Hand claims schoolgirl title

VASSALBORO – Bucksport High School junior Whitney Hand shot an 83 on Thursday to post a five-shot victory at the 2005 state schoolgirl individual golf championships held at Natanis Golf Course.

Hand, who tied for the individual title as a freshman and finished second last year, bested a field of 15 of the state’s top schoolgirl golfers to win the title on the par-72 course.

Hand also is the reigning Maine junior golf champion, and was the top junior golfer in last summer’s Women’s Maine State Golf Association championship.

Kate Merrill of North Yarmouth Academy finished second with an 88, while Julie Aurie of Hampden Academy was third with a 93. Yeang Un Lee, the 2004 state champion from Lee Academy, finished tied for seventh with a 99.