Guenther has 1-stroke lead entering today’s final round

CAPE ELIZABETH – Either way, Julie Treadwell was bound to be pleased.

Treadwell came off the 18th green thinking she had shot a 77 Wednesday in the second round of the Women’s Maine State Golf Association championship. But after further review, including a call to the USGA, Treadwell’s score was changed.

Not only did she end up with the low round of the day, but she’s within one shot of the lead as the tournament enters its final round at the Purpoodock Club.

“Seventy-six, 77, either one, I’m happy,” Pittsfield’s Treadwell said after hearing of the final scoring decision. “And I’m really happy with it.”

Norway Country Club’s Leslie Guenther shot a 7-over 79 for a two-day total of 155 to maintain her lead but Treadwell, who shot an 80 Tuesday, is closing in. Her 76 puts her at 156 for second place.

They’ll tee off today at 9:30 a.m. along with Martindale CC’s Kristen Kannegieser, who carded an 80 for a two-day total of 158.

The second group will be made up of sisters Martha White and Pennie Cummings, who have won a combined 18 WMSGA titles, and Megan Angis. Cummings shot a 79 to sit in fourth at 159, White had an 80 for a total of 162 and Angis recorded a 78 for an overall 163.

Treadwell’s scoring discrepancy came on the par-4 14th hole. Her second shot put her in a sand trap, where the ball was touching a rake about 6 inches from the front edge of the trap. Treadwell marked her ball and moved the rake, but the ball rolled deeper into the trap.

She placed the ball on the marker and putted it onto the green to wind up with a four. Treadwell and her group decided she should play a second ball just in case. This time, still unsure about whether the ball should be dropped or placed, Treadwell dropped the ball. She chipped it on to the green and two-putted for a five. Her scorecard read five for the hole.

The rules committee talked about it and decided to let the five stand. But several committee members continued to discuss it, and called the USGA for a final ruling.

The USGA, which governs golf in the U.S., told the WMSGA contingent that in a trap the ball should be placed. The rules committee changed the five to a four, putting Treadwell one shot behind Guenther.

“I give credit to the rules committee,” said Treadwell, who plays out of J.W. Parks Golf Club. “They didn’t let it go, they kept talking about it, they called the USGA. So if they hadn’t done that on my behalf …”

The last time Treadwell was this close to the lead was the 2003 tournament in Boothbay in which she was in the second group for the final round.

“The big thing for me was I just didn’t get in trouble. Even if I hit a bad shot I didn’t get in trouble. And that helps me. I chipped OK, I putted OK. … The only time I got tense was in that trap trying to figure out [the rules].”

While Treadwell was dealing with the trap, Guenther, the 2005 runner up, putted through high and low moments. The high? She blasted out of a trap next to the green on the par-3 fifth hole and then made a 30- foot par putt that tapped in off the flagstick.

The low? A missed two-footer for birdie on the par-3 12th.

“It’s funny, I don’t think I struck the ball as well today,” Guenther said. “But I really missed some short putts and considering the putts I missed I’m glad to be under 80 for the second day in a row.”

Kannegieser recovered nicely after a triple bogey on the par-4 fourth. She recorded three more pars on the front nine and five more on the back along with a birdie on 12.

Bucksport Golf Club’s Whitney Hand, who was the 2005 junior champion, faltered Wednesday despite going 1-under through seven holes. She finished with an 83 and is now seventh overall.