Staci Creech’s mission for a three-peat at the Maine Women’s Amateur golf championships got off to a good start Monday.
The wife of the University of Maine athletic director and two-time defending tournament champion shot an even-par 71 at Auburn’s Martindale Golf Course.
Creech is sharing the lead with 17-year-old Bailey Plourde of Newcastle.
The recent graduate of Lincoln Academy also fired a 71 on a cloudy, wet Monday.
A trio of other tennagers are within striking distance of the leaders heading into Tuesday’s second round of the 54-hole tournament.
Elizabeth Lacognata of Scarborough holds sole position of third place after shooting a 74. She’ll be a senior at Scarborough High School in September.
Jordan Laplume fired a 77 to hold on to fourth place, while Kathi O’Grady and Erin Holmes each carded a 78 and are tied for fifth.
Holmes is a Greely High graduate and Laplume a senior-to-be at Thornton Academy in Saco.
Action is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.