Fran Gacos Holds One-shot Lead At Women's Senior Amateur
Fran Gacos of Copper Hill knows what it takes to win the NJSGA Women’s Senior Amateur, having already done it five times.
On Tuesday, Gacos nearly sabotaged her chances for winning the 48th Women’s Senior Amateur by recording a triple bogey on the par-four first hole. But after that, it was clear sailing, as Gacos shot one over for the final 17 holes to finish with a four-over 76 and a one-shot lead over Sue Sardi of Cherry Valley in the 36-hole Women's Senior Amateur at Hopewell Valley Golf and Country Club in Hopewell. Adrienne MacLean of Somerset Hills was third with a 79 and Meral Melady of Rockaway River fourth at 80..
LEADERBOARD PHOTO GALLERY - ROUND 1
“I’ve been working on my swing, working on my length all summer,” said Gcos, 62, who has qualified for 17 USGA events in her successful career. “But on the first hole, I hit it too far right. I tried to pitch it out from under a tree, but it hit a branch and went into the water. And then I three putted.”
Gacos is a two-time runner-up in the event and a two-time runner=up in the NJSGA Women’s Amateur.
“After that, I tried to stay calm and swing loose,” said Gacos, who won this event in 2005, ’06, ’07, ‘13 and ’14.
It paid off with birdies on two holes. On the par-five seventh, she wedged a third shot 60 yards for a tap-in birdie. On the par-4 No. 14, a solid drive left her 135 yards to the hole. Her seven-iron shot landed four feet from the cup for the birdie result.
“I just love the game. The interesting thing is, the older I get, the farther I’m hitting it. I worked with (Copper Hill pro) Jason Cramer, and he gave me a couple of thoughts, and I’m very pleased with the result. I’ve never been more confident with my swing. I’m looking forward to the future,” said Gacos, who will play in the NJSGA Tournament of Club Champions on Oct. 17 at Deal.
This spring, she branched out and coached the Hunterdon Central girls team to the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title. Her golfer, Katie Lee, was named Player of the Year by The Star-Ledger.
Sardi, 61, is looking for her first Senior Amateur title. This year, she qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur, which is looking for a new site after Hurricane Irma damaged the original course (Quail Creek) in Naples, Fla. Last year, she played in the U.S. Women’s Senior Amateur.
“My strategy was to make a lot of pars, and that’s what I did today. I had no birdies, but I made a lot of up and downs, especially on the front nine. My drive was special today. I only missed one fairway,” said Sardi, a native of Florida.
