Teen golfer aims for upper Hand Junior champ wants overall title

Whitney Hand figures her time has come. Now, all she needs is her shoulder to cooperate.

For two years in a row, the Bucksport resident has emerged from the Women’s Maine State Golf Association championship as the junior division champ.

Now, Hand wants the outright title.

“I’m very confident this year,” she said. “I really think I can play very well.”

Hand will get her shot when she tees off Monday at 7 a.m. in the three-day tournament at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro. She’ll be in the lead group with defending champion Pennie Cummings of Springbrook Golf Course in Leeds and Cummings’ sister, 13-time champion Martha White of Hermon Meadows Golf Course.

It’s been since at least 1938 that the WMSGA has held its championship tournament at Natanis. The golfers will go off the Tomahawk course, one of two 18-hole courses at the facility.

Hand shot an 86 at Natanis’ par-72, 5,019-yard Arrowhead Course in the Maine girls high school championships last fall, tying Hampden’s Julie Aurie for first place.

Hand, who graduated from Bucksport High this year, won at least a share of the girls title three of her four years in high school.

The par-72, 5,034-yard Tomahawk course suits her game, Hand said.

“I’ve played there a lot and I really like the course,” she said. “It’s all about strategy and keeping the ball in play, which I can do. And it’s a long course, and I can usually hit the ball pretty far.”

Hand’s excited to open with the tournament with White and Cummings, the former Page sisters who have combined for 19 WMSGA titles. White won her first title in 1958 and Cummings, who came from four strokes back and shot a 1-over 73 on the final day of the 2006 championship at the Purpoodock Club in Cape Elizabeth last year, got her first in 1964.

“I love both of them,” Hand said. “I’ve played with them before and they’re a lot of fun, but still competitive.”

Hand has spent her summer so far doing what one would expect – playing a lot of golf at her family’s Bucksport Golf Club, along the New England Women’s Golf Association championship, and practice rounds at Natanis.

Hand would be 100 percent ready for Monday if not for a nagging left shoulder injury that will require surgery. She’s waiting for a third opinion from a doctor, but will play through it next week.

“It does hurt to play,” said Hand, who has decided to put off college in order to focus on rehabbing her shoulder after the surgery. “I have to take my time warming up and make sure I stretch and ice it.”

Hand said she believes the field will be competitive this year.

Norway Country Club’s Leslie Guenther, the 2005 and 2006 runner-up, will tee off in the second group with Kristin Kannegeiser of Martindale Country Club in Auburn and Barbara Rondeau of Brunswick Golf Course.

Julie Treadwell of J.W. Parks in Pittsfield, who finished third last year, is also entered in the tournament.