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VASSALBORO — The tee shot was far from where Erin Holmes wanted it — a worrisome trend after what had been a solid start to her Maine Women’s Amateur Championship.

Holmes led by as many as seven shots in the second round on Tuesday on Natanis Golf Course’s Tomahawk side before a five-hole stretch of four bogeys and a double bogey cut her lead to three. Her drive on the eighth hole looked like it might continue that rough spell.

“I can’t catch a break,” the 26-year-old of Cumberland and Val Halla Golf Course said after hooking her tee shot left, before she immediately gathered herself. “I’ll be fine.”

She was fine. Her second shot was just off the green, and then she chipped in for birdie, part of a crucial two-hole stretch for Holmes, who takes a four-shot lead over defending champion Jade Haylock into Wednesday’s third and final round. 

“It’s just about remembering that you don’t have to hit perfect shots every time to play an OK round,” Holmes said. “I can hit a bad shot off the tee and be fine, as long as it’s safe, and it was safe. You just let it out verbally and walk it off so you’re able to look at it with fresh eyes.”

Holmes shot an 8-over 80 to move to 11-over 155 for the tournament. Haylock (Turner Highlands Country Club) shot a 4-over 76 and was at 15 over, while Kristin Kannegieser (Portland Country Club) and Ruth Colucci (Biddeford-Saco Country Club) were seven back at 18 over.

The day started well for Holmes, who birdied the first two holes to move to 1-under overall. She followed with a bogey on No. 3, a double bogey on the fourth, and then three more bogeys (5 through 7).

After recovering on the difficult eighth hole with a remarkable shot to the edge of the green, Holmes’ chip-in gave her some much-needed momentum. A par on an equally challenging ninth hole had her feeling optimistic at the midway point.

“I was in my own head for like four or five holes. I just couldn’t stop overthinking it,” Holmes said. “Being able to get myself back on track there really gave me a chance to take a mental breather and gave me a boost. … It definitely helped me turn things around.”

Holmes wasn’t flawless the rest of the way, with a triple bogey on 11 and bogeys on 13, 16 and 18. Thanks to a par on another difficult hole at 14 and a birdie on 17, her lead never fell lower than three shots.

Haylock pulled back into contention with a 76 after shooting 83 in the opening round on Monday. The recent Leavitt Area High School graduate rode the momentum from an eagle on the 17th hole Monday to turn in the day’s best score, with birdies on the second and seventh holes as part of a 1-over 37 on the front nine.

“I’ve had bad rounds before, but being able to move past it and bounce back is something I’m used to doing,” Haylock said. “I (built on that momentum), and I got myself back into it. … I’m very excited for tomorrow.”

The final two holes of the front nine caused problems for the second straight day. On Monday, Haylock had a quadruple bogey on 8 and a quintuple bogey on 9. On Tuesday, Maria Cianchette (Woodlands Club) bogeyed 8 and doubled 9, while Danielle Rock (Martindale Country Club) tripled 8 and doubled 9.

“With the dogleg right and the bunkers to the left on 8, it’s definitely hard to hit a straight enough shot to put you in position,” Haylock said. “On 9, the tee shot with the huge tree to the left isn’t easy, and then you have a big shot into the green, also.”

Holmes’ grip on the lead and Haylock’s resurgence means the past two champions will be in the final group Wednesday. Holmes won at Brunswick Golf Club in 2023 before Haylock’s win at Biddeford-Saco last year.

“My score today maybe isn’t what I would’ve hoped, but it’s certainly good enough to move me forward to tomorrow,” Holmes said. “It’s going to be really fun, and I’m really looking forward to it.”