Blinn takes Founders' Invitational despite a cold spell on back nine

Valerie Blinn struggles to an 80 in deteriorating weather conditions but hangs on for her second tournament victory of the season.

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 20, 2004

BY SHALISE MANZA YOUNG
Journal Sports Writer

BARRINGTON -- Apparently, Mother Nature didn't want Valerie Blinn to shoot a low score yesterday.

Blinn, the 22-year-old Seekonk native who won the state's first tournament of the season last week -- the Ocean State Women's Golf Association's Nathalie Price Memorial Spring Open -- was victorious again yesterday, but the weather certainly was not on her side.

Even par through the first 13 holes at the OSWGA Founders' Invitational at Rhode Island Country Club, Crestwood's Blinn then went 6 over par over the final five holes, when the previously warm temperature dropped and the wind picked up along the mostly waterfront holes.

Blinn carded an 80, which was good enough to win the Championship Division. Behind birdies on the eighth and ninth holes, both par-5s, she made the turn in 37. Coming home, however, she carded a 43.

Before that last stretch "I was playing really well," said Blinn. "I was even (par) going into the last five holes. (But) the wind picked up and the temperature dropped, and I got cold. I lost my focus."

The players praised the condition of the course, noting that the greens were in excellent condition. Blinn said her putting was very good yesterday, as she was able to get a true read on her putts. Tournament runner-up Carol Clary of Segregansett said her putting was the reason she shot an 86.

"My drives were beautiful," Clary said. "I was so pleased with my drives compared to last week (at the Price Memorial). What really killed me was my putting."

Clary also recorded vastly different scores from the front nine to the back, with a 40-46. She had birdies on the seventh and eighth, but Mother Nature also added strokes to her score. "It was very, very cold. That was a factor. The 46 on the back was all due to the wind. And a couple of stupid shots," she said.

Blinn just keeps adding to her OSWGA trophy shelf. In addition to last week's victory, when she carded an 81 at Fall River, she was also the association's Amateur champion last year, among other tournament wins. The graduate of St. Francis (Pa.) University is currently working two jobs, but still has her eyes on the LPGA Futures Tour. She had planned on trying to make the Futures over the winter but didn't feel she was ready.

The Championship Division net winner yesterday was Montaup's Lynne Fandetti. In the A Division, Triggs' Linda DaRosa and Kris Kennedy of Newport National each shot 95, but DaRosa won on matching cards.

The R.I. Women's State President's Cup is the next tournament on the schedule, Monday at Quidnessett.

Championship Division -- Valerie Blinn, Crestwood, 80; Carol Clary, Segregansett, 86; Lynne Fandetti, Montaup, 76; Nancy Diemoz, Montaup, 78.

A Division -- Linda DaRosa, Triggs, 95; Kris Kennedy, Newport National, 95; Luanne Googins, Laurel Lane, 78; Kim Schold, Quidnessett, 80.

B Division -- Diane Kelly, Midville, 93; Sandy Doig, Lincoln, 96; Cindy Spencer, Alpine, 74; Linda Albamonti, Triggs, 78.

C Division -- Maureen Dion, Seaview, 98; Ellen Gittleman, Potowomut, 104; Gail McGovern, Fall River, 74; Stephanie Rego, Firefly, 79.

D Division -- Lucy Levada, Green Valley, 110; Judy Villani, Swansea, 113; Karen Davis, Seaview, 77; Dena Marchetti, Glocester, 79.