All eyes will be on the Smith sisters this Saturday at Vesper Country Club.
The Lowell Women’s City Golf Tournament has turned into the de facto Smith Open since Westford sisters Molly, Morgan and Maddie burst onto the local scene with eye-popping scores and dazzling performances.
This year should be no different when golfers from Vesper, Nabnasset, Mt. Pleasant and Long Meadow take to the links in Tyngsboro in the highly anticipated annual event that started in 1999.
Molly Smith, a University of Central Florida golfer, is looking to win her third consecutive crown. She’s made history each of her last two championships, first breaking the tournament record in 2024 with a sizzling 8-under 64 before capturing her record sixth crown a year ago.
“I’ve definitely just tried to play the best golf I can,” Molly Smith said. “For the most part, that’s kind of my mindset whenever I tee it up. And I feel like the last few years I’ve been playing well going into the tournament, which is nice.”
And look for Morgan Smith and Maddie Smith to be in the hunt. Morgan Smith would have set the tournament record in 2024 — carding a 6-under 66 — if it wasn’t for her sister’s mastery. Morgan Smith, who plays at the University of Georgia, is a 2019 and 2023 champion. Maddie Smith, meanwhile, will play at the University of Memphis this fall after a stellar career at Westford Academy.
This year’s event is staged at Vesper. But Long Meadow’s proud members will undoubtedly keep tabs on Molly Smith’s play on Saturday. Long Meadow golf pro Shawn Scott said he has seen a rise in women interested in golf at the Lowell/Tewksbury club since the Smith sisters have risen throughout the ranks.
Maddie Smith is also a Long Meadow golfer, while Morgan Smith calls Mt. Pleasant home.
“I think the membership as a whole is always following them and keeping an eye on what they’re doing … everyone is always checking in where the girls are this week,” Scott said. “Between the three of them, they always have something going on. It’s certainly been an uplift for the club.”
On Wednesday, a total of $36,000 in scholarships was awarded by the Lowell Women’s City Golf Tournament to 30 young female athletes heading to college. (Courtesy photo)
The talented trio should make for an exciting event for those on hand at Vesper.
“They’re amazing, all three of them,” said Vesper pro Jason DuFresne. “They truly are.”
But look for Vesper member Tracy Martin to be a name atop the leaderboard. Martin won the tournament in 2021 and has been right behind the Smiths ever since. Martin has had her fair share of epic moments at the Cities. A year after her victory, she dropped a hole-in-one.
“Tracy has been playing pretty well,” DuFresne said. “She’ll be right there in the mix. I think it’s really a four-horse race, to be honest with you.”
Liz Friel O’Brien, one of the most decorated players in the tournament’s history, will also represent host Vesper. She remains tied with Long Meadow’s Caitlin Barry with five titles.
DuFresne said Vesper golfers Morgan Pier and Isabel Smith should also be in the mix in what is shaping up to be a challenging layout at the Tyngsboro course.
Lowell Women’s City Golf Tournament champion champ Molly Smith, right, is congratulated by five-time champ Caitlin Barry last year at Nabnasset Lake CC in Westford. It was Smith’s record-breaking sixth championship. (James Thomas for the Lowell Sun)
Ordinarily, Vesper is considered the toughest course of the Cities. But with recent bunker renovations and ultra-thick rough, DuFresne said the course is playing tougher than ever.
“The rough is still healthy,” DuFresne said. “It’s not super long, but it’s so thick. It’s just tough to get a club through. I think that’s the single biggest factor that’s affecting scoring.”
For Molly Smith, the difficulty might not be as obvious. The seasoned college golfer is accustomed to battling unforgiving conditions during her competitive season at some of the more challenging courses around the country.
She, or her sisters, doesn’t have to come back and play the Cities every summer. But they do. Growing the game — as Scott alluded to — is important to them.
More so than any record, trophy or milestone.
“That’s kind of the whole idea of playing local golf,” Molly Smith said. “I think the Women’s Cities does a really nice job in trying to grow the game. Not only grow the game of golf, but grow the whole women in sports thing. Obviously, that is something that is important to Morgan, Maddie and I.”
On Wednesday, $36,000 in scholarships was awarded to 30 young female athletes heading to college. To date, the tournament has helped raise over $335,000 in funds.
Saturday’s tee times
11:00 a.m.: Jeannette Blanchette (N); Tracey Ogden (LM); Billie Ann Casey (MP)
11:10 a.m.: Peg Pinsky (V); Marybeth Hohrath (N); Julia Santos (LM)
11:20 a.m.: Kelly Trahan (MP); Janice Carroll (V); Judy Lantagne (N)
11:30 a.m.: Caroline Miller (LM); Lynn Smith (MP); Cheryl Popp (V)
11:40 a.m.: Deb Villano (N); Kathy Doherty (LM); Diane Murphy (MP)
11:50 a.m.: Sheila Montminy (V); Julie Abrahamson (N); Janelle Wagstaff (LM)
12:00 p.m.: Christine Talbot (MP); Colleen Kaiser (V); Lisa Colangelo (N)
12:10 p.m.: Linda Kilbride (LM); Marian Silk (MP); Samantha Gervais (V)
12:20 p.m.: Jen Paletta (N); Brigid McNiff (LM); Moira Bowser (MP)
12:30 p.m.: Joanne Aldrich (V); Alice Westland (N); Leann D’Entremont (LM)
12:40 p.m.: Susan Allison (MP); Lauri Welch (V); Fiona Johnson (N)
12:50 p.m.: Anne Farley (LM); Kelly McKiernan (MP); Isabel Smith (V)
1:00 p.m.: Laura Nejame (N); Caitlin Barry (LM); Brooke Weza (MP)
1:10 p.m.: Morgan Pier (V); Anne Windhol (N); Madison Smith (LM)
1:20 p.m.: Andrea Dutile (MP); Elizabeth O’Brien (V); Sophia Flabouris (N)
1:30 p.m.: Molly Smith (LM); Morgan Smith (MP); Tracy Martin (V)