By Joe McDonald

RIGA Senior Writer

 

RUMFORD – Thinking about her golf game 24/7 became so stressful for Emily Brooks, it nearly derailed her chances to become a two-time winner of the Women’s Amateur Championship. 

 

She was shaking as she walked off the 18^th green Friday at Wannamoisett Country Club after defeating Morgan MacLeod, 1-up, to win this season’s edition of the major championship. It was an outstanding match by both competitors and finished with Brooks winning her second state title. She also won in 2021 at Wanumetonomy Golf & Country Club, which is her home course. 

 

“It’s surreal right now,” she said moments after winning Friday morning. 

 

After winning her semifinal match Thursday, Brooks’ nerves became a bit unsettled during her ride home. She was so excited about returning to the final for the second time in a four-year span her mind drifted and she became annoyed while dealing with normal Newport traffic at this time of the summer. 

 

“I nailed a curb and had an immediate flat, so had to get a tow truck,” she explained. “Shout out to Sullivan Tire for hooking me up. I didn’t sleep well at all (Thursday night). I like to say this is fun, and it really is fun when you get into the heat of the moment, but I was nervous. I probably woke up at 1, 2, 3, 4 o’clock and final at 5 o’clock I just got up. I tried to stick to my game plan, and I didn’t stick to it for the first six holes, got ahead of myself and started thinking about what-ifs. I dialed it back and stuck with it, so to get to the end, I stayed positive and believed that I could do it. It’s just really cool.”

 

Entering the final match, Brooks admitted she wasn’t comfortable with the putter. She was consistent off the tee and in the fairway all week, but her putting was a bit shaky. It was an issue early against MacLeod, of Wannamoisett CC, as Brooks four-putted hole No. 2, allowing her opponent to grab an early, which she did not relinquish until hole No. 16. Brooks finally tied the match after winning that hole. On 17, MacLeod completed an outstanding up-and-down out of the bunker, draining a 30-foot putt for birdie. Brooks needed to drop her 5-foot putt to halve the hole and keep the match square, which she was able to accomplish. 

 

“Part of my game plan was to stay in the moment, execute and don’t worry about what happens, which is really hard to do when you’re standing on that green with the trophy in the distance, knowing you can win. I’m just thrilled.” 

 

Brooks took advantage of her length off the tee on No. 18, which forced MacLeod to be aggressive with her second shot from the fairway, but it landed in the green-side bunker. Brooks capitalized and executed a perfect shot when she punched an 8-iron into the wind, over the same bunker and landed it only a few feet to the right of the hole. It took MacLeod three shots to exit the bunker before conceding the hole and the match. 

 

“She was amazing,” Brooks said of her opponent. “Foot on the gas from the first hole and I kind of got caught up in it . . . Her attitude the entire day was awesome. She had the pedal down. I like to think my game can be a little scary when I start charging, because the adrenaline picks up. I hit some really good drives out there, and was firing at pins, but she stayed solid the whole time and really held me off. Her putt on 17 was unbelievable; talk about a must-make moment. It was a great match. She’s a great player and she’ll have one of these trophies pretty soon.” 

 

While Brooks became a two-time champion, the Net Division Championship welcomed a first-time winner. 

 

Jill Lancaster, of the USGA/Rhode Island Golf Club, defeated seasoned veteran, Mel Hebert, of Glocester Country Club, 5&4. It was Lancaster’s first time competing in a RIGA event and she said it won’t be her last. Lancaster, 50, was born and raised in Zimbabwe and learned the game as a youngster and played in high school. She became a rower during his collegiate career in South Africa and remains involved in the sport. 

 

“My golf went out the window,” she said with a laugh. “Coming to America, as you get older, golf is a great game to play for the rest of your life, and I’m a competitive person, so this was a good opportunity for me. I’ve been thinking about it for so long, and I turned 50 last year, so why not now more than ever. I’m thankful work gave me the time off to do this.” 

 

Lancaster was living and working in London for a Rhode Island-based company, Water Rower, when an opportunity to move to the United State became available. She jumped at the chance and relocated to Warren. She’s lived in Rhode Island for 18 years and has reestablished her golf game. Even though she’s not affiliated with a club, several of her friends convinced her to register for the Women’s Amateur Championship. She qualified for the Net Division and won the championship. 

 

“I’m very excited,” she said. “It’s challenging (playing) five days in a row. It’s a lot of golf, but I’m glad I pulled it off. I seemed to get better and better every day and just being able to play five days in a row just shows I can do it. I love golf. It was on my bucket list to play and I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome. When you turn 50 you realize life is going by and you ask, ‘why not?’” 

 

As a result of that mindset, Lancaster is a Rhode Island state champion.