ROCKLAND

With the three-time reigning champion living in another state, the Maine Women’s Amateur championship is up for grabs this week at Rockland Golf Club.

More specifically, Staci Creech’s move to Colorado has left the title wide open for one of Maine’s many talented young players. And youth owned the first day of the tournament Monday, as teenagers grabbed four of the top five spots.

“I think it’s the younger girls’ time,” veteran Kristin Kannegieser of Martindale Country Club said. “And it’s wonderful. I think we’re seeing the resurgence of young girls in Maine.”

She added: “They have nerves of steel, they hit the long ball. … They’re awesome.”

Eighteen-year-old Bailey Plourde and 17-year-old Jordan Laplume are tied for the lead with rounds of 3-over-par 76.

Plourde, who plays out of Samoset Resort, has won the junior championship at the Women’s Am, and was the runner-up to Creech the past two years. On Monday, Plourde was 4-over par on the front nine and took one stroke off on the back nine.

“The back, definitely, was a lot better,” Plourde, who just completed her freshman season at Centre College in Kentucky, said. “Making putts, hitting greens, which is most important. But the front, I wasn’t hitting greens, I wasn’t hitting fairways.”

Laplume, out of Dunegrass Golf Club, had the best front nine in the tournament at 3-over, then played even on the back.

“Coming to (No.) 10, I said, ‘OK, new nine. The back nine’s a little bit easier, let’s try and get more birdies,’” Laplume said.

Laplume, who placed third in 2017, actually played 1-under over the final 11 holes. She was 4-over after seven holes, then birdied nine. On the back nine, she had seven pars to go with a birdie on No. 14 and a bogey on 18.

The front nine was harsh on most of the field, and many golfers were left playing catch-up after the first hole.

“The holes are tighter, and if you’re not in a good spot then you just really got to play some smart golf,” said Lewiston High School standout Stephanie Rodrigue, who had a double bogey on the first hole and a bogey on the second hole.

Thirteen-year-old Ruby Haylock of Hartford, who is based at Turner Highlands Country Club, bogeyed the first hole, but rebounded to be at 4-over after nine holes — thanks to a birdie on No. 9 — one of the best front-nine scores of the day.

Haylock said that putting might be the reason so many players had rough starts.

“I feel like the greens were a little more challenging,” Haylock said.

Haylock is tied for fourth with 2017 MPA state champion Elizabeth Lacognata (Falmouth Country Club) at 7- over par 80.

“I was going for 80 to 82,” Haylock said.

Ahead of Haylock and Lacognata in third place is Winthrop’s Carolyn Langevin (Portland CC), 52, at 6-over.

Kannegieser is in a three-way tie for sixth at 8-over, along with Mara Tiger of Brunswick and Ruth Colucci.

“I was either crushing my drives or I was pulling them left, behind a tree, in the rough,” Kannegieser said. “You know, two steps forward, three steps back. I’d make a birdie, then I’d give it back up again.”

After her rough start, Rodrigue scored an 82 and is in ninth place at 9-over.

“I had a birdie on the front nine, so that kind of kept me going, and then two birdies on the back nine. So that kept me pumped up,” Rodrigue said. “I know that it’s only the first day, I have two days left. I’m happy with my score. We’ll just see the next couple days what I do.”

Missing the champ —

Creech’s absence might open up the Women’s Am, but the young players miss having her around.

“For me, I like the competition,” Lacognata said. “I like playing with players that I know have more experience than me because that’s what makes me a better player.”

Putting maestro — Kannegieser said that one of the things that made Creech so good was her putting.

Kannegieser’s son, Will, qualified for the U.S. Amateur last week. Kannegieser once told her son that Creech was the best putter she’s played with. He was skeptical, until he played a round with Creech.

“After the round, he’s like, ‘You’re right, she’s the best putter I’ve ever seen,’” Kristin Kannegieser said.

The second round is underway, with the third and final round slated to be held on Wednesday. All 61 players will play all three rounds.