June 3, 2004

By BRUCE BERLET
Hartford Courant Staff Writer

WATERBURY, CT-- In the inaugural Connecticut Women's Open, Liz Janangelo, then 15 and headed into her sophomore year at Conard High in West Hartford, missed a 10-foot par putt to three-putt the final hole. Adding to Janangelo's misery was an ensuing drive behind a tree and bogey at the first extra hole, handing the title to Tammy Lohren-Thomas.

Janangelo would win her second tournament appearance in 2003, but the par miss five years ago still haunted her. Janangelo spent hours- sometimes 'til dark- on the putting green at Wampanoag Country Club in West Hartford practicing the putt she couldn't get out of her mind. Wednesday at the Country Club of Waterbury, Janangelo got a shot at redemption.

After watching playing partner and three-time winner Suzy Whaley- battling the sting of a bruised tendon in her right wrist sustained when she hit a root three holes earlier- hang a 20-foot eagle try to the right, Janangelo eyed a 12-footer for 3 that had the look of that haunting miss.

"That's why I've been putting and putting and putting," Janangelo said. "I had the tournament won and three-putted."

Not this time. Janangelo knocked an uphill putt in the center of the cup for a second 1-under- par 71 and one-stroke victory over Whaley.

"Before I hit the last putt, I said I've been waiting five years for this, to get it back," Janangelo said. "It was right to left, and I just felt it. I told Matt [Doyle, her caddie] this was what I had worked, what it was all about, and was going to make it.

"I was very nervous, kind of shaky, so I said I have to get used to this and learn how to do it. I remember Grace Park over her putt [on the last hole] to win the Nabisco [Championship in March]. I think there are stepping stones like the Connecticut Open and college events, and hopefully I'll be that nervous- if not more- over a putt for my first LPGA win."

Janangelo, who began one back of Whaley, made a 50-foot birdie putt at No. 11 to tie for the lead, then missed from 4 feet at No. 12 to fall one back. Janangelo regained the lead with a two-putt birdie at the 15th, where Whaley injured her wrist trying to punch a 5-iron second shot out of the trees. She topped her third shot 20 yards and made bogey but got even at No. 16 with a 10-foot downhill birdie putt.

Whaley made a deft downhill chip to a foot to save par at No. 17, and Janangelo missed an 8-foot birdie try for the lead. At the 18th, Whaley drove into the right rough but hit a 5-iron from 180 yards to 20 feet. Janangelo's 285-yard drive found the fairway, then she hit a knockdown 9-iron from 134 yards that stopped 12 feet short.

"What a finish!" said former LPGA Tour player and Connecticut Golf Hall of Famer Caroline Keggi, a Waterbury member and spectator for two days.

Whaley's eagle try stopped 6 inches past the cup, and when Janangelo converted, it was over.

"I thought my putt would have more break," said Whaley, who had her ailing wrist wrapped in ice afterwards. "I'm disappointed, but not upset. I MADE her beat me and fight to the very last hole.

"Of course I would have loved to win, but if you're ever going to lose a tournament, the only way you can swallow it nicely is if you lose to a 3 on a par-5. I hung in incredibly, and we both fought because we both wanted to win. It came down to 18, and I don't think you can ask for any better- unless, of course, I had won."

Janangelo expected to HAVE to make her putt.

"Suzy is such a competitor, and I knew it was going to be tight to the end," Janangelo said. "I figured she was going to make her putt and that she was going to chip it in on the hole before. I'm just happy my putt dropped."

Cheryl Anderson, the 2003 runner-up, shot 74 to finish third at 147, one ahead of Tish Certo (76) and two in front of Amy Powell (74) and amateur Katie Stepanek, who birdied No. 18 after a triple-bogey 7 at the 17th. Lynn Valentine started birdie-par to get within a shot of Whaley but shot 6 over the rest of the front nine en route to 78-150 and a tie for seventh.

Janangelo, named the college player of the year last week in her sophomore year at Duke, said her ball striking "wasn't so hot," though she hit 10 of 14 fairways and 12 of 18 greens, compared to seven and 11 for Whaley, often outdriven by 20-25 yards.

"I had a lot of confidence and didn't think about being expected to win," said Janangelo, a self-proclaimed "adrenaline player" who leaves Friday for England and the Curtis Cup Matches June 12-13.

Whaley, who will play in the LPGA Championship next week, said the win sets Janangelo in good stead.

"Liz is a fighter and has spunk, and I love that about her," Whaley said. "Draining that last putt will be a great confidence booster for Curtis Cup. Whether you're playing Curtis Cup, Connecticut Open, U.S. Open, when you have a putt to win and you drain it for eagle 3, you have to walk away feeling good about yourself."

6th Connecticut State Woman's Open
 Country Club of Waterbury  Par 72;  5931 Yards

Rank Player Name Rd 1 Rd 2 Total
1 Janangelo, Elizabeth, Wampanoag 71 71 142 $500
2 Whaley, Suzy, Blue Fox Run 70 73 143 $3,000
3 Anderson, Cheryl, Wykagyl 73 74 147 $2,000
4 Certo, Elizabeth, Willow Ridge 72 76 148 $1,500
5 Stepanek, Kate, Pine Orchard 76 73 149 $400
5 Powell, Amy, Unattached 75 74 149 $1,000
7 Miller, Cindy, Tri-County CC 75 75 150 $850
7 Valentine, Lynn, G.C. of Avon 72 78 150 $850
9 Reeves, CJ, Century 77 74 151 $650
9 Moan, Mary, Yale 76 75 151 $300
9 Shanahan-Rowe, Laura, Unattached 73 78 151 $650
12 Sundberg, Katherine, Hiland 79 73 152 $275
13 Noble, Karen, Sunningdale 76 77 153 $450
13 Malinaric, Amy, Bighorn 75 78 153 $450
15 Coffey, Nicole, Pequabuck 78 76 154 $237.50
15 Olds, Morgan, Knollwood 78 76 154 $237.50
15 Hjelte, Teri, Stanwich Club 78 76 154 $200
15 McDonald, Joan, Morefar GC 77 77 154 $200
15 Robinson, Kathleen, Tantallon 75 79 154 $200
20 Goulet, Kori, Rochester 77 78 155 $200
20 Cusimano, Dede, Mohansic 76 79 155
20 Reynolds, Holly, West Bolton 75 80 155
23 Edelen, Cathy, Sabal Trace 78 78 156
23 Steward, Jessica, Fox Hopyard 79 77 156 $175
23 Maxfeldt, Kammy, Birchwood 79 77 156
23 Wilder, Karen, Greenwich 79 77 156
27 Bond, Susan, Weekapaug 79 78 157
27 Jones, Marjorie, Fairview 77 80 157
27 Lendl, Marika, Washington 77 80 157 $150
30 Kelley, Hope, The Ranch 81 77 158
30 Thomson, Christin, Saxon Woods 77 81 158 $125
30 McDermott, Theresa, Cherry Downs 75 83 158
30 Allbright, Kiersten, Orange Tree Golf 74 84 158
34 Morrell, Andrea, Derryfield 78 81 159 $100
34 Staton, June, Cedarbrook 81 78 159
34 Nevatt, Linda, The Ace Club 79 80 159
37 Gleason, Kristy, LaPlaya Beach 84 77 161 $100
37 Posillico, Wendy, Huntington Crescent 83 78 161
37 Enright, Mary, Whippoorwill 80 81 161
37 Isler, Connie, Fort Meade 76 85 161 $100
41 McGannon, Serena Marie, Ballyowen 80 82 162
41 Fiscella, Tara, Heritage Village 81 81 162
41 Lendl, Isabelle, Washington 81 81 162
41 Cummings, Daria, Tashua Knolls 73 89 162
45 Friedman, Randy, Metropolis 81 82 163
45 Tincher, Courtney, Stanwich Club 77 86 163
47 McKenna, Tara, Tatnuck 84 80 164
47 Rompothong, Chawwadee 82 82 164
49 Kramer, Eileen, Cohasset 78 87 165
49 Curran, Joyce, Richter Park 81 84 165
49 Budden, Shirley, Burning Tree 82 83 165
49 Wessel, Edith, Thunderbird 82 83 165
53 Milligan, Lynda, Madison 86 80 166
53 McQuillan, Sharon, Bonnie Briar 82 84 166
55 Billy, Louise, Derryfield 82 85 167
55 Chillemi, Connie, Edgewood 81 86 167
57 West, Helen, Beekman 80 88 168
57 Ascolani, Rosalina, Pro Kids Golf 79 89 168
59 Kozlowski, Ashley, Goodwin 86 84 170
60 Walker, Nancy, Skungamaug 89 82 171
60 Harris, Donna, Avon 82 89 171
62 Nel, Dale, H S Richardson 81 91 172
63 Lindquist, Ninna, Greenwich 88 85 173
63 Brudner, Gale, Glen Arbor 85 88 173
65 Cole, Jennifer, Oak Lane 90 85 175
65 Lyons, Linda, Timberlin 86 89 175
65 Friend, Cynthia, Oak Hill 84 91 175
65 Stone, Sarah, Woodway 82 93 175
69 Gentile, Elizabeth, Wee Burn 87 90 177
70 Rothwell, Diane, Ellington Ridge 90 89 179
71 Jackson, Sandra, Whippoorwill 88 92 180
72 Michaels, Karen, Shennecossett 88 95 183
72 Witherwax, Jane, Waterbury 86 97 183
72 Kawashima, Tomoko, Norwich 84 99 183
75 Allbright, Kathy, Crown Point 90 95 185
76 Hill, Jamie, Laurel View 90 98 188
77 Poppmeier, Kathi, Murhof 76 NC NC
77 Fern-Boros, Lisa, Wheeler Park 94 NC NC
77 Hatch, Julie, Abenaqui 87 NS NS
77 Brown, Heather, Richter Park 88 NS NS