Those who have any doubt this year’s Class 4A state tournament at Patty Jewett Golf Course in Colorado Springs will be a dandy need look no further than last year’s final scoreboard.
The top six placers return, headlined by Colorado Academy’s Elizabeth Kresock, whose final-round 71 helped her overcome a five-shot, first-day deficit.
Evergreen’s Chance Forbes, Rifle’s Loren Forney, Glenwood Springs’ Michelle Stripp and Salida junior Emily Wood should be back in the mix. Add Kent’s Grace Duboc and Valor Christian sophomore Lindsay McGetrick, and you have the makings of some real fun.
“It’s going to be an emotional roller coaster,” Kresock said after last year’s state tournament. “You’re just going to have to play shot to shot.”
Kresock and her Mustangs teammates cruised to a 20-shot victory over Kent, but the Sun Devils and even Forbes and the Evergreen Cougars appear to be able to make even the team race something to watch. Stripp helped Glenwood to third place, and the Demons may be just as good this time around.
The Class 5A tournament moves to Fort Collins’ Collindale Golf Course. Gone is two-time champion Becca Huffer of Littleton.
Loveland senior Bethany Buchner has been near the top of the leaderboard her entire prep career, including a tie for second last year, and could be the player to beat in May.
Cherry Creek gets the early nod as the team to beat, but defending champion Highlands Ranch, longtime power Skyline, Grand Junction, Douglas County and host Fort Collins all figure to make the team race a must-see.
CLASS 5A TOP 3
1. Cherry Creek
2. Skyline
3. Highlands Ranch
CLASS 4A TOP 3
1. Kent Denver
2. Colorado Academy
3. Evergreen
PLAYERS TO WATCH
(returning all-state selections)
Britany Berquin, Grand Junction, Jr.; Bethany Buchner Loveland, Sr.; Chance Forbes, Evergreen Sr.; Loren Forney, Rifle, Jr.; Olivia Garard, Kent Denver, Sr.; Hillary Hoffer, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Kristen Kempton, Heritage, Jr.; Elizabeth Kresock, Colorado Academy, Sr.; Whitney Rahm, Fruita Monument, Jr.; Christina Spinzig, Evergreen, Jr.; Michelle Stripp, Glenwood Springs, Sr.; Emily Wood, Salida, Jr.
