Highlands Ranch – Littleton’s Becca Huffer could not have asked for a better start to the two-day Class 5A girls state golf tournament.
Huffer, who finished third at state as a freshman last season, shot a 4-under-par 68 to lead the competition after the first round of play Monday at the Highlands Ranch Golf Club. It was the lowest score shot by Huffer, and she had few problems on the 5,838-yard course.
“This is a really nice way to start. Now I just have to keep it up (today),” said Huffer, who scored an eagle on the second hole of her back nine to find her rhythm. “I played it smart and safe. I didn’t take too many risks, and everything just worked for me.”
Monarch senior Chelsey Collins also played a smart round to finish with a 1-under 71.
Collins finished one stroke behind last year’s state champion, Skyline graduate Rachel Larson, for second place, but it is first place or bust for Collins this time around.
“My goal (Monday) was to shoot par. I didn’t want to shoot myself out of contention because I really want a state title to end my senior year,” Collins said.
Monarch’s team of Collins, her younger sister Brooke Collins, Caroline Miller and Katie MacIntyre have a 10-stroke lead over Green Mountain, with Heritage close behind.
Huffer, who also led after the first round of last year’s state championships, was one of a number of golfers to put up good scores the first day. Heritage’s Kayley Kempton, who finished sixth last year, shot an even-par 72, and Melissa Martin of Central (G.J.) finished with a 73.
Douglas County junior Jenna Zamprelli also is in the hunt with a 74, and a newfound mental attitude has her eyeing the top of the leaderboard.
“This year has been a lot better than last year. I’m focusing on golf more, and my mental game is there when I don’t think it was last year,” said Zamprelli, who tied for 10th a year ago. “It was pretty steady for my first day, now I have to pick it up (for the final round).”
Others in the chase include Boulder’s Sara Baxt and Fort Collins’ Kasey Claussen, both with scores of 75, and seven others who are under 80.
5A girls state golf championships
Highlands Ranch Golf Club
(5,838 yards; par 72)
Team scores – Monarch 233, Green Mountain 243, Heritage 244, Cherry Creek 253, Mountain Vista 261; Douglas County 264, Highlands Ranch 265, Standley Lake 268.
Individuals – Becca Huffer, Littleton, 68; Chelsey Collins, Monarch, 71; Kayley Kempton, Heritage, 72; Melissa Martin, Central (G.J.), 73; Jenna Zamprelli, Douglas County, 74; Sara Baxt, Boulder, 75; Kasey Claussen, Fort Collins, 75; Bethany Buchner, Loveland, 76; Alison Cavanaugh, Heritage, 76; Brooke Collins, Monarch, 76; Haley Hartman, Fort Collins, 77; Christina Duran, Green Mountain, 78; Leslie McGerrick, Arapahoe, 78; Rachel Weeks, Green Mountain 79; Tracy Saracino, Cherry Creek, 81; Hannah Paulson, Chatfield, 82; Brittany Berguin, Grand Junction, 83; Amanda Covington, Smoky Hill, 83; Whitney Rahm, Fruita Monument, 83; Teresa Sandri, Mountain Vista, 83; Sarah Schlichting, Wasson, 83; Rachel Talpera, Littleton, 83; Sara Wagner, Cherry Creek, 83; Melissa VanDiver, Durango, 84; Kela Powers, Wheat Ridge, 84; Courtney Dudley, Arvada West, 85; Lara Pocs, Northglenn, 85; Jamie Befort, Standley Lake, 86; Jamie Engelkemier, Highlands Ranch, 86; Sharika Fields, Green Mountain, 86; Christine Klatman, Boulder, 86; Caroline Miller, Monarch, 86; Hannah Santamaria, Eaglecrest, 86; Stephanie Hesse, Mountain Vista, 87; Dawn Sanderson, Brighton, 88; Emily Einfeldt, Bear Creek, 89; Caitlin Johnson, Douglas County, 89; Stephanie Lee, Highlands Ranch, 89; Katie MacIntyre, Monarch, 89; Andrea McCarty, Cherry Creek, 89; Libby Avery, Highlands Ranch 90; Kristyn Grier, Air Academy, 90; Maria Gushurst, Arapahoe, 90; Ashley Hermes, Durango, 90; Jordan Beck, Mountain Vista, 91; Lauren Gladu, Highlands Ranch, 91; Alison Sampson, Smoky Hill, 91; Kendra Timm, Coronado, 91; Brittani White, Central (G.J.), 91; Kristen Schnake, Loveland, 92; Julia Flores, Grand Junction, 93; Amy Hodgkinson, Skyline, 94; Jazmine Vigil, Standley Lake, 94; Kacie Curd, Cherry Creek, 95; Ali Fuhrman, Fairview, 95; Maggie Lawson, Columbine, 95; Lexie Moehl, Standley Lake, 96; Madie Orcutt, Heritage, 96; Lannie Rollins, Lewis-Palmer, 96; Adrienne Russell, Mountain Vista, 96; Maree Wurtz, Doherty, 96; Stacy Harper, Dakota Ridge, 97; Sydney Holder, Lakewood, 97; Loren Benavente, Overland, 101; Lyssa Roberts, Douglas County, 101; Ganine Quinones, Lincoln, 102; Lynn Urbina, Heritage, 101; Lauren Heien, Standley Lake, 102; Andrea Yacovetta, Lakewood, 108; Katie Robinson, Chatfield, 109; Kourtney Hughes, Overland, 110; Kathryn Ida, Thornton, 110.
