not trying to go for any tucked away pins. Not trying to hook it around trees. Just aim for the middle and have a nice, smooth swing,” Jade said.
Steady was the keyword for Jade for most of Wednesday’s final round. She began the day with a six-shot lead over her sister and Flanagan. After bogeys on holes 1 and 3, Jade scored par on seven straight holes before a birdie on 12, which was recorded as the 11th hole with the tournament played in non-sequential order. Golfers played holes one through six before finishing the front nine with 17, 18, and 10. The back nine began with holes 11 through 16, before ending with seven, eight and nine.
Jade had a nine-shot lead over Ruby with three holes to go. That’s where her game slipped a little, and Jade went bogey, double bogey and bogey to close her round. At the same time, Jade was trying to get her sister, who was in a fight for second place, going. Ruby closed her round with an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.
“I think in doing that, (Jade) lost a little bit of focus herself. It’s tough to play with a lead, especially down the stretch,” Harry Haylock said.
Jade said she felt confident as she began Wednesday’s round, despite knowing Ruby had the potential to erase the six-shot deficit.
“I thought about it, but I just tried to focus on my game and do my own thing,” Jade said.
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