Bernstein Wins Mid-amateur; Totland Is Amateur Medalist
Following Monday’s impressive round of two-over 74, Helen Bernstein of WGA of New Jersey was in commanding position to win the third NJSGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship at 5,855-yard Upper Montclair Country Club in Clifton.
She held an eight-shot lead over defending champion Tara Fleming of New Jersey National, and “I just wanted to not give this one away. But having a big lead like that is a lot of pressure. If somebody was going to beat me with s crazy score, that’s fine.”
Bernstein held it together with an nine-over-par 81 for a 155 total to win the Mid-Amateur Championship by six shots over Fleming (82-79-161) and by 12 shots over third-place finisher Katie Renoff of Trump National in Bedminster (83-84-167). In three yers, Bernstein is the third different champion, with Fran Gacos of Copper Hill winning in 2014 Gacos, Fleming and Bernstein all advanced to play in the match-play portion of the Women's Amateur.
In the concurrent 91st NJSGA Women’s Amateur Championship, Taylor Totland of Hollywood, winner of the past two titles, earned medalist honors with rounds of 69-72-141, two shots better than Furman University teammate Alice Chen of Neshanic Valley (70-73-143). Tied for third were Noelle Maertz of Hyatt Hills (74-73-147) and Katie Edelblut of Trenton (74-73-147).
AMATEUR LEADERBOARD MID-AMATEUR SCORING
PHOTO GALLERY MATCH-PLAY BRACKETS
The Amateur Championship continues Wednesday with match-play, starting with the Round of 16 in the morning and quarterfinals in the afternoon. The semifinals and final are slated for Thursday.
“It’s nice to finally win one (as an individual),” said Bernstein, 50, who last month paired with Sherry Herman of Colts Neck to win the Women’s Four-Ball Championship for a second time. “In the past, it seems I’ve always messed up a few holes and took myself out of it.”
It almost happened Tuesday, but a fortunate ricochet on her 14th hole, the par-5 No. 5, kept her spirits high.
“I hit two good shots there and was in good position to go for the green,” said Bernstein, whose approach needed to clear a creek. But the ball hit a rock on the far side of the creek wall and instead of going into the water, the ball bounced back to the right rough on the fairway.
She then chipped to four feet and sank the putt for a par.
“When that happened, the message was to go buy a lottery ticket. I felt lucky both days. When you’re playing well, the luck goes your way,” said Bernstein, who continues on into the math-play for the Women’s Amateur as the No. 8 seed against No. 9-seed Kate Granahan of Ridgewood, a Penn State golfer.
She punctuated the victory with a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole when her tee shot ended three feet from the pin.
Bernstein is a native of Manchester, England, who came to the U.S. 24 years ago. She is a marketing photographer for real estate, mostly in Essex County. Her son, Brandon, was on the bag for the first time.
“My length (off the tee) is my biggest issue. I’m usually good around the greens. I’m confident I can still play the game,” said Bernstein, who will return to England next month to play in a senior event.
Totland, 21, enjoyed another outstanding season for Furman, finishing third by one shot in the Southern Conference Championship. Teammate Chen tied for first and lost in a five-hole playoff.
“I got off to a rough start in the fall. It was more mental than my swing. I needed to get my head straightened out and my coaches really helped, and then I was confident going forward,” said Totland, who is a rising senior at Furman.
She said she will enter the first stage of LPGA Q-School next month, but will not go pro for at least a year.
“I’m looking forward to match-play here. It’s a lot of fun and anything can happen.”
The biggest hurdle for Totland in becoming only the second since Sherry Herman to win the Women’s Amateur three straight times will be Chen.
Two years ago, Totland beat Chen in the finals and last year in the semifinals.
“Taylor and I are close in terms of ability. It just depends on the day. Both of us want to win,” said Chen, who won the event in 2013. “We will both give it our very best, but we will be great friends no matter the result.”
