Waterbury natives Laniah Moffett and Aoife Devaney are two of the best golfers in the Naugatuck Valley League. That is fact and can’t be disputed.
What 20 other golfers from around the state found out Saturday is just how good Moffett and Devaney are.
Moffett, a junior who attends Crosby, was the medalist in the CIAC girls golf open championship at Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. Moffett shot a 75, or 4-over par, at the par 71 course. Devaney, a junior who attends Kennedy, took second place with an 80, or 9-over par.
Moffett had a rough beginning, shooting 4-over par on her first six holes (Nos. 3-8). After back-to-back pars on the par 3 ninth and par 4 10th, Moffett birdied the 500-yard, par 5 11th hole. She gave a shot back on the par 4 12th hole, Moffett parred the par 3 13th and par 5 14th holes. Moffett birdied the 350-yard, par 4 15th hole. She parred the par 4 16th, par 3 17th and par 4 18th holes before recording her final bogey on the par 4 first hole. Moffett earned a par on her final hole of the day, the 428-yard, par 5 second hole. Devaney was the only player to shoot under 80.
Devaney began her day on the 325-yard, par 4 fourth hole. After a bogey on that hole, she recorded back-to-back pars on the par 4 fifth and par 4 sixth holes. Devaney birdied the 113-yard, par 3 seventh hole, then took par on the par 4 eighth and par 3 ninth holes. Devaney went through a rough stretch on the back nine (8-over), but she finished up well. Devaney sandwiched pars on the first and third holes around a bogey on the second hole.
Moffett and Devaney competed with their younger brothers, Milo and Aidan, on the Waterbury Co-op team, which won the NVL team championship for the first time this year.
Of note: St. Paul junior Olivia Dahn also competed in the girls open. She finished in a three-way tie for 10th after carding a 90.
BOYS OPEN
Two Bristol-based golfers were among the 29 who competed in the championship, also held at the Black Hall Club. Bristol Central senior Scott Petrosky tied for sixth place after shooting a 75. St. Paul senior Matt Downes tied for eighth place after recording a 76.
PHOTO CAPTION: Waterbury golfers Laniah Moffett, left, and Aoife Devaney finished 1-2 in the CIAC girls golf open championship on Saturday at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. (Photo credit: Mike Madden)
