Erin (Kerr) Houtsma and Tamara (Johns) Beckett could have hosted a traditional “champions dinner” for the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open on Thursday with soft drinks and hot dogs along some fairway.
The past winners top the leaderboard with one round to play. Houtsma, a former University of Colorado player who won the 2005 Colorado Women’s Open title on this Green Valley Ranch layout, felt right at home in fashioning five straight birdies Thursday, beginning the run on No. 11, her second hole.
She finished with a 7-under-par 65, a Green Valley women’s course record and the lowest single round in the 16-year history of the Colorado Women’s Open. At 5-under 139 through 36 holes, Houtsma holds a two-stroke lead over Beckett, an Aussie who won the 2001 Colorado Women’s Open. Beckett had to settle for a 3-under 69 after making a double-bogey 7 on her final hole, the par-5 ninth.
Houtsma was surprised by her round, having concentrated lately on her duties as mother to 9 1/2-month-old Connor, her first child. She has practiced more than played (four Cactus Tour events in Arizona) since her son was born.
“I just hope Connor sleeps well tonight,” Houtsma said with a chuckle. “I never expected to make five birdies in a row. I’d never done that. But I always feel comfortable here.”
Beckett plays the Australian women’s tour, but, like Kerr, she said tournament golf is no longer the No. 1 priority in her life. With this being the onset of winter Down Under, she and her husband decided to take a holiday (vacation) in the U.S. and mix in some golf.
Cool conditions with almost no wind provided for optimum scoring conditions, and Beckett also took advantage. Matching Houtsma, who was playing two groups ahead, Beckett also ran off five consecutive birdies.
“The double bogey on my last hole was disappointing,” Beckett said. “But if somebody would have told me before we teed off that I would shoot 69, I would have taken it.”
Moira Dunn of Utica, N.Y., one of five LPGA Tour players in the field, stands third at 2-under 142. First-round leader Lisa Ferrero of Lodi, Calif., managed just a 1-over 73 on Thursday but remains in range at 143.
LPGA Tour rookie Katie Kempter, a former University of Denver standout, is five strokes off the lead at 1-over 145. Kempter is just now getting comfortable on the tour and with her game. She shot a 1-over 73 Thursday despite hitting 13 greens.
“Today was probably the best ball-striking game since I can remember,” Kempter said. “It was frustrating. But I’ve learned from being on the tour that you have to forget about it and go to the next round, the next day.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
