GOLDEN — It would be hard to find any sort of flaw in Olivia Garard’s first-round performance at the Class 4A state girls golf tournament.
“No complaints whatsoever,” the Kent Denver junior said Monday.
Garard fired a 1-over-par 74 at Rolling Hills Country Club that was good for a five-shot lead over Evergreen’s Chance Forbes and Colorado Academy’s Elizabeth Kresock.
Garard’s Sun Devils and Kresock’s Mustangs were tied at 257 for the lead in the team race, 13 shots clear of Broomfield and Golden.
After making the turn in 3-over-par 39, Garard lit up the inward nine and took advantage of Rolling Hills’ three short par-5 holes on the back.
She birdied each of those and added another on the short par-4 11th against just two bogeys to go 2-under on the back.
“I’ve been really working on my mental side, and I knew that you can’t think of a number and let it get to you because there are just so many tough holes out here,” said Garard, who finished fourth last year at Windsor’s Highland Meadows Golf Course. “You have to expect the unexpected.”
The greens were fast, especially if you found yourself above the hole. A three-putt was almost a guarantee at that point, but Garard limited the mistakes and had just two three-putts.
“These greens are awesome and so much fun to putt on,” said Garard, who needed just 27 putts overall. “If you put it on the wrong half of the green, it’s one heck of a putt to get to the other side.”
Kresock, who finished second last season, and Forbes will play in the final group with Garard today.
Forbes’ up-and-down day included a triple bogey on 18, a three-putt from 5 feet on 11 and a missed 1-footer. She knows the shots can be made up.
“It can be done,” Forbes said. “I just have to play my game and not worry about anyone else, ’cause no one else affects my game.”
Western Slope stars Michelle Stripp of Glenwood Springs (81) and Loren Forney of Rifle (82) rounded out the top five and will play with Broomfield’s Molly Dorans in today’s second-to-last group.
Stripp, whose best score of the year was an 81, was aiming a little lower but gladly accepted her first-round score.
“My goal was a 77, but I’ll take an 81,” said Stripp, whose Glenwood Springs team won the Western Regional.
Jon E. Yunt: 303-954-1354 or jyunt@denverpost.com
