Amherst College-bound Mekhala Costello leading the field at 121st Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Golf Championship

Mekhala Costello tees off during the second round of the 121st Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown on Tuesday. PHOTO BY MASS GOLF/DAVID COLT

Cold Spring Country Club’s Helen Wright tees off during the second round of the 121st Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown on Tuesday. PHOTO BY MASS GOLF/DAVID COLT

Mekhala Costello picks her ball out of the hole after draining an eagle from the fairway on the 18th hole of her second round at the 121st Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Golf Championship at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown on Tuesday. PHOTO BY MASS GOLF/DAVID COLT

By GARRETT COTE

Staff Writer

Published: 08-13-2024 5:17 PM

She may be committed to play soccer at Amherst College come the fall, but Mekhala Costello has shown the state of Massachusetts she is quite the golfer as well.

After taming the tough Taconic Golf Club with a 2-under round of 69 during the first round of the 2024 Massachusetts Women’s Amateur Championship on Monday, Costello (Blue Hill Country Club) fired another 69 on Tuesday – giving her a total score of 4-under par. Nobody came close to Costello this week, as she claimed medalist honors by six strokes and will be the No. 1 seed in the 32-playre match play bracket that begins on Wednesday.

Sitting in second place is 2022 champion Morgan Smith (Mount Pleasant Golf Club, 2-over), who won the event when it was played at the Orchards in South Hadley. Molly Smith (Long Meadow Golf Club, 3-over) and Carys Fennessy (Youth on Course/Mass Golf, 7-over) round out the top four finishers after stroke play. Defending champion Rebecca Skoler did not compete in the 2024 event.

Costello was even par as she walked up to her ball in the middle of the 18th fairway to take her third shot on the par 5 finisher. The 18-year old put a perfect swing on the ball and landed it right next to the pin. With a little side spin, the ball found its way into the hole for an eagle to put her at 2-under for the day and 4-under for the tournament.

On Monday, Costello was even par before going birdie-birdie on 17 and 18. Her strong finishes propelled her to medalist honors.

Elsewhere, Cold Spring Country Club’s Helen Wright shot an 83 on Monday and an 88 on Tuesday to put her in a tie for 38th place, just three shots out of a potential match play berth. Wright tallied three birdies throughout the week, and finished at 29-over 171.

Match play begins Wednesday with Round of 32 and Round of 16 matches back at Taconic. The quarterfinals and semifinals are Thursday, and the championship match is Friday.

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