REXFORD — Dominant was a perfect description for how Albany Academy for Girls junior Kennedy Swedick and her teammates performed during the NYSPHSAA Girls Golf Championship at The Edison Club.
Swedick carded a 3-under-par 69 in the final round on Monday for a two-day total of 5-under-par 139 to win the individual title for the second consecutive season, this time by a commanding 7 strokes. She also played a major role in her team’s 21-shot victory over Ursuline in the battle for the team championship.
Swedick was spectacular in both rounds. Monday, she was able to pull away from the field by rolling in five birdies against two bogeys to easily hold off Scarsdale sophomore Emma Lee (73-73–146) and Section 2 colleague Hayden Knapp (74-74–148), a 7th-grader from South Glens Falls.
Albany Academy for Girls was equally dominant in the team competition with scores of 317-324–641. Swedick was joined by Samantha Von Rohr (83-78–161), Nicole Criscone (81-87–168) and Jillian Rawson (83-90–173) as many of the more than 100 players in the field struggled with windy conditions in both rounds.
Swedick continued to lean on her driving skills to overpower the field. “I got a new driver this year, and it’s definitely the strength of my game — both my length and keeping it straight,” Swedick said. “I also made some putts today on the front nine, which I played much better than I played [Sunday].”
As she said on Sunday, Swedick no longer keeps her eye on the scoreboard, but it was obvious her lead was comfortable down the stretch with the other leaders in her foursome. “It was nice [to have a big lead] but I wasn‘t focused on that. I was just trying to do the best I could do,” she said.
Swedick, who also won the NYS Women’s Amateur last season, continues her busy summer by trying to qualify for the PGA Junior Championship this week at Town of Colonie Golf Course.
“It was a decisive win for sure, but there is always something she [Swedick] can pull out or another trick shot from somewhere,” praised Albany Academy for Girls athletic director Angela Marathakis, who was subbing for head coach Sarah Adamowski. “Her craft is so unbelievable. She is definitely unparalleled.”
Marathakis was also extremely proud of how Albany Academy accomplished its individual and team goals this season.
“These scholar-athletes at Albany Academy for Girls are unbelievable,” she said. “By its nature this is an individual game, but it’s also a team game. We had two goals at the beginning of the year — to get the individual title and the team award. With that wide margin in both we are very happy. What makes it so different for us is that it’s definitely a team game. Every player comes off the course asking how the other players are doing. It’s all about the team, and that’s why these players are so special and that’s what makes them so successful. The amount of mentoring that takes place between the older players on the team and the younger players is something I’ve never seen.”
Meanwhile, Knapp said she enjoyed the experience of playing in the final group and picked up some valuable experience watching players like Swedick compete. “It was a lot of fun and the people I played with were really nice. I’m pretty happy with the way I played, but I definitely had some rough holes out there.”
Section 1 captured the sectional crown by 9 strokes over Section 2.
RESULTS
(Par 72-144)
Leaders – Kennedy Swedick (AAG) 70-69 – 139, Emma Lee (Scarsdale) 73-73 – 146, Hayden Knapp (So. Glens Falls) 74-74 – 148, Renna Chang (Jericho) 75-75 – 150, Allison Kahn (Scarsdale) 76-75 – 151, Sofia Nogalo (Ursuline) 76-76 – 152, Julia Zigrossi (Our Lady of Mercy) 78-74 – 152, Madison Chen (Manhasset) 78-76 – 154, Nina Choe (Ursuline) 75-80 – 155, Lia Huang (Great Neck) 82-73 – 155, Juyeon Paek (Horace Greeley) 75-81 – 156, Ella Girard (Ward Melville) 77-80-157, Rosalie Dinunzio (Clarence) 80-77 – 157, Maria Jackson (Saratoga) 80-79 – 159, Noemi Krizso (Cornwell) 80-79 – 159, Zorah Williams (Emma Willard) 77-83 – 160, Samantha Von Rohr (AAG) 83-78 – 161, Ava Estrella (Friends Academy) 78-85 – 163, Gina Milazzo (Warwick) 83-80-163, Sophia Cellura (Our Lady of Mercy) 80-84 – 164, Audrey Chen (The Wheatley School) 83-81 – 164, Caylin Wong (Great Neck) 83-81 – 164, Mia Holbrook (John Jay Cross River) 83-82 -1 65, Delaney Abel (Coming Painted Post( 80-86 – 166, Chelsea Wang (Rye Neck) 82-84 – 166, Nicole Criscone (AAG) 81-87 – 168, Kylie Dean (Clarence) 82-86 – 168, Faith Petrino (Byram Hills) 83-85 – 168, Sienna Wheeler (Colonie) 87-82 – 169, Isabella OK (Goshen) 89-80 – 169, Julia Kret (Ursuline) 89-83 – 172, Ella Coady (Southampton) 83-90 – 173, Kamryn Yerman (Sauquoit Valley) 86-87 – 173, Tekla Fine-Lease (Queensbury) 87-86 – 173, Jillian Rawson (AAG) 83-90 – 173.
Team scores – Albany Academy for Girls 317-324 – 641, Ursuline 336-326 – 662, Our Lady of Mercy 344-347 – 691, Clarence 349-348 – 697, Great Neck 363-346 – 709, Sachem 393-393 – 786, Cicero North-Syracuse 399-388 – 787 Horseheads 405-403 – 808, Monroe-Woodbury 475-476 – 951, Boquet Valley Inc.
Section scores – Section 1 540-550 – 1,090, Section 2 548-551 – 1,099, Section 7 568-557 – 1,125, Section 11 603-617 – 1,220, Section 5 619-613 – 1,232, Section 9 627-611 – 1,238, Section 6 631-621 – 1,252, Section 3 658-621 – 1,279, Section 4 642-648 – 1,292, Section 7 805-829 – 1,632, Section 10 incomplete.
Reach Bob Weiner at [email protected].
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