Kristin Kannegieser of Minot will not defend her Women’s Maine State Golf Association Championship this year, but the list of challengers to take her place is strong.

“She had to withdraw because her son is playing in a baseball tournament in New York,” said Marilyn Rice, tournament director of this year’s three-day, 54-hole tournament at Bangor Municipal Golf Course.

Expected challengers for the title include Alexa Rancourt of Sable Oaks Golf Club in South Portland, six-time WMSGA champ Pennie Cummings of Wayne, 13-time winner Martha White of Hermon, Leslie Guenther of Norway Country Club, Whitney Hand of Bucksport Golf Club, Micki Meggison of Gorham and Bangor Muni’s Liz Coffin and Jean Sweetser.

Guenther and Meggison tied for second last year at Natanis Golf Course in Vassalboro, six strokes behind Kannegieser. Guenther has been runner-up several times, according to Rice.

Cummings’ last title came two years ago, while that of White, Cummings’ sister, was in 1994. Cummings tied for sixth last year and White was eighth.

Hand, the junior champion, came in fifth last year and has been playing well, according to Rice.

“This will be her first year not in the junior division,” said Rice, who also noted that a senior division winner is also crowned.

The wild card may be Rancourt, whose handicap index is the best in the field at +0.3, more than 41/2 strokes better than the next best players, White and Hand at 4.3.

“She’s new to us,” said Rice of Rancourt. “This is her first WMSGA tourney.”

Play gets under way at 7 a.m. Monday with a field of 96 competitors.

It’s the first time since 1981 that Bangor Municipal Golf Course has hosted the event, now in its 78th edition.

“You have to shut down the course for three days, and that’s tough to do for a municipal course,” said Rice, interim president of the host Bangor Women’s Golf Club.

The BWGC has grown from 15-20 members six years ago to the current 60, said Rice, and she believes that had a hand in Bangor Muni getting the tournament.

“We have lots of volunteers,” said Rice.

Seventeen members will be playing in the tournament, and another 25 or so are volunteering, meaning almost 75 percent of the club is involved.

Rice is one of four members who comprise the tournament board of directors. Brenda Crosby is in charge of registration, Janice White is in charge of the banquet, which will be held after Monday’s round, and Jean Young is handling scoring.

“It’s very time-consuming. We’ve had lots of meetings,” said Rice. “But I enjoy organizing things.”

Rice’s only regret is that, because of the 96-player limit, all of the women who signed up couldn’t get in. The 96 players with the lowest handicaps get in.

“We had seven we had to refuse,” said Rice. “It was hard to do because they’ve been loyal supporters in the past.”

Rice thinks part of the attraction is Bangor Muni’s central location.

“We have a lot of [Aroostook] County players who come down,” said Rice.

“I also think the players who have been at our state days the last couple of years think we do a good job,” she added. “We have a good reputation.”

For the higher handicap players, it’s still a fun gathering even if they may not have a chance at the outright title. Ten net prizes are awarded as well as 10 gross.

“The Championship is a fun time,” she said.

“We’re really excited about having it,” Rice added.

dbarber@bangordailynews.net

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