LOWELL — A youth movement has seized the Women’s City Golf Tournament.

Since 2017, just one player over the age of 19 has been crowned victor. For that, you can thank the Smith sisters —the two Div. 1 collegiate golfers from Westford who have taken the field by storm with record-low marks.

Either Morgan, 20, or Molly, 19, have won six of the last seven tournaments.

And with younger sister Maddie on the rise, it’s safe to assume the Smith name is here to stay. Caitlin Barry, tied with Liz Friel for the most all-time titles with five, has accepted that her time atop the pack may be over ahead of the 26th annual showdown on Saturday at Long Meadow GC.

Barry, set to tee off in her 24th tournament, was just 19 when she hoisted the trophy for the first time in 2005 with a winning score of 74. But when she witnessed Molly Smith become the youngest player to prevail in the field of 48 in 2017 at just the age of 12, she knew her reign of glory was in jeopardy. There were new kids on the block.

“We weren’t young anymore, and all of a sudden the Smith girls came along and they’ve been a huge difference,” said Barry, 38.

Molly Smith (Long Meadow) has gone on to win three more titles before posting an impressive debut season with the University of Central Florida as a freshman, notching four top-five finishes. Just last month, she nearly became the first female to win the Lowell City Golf Tournament, falling on the second playoff hole to Long Meadow’s Trevor Drew.

After Morgan Smith (Mt. Pleasant) captured her first title in 2019, she tied the tournament record of 68 at her home course last year in a dominant 4-under performance. She was tabbed Big East Freshman of the Year at Georgetown last season, becoming the first player in program history to post a second-place finish at the conference tournament as a freshman. She’ll transfer to Georgia for her sophomore campaign.

While Maddie Smith (Long Meadow) hasn’t conquered the ultimate prize just yet, Barry still acknowledges her potential. The rising Westford Academy junior recently competed in the U.S. Girls Junior Championship in California.

“She can shoot a low number,” said Barry. “She could shoot under par, she’s really good. I know everybody knows Morgan and Molly, but I wouldn’t count Madison out.”

Morgan Smith and Maddie Smith are slotted to tee off in the final group of the day along with Tracy Martin (Vesper), who was victorious in 2021.

“I’m excited,” Morgan Smith said. “It’s always a fun day and it’s a great group of women. It should be a fun tournament. It’s a tournament that doesn’t affect rankings or go towards anything at the amateur level, so it’s nice to be able to play an event and not have to be worrying about that and enjoy the moment more.”

Morgan Smith joined former LPGA Tour member Alison Walshe and Martin as the only players to ever shoot a 68, which has been done at Mt. Pleasant, Vesper and Nabnasset. The number to beat at Long Meadow is 73, which she hopes to edge this weekend.

“Beating the tournament record would be pretty cool, but obviously just taking it one shot at a time,” she said.

Barry is still in pursuit of her sixth triumph, but she understands catching the Smiths is a daunting task.

“I try to approach it the same way every year,” said Barry. “I want to do my best, obviously. The caliber of play has changed over the years quite a bit. If I break 75, I would be real happy and real content.”

So while Barry will always have her eyes on the prize, she’s grown to appreciate the tournament through a different lens. She serves on the scholarship committee, which recently awarded 22 female high school students with $1,200 each. The tournament has raised north of $275,000 in scholarships in its history.

“We try to promote young female athletes who are going to college,” said Barry, a 2004 scholarship recipient. “Give them a little something to help with their tuition, whether it’s books or room and board.”

Morgan Smith, who received the award in 2023, shares Barry’s level of appreciation for the scholarships. What was once a $500 grant has grown over the years in part to more donors and awareness for the tournament and cause.

“I just think that’s awesome and that’s really what the tournament is about, is helping support female athletes,” she said.

And as the scholarships have grown, so has the quality of golf. When Barry served as an alternate in the inaugural tournament in 1999, she never imagined what the event would evolve into.

“I don’t think anyone really knew when they first started this that it would really get to this caliber of golf,” she said.

“Hopefully a great score wins Saturday,” said Morgan Smith. “That’s what I think everyone is hoping for.”