Dover's Carys Fennessy: New England women's golf champ at 17 and just getting started

DOVER — Carys Fennessy recently crossed another major goal off her list.

Fennessy, 17, a rising senior at Dover High School, won the 2024 New England Women's Amateur golf championship in a dramatic finish at Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport, Maine.

Fennessy scored a three-day total of 216 — 2-over-par 73 on Day 1, followed by a 2-under-par 69 on Day 2 and a 3-over-par 74 in the final round on June 27. She won the title in a one-hole playoff.

"It's something that has meant a lot to me," Fennessy said. "And definitely a goal of mine for a really long time, so winning it and checking it off that bucket list was definitely a really cool accomplishment. It was a great experience and Samoset Resort was an awesome course."

Fennessy's first time golfing at the course was a practice round the Monday before the tournament.

"I just really wanted to go out there and show everyone what I was capable of," Fennessy said. "The course was definitely really tricky. It's all on the water, so wind comes into play a lot, so (you have to) pay attention to that variable. And it's tight and demands that you have control over your golf ball."

Fennessy trailed by one shot entering the back nine in the final round. She said she isn't one to check the score and despite a few tough holes, she just kept trying to compete.

After struggling with her putting on the first day, Fennessy said she approached that part of her game as a separate battle.

"I spent a lot of time on the greens after my rounds and before, and just really tried to dial in and find the pace and speed," she said. "And then I would have more confidence over the important putts."

Fennessy's growing golf resume

Fennessy, who has been a standout competitive golfer since a very young age, has a number of impressive accomplishments in the last two years.

Last August at age 16, Fennessy won the 2023 New Hampshire Women's Golf Amateur Championship.

In October 2023, Fennessy won the New England girls high school golf championship by six strokes with a 5-under-par 67 at Mohegan Sun Golf Club in Connecticut. Earlier the same month, she won her third straight New Hampshire high school girls title.

Fennessy also attempted to qualify for the the U.S. Women's Open in May, placing 16th and missing the cut by six strokes with a 1-over-par 71-74-145 at Winchester (Massachusetts) Country Club.

Fennessy seeking more golf goals in summer 2024

The tournaments don't stop for Fennessy, who golfed at the North South Jr. Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina, July 1-2, withdrawing due to sickness after two rounds in the three-day event.

On July 16, Fennessy will be competing in a U.S. Women's Amateur qualifier at Charles River Country Club in Newton, Massachusetts.

"It's just a one-day qualifier," Fennessy said. "It'd be pretty cool if I can get into the Am, so it's definitely a goal of mine."

If she qualifies, she would compete in the U.S. Women's Amateur, which is being held Aug. 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

She will likely seek to defend her New Hampshire Women's Amateur title July 29-31 at Rochester Country Club. She also may compete in the Northern Junior Championship the first week of August in Hartford, Connecticut, unless she's at the U.S. Women's Amateur.

Fennessy has already chosen her college

In fall 2025, Fennessy will be attending the College of Charleston in South Carolina, to continue her academic and golf careers. Fennessy said the city is a place she could really see herself, which was a big part of her college decision.

"It's just an awesome place with great courses," Fennessy said. "Good school, and there's not really much more that I could ask for."

Asked how her success and achievements have helped prepare her for college, Fennessy said she's an experienced golfer.

"Already this year, I've learned so much about my game and myself," she said. "And because of that, you know your weaknesses, and you're more comfortable playing and knowing that; and you can play to your strengths, too. So I just think playing and playing in good events with good players, you pick up on a lot of things about yourself, others and how to manage the course."