Julia Kemmling Wins Girls Junior Golf Title

The Timberlin Golf Course continued to add to its legacy as "The Home of Champions" as young Julia Kemmling won the CWGA Girls State Championship at the par-74 New Haven Country Club.

Kemmling just left McGee School and will be a freshman at Berlin High School next month and is one of the youngest winners in the history of the tournament. 

Kemmling shot 2-over 76 the first day of the tournament to take a one-shot lead over Catherine McEvoy, from Greenwich. The two were paired together for the final round on Friday.

"This was a big one, it is like a major for the girls," said her father Ed Kemmling of his daughter's win. "I try not to follow her around because I don't want to put pressure on her. I only saw one shot she hit all day today."

The one shot he saw was a 15-foot birdie putt on the 36th hole of the tournament which Kemmling made for a one-stroke victory over McEvoy.

"I was keeping Catherine's scorecard so I knew exactly what she was shooting and where we were," Julia Kemmling said. "The last hole is a downhill par-three about 150 yards. I hit a 7-iron and as soon as I hit it I knew it was a good shot. I knew I needed to make birdie because we were tied going to the last hole.

"She hit her shot on the lower shelf of the green so she had a pretty long putt and left it short. I was pretty nervous over the putt because I knew what was at stake. As soon as I hit it, I knew it was in. It was an incredible feeling."

Kemmling, who won CT Section PGA Tournament this summer at Yale Golf Course and came in second at Ellington Ridge, has had a solid summer of tournament play. This win puts her at a different level.

"I didn't expect to win this tournament. I was just hoping to play my best and see what happened so the first round was a nice surprise," she said. "After the first round, I thought if I played well I might have a chance. I was really excited because that 76 was my lowest round ever. I just wanted to stay in the low numbers and keep it going."

Kemmling beat a solid field of golfers including Abrianna Farnum, who won the CIAC high school girls championship for Fitch High School. 

Kemmling said her entire game came together for these two days.

"I was doing everything well, hitting my driver, irons and I was making putts, which helps," she said. "That last putt was pin high but I knew it was going to break to the left and it did."

With the win, Kemmling joins an impressive list of players who have won the CWGA Girls title.

"It's an honor to have my name on the trophy with so many other great golfers," Kemmling said. "It also gives me a big boost of confidence to now I can play that well and win."

Kemmling is excited to join the Berlin High School girls golf team, the defending CIAC girls golf team champions.

"I know we will have a really good team," she said. "I can't wait to play with the other girls and I think we can win another state championship. I'm really excited to be part of that great program."

Kemmling also wanted to thank all the staff and golfers who support her at her home course, Timberlin. "Everyone there has helped me since I started playing the game," she added.  

Final Results

1 Julia Kemmling 76-81--157

2 Catherine McEvoy 77-81--158

3 Andra Frappier 80-79--159

4 June Conti 79-81--160

T5 Marissa Grillo 83-82--165

Albrianna Farnum 82-83--165

Alexandria Lee 81-84--165

8 Mikayla Sheary 84-86--170

9 Gabrielle Martin 80-91--171

10 Alyssa Lyon 87-86--173

11 Barbara Wilson 83-94--177

12 Amanda Lee 92-87--179

13 Emily Stickel 92-89--181