By Dalton Balthaser

 

MIDDLETOWN – This summer is a big one for Morgan Macleod.

 

She’s preparing for her freshman year at Merrimack College in North Andover, Mass. coming up this fall. She will be a member of its Division I Women’s Golf Team.

 

“I think it is important for me to pile up some good finishes this summer,” said Macleod. “Heading into my first year of college golf, I want to have as much confidence in myself and my game as I can so I can do well.”

 

Macleod relied on a steady putter to secure medalist honors in Stroke-Play qualifying of the Rhode Island Women’s Amateur Monday at Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club (par 73, 5,487 yards).

 

She will be the top-seed for match play and will get a bye in the Round of 16. She will play her first match in the Quarterfinals on Wednesday.

 

“Early in the summer, I was struggling to find my game and any consistency,” said Macleod, 18, of North Attleboro, Mass. “But the last two weeks or so my game is starting to work well together, and I have seen better results. I felt confident coming into today.”

 

Macleod, a two-time All-State selection (2019, 2021) as a member of the St. Mary’s Bayview Academy Girls’ Golf Team, wasted no time getting into red figures. She birdied No. 10 (par 4, 328 yards), her fourth hole of the day, after hitting an 8-iron from 130 yards to 15 feet.

 

She added two more birdies on Nos. 15 (par 5, 352 yards) and No. 17 (par 3, 146 yards). She hit a chip shot for her third to tap-in range on No. 15 for an easy birdie and rolled in a 20-footer on No. 17.

 

“My putting has finally come around,” said Macleod, of Wannamoisett Country Club. “I have been working hard on it. Today, I made a lot of important birdie putts as well as key par putts to keep my round going.”

 

On No. 2 (par 4, 281 yards), her 14th hole of the day, she stuffed a 56-degree wedge from 70 yards to five feet to get to 1 under on her round.

 

A three-putt bogey on No. 6 (par 5, 383 yards) ruined her chances for the lone under-par round of the day but it didn’t leave her disappointed. She said she feels comfortable at Wanumetonomy.

 

“The golf course is in great shape,” said Macleod. “I think it is a great golf course. The green speeds are perfect for me. It is familiar to what I am used to playing at Wannamoisett.” 

 

Macleod had a familiar face on her bag Monday morning, her mother Angel. 

 

“My mom did a great job of keeping me calm,” said Macleod. “She’s a good golfer herself so she knows what advice to give. She’s helpful.”

 

Now there’s close to 48 hours of waiting for Macleod before she plays her first match. Time isn’t always kind to golfers but for Macleod it will be a way for her to get herself prepared for the week ahead.

 

“I will probably practice,” said Macleod on her plans for her day off. “There’s a lot of golf to be played this week. I want to make sure I practice but give myself a chance to rest. Staying in the moment will be important for me this week. I have to make sure I focus on each shot and not worry about the outcome.”