On the 18th hole, as Bowie’s Caroline Sweet stood over her 15-foot putt with a chance to win the Maryland Women’s Amateur, she tried to forget her last two putts in the same situation.
Leading Laura Schlesinger on the 17th green, Sweet took three putts, from 12 feet, extending the championship match.
But with another opportunity on the 18th green Sweet didn’t waste it, rolling in her right-to-left breaker to halve the hole, and edge Schlesinger, 1 up, at Crofton Country Club.
“When it went in, I was so happy. I thought I redeemed my three-putt,” said Sweet, 17. “I’m so stressed out right now, worn out. It was hot and humid. I was already nervous. I’m sweating so bad.”
Sweet appeared cool on the back nine, when she rallied from a two-hole deficit with birdies at No. 14 and No. 15. Sticking wedges inside three feet on both holes, Sweet reversed the momentum, then took a 1-up lead when Schlesinger three-putted No. 16.
“I though, ‘You know what, stop going for pars, try and birdie,’” said Sweet. “That was a huge deal, one of the biggest things I’ve ever done in a tournament, a real turnaround. It wasn’t because she played poorly, it was because I stuck it really close.”
It was the second big win in nine months for Sweet. Last fall, the recent Eleanor Roosevelt graduate won the Maryland state public school girls championship.
“This one I was more nervous,” said Sweet, who will play this fall at William & Mary. “I did a better job in the states not thinking about any results. Here I did a better job overcoming my nerves.”
