Kris Kannegieser of Minot birdied the 18th hole Monday to shoot 5-over 79 and grab the first-round lead in the Maine Women’s Amateur golf tournament at Brunswick Golf Club.

Kannegieser, who won the WMSGA title in 2007 and 2010, also had a birdie on the third hole to counter a double-bogey at No. 16.

Six of the holes at Brunswick play par-5 for women, and Kanngieser played them at level par.

She has a one-shot advantage over a group of four players that includes defending champion Emily Bouchard of Saco, who didn’t card a birdie during her round of 80.

Bouchard overcame an 11-shot deficit after the opening round to win the 2012 tournament.

Sixteen players are within four shots of the lead after the first round of the 54-hole tournament, which continues Tuesday and Wednesday.

Melissa Johnson of Auburn, Leslie Guenther of Norway and Laurie Hyndman matched Bouchard at 80.

Johnson and Guenther matched Kannegieser with a birdie of No. 18 to stay within a shot of the lead. Guenther also birdied 7 and 14.

Former University of Maine women’s basketball star Liz Coffin, Monica Austin and Cecily Whiting each shot 81.

Lori Frost, Mary Brandes, Bailey Plourde and Kathi O’Grady checked in at 82, with Debbie Murphy out of Springbrook, Margaret Brann, Kim Griffin and Stephanie Babin at 83.

Murphy and Coffin’s four birdies apiece were tops on the day.

Seventy-nine players are entered in the event, which was created a year ago when the two women’s golf organizations in the state — the WMSGA and SMWGA — merged their long-standing championships.

Hyndman and Guenther are past SMWGA champions.

koakes@sunjournal.com

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