A Cleary Clinic at Women’s Amateur
PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa. - Jennifer Cleary tied Sunnybrook Golf Club’s competitive course record on Monday and broke it on Tuesday. Entering the final round of the 85th Pennsylvania Women’s Amateur Championship, presented by DICK’S Sporting Goods, she held a nine-shot lead. But she did not let up, continuing her excellent play as she shot a final round 71 (-2) to finish at 12-under on the par-73 layout, winning the championship by 16 strokes. Cleary’s three rounds at the tournament were 69-67-71. She was the only golfer to be under par in each of the final two rounds.
“I think it was pretty stress-free,” Cleary said of Wednesday’s round. “I didn’t play too conservative because I don’t think I play well like that.”
Part of her success was due to her ball-striking, which was consistently solid all week. That led to greens in regulation and good looks at birdie throughout the round, and often ended in short tap-ins for par.
“My mom likes that,” said Cleary of the short pars. “It saves her a lot of stress.”
Any chance her competitors had of catching the Applecross Country Club product was practically over after the front nine. Cleary birdied the second hole and added another birdie with on No. 9 to make the turn in complete command. Another birdie on No. 11 meant that a third-straight day with a run at a course record was possible. She coasted from there, with the only blemish on her scorecard being a bogey on the 18th and final hole.
“I didn’t hit it great today but I was kind of grinding it out,” said the University of Virginia golfer. “It would’ve been a big accomplishment for me to have a bogey-free round with my ‘B’ game.”
One of the reasons that Cleary played so well, especially at a course she was visiting for the first time, was her play on the greens.
“I putted really well,” she said. “The greens are tough, a lot of slope and fast. I think I’m pretty good at reading putts. I think I just putt hard greens well.”
After a year of college golf, she cited one big improvement in her game.
“Course management,” said Cleary. “My coaches have really helped me with how to golf better. Not how to hit it better, but just to play better.”
Cleary’s performance overshadowed that of her playing partners, 2014 Women’s Amateur champ Isabella Dilisio of Philadelphia Cricket Club and Rylie Heflin of Hartefeld National. Dilisio finished second at 4-over par. The former Notre Dame golfer shot 72-73-78 as the runner-up. Heflin, who will soon join the golf team at Duke University, was third at 6-over par. Rounding out the top 5 were Madie Smithco of Sewickley Heights Golf Club (+8) and Kaitlyn Lees of Merion Golf Club (+11).
“The course was amazing,” said Cleary. “I played well, but I also had a lot of fun with my fellow competitors.”
The Pennsylvania Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership of Sunnybrook Golf Club for the hospitality shown during the championship. Thanks as well to DICK’S Sporting Goods for sponsorship of the event.