MANCHESTER — Lauren Thibodeau played Thursday's New Hampshire Women's Golf Association Junior Championship as if she were allergic to bogeys.

Thibodeau, a 12-year-old Hampstead resident, made 16 pars and one birdie in her round at Manchester's Intervale Country Club, and repeated as the tournament champion by shooting an even-par 73. The event was open to any girl who is a New Hampshire resident and has not turned 18.

Thibodeau's only bogey came on the par-4 16th hole, but she steadied herself by making par on the final two holes. She won last year's tournament — and became the state's youngest junior champion – by shooting a 4-over-par 77.

“From last year I knew that making all these pars was good, but after I made all pars on the front nine I said, 'OK, now make some birdies.' I made one, but I was hoping for more. I played good though. I'm fine with even par.”

Thibodeau made her lone birdie on the par-4 10th hole. Her 73 was seven strokes better than the score posted by runner-up Kaitlyn Lutinski, who was representing Campbell's Scottish Highlands in Salem.

“My drive (on No. 16) went a little left, and when I went up to it it was on the edge of a divot, so I knew it would be hard to hit from there,” she said. “My chip was a little too hard, but at least I gave the putt a try for par.”

Thibodeau, who began playing golf when she was 6, shot 1-under-par during a practice round at Intervale on Wednesday. She's a member at Windham Country Club, and will enter seventh grade at Hampstead Middle School this fall.

“At first she didn't want to take golf lessons,” said Kristen Thibodeau, Lauren's mother. “My husband didn't want to take her and I couldn't take her. Her father and I don't golf, but she's loved golf since the day she took that first lesson. She loves the sport. She lives golf.”

Thursday's other winners by division:

--Junior 18: Chelsea Sedlar (Green Meadow of Hudson) 90.
--Senior 18: Colette Schmidt (Eastman of Grantham), 82.
--Pee Wee: Hannah McCain (Den Brae of Sanbornton), 53.
--Mini: Lily Bogue (First Tee of NH), 56.
--Junior 9: Erin Dello Russo (Hoodkroft of Derry), 68.
--Cricket: Shivani Vora (First Tee of NH), 21.

Thibodeau will play in her first NHWGA Women's Amateur next month at Hanover Country Club, but will compete in two other events before then: the Optimist International Junior Championship in Palm Beach Garden, Fla., and the U.S. Kids World Championships at Pinehurst No. 3 in Pinehurst, N.C. She had to qualify for both events.

Thibodeau, who made the only hole in one of her career during last year's Optimist International, recently played a practice round at Hanover Country Club in preparation for the women's State Am.

“It's definitely a long course,” she said. “It's a hard course, and hilly too. I'll just try to do my best and have fun.”

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Roger Brown may be reached at rbrown@unionleader.com.