With the morning wave of Thursday’s second round having been completed, Chino Hills, Calif., professional Joy Trotter holds a two-stroke lead in the HealthONE Colorado Women’s Open at Green Valley Ranch.
Trotter, the 2011 runner-up, kept her ball out of trouble and shot a solid 1-under-par 71 Thursday, recording two birdies against just one bogey. She sits at 4-under through 36 holes. The 54-hole event concludes Friday.
“It was one of those rounds where the weather was perfect and the pins were in the middle, and you’re licking your lips because you wanted to go for all of them,” Trotter said. “But at the same time, you can’t over-hype yourself.”
Two strokes back at 2-under after two rounds is Becca Huffer, a former Littleton High School standout who is making her professional debut after graduating from Notre Dame less than two weeks ago. Huffer settled for 70 on Thursday after beginning her round on a record pace. She birdied five of her first six holes and finished the front nine in 31. But Huffer played the back nine in 39, including a four-putt double bogey on the par-4 16th.
“It was back to reality a little bit,” Huffer said.
Former Overland High star Somin Lee, who , struggled Thursday morning but the Pepperdine sophomore-to-be remains in contention at even par for the tournament. Also at even par is professional Ashley Tait, who sizzled Thursday with a 4-under-par 68. She played high school golf at Mullen.
Shannon Fish, a pro from Spring, Texas, who recently was eliminated from the Golf Channel reality show “Big Break Atlantis,” stood in third place at 1-under following the first round. She is playing Thursday in the afternoon wave.
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
