July 29, 2011
PAWTUCKET, RI-- Rising junior and two-time All-CAA selection Samantha Morrell (North Kingstown, RI) defeated Jenna Masnyk of Hofstra to win the 92nd Rhode Island Women's Golf Association (RIWGA) Match Play Championship 3 and 2. It is Morrell's second tournament win this summer.
"I think I really managed the course well all week, and it showed," said Morrell, the medalist in Monday's qualifying round with a 6-under par 67. "I think I've been through a heck of a lot. Being able to do stuff under pressure, making those 3- to 5-footers - those are like gimmes for me now, and that's huge. Just to gain a little more comfort on the green, I think that's really important. So I'm in a good place right now. Really good."
Morrell was the top seed in the tournament, while third seeded Masnyk, also a rising junior was a semifinalist in last year's RIWGA match Play Championship.
Morrell advanced to Friday's finals after taking medalist honors with a 67 at the par-72 5900 yard course. She then defeated her first round opponent 7 and 6 Tuesday, then beat Kibbe Reilly 3 and 1 on Wednesday and Lisa McGill 6 and 4 Thursday.
Finishing 1-over on the front nine of Friday's final, Morrell birdied the ninth hole -- a 425-yard par-5 -- to go 1-up at the turn. She then parred the 379-yard 10th and birdied the 11th -- a 280-yard par-4 -- to go ahead by three.
Masnyk tried to rally when she birdied the 12th to get within two shots again, but Morrell hit her tee shot within a foot or so of the cup on 15 to birdie that par-3, then halved the next hole
Morrell has enjoyed a successful summer winning her second consecutive OSWGA Rhode Island Women's Amateur Championship title with a three and two win over Ali Prazak of Campbell. She also finished seventh at the New England Women's Amateur Golf Association Championships a week later in Kensington, CT.
quotes from the Providence Journal.