SPRINGFIELD — Camille Richmond could feel the pressure during the first playoff hole.
The Northampton sophomore had just put her tee shot on the left side of the fairway and was setting up for her second shot.
“I was just trying to stay focused,” Richmond said. “Everyone is watching you. It’s a little bit of pressure.”
She dropped her second shot within a foot of the pin.
“After that (shot) I knew it wasn’t over,” Richmond said. “I still had to make the putt. I was trying to stay focused, calm.”
Her opponent, Jaelyn DeBoise of Pope Francis, drove her second shot past the hole and onto the opposite end of the green. DeBoise went par for the hole. Richmond birdied with a short putt.
The putt earned Richmond the Western Massachusetts Girls Individual Golf Championship. She shot an 81 through 18 holes on a cloudy day at Franconia Golf Course in Springfield. DeBoise placed second with an 81 in regulation. East Longmeadow’s Alora Assad was third with a 84.
“I’m very thankful to my family and my coaches for supporting me,” Richmond said. “I’m glad the rain held off.”
Richmond placed sixth in last year’s championship at the Ledges Golf Club with a 97.
The sophomore shot a 42 on the front nine and 39 on the back end Thursday. Richmond birdied the 10th hole and shot for par on the following three holes to kick-start a strong second half run.
She had a tough time on the 17th hole, shooting a triple bogey. Richmond put the ball behind a bush near the green and had trouble getting it to the other side.
“I had the right distance, just the wrong direction,” Richmond said. “I hadn’t played that hole before. It was a little annoying because I was doing well up until that point. Just overcoming that on the next hole is what I tried to do.”
She shot for par on the 18th hole.
Richmond bogeyed the first hole in regulation play, but got a second look at the hole in the playoff. She tweaked her strategy for the second time around.
“The first time (my shot) was over in the rough,” Richmond said. “Then I saw Jaelyn (DeBoise) hit a really good shot and I thought that it was a good position to be in. I kind’ve just went over there (the second time).”
Richmond competed with the first group on Thursday. The group included Westfield’s Madison Johnson, Agawam’s Emily Bonfiglio and Wahconah’s Kristina Cusson.
Agawam’s Angela Garvin won the championship last year. With her graduation, this year’s title was up for grabs.
“I just wanted to play my best. That’s all that matters … Play my best and have fun,” Richmond said.
Hopkins Academy’s Taylor Barry shot a 103 for 14th place.
The freshman shot a 113 at last year’s championship as an eighth grader.
“I definitely could have done a lot better this year,” Barry said. “I just had some bad shots. That’s basically it. Plus the greens were way faster than I am used to. That didn’t help either.”