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Manchester, NH – The New Hampshire Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship got underway at Derryfield Country Club, and it should come as no surprise that Tara Watt (Derryfield CC) leads the field as she fired a one-over par, 71, on her home course. Watt has a four-stroke lead and will head to the final round looking to capture her third-straight New Hampshire Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

Having won this championship the last two years, Watt knows the feeling of seeing her name at the top of the leaderboard but this year, she has the added comfort of playing on her home course.

“I kind of came out here today hoping to make 18 pars and trying to play a little bit safe”, stated Watt after the round.

While she mentioned playing it safe is not her normal gameplan when she is out for her casual weekend rounds, Watt knew she had some tough competition in the field and would need to give herself good looks at par to be at the top after the first round. Despite beginning her round with two bogeys and making two more on 6 and 7 at Derryfield, she was able to keep herself in it and make birdie on 8 which seemed to give her the boost she needed.

“I struggled a little bit on the front, but I made a birdie on 8 and that kind of got the momentum going and was able to shoot three under from 8 on, so that helped”, commented Watt.

At the turn, Dana Harrity (Abenaqui CC) held the lead by one stroke as she was at two-over par, with Watt right behind her at three over par. The back nine was another story where Watt turned on the jets, hit all nine greens in regulation and converted two of those into birdies. Avoiding any bogeys on the back nine was huge for her confidence and score, she finished up the back nine at two-under par and just one-over par, 71, on the day.

Watt and Harrity were paired together in the first round and will also be together in the final round as they sit in first and second on the leaderboard. Being able to watch what your opponent is doing can be a blessing and a curse but for Watt, she tries to focus on her own game. She said, “I stick to my own game and worry about myself, it’s the only thing that I have control over.”

With two New Hampshire Women’s Mid-Amateur titles already under her belt, Watt has the confidence she needs, along with the course knowledge to run away with the win in the final round. She stated, “I think if I can come out and shoot similar to today, I think it is good enough to hold up. I have a ton of course knowledge here which is a huge advantage.”

Harrity, along with players like Kat Bordeau (Lochmere Golf & CC) and Cindy Perkins (Souhegan Woods GC), will look to chase Watt down for their chance at this year’s title. Harrity, a member of the New Hampshire Golf Hall of Fame and 16-time New Hampshire Women’s Amateur champion, has the tournament experience to shoot a low number in the final round to give Watt a run. She played a strong front nine at Derryfield to be the leader at the turn, but more bogeys than birdies on the back nine led to a 75 (+5) which is four shots back of Watt.

The New Hampshire Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is a 36-hole competition with the field Flighted after the first 18 holes. It is taking place at Derryfield Country Club August 17-18.

NH Women’s Mid-Amateur | Leaderboard | Round 2 Pairings & Tee Times