FORT COLLINS — The wait was finally over for Overland High School sophomore Somin Lee on Monday, and she had something to prove.
A year ago, Lee left the Class 5A girls high school state tournament with an empty feeling, having been disqualified after signing an incorrect scorecard. Had she not been DQ’d she would have finished in the top 20. So when the 2009 state tourney rolled around, she was determined to make amends.
Lee did just that Monday with a 1-under-par 71 at Collindale Course that gave her a two-shot lead heading into Tuesday’s final round. The 1-under-par total matched Lee’s best score ever in a tournament.
“My goal is to win,” said the Korean-born Lee, who has been playing golf for only five years. “I’ve wanted this ever since last year. This time I double- and triple-checked my scorecard.”
Lee holds a two-shot edge over Skyline senior Amy Hodgkinson, who posted the best score of her career (a 73) and Highlands senior Libby Avery. Andi Hibbert of Lakewood and Seung Ha Choi, an Overland teammate of Lee’s, carded 74s on Monday. Loveland’s Bethany Buchner, the pre-tournament favorite after finishing second each of the last two years, shot 75 along with Patricia Lee of Highlands Ranch.
Defending team champion Highlands Ranch holds the team lead at 236, followed by Skyline at 238 and Cherry Creek at 245. Skyline finished third last year and Creek was second.
Lee was in position to take an even bigger lead into Tuesday as she stood 3 under par through 14 holes, but she bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16 to fall back.
Lee will be looking to add to her impressive golf resume, one that already includes many wins in Colorado Junior Golf Association and high school events. In fact, Lee won the CJGA Tournament of Champions last fall.
“I want to play a good tournament, and I hope I can win,” said Lee, part of an all-Korean varsity squad for Overland.
But with nine players within six shots of the lead, it’s far from lock with one round still left. Buchner, who will play golf for the University of New Mexico later this year, especially figures to be a threat.
Buchner spent some time in the trees on Monday as her driver went astray on several occasions. But if she straightens out that problem, she’s capable of shooting 70 at Collindale, as she did earlier this season in a tournament.
Asked what she might need to shoot Tuesday to win a state title after two runner-up years, Buchner said, “It depends how (Lee) plays and if nerves get to her. But I’m a firm believer that whatever is meant to happen will happen.”
4A STATE TOURNAMENT: Senior Elizabeth Kresock from Colorado Academy, who won the Class 4A state tournament last year and placed second as a freshman and sophomore, will be hard pressed to successfully defend her state title after shooting an 11-over-par 85 Monday at Patty Jewett Golf Course. Only two players managed to break 80 Monday. Emily Wood of Salida fired a 1-over 75 to take a one-stroke lead over Christina Spinzig of Evergreen.
