GOLDEN — Cherry Creek girls golf coach Bob Kubiak had seen the scores and heard the rumors, so he was well aware a solid golfer was going to join his program this season in the form of freshman Calli Ringsby.
What Kubiak did not expect, however, was the addition of a viable state championship contender to a Bruins roster that already boasted two such athletes.
Yet Ringsby has provided solid play for Cherry Creek throughout the campaign, and Monday she capped her debut regular season by placing first at the 17th annual Ashley Forey Memorial Golf Tournament.
Ringsby carded a 1-over-par 72 for a two-stroke win over three golfers — teammate Shinwoo Lee, Chatfield’s Shannon Lubar and defending Class 5A state champion Somin Lee of Overland.
Ringsby and Shinwoo Lee also led the Bruins to the top of the team race in a 29-squad field that featured many of the state’s top programs at Rolling Hills Country Club.
“I knew she was good, having seen her scores, and word gets around,” Kubiak said. “We knew she was coming to Creek, but we didn’t know she was going to be this good. She’s pretty athletic and can just kill the ball, and she has a good short game to match. A good combination there.”
Ringsby carded only three birdies but credited a steady approach for consistently avoiding serious trouble in conditions that shifted abruptly from sunny and pleasant to winterlike throughout the round.
Ringsby, Shinwoo Lee and Mac- kenzie Cohen, who carded an 80, helped the Bruins finish 13 strokes ahead of runner-up Arapahoe.
“Early in the round, I was playing really well . . . but then at the end, I started to slow down,” Ringsby said. “I started making a couple of three- putts, but overall it was a pretty good round. I was pretty happy with my score in those kinds of conditions.
“This was more like the state tournament, where you get those good players from all around the state.”
Team scores
Cherry Creek 228, Arapahoe 241, Chatfield 252, Fairview 257, Ralston Valley 264, Broomfield 267, Valor Christian 271, Wheat Ridge 274, Pueblo South 279, Mullen 282, Columbine 283, Monarch 284, Pomona 287, Elizabeth 287, Peak to Peak 290, Standley Lake 290, Arvada West 298, Green Mountain 299, Golden 303, Colorado Academy 314, Dakota Ridge 316, Lakewood 316, Mountain Range 318, Bear Creek 328, D’Evelyn 329, Arvada 342, Evergreen 361, Conifer 372, Northglenn 377.
Individuals
Ringsby, Cherry Creek, 72; So. Lee, Overland, 74; Sh. Lee, Cherry Creek, 74; Lubar, Chatfield, 74; McGetrick, Valor Christian, 75; T. Dorans, Broomfield, 79; Dyachacova, Arapahoe, 80; Cohen, Cherry Creek, 80; Davis, Arapahoe, 80; Hulbert, Pomona, 80.
