MARBLEHEAD — The 85th Annual Women’s Invitational, held at Tedesco Country Club, concluded Tuesday evening after two days of competitive golf. Marblehead’s Ghillie Suydam and Swampscott’s Lori Watts captured the championship.
Held Monday and Tuesday, the tournament featured 96 players, forming 48 teams. The field was divided into eight flights — Hasak, Salem, Kernwood, Essex, Myopia, Bass Rocks, Renaissance, and Tedesco — featuring six teams in each flight. Teams competed within their respective flights, with each flight winner advancing to a playoff round.
Suydam and Watts represented the Tedesco flight and swept through flight and playoff play to capture the title. Suydam is a member of Tedesco Country Club, so the trophy will remain in Marblehead for another year.
On Monday, teams played three nine-hole matches beginning at 9 a.m.
Suydam and Watts tallied six points in each of the first two rounds, followed by a 4.00 in the third match, giving them some breathing room heading into Tuesday’s action. They continued their solid play with scores of 5.50 in both of Tuesday’s rounds, finishing with a total of 27 points to win their flight.
Joining them in playoff rounds were flight winners: Christine Torrisi and Geetha Neelakantiah; Susan Stys and Sharon Seabury; Jane Fiste and Linda Courtemanche; Jennifer Brennan and Debi Nicolas; Pamela Cote and Barbara Bane; Janet Brown and Erika Allen; and Michelle McDonough and Teri Burtoft.
Playoffs were held on the 18th hole, where each team teed off from designated locations. The format featured elimination rounds, reducing the field from eight to three, then to the final two.
The championship came down to Suydam and Watts vs. Cote and Bane.
After two head-to-head matches couldn’t determine a winner, a chip-off was required. Suydam and Watts sealed the victory by landing their shots within 5 feet of the hole, capturing the Women’s Invitational crown.
