Katie Cullen Wins Worcester County Women’s Amateur

After finishing runner‑up in last year’s Worcester County Women’s Amateur, Katie Cullen entered this year’s event determined to change that result. “I told my parents that I just wanted to win this year,” she recalled, “because it doesn’t feel great coming in second when you’re so close and you really want it.”

On the final day at Tatnuck Country Club, Cullen posted rounds of 75 and 74 for a three‑over‑par total of 149, edging the field by three strokes. The victory marked her first title since her freshman season when she captured the Keene State Invitational and tied for first at the Assumption Fall Invitational. When asked how the win compared to her earlier golf feats, the 21‑year‑old said, “I feel like it’s pretty high.”

Second place went to Erin Sullivan, who had claimed the championship a year earlier, finishing two strokes behind Cullen with a 78‑74 total of 152. Loren le Gassick, competing at age 58, also posted a 152 (76‑76) and shared the runner‑up spot. Sullivan, 23, of Norwood, offered a gracious response, “I’m very happy for her. Obviously, I would have liked a better finish, but that’s OK.”

Cullen entered the final round holding a one‑stroke lead over le Gassick, but the pressure quickly mounted. After bogeying her first two holes, she admitted, “That shook me a little.” A two‑putt birdie on the par‑5 fourth hole steadied her, and she played even par over the last 14 holes, with a bogey on the 10th and a birdie on the 16th. She said she gets nervous watching the leaderboard but felt hopeful in the closing stretch, adding, “I was just excited for myself. I felt really proud, especially after last year.”

Background & College Story

Cullen began playing golf on the boys’ team at Uxbridge High in seventh grade and served as captain for her final two seasons. As a senior, she placed 20th at the North‑Central‑West state sectional and earned a spot on the T&G Hometeam Super Team. The 5‑foot‑9 athlete attends Belmont Abbey College on a golf scholarship and will be a senior in the fall. She finished third at the Conference Carolinas Women’s Golf Championship last spring and made the All‑Conference team, while her freshman year at St. Anselm College also earned her a spot on the Northeast‑10 Conference All‑Star team.

Tatnuck CC’s layout added another layer of challenge, as the nine‑hole course is played twice with differing yardages on the second round. Sullivan highlighted the difficulty on the sixth hole, using an eight‑iron from 152 yards to land within a foot, and again on her 15th hole, where the distance was about four yards farther yet still yielded a close approach.

Le Gassick, a Kittansett GC player, brought a wealth of experience to the event. She captured the Massachusetts Women’s Amateur in both 1985 and 1986 and has won the Mass. Mother‑Son Tournament twice with her son Philip. After her final round, she praised Tatnuck’s greens and shared a memorable chip shot: “I chipped off the third green over a bunker and onto the nearby 7th green, then sank the six‑foot par putt. That was kind of cool.”

Other Finishers & Senior Division

Georgia Beland, a Webster native and Notre Dame Academy graduate, settled for fourth place with two rounds of 77. She is a two‑time T&G Hometeam Golfer of the Year, including this season’s honors. Vinny Papa, the 2023 champion, tied for fifth at ten over par. A record 25 golfers entered the fourth annual event.

Christine Gagner, le Gassick’s longtime friend, suggested Tatnuck as the venue and went on to win the inaugural senior division for golfers 50 and older. She posted rounds of 74 and 73 for a total of 147, missing a one‑foot birdie putt on her final hole that would have taken her to even par. “Obviously, it’s great to be the inaugural senior champion,” she said, “but I have a little regret that I didn’t play from the regular tees because I’ve been using them for a few years.” Seniors played from roughly 300 yards less than the 5,352‑yard setup for the younger field.

Mary Gale finished second among the seniors with rounds of 87 and 80.

Young Talent Spotlight: Wyatt Rue

A rising star from Princeton, 15‑year‑old Wyatt Rue is set to compete in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship at Trump National Doral Resort and Spa in Miami, Florida, from Wednesday through Friday. Rue posted a one‑under 70 to share second place in a qualifier at Stow Acres CC on June 13. During his freshman year at St. John’s, he played in every match and recorded the team’s third‑lowest stroke average. The upcoming championship will serve as a key step in his development on the national stage.

Contact & Closing

If you have story ideas or comments for this golf column, reach out to Bill Doyle at [email protected]. Feedback is always welcome, and new suggestions help shape future coverage. The article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette as “’I really wanted it this year’: Cullen wins Worcester County Amateur.”