Dover teen golfer Carys Fennessy 'in shock' to qualify for LPGA event at TPC Boston

Carys Fennessey will not be present when the Dover High School golf team has its first match of the season on Wednesday.

But the 17-year-old senior has a good excuse — she'll be competing ahead of her first LPGA tournament — this week's FM Global Championship at TPC Boston, which is being held in Norton, Massachusetts. It's a breakthrough accomplishment for Fennessy, the 2024 New England Amateur champion and two-time New Hampshire Women’s Amateur champion as a teenager.

“I am in a little shock, you can say, but I am excited for the week,” Fennessy said. “There will be a little bit of nerves, but a lot more excitement than anything. It’s a cool opportunity not too many amateurs get.”

Fennessey carded a winning score of 1-under 71 in Monday’s qualifier at TPC Boston, to earn a spot in this week’s tournament, which begins Thursday. The four-day, 72-hole tournament runs through Sunday, with a cut coming after Friday's second round.

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

Fennessy thought scores at Monday’s qualifier would be lower.

“About halfway through the back nine, I checked the leaderboard and I was like, ‘Wow, my 1 under and two birdies is going to make it,’” Fennessy said. “I didn’t expect (Monday) to turn out the way it did, but I guess everything happens for a reason.”

It's been a busy summer for Fennessy. Earlier this month she won her second straight New Hampshire Women's Amateur championship by 18 strokes at Rochester Country Club. And in July, she won the 2024 New England Women's Amateur golf championship at Samoset Resort Golf Club in Rockport, Maine.

Lst fall, she won her third straight New Hampshire high school state championship .

More: Dover High rising senior Carys Fennessy wins second straight NH Women's Am by 18 strokes

How Fennessy reached qualifier

Ten amateur golfers were invited to compete in last Wednesday’s Mass Golf Invitational Qualifier at Worcester Country Club with the top two scores advancing to Monday’s qualifier at TPC.

Fennessy survived two playoff holes and earned the second and final spot.

Fennessy plans to 'enjoy the experience ' in LPGA event

Fennessy admits she'll be both a fan and a player this week.

“I’ll probably look like a spectator out there with awing over some of the people," Fennessy said. "But I am going to just enjoy the experience; being in the moment is going to be important. Obviously, the nerves are going to be there, but you’re only playing with two other people in the actual round, so I think I should be a little calm.”

Who’s in the field

Fennessy is part of a 144-golfer field, which includes 56 LPGA event winners and Xiyu Lin, who won the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Other top golfers include Hannah Green, Celine Boutier, Allisen Corpuz, Jin Young Ko, Lauren Coughlin and Alexa Pano.

“The field is pretty strong,” Fennessy said. “I am just going to try to go out there, do my best, and see where that puts me.”

How to watch FM Global Championship at TPC Boston

Tournament coverage will be available for all four rounds on both Golf Channel and Peacock.

The first and second rounds will stream live from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Saturday’s third round will air live on Golf Channel and stream on Peacock from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m., and Sunday’s final round will air from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Golf Channel and Peacock.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Dover teen golfer Carys Fennessy 'in shock' to qualify for LPGA event at TPC Boston