Hagerstown, Md. – The 104th Maryland Women’s Amateur kicked off at Fountain Head Country Club this week with ideal conditions for golf. With 25 of Maryland and D.C.’s top female golfers competing for the coveted women’s state amateur title, the tournament featured a high level of competition right from the start. As former champions and rising stars took to the course, the anticipation and excitement built, setting the stage for an unforgettable week of golf.
Former Champs Lead the Way: Stroke Play Qualifying
In Monday’s stroke play qualifying round, it was former champions who led the way. 2017 and 2022 champion Clare Connolly of Chevy Chase Club topped the leaderboard with her 1-over-par 71. Connolly carded four birdies to secure the No. 2 seed in the match-play bracket, while defending champion Helen Yeung claimed the top seed automatically. 2023 champion Sarah Spicer of Argyle Country Club carded three birdies on her way to a 3-over-par 73 to earn the third seed in match play.
Cameron Freund and Abigail Avallone, both from Congressional Country Club, finished in a tie for third in stroke play qualifying. The two finished a 5-over-par 75, each carding two birdies along the way. Rounding out the top five in stroke play qualifying was Jennifer Sorkin of Caves Valley Golf Club. Sorkin finished a stroke behind Freund and Avallone with a 6-over-par 76.
Dominance and Upsets: Round of 16 & Quarterfinal Matches
On Tuesday, the Round of 16 matches produced a variety of outcomes. Defending champion Helen Yeung of Cattail Creek Country Club began her title defense against Madeline Navaleza from Hayfields Country Club, ultimately winning 3 and 2 after leading by as much as 5-up. In another match, 4-seed Abigail Avallone defeated 13-seed Caitlyn Navaleza from Hayfields Country Club by a result of 3 and 2, while 5-seed Cameron Freund advanced by beating 12-seed Lila Becker with the same score. Additionally, 9-seed Michelle Yeung of Hobbit’s Glen Golf Club won her match against 8-seed Malaya Johnson by a result of 1-up, setting up a quarterfinal matchup against her sister, Helen.
In the bottom half of the bracket, 7-seed Irene Kim from Turf Valley defeated 10-seed Summer Stroop from The Golf Club at South River with an impressive 8 and 7 victory in the Round of 16. Meanwhile, 15-seed Grace Oristian upset two-time champion and 2-seed Clare Connolly by a result of 4 and 3, taking the lead on the first hole and never looking back. 14-seed Isha Garg of Glen Riddle Golf Club upset 2023 champion 3-seed Sarah Spicer, propelled by her ace on hole 4 to win the match 2 and 1. 11-seed Andie Greenberg from Woodmont Country Club claimed a 2-up victory over 7-seed Jennifer Sorkin, earning her place in the quarterfinals against Garg.
Tuesday afternoon’s quarterfinal matches matched the excitement of the morning, highlighted by a showdown between the Yeung sisters. Elder sister and defending champion Helen Yeung overcame a tied start to defeat younger sister Michelle Yeung 3 and 1 after winning the final four holes. In the other quarterfinal, 5-seed Cameron Freund edged past 4-seed Abigail Avallone after trailing for much of the match; Freund tied it on the 16th hole and won 1-up on the 18th. Freund’s victory set up a semifinal matchup against Helen Yeung.
In the bottom half of the bracket, 7-seed Irene Kim advanced to the semifinals by defeating 15-seed Grace Oristian with a 6 and 5 victory. Despite falling behind after losing the first hole, Kim quickly rebounded, winning five of the remaining eight holes on the front nine and the first four holes of the back nine. In the fourth quarterfinal match, 11-seed Andie Greenberg overcame 14-seed Isha Garg, who initially led 2-up through four holes. Greenberg fired back by winning four of the next five holes and maintained her momentum, ultimately winning 3 and 2 to secure her spot in a semifinal matchup with Kim.
Down to the Wire: Semifinal Matches
Wednesday morning featured two semifinal matchups, which did not disappoint, with both matches coming down to the wire. The first semifinal matchup between defending champion 1-seed Helen Yeung and 5-seed Cameron Freund saw Freund jump out to an early 2-up lead through three holes. After nine holes, Freund had picked up another hole on Yeung to extend her lead to 3-up heading into the back nine. Yeung responded on holes 11 and 15 to bring the match back to within one. However, Freund maintained her composure for the remaining three holes, closing out the match on the 18th hole for a 1-up victory and securing her spot in the championship match.
The second semifinal match provided an equally tense showdown between 7-seed Irene Kim and 11-seed Andie Greenberg. Greenberg jumped at the opportunity to take a 1-up lead on the first hole. Greenberg and Kim traded holes the rest of the front nine, with Greenberg winning holes 3 and 7 and Kim taking holes 5 and 8. Greenberg maintained her 1-up lead for several holes before pushing it 2-up on hole 13. Kim made her move on the next two holes to bring the match back to where it started, all tied up. Kim struck again on hole 17 to move to 1-up, which would be enough to secure the match victory over Greenberg and set up a championship showdown with Cameron Freund.
Heart-Pounding Finale: Championship Match
The 104th Maryland Women’s Amateur championship match was set; 5-seed Cameron Freund of Congressional Country Club would take on 7-seed Irene Kim of Turf Valley. The two competitors engaged in a closely contested match, trading momentum back and forth. Kim claimed the first hole, followed by a response from Freund, who won the next two holes to go 1-up on Kim. Kim brought the match back to a tie after winning hole 9. Things were all square heading into the back nine.
Kim tried to hold on to the momentum she had built by winning hole nine, winning hole 10 as well, but Freund quickly struck back two holes later on hole 12 to bring the match back to even. Freund continued to build on her momentum by winning back-to-back holes on 15 and 16, giving her a 2-up lead with just two holes to go. However, Kim showed great determination to give herself a shot and sent the match to the 18th hole by winning hole 17. Ultimately, the late rally by Kim was not enough, as the two competitors tied the 18th hole, giving Freund the 1-up victory and the 104th Maryland Women’s Amateur title.
Freund’s first reaction to winning the Maryland Women’s Amateur: “It feels great. My heart is still beating fast.” Freund credited her ability to judge the speed of the greens this week as a significant factor in her victory.” Speed was big on these greens,” Freund said. “I played well this week. I hit the ball well.”
As a result of her win in the 104th Maryland Women’s Amateur, Freund earned an exemption into the upcoming 125th U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. “It feels great,” Freund said after she was asked how it felt to earn the exemption. “I played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier and missed the cut, so it feels good to get another chance.” The U.S. Women’s Amateur is set to be held at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore., from August 4-10. To learn more about the 2025 edition of the U.S. Women’s Amateur, click here.
First-Flight Championship
The first-flight bracket consisted of the next eight women from the stroke player qualifying round after the championship flight of 16 players was determined. Kacy Day of Bulle Rock Golf Course started her first-flight championship run as the 6-seed. In her first match, Day defeated Elina Yim of MSGA eClub, 5 and 4. In her first flight semifinal match with Tatyana Smith of First Tee of Baltimore, Day secured the victory in 19 holes to solidify her spot in the first flight championship match. Day was met in the championship match by 1-seed Piper Meredith of Beaver Creek Country Club, who was coming off of back-to-back 6 and 5 wins. Meredith held the edge early in the match, with her lead reaching as much as 3-up. Day ultimately gained her composure on the back nine, winning four holes to Meredith’s one to claim a 1-up victory and the first-flight championship.
The Maryland State Golf Association would like to thank the staff and membership at Fountain Head Country Club for their hospitality this week and for making the 104th edition of the Maryland Women’s Amateur a special one!
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To serve, grow, and advance the game of golf in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
