Aurora – A little hail and a lot of wind and rain cut the Cherry Creek Invitational short by five holes, but the golfers and officials did what they always do when Mother Nature causes problems – they cope.
Monarch freshman Brooke Collins edged Mullen’s Ashley Tait, a two-time Class 4A state champion, on a scorecard playoff with a score of 1-over after 13 holes Monday at the Valley Country Club.
The tournament was stalled for 2 1/2 hours by heavy rain after three holes had been played, and then it was called for good when a break in the weather did not hold.
Scores were determined by the golfers’ strokes over par on the first 13 holes, the maximum number played by all of the players.
Though the wind and rain did not bother her much, Collins said she played better after getting mad at herself.
“I was 2-over after two (holes), and I was kind of mad at that,” she said. “Then we got called in after three (holes), and that made me mad, so I made two birdies on the next two holes.”
Mullen won the team title, followed by Monarch and Skyline. Cherry Creek and Heritage tied for fourth.
Tait, who won state titles as a freshman and junior, made strides trying to shake frustration that has been building since the start of the season.
“I haven’t gotten it quite together since the first tournament,” she said. “I wasn’t hitting the ball very good today, but my short game was on. It was more a matter of staying dry than playing good golf.”
Skyline senior Rachel Larson finished four strokes over par for third place, and Sarah Ruybalid of Pueblo South was 5-over.
Chelsey Collins, Brooke Collins’ older sister, and Smoky Hill’s Christina Lee were 6-over.
Cherry Creek Invitational at Valley Country Club
Team scores – Mullen +20, Monarch +25, Skyline +26, Cherry Creek +40, Heritage +40, Boulder +44, Fairview +45, Smoky Hill +58, Yuma +79, Northglenn +85, Wray +88, Overland +91, Cherokee Trail +95, Wheat Ridge +104, Grandview +144.
Individual results – B. Collins, Monarch, +1; Tait, Mullen, +1; Larson, Skyline, +4; Ruybalid, Pueblo South, +5; C. Collins, Monarch, +6; Lee, Smoky Hill, +6; Cavanaugh, Heritage, +7; Walla, Aspen, +7; Kempton, Heritage, +8; Podolak, Mullen, +9; Boberg, Mullen, +10; Jennings, Skyline, +10; Orr, Boulder, +10; Baxt, Boulder, +12; Negrelli, Skyline, +12; Wagner, Cherry Creek, +12; Yoon, Cherry Creek, +12; Einarsdottir, Fairview, +14; Fuhrman, Fairview, +15.
