Athlete of the Month: Dover's Carys Fennessy at her best in big tournaments

Oct. 2—Relaxed or under pressure, Carys Fennessy said she plays well on the golf course when feeling either way.

The 16-year-old from Dover showed that at the end of the summer golf season, capturing her first New Hampshire Women's Amateur Championship and finishing runner-up at the New England Junior Amateur Championship in August.

For her performance in both events, Fennessy was named the August New Hampshire Union Leader Apple Therapy Services/Bedford Ambulatory Surgical Center/Express MED Athlete of the Month by the Union Leader Board of Judges.

"I had been playing a lot (over the summer)," said Fennessy. "Going into that (Women's Am), that was one of the last tournaments I played of the summer so I was just looking to continue the momentum that I'd built up since May, June."

The Dover High junior opened the three-day stroke-play Women's Am at Montcalm Golf Club in Enfield by firing a 4-under-par 68 — the best round by any competitor over the entire tournament.

Fennessy, a Cochecho Country Club member, had never played Montcalm before but said she quickly learned where she could and could not miss on the course. On the first day, she said she had a strong putting round and did especially well on the shorter, par-4 holes.

The round gave Fennessy an eight-shot lead on the field and she extended that to 13 with a 1-over 73 the following day.

Going into the final round with that big of a cushion, Fennessy said she just tried to stay consistent. "Not trying to make mistakes but also playing aggressive — playing my game and trying not to look behind me," she said.

She carded a 2-over 74 in the final round on Aug. 2, finishing with a 1-under 215 total score and 15 strokes ahead of runner-up Julianna Megan, last year's Women's Am champion.

Fennessy said winning the tournament had been a goal for her since she was young.

"It's the biggest tournament for women in New Hampshire and I think I might've been one of the youngest if not the youngest to win it so I think that's pretty special," Fennessy said. "A lot of the great golfers that have come out of the state have won the tournament so to be up there with them is pretty cool."

Fennessy said that was likely her largest margin of victory in tournament, which gave her a significant amount of confidence entering the New England Junior Amateur Aug. 7-9 at Mount Washington Resort Golf Club in Bretton Woods.

Her perspective entering her fourth time playing in the junior championship was different. This year, Fennessy felt like she could win it all.

The Mount Washington course felt similar to Montcalm, Fennessy said. While she struggled with her irons at times, Fennessy said she hit well off the tee and her short game saved her on more than a few holes.

Fennessy shot a 2-over 218 (72-70-76) over the three-day, stroke play tournament, finishing four strokes behind champion Kylie Eaton, an 18-year-old from Smithfield, Rhode Island. Fennessy was the only New Hampshire competitor who finished among the top 10.

The second-place finish marked Fennessy's best placement at the tournament in her career.

"It's definitely a good barometer," Fennessy said of the New England Junior Amateur. "I travel a lot in New England, but I don't always play against New England girls and that's one of the tournaments (where) you really see the best of the best ... It gives some good perspective because, at the end of the summer, you know you're getting everyone's best game."

Other athletes considered for the August honor were golfers Kat Bordeau and Joe Bowker, Salem 11-12-year-old All Stars baseball player Mason Wiles, Nashua Silver Knights baseball player Shane McNamara and runner Landen Vaillancourt.

Bordeau, a Franklin resident and Hanover CC Online member, won the New Hampshire Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at Ridgewood CC in Moultonborough and placed fourth at the Women's Am in August.

Bowker, a Concord resident and Canterbury Woods CC member, won the New Hampshire Golf Association Stroke Play Championship at Edgewood GC on Aug. 10 after posting a 6-under par 210 (67-73-70) over the three-round tournament.

Wiles went 3-for-5 with one run scored, one walk and a double over Salem's three August games at the Little League Baseball New England Regional. Salem went 1-2 in the tournament overall, losing to Massachusetts and eventual New England champion Maine (3-0) and earning a 12-1 win over Vermont.

McNamara, a Londonderry resident and Eastern Nazarene College senior, went 6-for-21 with four runs scored, three RBIs, three walks and two stolen bases over the Silver Knights' final six Futures Collegiate Baseball League games.

Vaillancourt, a New Ipswich resident and UMass Lowell junior, placed second overall and first among New Hampshire residents in the Delta Dental/Elliot Corporate 5K Road Race on Aug. 10 in Manchester with his time of 15 minutes, 8.3 seconds.

Previous 2023 winners: January, Brooks Craigue, Concord (hockey); February, Aidan Cox, Northwood (indoor track); March, Caroline Harvey, Salem (hockey); April, Sarah Taylor, Concord (softball); May, Annie Parker, Portsmouth (lacrosse); June, Maddy Wachter, Concord (softball); July, Jack Pepin, Plaistow (golf).

To submit a nomination for future Athlete of the Month consideration, email the Union Leader Sports Department at sports@unionleader.com and enter "Athlete of the Month" in the subject line.