SARATOGA SPRINGS — Section 2 Girls Golf Sectionals and State Qualifiers were held on Tuesday, Oct. 12 at McGregor Links Country Club.
The tournament marked the second time for this event. The inaugural Sectional and State Qualifier was held Oct. 11, 2019, at Fairways of Halfmoon Golf Club. The 2020 event was cancelled due to COVID-19.
The top nine qualified for the NYSPHSAA Girls Golf State Championships to be held June 4-6, 2022, at McGregor Links; two alternates are also named.
The top nine are: Kennedy Swedick (sophomore, Albany Academy for Girls), Nicole Criscone (junior, Albany Academy for Girls), Jillian Rawson (sophomore, Albany Academy for Girls), Samantha Von Rohr (freshman, Albany Academy for Girls), Hanna Mitchell (sophomore, Guilderland), Megna Naidu (junior, Guilderland), Dannah Smith (sophomore, Schalmont), Shea White (senior, Albany Academy), and Shea Hildenbrandt (senior, Academy of Holy Names). The two alternates are Cambell Kennedy (junior, Shenendehowa) and Maria Jackson (junior, Saratoga).
Other local girl golfers that competed and placed in the top 25 were Cammy Porter (senior, Saratoga) who tied teammate Maria Jackson for 11th. Emma Duval (junior, Ballston Spa) tied for 19th. Alexa Cate (senior, Saratoga) was 22nd.
The following teams qualified to compete for the team championship: Albany Academy, Bethlehem, Guilderland, Niskayuna, Saratoga Springs, Shaker, and Shenendehowa. Albany Academy (295) won the team championship and will compete in the State Championships in June. Saratoga came in at fourth place (407).
Dottie Pepper, former LPGA Professional and current television golf analyst and reporter was the guest speaker at the awards ceremony following the competition.
Highlights from the 2021 Girls’ Golf Season:
There are 121 girls competing on 17 girls’ golf teams across Section 2. There are 38 additional girls competing on boys’ teams at 25 other Section 2 schools. In total, there are 159 girls playing on teams from 42 schools in Section 2.
There were 58 girl golfers competing in the Sectional and State Qualifier, chosen from a field of 85 submitted by coaches for consideration.
