FORT COLLINS — After years of playing second fiddle to Becca Huffer and Brooke Collins, Bethany Buchner was ready to take center stage this season in the Colorado girls high school golf ranks.
And the Loveland senior did just that Tuesday on the final day of her high school career. After finishing second at state to Collins and Huffer, respectively, the last two years, Buchner won the Class 5A state title to cap an outstanding junior career.
Buchner rallied from four shots back entering the final round, shooting an even-par 72 at Collindale Golf Course to claim the championship by two strokes over Lakewood’s Andi Hibbert.
“It’s a relief that I actually did it,” said Buchner, who will play college golf at the University of New Mexico. “I’m real excited. It’s a great way to finish my high school career.”
Buchner, the 2008 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champion, finished at 3-over-par 147 for 36 holes. Hibbert came in at 149, and three players tied for third at 150: first-round leader Somin Lee from Overland, Skyline senior Amy Hodgkinson and Cherry Creek’s Shinwoo Lee.
Skyline, with Hodgkinson (third) and sophomore Gina Larson (sixth) finishing in the top six, claimed the team title by 11 shots over 2008 champion Highlands Ranch. It was Skyline’s fifth state title this decade.
“This means everything because it’s the last year we’re all together,” since Hodgkinson is graduating, Larson said.
Following a first-day 75, Buchner trailed most of the front nine on Tuesday. Somin Lee, winner of the 2008 CWGA Junior Match Play, held the early advantage, then Hodgkinson pulled ahead by two by playing her first seven holes in 2 under par. But on the par-3 eighth tripped up Hodgkinson, who pulled an 8-iron into the ditch, taking double bogey and falling into a tie with Buchner at 1 over par.
“I had it going, but the club just slipped in my hand, and it was like, ‘Oh crap,'” said Hodgkinson, who was looking for her first tournament win of the high school season.
After a 2-under-par 35 on the front nine, Buchner never trailed during the final nine holes, though she was tied. Hodgkinson dropped back by going five over par in five holes (8-12), but Somin Lee put together a surge to tie for the lead. With Lee making birdies on holes 13 and 14, and Buchner recording her only two bogeys of the day at 16 and 17, Lee shared the top spot with two holes left and Buchner finished with her round.
But a bogey-double bogey stretch run dropped Lee out of contention for the title.
“I didn’t know where (anyone) stood until after I hit my drive on 18 — and I didn’t want to know,” Buchner said. “I was just trying to make pars. If I did that, I knew I’d be close.”
SALIDA’S WOOD WINS 4A TITLE: Emily Wood, a junior from Salida, captured the 4A championship by seven strokes at Patty Jewett Golf Course in Colorado Springs. Wood shot a 3-over-par 77 on Tuesday to finish with a two-day total of 4-over 152. Regis’ Kathleen Kershisnik (77-159) was the only other player to break 160 for two days. Rock Canyon earned the 4A team title.
