Unlike their male counterparts who are lucky enough to have an entire summer and lush green grass to prep for the fall season, Colorado’s girls golfers are at the mercy of Mother Nature and hit-and-miss course conditions up until the state tournament.
Luckily, the best of the best are able to overcome the elements. Just ask the final Class 4A pairing last season. Loren Forney of Rifle and Elizabeth Kresock of Colorado Academy played much of the back nine at Highland Meadows in Windsor in wind and cold on the second day.
The girls hope everything will cooperate by the time the Class 5A championship at Raccoon Creek in Littleton and the 4A tournament at Rolling Hills Golf Club in Golden roll around on May 19-20.
If the names in Class 5A sound familiar, they should. Four of the top five placers in the state tournament a year ago are back, including defending champion and University of Oklahoma-bound senior Brooke Collins of Monarch. Loveland’s Bethany Buchner and Central (G.J.)’s Melissa Martin finished four shots behind Collins and return, as does 2006 champion Becca Huffer of Littleton, who goes to Notre Dame in the fall.
The team race should be more of the same, with Cherry Creek returning its entire team — Tracy Saracino, Kasha Scott, Andrea McCarty and Kacie Curd — that was 13 shots better than Douglas County last year.
A new individual champion will be crowned in 4A since Mullen’s Maggie Boberg graduated. Defending team champion Colorado Academy will likely face challenges from Kent Denver, Rifle, Evergreen and Mullen.
