MANCHESTER — Abby Flanagan and Alexis McCormick were the only women playing in the Charlie’s Maine Open this week at the Augusta Country Club.

While both wanted to compete, they also set their sights on a bigger goal: Prepping for the Maine Women’s Amateur, which begins July 15 at the Biddeford-Saco Country Club.

The Maine Open lives up to its name: It’s open to pros and amateurs, as well as men and women. For Flanagan and McCormick, the tournament provided an opportunity to get in competitive rounds, something both said are hard to come by.

“It’s a good practice round for me to come out and play for the Women’s Am, because there’s not many multiple-day tournaments to play in before that,” said Flanagan, who shot a 10-over 80 on Tuesday.

“There’s really no big tournaments before the Women’s Am for me, or really for any of us girls,” said McCormick, who shot a 20-over 90 on Tuesday. “This is a bigger tournament that, especially us girls, should be playing in to get us prepared (for the Women’s Am).

“After every tee shot, I’m just thinking about getting on that green, making a good shot, going for par, par is obviously the goal. But (I’m focusing) on a good tee shot, and (setting up) the next shot. I think if you have a good tee shot, that certainly helps (your round).”

Both players missed the cut. Flanagan finished at 20-over par and McCormick was 40 over.

Flanagan and McCormick are legitimate contenders at the Maine Women’s Am. Flanagan – a 2021 Monmouth Academy graduate who won the 2020 Class C girls title – finished sixth in the event last year.

“I’m really excited (for the Maine Women’s Am),” Flanagan said. “Today and (Monday) were not the best shows of my game. But it showed me what I need to hone in on, coming into the Women’s Am. I feel like I have a couple weeks now to hone in on those. By the Women’s Am, I should be confident and feeling good.”

McCormick, who will be a senior year at Oxford Hills this fall, finished 10th at the Maine Women’s Am last year. She’s coming off a strong high school season, in which she shared the Class A girls championship with Thornton Academy’s McKenna Castle last fall.

“I definitely feel I’ve put in the work (for the Women’s Am) and am prepared for that,” McCormick said. “I’ll get a couple of lessons in, but I’m ready for a good tournament. I’m very excited. It’s definitely a big tournament that all of us ladies are ready and excited for. It’s the biggest tournament of the year.”

Flanagan also had some extra motivation this week as she got to compete against her brother, Trevor. The pair have had success together in the past, winning the 2021 men’s and women’s club titles at Springbrook Golf Club in Leeds.

“There’s definitely the family competition,” Flanagan said. “He and I are so close in playing that, whenever we go out, it’s stroke-for-stroke match play. Coming out here in actual tournaments where we’re competing against each other, we don’t get many opportunities to do that. So that’s always a blast at the competitive level.”

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