Ford-Moran comes up aces at annual Price Memorial

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 11, 2006

BY PAUL KENYON
Journal Sports Writer

NORTH KINGSTOWN -- The golf season in Rhode Island is officially under way and no one is happier about that than Maureen Ford and Ann Moran.

They got the season off to a memorable start yesterday in the Nathalie Price Memorial at Quidnessett, the event that has become the season opener not only for the sponsoring Ocean State Women's Golf Association, but also for the entire state.

It was memorable for Ford and Moran not only because they combined to win the best-ball event with a 76, but because Ford had a hole-in-one in the process. Ford, a 10-handicapper from Potowomut, aced the 135-yard fifth hole -- which plays over water back toward the Quidnessett clubhouse -- with a six iron.

What made it even more fun was that Moran, her partner, had hit first.

"I hit it this close," Moran said, holding her hands barely more than a foot apart. "But we didn't even use it because she got up and hit it in the hole."

Moran, along with the mother-daughter team of Trudy and Karen Dufault, who were on their way to winning the net title with a 6-under 66, watched from the elevated tee as Ford hit her shot.

"It took one little bounce, hit the pin, kind of rattled around and dropped in," Ford related.

The ace was Ford's second, although this one sweeter than the first. A few years ago, she had an ace in Connecticut as she played on the Rhode Island team in the RI-Connecticut Team Matches at Pautipaug.

"That one was kind of lucky," she said. "It landed just over a bunker and took a crazy bounce, shot off to the left and went in." Yesterday's shot was perfect all the way. It was part of a big day that also included a deuce by Moran on the first par-3, the second hole.

"We dinged and donged well," Ford said. "We both played well."

"They didn't make a lot of pars. They made bogeys or birdies and the hole-in-one," said Karen Dufault. "That works for me. I'd like that."

Dufault had no complaints, though, because she and her mother swept to a runaway victory in the net competition with their 66.

"I played well at the start, and then when I got a little tired Karen really played well," Trudy Dufault said.

Winning the event was special for Trudy Dufault. She is co-founder of the OSWGA with Nathalie Price, the person for whom the event is named. Price died 11 years ago just as the organization was getting off the ground.

The team of Kibbe Reilly and Jennifer Hendrick took second low gross with a 77, and Carol Clarey and Cynthia Prazner were third, at 83. Susan Haake and Robin Hayes took second net with a 71. Brenda Paris and Geri Lisa were third at 72, edging Donna Ahlquist-Beach and Kristin Kennedy by matching cards.

In the "A" Division, Chris Trenholme and Jacqueline Booth took low gross with an 84. Patti D'Ambrosio and Annie Corio had 90 and Elaine Finizia and Vicky Johnson 91. In net, Natalie Parise and Pat Hockman won with a 63, Sharon Rickard and Joanne Stiness took second on matching cards over the team of Linda Albamonti and Susan Korber. Both had 72s.

The 'B" Division was won by Christine Provost and Donna Reynolds with a 96, one better than Janina McCloskey and Robin Parella. Judy McAuley and Beverly Stamp were third at 102. Joann Bourque and Diane Deruosi took the net with a 66, four better than Kathy Chorney and Ann Hoglund. Marge Bockman and Susan Souza were third at 75.