Regis University golfer Maddie Kern edged 2016 finalist Jaylee Tait of Raccoon Creek Golf Course, and former University of Houston player Emily Gilbreth defeated 2017 U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier Mary Weinstein of CommonGround Golf Course to earn spots in Thursday’s 36-hole championship flight final at the 102nd CWGA Match Play at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City.
Kern, a Regis sophomore-to-be who plays out of Hyland Hills, beat Montana State’s Tait 1 up in Wednesday’s semifinals. Kern took the lead with a birdie on No. 15, then halved the final three holes by going par-par-birdie.
Gilbreth advanced with a 2 and 1 semifinal victory over University of Denver golfer Weinstein. Weinstein took the first hole with a par, but Gilbreth won four of the next five to take charge. Weinstein, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2016 Girls Player of the Year, birdied 12 and 13 to get back to 1 down, but Gilbreth went birdie-par-par to close out the match.
In the senior championship flight, two past champs won their matches on Wednesday and will meet in Thursday’s 18-hole final.
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, the defending champion who’s seeking her fourth senior title in the Match Play, and 2014 champ Deb Hughes of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club advanced.
Eaton “” winner in 2010, ’13 and ’16 “” scored a 2 and 1 semifinal victory Wednesday over Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club. Eaton, a four-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, never trailed in the match but was just 1 up through 15. However, a birdie on 16 and a par on 17 closed things out.
Hughes, winner of the 2016 CWGA Senior Stroke Play, defeated Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and 2007 champion Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Country Club 4 and 3 in the other semi. After being 1 down through five, Hughes won the next three holes “” going birdie-par-par “” to take a lead she wouldn’t relinquish.
In Thursday’s 36-hole championship flight final, Kern and Gilbreth will tee off at 7:30 a.m., while Eaton and Hughes will begin their senior championship title match at 9:06 a.m.
For results from all seven flights, click on the following:
