By Stephen Hanjack
shanjack@massgolf.org
MILTON, Massachusetts (October 6, 2026) – Tuesday served up one of those picturesque fall days at Wollaston Golf Club, where freshly fallen leaves tumble across the rolling fairways. The not-so-pretty part was the speed with which those leaves made it from hole to hole. Cool temperatures combined with whistling winds made the first round of the Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship feel more like a battle of survival than a battle for positioning.
Bundled in winter hats and heavy layers, a lot of the usual suspects found their way to the top of the leaderboard after one round of play, led by defending champion Megan Buck (Thorny Lea GC), who turned in a round of 73 (+1). Brooke Graebe (1929 Club), the one newcomer at the top of the leaderboard, sits solo-second after posting 77 (+5). Five-time champion, Shannon Johnson (Thorny Lea GC) and Elle Large (Taconic GC) shot matching 79s (+7) to stay within shouting distance. The final round will get started at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, with the leaders teeing off just after 9 a.m.
The Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship is open to any female competitor age 25+, with a Handicap Index® not exceeding 18.0.
Megan Buck is seeking her third consecutive Women’s Mid-Amateur Title. (Mass Golf)
Many say they play their best golf when navigating a new course for the first time. That theory held true during the first round of the 2026 Massachusetts Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship as both the clubhouse leader and nearest chaser credited not knowing the course as a key to success.
For two-time defending champion, Megan Buck, the plan was to identify specific targets, and attack. Playing in the first group of the day, that game plan helped in quickly building a lead as she fired a 1-under-par 35 over her opening nine (back nine) holes.
“I actually think that helped me a lot, just to stay focused and not really, I guess, know about the trouble,” said Buck. “Just focus on ‘This is my target off the tee. This is my target for the next shot.’ Just stay patient.”
Buck’s round was highlighted by three birdies, the last of which coming on the par-3, 6th hole, where she decided to take a little extra after realizing the ball wasn’t flying quite as far in the cold temperatures.
“I was kind of in between clubs and had come up short a few times today,” recalled Buck. “So I did take a little bit extra on that one, and yeah, hit a great shot, just pin high and about five feet.”
Having won the last two Women’s Mid-Am’s, Buck is looking to become just the third player to win three-straight. Florence McClusky won four-straight in the 60s and Tara Joy Connelly rattled off five-straight from 2011-2015.
Chasing Buck is Brooke Graebe, who is competing in her first Mass Golf Championship. Like Buck, Graebe indicated that a lack of knowledge of the course was actually beneficial.
“First off, the course is amazing. I had a great time out there,” said Graebe. “It was my first time seeing the golf course, so it’s almost better when you don’t know where the trouble is sometimes. I just stuck to my game.”
The chilly temps led to a slow start for Graebe, but she was able to adjust, and played her final 13 holes at level par.
“You know, it was pretty cold at the start,” added Graebe. “So I was just trying to control distances and try to make golf simple out there, but it was it was a good round.”
Sitting four back of the lead, Graebe will look to mount a final round comeback on Wednesday to claim her first Mass Golf title.
In the Tournament Division, Raquel Symula (Wedgewood Pines CC) shot an opening round 80 to grab the lead after one round of play. Starting on the 13th hole (her 4th of the day), Symula played a nine-hole stretch at 1-over-par.
Chasing Symula are a couple of Mass Golf champions in Sally DeGan (LPGA Amateurs Boston) and Diane Carter (Salem CC).
DeGan, who is coming off a victory at the Massachusetts Women’s Senior Amateur (Tournament Division), played a steady round of golf that included 8 pars.
Carter, a past champion of this event, played alongside DeGan during Tuesday’s opening round. Like DeGan, Carter’s round was highlighted by 8 pars.
Wollaston Golf Club has called its current site ‘home’ since 1970. Sitting within the Blue Hills and playing to a maximum yardage of approximately 6,900, Wollaston remains one of the only Tom Fazio designed courses in Massachusetts. Before Fazio’s design, Wollaston Golf Club was located on the present site of Presidents Golf Course in Quincy.
In 1992, the club hosted the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship. That year, Tiger Woods made history, becoming the first player to ever win two U.S. Junior Amateur Championships. The next year, he made it three-straight before tacking on three-consecutive U.S. Amateur titles.
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