Any other 15-year-old paired for two rounds at the Colorado Women’s Open with a former LPGA tournament winner might have tripped over her shoelaces.
But those aware of Calli Ringsby’s sports background couldn’t have been surprised by the composure and self-assuredness displayed by the Cherry Creek High School sophomore-to-be. Until two years ago, Ringsby had the nerve to be a goalie in youth ice hockey — on a boys team.
Ringsby was excited to play at Green Valley Ranch with Charlotta Sorenstam and learn from Annika’s sister. Intimidation was never in the equation.
“It was a lot of fun playing with Charlotta,” Ringsby said. “She’s easygoing, and it was good for me to play with her because she definitely knows a lot. There’s so much history with that family.
“I didn’t ask her anything in particular. But you can just learn from their routines, basic things.”
A long hitter who usually keeps it in play, Ringsby appears on the fast track to become the next great female golfer produced by this state. Last month in difficult conditions at Lone Tree Golf Club, Ringsby completed her freshman season by tying for second place to help lead Cherry Creek to the Class 5A team title.
Other freshmen might have been elated to be in contention, but Ringsby tweeted afterward that she should have played better.
“I don’t get intimidated. I don’t know why,” Ringsby said after a round at the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open. “I play my own game. I don’t have any expectations of myself except to have fun and try my hardest. As long as I give everything I have . . . sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.”
It hasn’t all come easy. As a 12-year-old, Ringsby competed in the 2008 Junior World Championship in San Diego. She had won a local qualifier in the 11-12 age group, claiming her first trophy. But the trip to San Diego became a rude awakening. Ringsby missed the cut with a 36-hole score of 35-over par.
“I got a wake-up call,” she recalled. “Some of the girls were shooting even par. So that inspired me to kick it in gear. Ever since, I’ve been working hard every day. I think I’ve finally caught up. That was my goal.”
Denver realtor Alex Ringsby and wife, Joanna, are both single-digit handicappers. Calli became afflicted well before kindergarten. She first picked up a kid’s iron at age 2 1/2.
“We were visiting Grandpa and Grandma in Phoenix and I just went over to the (practice) range and starting swinging at golf balls,” Ringsby said. “Mom and Dad tell me that even at that age I’d be out there for something like three hours. They’d have to yank me off the golf course.”
Joanna Ringsby believes golf fits Calli’s personality.
“She’s very flat-line, very calm,” Joanna explained. “She doesn’t get too excited, doesn’t get too down. That really benefits her. That’s golf.”
Calli shot a respectable 4-over-par 76 on Wednesday to beat Sorenstam by a stroke. Then, in the teeth of angry winds, Ringsby struggled to an 82 on Thursday, including a 2-stroke penalty because her father, as her caddie, innocently hopped on a cart to catch up to the group during the round.
Ringsby is working with Don Hurter, director of golf at Castle Pines Golf Club and ranked among the nation’s top teachers.
“Calli is just starting to scratch the surface (of her potential),” Hurter said. “Her swing has a wide arc, and she’s a good athlete.”
Sorenstam, winner of the 2000 Standard Register Ping tour event in Phoenix and now a golf instructor at the Annika Academy near Orlando, Fla., said she is impressed with Ringsby’s ability and potential.
Ringsby is scheduled to play in a U.S. Women’s Open qualifying round Sunday at The Broadmoor.
“She hits it far enough,” Sorenstam said, “and I think she has the overall game and the head for it.”
Bad news for area colleges: Calli favors Cali, hoping to play at the next level on the West Coast, perhaps for Southern California, Stanford or UCLA.
As for hockey, she has hung up her goalie mask. She played between the pipes for seven years as something fun to do when snow covered the local fairways.
“Hockey isn’t the best sport for women,” Ringsby said, “and with golf being my passion, I didn’t want to get hurt. And I’ve always been better at golf.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
