Playing Division I college golf is a very competitive undertaking. Being successful as a freshman is particularly challenging.
But the transition from high school and junior golf to big-time college golf seems to have come relatively easy for the Colorado high school graduating class of 2014.
Eight true freshmen from Colorado have competed in all — or almost all — of his of her school’s college tournaments so far this season. And another few play semi-regularly.
Several are taking it yet another step, making a big-time impact by having been in contention for individual titles at large Division I college tournaments.
And just in the last week and a half, things have really come to a head as Arapahoe High School graduate and University of Oklahoma freshman Hannah Wood (above) won the Notre Dame Clover Cup, and Regis Jesuit grad and University of Denver frosh Chris Korte placed sixth in the 85-man Desert Shootout.
Wood, the reigning CWGA Stroke Play champion, leads Oklahoma in season stroke average (72.8) and has recorded four top-20 finishes in six college tournaments. And in the wake of her Clover Cup victory, the former Hale Irwin Elite Player was named the national female golfer of the week by Golfweek magazine.
As for Korte (left), while he hasn’t won a college tournament yet, he’s posted a remarkable three top-six finishes in his last five events (two fourths and a sixth). And, following his performance in the Desert Shootout, he was named the Summit League men’s golfer of the week.
Korte and DU freshman teammate Jake Kelley are in some ways picking up where they left off in high school at Regis. In their senior year, RJHS won the 5A boys state high school title for the fourth consecutive year. Kelley has likewise made the transition to college look relatively easy as he’s recorded two 11th-place finishes for DU, and three top-20s in all.
Here’s a quick look at some of the other true freshmen from Colorado high schools who have made an impact so far in their first season of college golf:
Sarah Hankins, Wyoming (Legacy HS graduate) — Hankins has seen periodic tournament action, with her best showing being a 36th-place finish.
Sam Marley, Northern Colorado (Arapahoe HS graduate) — Plays regularly at UNC and has notched two top-50 finishes.
Todd Millard, Air Force Academy (Silver Creek HS graduate) — Has seen limited tournament action, with his best finish being a 39th at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational.
Spencer Painton, Kansas (Regis Jesuit HS graduate) — The 2013 5A state high school individual champion hasn’t seen a lot of college tournament action, but he has two 25th-place finishes to his credit.
Calli Ringsby, Stanford (Cherry Creek HS graduate) — Ringsby has appeared in a few tournaments for Stanford so far this season, with a 50th-place showing her best individual performance.
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Boise State (Basalt HS graduate) — Has notched two top-35 finishes, both during the spring schedule, including a 15th at the Pat Hicks Invitational.
Josh Seiple, Mississippi (Valor Christian HS graduate) — Seiple has been a regular on Ole Miss’ traveling squad and has posted two top-40 individual finishes.
Jaylee Tait, Montana State (Columbine HS graduate) — Tait, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, has finished in the top 30 twice this season, including a 15th-place showing.
Glenn Workman, Wyoming (Pueblo West HS graduate) — Workman has been a workhorse for Wyoming as a freshman and has recorded two top-20 finishes.
