Spector adds length with swing change Waterville golfer captures NEWGA title

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Abby Spector’s golf swing was good enough for her to win four straight schoolgirl championships, play No. 1 on the Waterville High School team, triumph in the last five Women’s Maine State Golf Association championships, and earn the Waterville resident a scholarship to the University of North Carolina.

So it’s a little surprising to discover that it wasn’t good enough.

“My coach changed my swing,” said Spector of the Tar Heels’ Sally Austin. “She said my swing wasn’t good enough to go to the next step.”

Austin, who played on the first UNC women’s golf team before embarking on a pro career that included a year on the LPGA Tour, has Spector making more of a shoulder turn now than the lift she had in her swing.

“It’s more compact. It creates more clubhead speed,” said Spector of her new swing. “I get more of a tight turn through the ball.”

Spector, who will be a junior at UNC in the fall, wasn’t sold on making a change.

“I wasn’t really pleased with it, but I’ve never hit the ball better,” she said, pointing out that she has added 20 yards to her length with the driver.

Any residual questions she may have had about the change were answered when she finally won the New England Women’s Golf Association championship last week at Walpole Country Club in Walpole, Mass. Spector posted rounds of 75-76-76 for a 227 total that was one stroke better than runners-up Natalie Galligan and Laura Torisi of Massachusetts and Laura Shanahan of New Hampshire.

“That’s my biggest win ever, so far,” said Spector. “I’ve been practicing, trying to peak for that.”

Spector was fortunate she was fit enough to play in the event.

“In the middle of [the swing change], I hurt my back,” said Spector. “It was so frustrating because I was making the transition and I couldn’t even take a full swing for a month.

“I was just starting to get it.”

Spector strained ligaments around the sacroiliac joint in her lower back and had to miss the Tar Heels’ first two tournaments at the end of February and in mid-March. She played the next two, but wasn’t sure about participating in the conference championship. She finally decided she would play.

“I probably shouldn’t have been there,” Spector said, “but they gave me some real good painkillers.

“Plus, it was at Disney World. I thought it would be fun, better than staying at school.”

Despite her injury, she shot an even-par 72 in the final round of the Bryan Park National Collegiate tourney, the only round of par or better for her team this spring.

Her back finally started getting better after she returned home and she went off the painkillers.

“I just played golf and dealt with it,” she said. “It should be in the past. I just have to keep up with my rehab.”

Next up for the 20-year-old Spector is the WMSGA Championship at Penobscot Valley Country Club in Orono July 31-Aug. 2.

“Otherwise I’m taking it easy, not playing a lot, practicing,” she said. “I don’t play much in the summer because the schedule is so long [at UNC]. I’d get burned out.”

The Tar Heels play in September and October in the fall, then the end of February through May in the spring. Tournaments are not held every week, but there are about six each semester.

“There aren’t a lot of sports with two full seasons,” said Spector. “I was surprised [at the extensive schedule], but it keeps me busy. Too busy sometimes.”

Since all of the tournaments are three-round affairs, the team leaves on Wednesday and returns on Sunday.

“I miss a lot of class,” she said. Which, of course, she can make up on the road.

“Or on Monday and Tuesday, or,” she said with a mischievous little laugh, “at the end of the semester, which is how it was working for me.”

This summer, Spector is working at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro.

“I work in the pro shop, cleaning, behind the counter, pretty much anything they need,” she said. “I’m trying to get a feel overall for how the whole golf course is run.”

Spector, a communications major, isn’t sure if that’s what she wants to do after college, “but I’m in the business and it would be a good thing for me to know.”

But she also suggested at one point, “There’s more to life than golf.”

XL Golf hosting junior school

Mike St. Thomas at XL Golf in Hermon is conducting a junior golf school through the Husson College summer camp program.

“This is the second year we’re involved,” said St. Thomas of the camp for boys and girls in grades 3-12.

Last year, the camp ran for a week, but it has been redesigned into two three-day camps this year.

“We’re running shorter sessions and charging less money,” said St. Thomas.

Last year, it was $1,000 for the camp. This year, it’s $300-$450 depending if the student needs clubs and if the student is an overnight camper or a day student.

St. Thomas pointed out that all children of Bangor taxpayers who are in grades 3-6 may be eligible for Camp Bangor scholarships.

The scholarships, sponsored by the Libra Foundation, are good for up to $1,000 and may be used for more than one summer camp as long as the total doesn’t exceed $1,000. The camp scholarship will also pay the fee for the clubs.

The first camp is July 29-31 for beginner and intermediate players. The second session is Aug. 1-3 for intermediate and advanced players.

Campers will get instruction daily and will also play a round of golf at a local course on the second and third day of each session.

“I’ve already had some kids sign up for both sessions,” said St. Thomas.

Overnight campers will be housed at Husson College in Bangor.

For more information about the school, call XL Golf at 848-5850. For more information on the Camp Bangor scholarships, check with the United Way of Eastern Maine at 941-2800.

Dave Barber is the NEWS golf writer. The Golf scene will appear each Wednesday through September. He can be reached at 990-8170 or by e-mail at dbarber@bangordailynews.net.