KINGSTON, N.Y. — Hannah Murphy has already had a banner year by becoming the first Kingston High girl to qualify for the New York State golf tournament as a member of the Tigers’ girl golf team this past scholastic season. She’d like to make 2026 even more special by winning her first Ulster County Women’s Golf Association (UCWGA) Championship.
Murphy birdied the last hole at The Twaalfskill Club to shoot a 13-over-par 83 on Saturday, July 25, to take a three-stroke lead over defending champion Kim Hines into the final round at the Wiltwyck Golf Club on Sunday, July 26.
The 16-year-old Murphy, who will be a senior at Kingston High this coming fall, has a two-round total of 169 after opening with a 16-over 86 at The Swan Country Club in Saugerties on Friday, July 24.
There are plenty of title contenders in the 13-player championship flight in addition to four-time champion Hines (88-84-172) from Columbia Golf & Country Club in Claverack in Columbia County. Wiltwyck Golf Club’s Frances Murphy (89-84-173) trails the Kingston High teen by four shots and The Swan Country Club’s Kathy Murphy (88-87-175) is six strokes off the lead. Kathy Murphy is Hannah Murphy’s aunt.
Wiltwyck Golf Club’s Frances Murphy is photographed on Friday, July 24, 2026, putting on the par-4 fourth hole during the opening round of the Ulster County Women’s Golf Association (UCWGA) Championship at The Swan Country Club in Saugerties, New York. Rick Remsnyder/Daily Freeman
First-round leader Ellen Densen of the Woodstock Golf Club, who began the 54-hole event with a 10-over 80 at The Swan, had a tough day at Twaalfskill with a 97.
Densen (80-97-177), who had double knee replacement over the winter, was seen icing her right knee following the round after tumbling into the bunker after losing her balance at the par-3 11th hole. Though Densen said her knee was swollen, she felt she’d be able to play in the final round on Sunday.
Hannah Murphy, who is making her third appearance in the UCWGA tournament, finished off her round in style by knocking an 8-iron to within eight feet and making the birdie putt on her 18th hole, a par-4 which finishes in front of The Twaalfskill Club clubhouse. It is the fourth hole for the members.
Murphy went out with a 44, but closed with a 4-over 39 to take over first place in the 68th renewal of the county women’s golf championship.
“I think the short game was actually going pretty well and my irons worked pretty well,” Murphy said. “My caddie (her father Mike Murphy) helped a lot too.”
Murphy said she gained a lot of confidence during her junior golf season at Kingston High, where she was one of nine Section 9 girls to qualify for states (she finished 86th overall in New York State).
“The high school experience and playing golf out of high school has helped because you have to get as much practice in as you can,” Murphy said. Murphy plays most of her golf at Wiltwyck where Kingston High plays its home matches.
The 5-foot-10 Murphy said The Swan Country Club head professional Andrew DeForest and Kingston High girls golf coach Philip Lettre have helped her improve her game.
Asked how she felt going into the UCWGA’s final round at Wiltwyck on Sunday, Murphy laughed and said, “I’m hoping it’s going to be good.”
Hines wants to get off to a better start in the final round after struggling on the front nine at The Swan and again on her first trip around the nine-hole Twaalfskill layout.
“Yesterday at the Swan I gave up seven shots on two holes,” she said, noting she hit two balls into the water on the par-3 ninth hole. “I don’t know what happened there, but I was having an out-of-body experience on the par-3. It’s an easy hole. A knockdown pitching wedge from 80 yards. No issues every other time I played it. Honestly I can’t even explain it. I played great on the back and shot a 40 after a 48 on the front. Today, I made a bunch of sixes on the front, but played steady on the back and shot 39. Hopefully tomorrow (Sunday) I can get it together and be consistently good the whole round.”
Hannah Murphy, Hines, Frances Murphy and Ashley Werner (87-90-177) will tee off in the final group at 9:50 p.m. on Sunday.
Scores in the 68th annual Ulster County Women’s Golf Association (UCWGA) Championship after completing the second round at the par-70 Twaalfskill Club on Saturday, July 25 at Kingston, New York.
Championship Flight
Hannah Murphy 86-83-169
Kim Hines 88-84-172
Frances Murphy 89-84-173
Kathy Murphy 88-87-175
Ashley Werner 87-90-177
Ellen Densen 80-97-177
Kristen Osterhoudt 87-95-182
Christine Wesserling 91-91-182
Diana Decker Kuster 86-98-184
Diane Myers 93-95-188
Makayla Rowe 102-99-201
Marianne Albamont 98-103-201
Jaime Paddock 114-112-226
First Flight
Madison Paddock 82
Linda Depuy 96
Colleen Martin 97
Siouxzanne Harris 126