The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, competing at the course where she grew up, finds herself in second place at the halfway point of the event.

Ahead of her on the championship flight leaderboard is Kristine Franklin of Colorado National Golf Club, who shot a 2-over-par 74 in Monday’s first round. Franklin, a former pro and the 1986 CWGA Stroke Play champion, made 16 pars and two bogeys in round 1. Like Eaton, Franklin (left) made match play at last year’s U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur. And Franklin finished runner-up earlier this summer at the CGA Women’s Senior Match Play.

Eaton, who is tied with Carol Flenniken for most career victories in CGA women’s/CWGA events (25), posted a 16-shot victory the last time the Senior Stroke Play was held at Greeley CC, in 2012. But the scoreboard is much more tightly packed this time around.

On Monday, Eaton carded three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey of her 75. The 59-year-old has previously won the Senior Stroke Play in 2009, ’10, ’12, ’13 and ’17. A sixth title in this event would tie the Senior Stroke Play record set by Lynn Larson in 2001.

Cindy Snow of The Pinery Country Club sits in third place after a 77. And three players share fourth place at 78 — Tiffany Maurycy of Cherry Creek Country Club, winner of the 2018 CGA Women’s Senior Match Play; Kathy West of Castle Pines Golf Club; and Louise Lyle of Eisenhower Golf Club.

And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club opened with a 79 and is in seventh place.

The 36-hole championship will conclude with Tuesday’s round.

For all the scores from the championship flight, as well as from the other seven flights at the CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play, CLICK HERE.
 

The CGA Women’s Brassie Championship is set for Monday and Tuesday (May 21-22) at The Club at Flying Horse, the Tom Weiskopf-designed course (pictured in a club photo) in Colorado Springs.

The four-ball stroke play event features 64 two-person teams in seven flights — championship through sixth.

The championship flight includes one team with two Colorado Golf Hall of Famers: Kim Eaton and Janet Moore. Between them, they have won 10 Brassie titles, though never together. Eaton captured six between 1994 and 2011, while Moore earned four between 1994 and 2015. (There were two Brassie tournaments held in 1994, with Eaton and Nina Whalen winning one and Moore and Christie Austin the other.)

Eaton, an eight-time CWGA Senior Player of the Year and four-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur quarterfinalist, owns 24 CWGA/CGA women’s championships in her career. That leaves her one shy of the record, set by another Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, Carol Flenniken. So if Eaton and Moore should prevail next week, Eaton would pull even with Flenniken. And Moore isn’t far behind, with 20 CGA/CWGA women’s titles.

Among the other championship flight competitors next week is Kathy West, who won the 2017 Brassie title with Austin, who isn’t entered this year. This year West is teaming with Sue O’Connor. And there are two Brassie players who have won both the CWGA/CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play: Mary Doyen and Deb Hughes. At the Brassie, Doyen will pair up with Nina Dulacki and Hughes with Bev Hoffenberg.

For Monday’s tee times at Flying Horse, CLICK HERE.

Eaton, a Mesa, Ariz., resident who last won this championship in 2013, made six birdies on Monday and fired a 5-under-par 67.

Earlier this summer, Eaton (pictured) won the CWGA Senior Match Play and now she’s seeking a 2017 sweep of the top state titles for women amateurs 50 and older. Should Eaton win on Tuesday, she’ll own 24 CWGA championships overall, leaving her one short of Carol Flenniken’s career record.

Tiffany Maurycy of Denver is Eaton’s closest pursuer heading into Tuesday’s final round. She shot a 3-over-par 75 on Monday.

Two Colorado Golf Hall of Famers “” Christie Austin of Denver and Lynn Zmistowski of Boulder, each of whom has won this championship twice “” share third place at 77 with Kelly Martin.

In all, 116 players are entered in the 36-hole championship, with competition broken up into eight flights, both gross and net.

Tuesday’s final round will begin at 9 a.m., for all competitors “” via shotgun start.

 For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

As birthday bashes go, this was one to be remembered. It marked a major milestone, plenty of people were in attendance, and some of the biggest names in the history of Colorado women’s golf took part. And, for good measure, there were some oversized birthdays cards and, of course, a cake commemorating the occasion.

Such was the scene at the Inverness Hotel & Conference Center on Saturday as the CWGA kicked off its centennial celebration as the centerpiece of its annual meeting.

More than 230 people attended the event, with at least 125 clubs around the state represented. Those on hand included at least eight current or past presidents of the CWGA (pictured below, from left: Juliet Miner, Jan Ford, Robin Bartlett, Joanne Braucht, Kathryn Davis, Pat Kuntz, Joanie Ott and Mary Lee Browne), one Colorado Sports Hall of Famer (Joan Birkland), several Colorado Golf Hall of Famers (Birkland, Kim Eaton and Maggie Giesenhagen), and the first two CWGA executive directors (Giesenhagen and Robin Jervey). Also in attendance were leadership from the CGA, Colorado PGA and the Colorado Open Golf Foundation.

“It was so much fun,” said Miner, the current president of the CWGA, which serves about 17,000 members. “We were so happy to have everyone here. The best part was watching the past (CWGA) presidents sit together and talk about old times, even though many of them didn’t serve that long ago. And the people who couldn’t be here like Judy Bell and Lynn Zmistowski, they were in our videos, so that was so great. People were inspired by the presentation. I think everyone enjoyed reflecting” on the last 100 years.

That reflection took the form of a 10-minute video that was shown publicly for the first time at the annual meeting. Besides featuring some historical highlights of the CWGA and noting what the association does to fulfill its mission, the video included some thoughts by women who have played major leadership roles over the years. Most notable was World Golf Hall of Famer Judy Bell of Colorado Springs, the first female president of the USGA.

“The CWGA is one of the most respected women’s golf associations in the United States,” Bell noted. “Its reputation has grown over the years right along with its membership. In all my years with the USGA, I was always very proud of the Colorado Women’s Golf Association.

“Happy birthday, CWGA. I wish I was there to blow out the candles.”

One of the centerpieces of Saturday’s centennial celebration was honoring key volunteers, outstanding players and other exceptionally “valued friends”. Receiving the highest awards were Lynn Zmistowski (volunteer of the century), Carol Flenniken (golfer of the century), and Bell, Giesenhagen and Jervey (centennial honorees). (Jervey and Giesenhagen are pictured at left.)

Zmistowski has served more than 30 years on the Course Rating Committee and in 2009 she received the USGA’s Ike Grainger Award for more than 25 years of volunteer work on USGA committees. “Lynn Z”, as she is known, represented Colorado on the USGA Handicap Procedure Committee for 25 years. She was the first captain of the Colorado’s Girls Junior Americas Cup teams, serving in that capacity in the late 1970s and early ’80s. In addition, she’s been an outstanding player, having captured five major individual CWGA championships. She’s been inducted into both the Colorado and Minnesota Golf Halls of Fame.

Flenniken has won more major CWGA individual championships than anyone (15), with eight Stroke Plays, four Match Plays and three Senior Stroke Plays. Before becoming a mainstay in Colorado, she won the 1960 U.S. Girls’ Junior, the 1962 Women’s Western Amateur and the 1964 British Ladies Amateur.

“Thank you to the CWGA for this great honor,” Flenniken said via messenger to annual meeting attendees. “Golfer of the Century, Wow!. … I have fond members of playing in CWGA championships over the years and I cherish the many friendships I have made along the way.”

Bell was the first female president in the history of the USGA (1996-97), was selected the Colorado golf Woman of the Century, and has been inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. She competed in 38 USGA championships and shot a then-record 67 in the 1964 U.S. Women’s Open. She both played on and captained U.S. Curtis Cup teams. And in June, Bell will receive the USGA’s highest honor, the Bob Jones Award.

Giesenhagen served as the first executive director of the CWGA (1988-92) before spending 19 years working for the USGA. A U.S. Girls’ Junior runner-up and the 1965 Big Ten champion, she played in three U.S. Women’s Opens and nine U.S. Women’s Amateurs and claimed the 1974 CWGA Match Play title. She was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2002.

“I had the pleasure of following the incomparable Maggie Giesenhagen (as CWGA executive director),” Jervey said. “She was an outstanding golfer, a pioneer for women’s golf. She was a Rules expert and basically phenomenal at everything she did. I just want to commend Maggie for the influence she had on golf in the state — and for what everyone around the country tried to copy.”

Jervey was the executive director of the CWGA for 22 years (1992-2014), was a rules official at the Masters, U.S. Open, U.S. Women’s Open, U.S. Senior Open and other USGA national championships, and served as president of the International Association of Golf Administrators before taking a job as director of event management for JBC Golf — and the Legends Tour, the 45-and-over LPGA senior circuit. Jervey, who served on the USGA Rules of Golf Committee, received the 2015 Distinguished Service Award from the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

“The CWGA has been a fabulous organization and Robin took it to new heights,” Giesenhagen said. “She came in at the right time for the CWGA. She took the CWGA right into the 21st century.”

In addition to Zmistowski, the CWGA recognized longtime stellar volunteers (pictured above, from left) Jan Ford, Georgene McConagle, Juna Orr, Jan Fincher, Ouida Neil, Karla Harding and Braucht. Volunteer honorees not pictured are Joan Scholes, Sally Lou Schultz and Zmistowski.

Besides Flenniken, outstanding players who were honored Saturday included Eaton, Lynn Larson, Birkland, Marcia Bailey, Phyllis Buchanan, Zmistowski, Janet Moore and Sally Hardwick. (Pictured at left are, from left, Birkland, Eaton and Larson.)

All in all, the centennial event “was very impressive,” Jervey said. “It was a great celebration. I loved the video they put together. It was nice to hear from people who are still involved and those who have been involved in the past.”

Jervey, who oversaw 23 annual meetings in her time as executive director, admitted it was an unusual feeling to return to the event. It was the same for the former CWGA staffers and interns who were on hand Saturday: (pictured with Jervey from left, Dawn McConkey, Ginger Washco, Kim Schwartz, former USGA P.J. Boatwright intern Bridget Coulton, Jennifer Cassell and Edie Bell.)

“I was telling the (old) staff, ‘Did you guys have deja vu on your drive into Inverness this morning?'” Jervey said. “I’m not wearing a (CWGA) blazer and I didn’t have to be here in the dark setting up, so that part was nice. But it definitely felt like old times.”

The annual meeting was the first of three events during the year in which the CWGA will celebrate its centennial. Others will come during the CWGA Stroke Play at Denver Country Club in early August, and a centennial celebration tournament Sept. 21 at Hiwan Golf Club.

Handing Out Accolades: In addition to its centennial activities, the CWGA on Saturday gave out several annual awards.

The volunteer of the year honors went to CWGA board members Phyllis Jensen and Nancy Wilson, who are heading up the association’s centennial-year activities this year. (The two are pictured at left.)

The previously announced CWGA players of the year for 2015 were Jennifer Kupcho (Player of the Year), Kim Eaton (Senior Player of the Year) and Mary Weinstein (Junior Player of the Year). For more on their accomplishments last year, CLICK HERE.

Receiving the President’s Award on Saturday was Chad Leverenz, who’s played a key informaton technology role as the CWGA set up its new offices at the end of 2014 and beginning of 2015.

Also, the CWGA noted the contributions of retiring board of director members Joanie Ott, Patricia Latta and Patrish Bergamo.

In addition, the association recognized the Raccoon Creek Golf Course’s women’s nine-hole group for selling more than $1,000 worth of Evans Scholars bag tags, helping caddies receive college scholarships. That amount was the highest for any women’s golf club in Colorado. Overall, CWGA clubs raised in excess of $4,000 for the Evans Scholars in 2015, almost $1,000 more than in 2014. Among the Evans Scholar chapter houses is one at the University of Colorado.

Auction Raises $7,171 for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf: The silent auction that was held in conjunction with the CWGA annual meeting on Saturday raised $7,171 for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. That total was about $1,000 more than at the same event last year.

Sometimes it takes a rookie to topple an undefeated champion.

At least apparently it did on Tuesday at Red Rocks Country Club in Morrison.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton had won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play all four previous times she’d competed, with the last two victories coming by margins of 16 and 10 shots, respectively. She had claimed the CWGA Senior Player of the Year award for five straight years before opting to “retire” from CWGA championships in 2013. But the three-time U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur quarterfinalist decided to return to CWGA competition this week, making her a good bet to hoist the Senior Stroke Play trophy again.

But Jill Gaschler of Denver, a newly minted senior player at 50 years old, had another storyline in mind. The player from Willis Case Golf Course went head-to-head with Colorado Golf Hall of Famers such as Eaton, defending champion Christie Austin, Janet Moore and Lynn Zmistowski, and emerged victorious from the stellar field.

Gaschler (pictured above and at left), playing in the same group as Eaton, Austin and Deb Hughes on Tuesday, kept them all at bay in capturing the title in the 33rd Senior Stroke Play. The senior rookie shot a 6-over-par 78 in Tuesday’s final round at Red Rocks CC and prevailed by two shots with an 8-over 152 total for two days.

“She’s a great player,” Gaschler said of Eaton. “I have great respect for her. I enjoyed playing with her today, I really did. I’m sorry that she didn’t win, but I’m glad I did.”

Eaton, now a full-time resident of Arizona, carded her second consecutive 77 and was runner-up at 154. Austin was in contention for her third Senior Stroke Play title until a triple bogey derailed her on the 11th hole Tuesday. There, she hit a shot out of bounds and another into the water, but drained a 30-foot putt from behind the green, giving her a score of 7 with — technically — 0 putts. Austin (bottom photo), who shared the lead with Gaschler after round 1, placed third at 158 after an 84 on Tuesday. And Moore posted the best second-round score, a 75, to share fourth place with Zmistowski at 163.

Eaton (left) has won 14 or 15 individual state senior titles — in Colorado, Arizona and California combined, including stroke play and match play — since turning 50 in 2009. So prevailing against her is no easy feat.

But a combination of Eaton not being in peak form and Gaschler making few costly errors did the trick for the golfer from Willis Case. Gaschler never made anything worse than a bogey in the two rounds, while recording six birdies, including two on par-3s on Tuesday.

“You know, Jill played very steady today,” Eaton said. “She really didn’t make any big mistakes. She made a few bogeys.

“I was starting to catch up and I made a really stupid double bogey on 8. I was just very flat today. I just couldn’t get anything going. That putt (on No. 18, where she drained a 25-foot par) was probably the only putt I made (of significant length) the last two days. My putting was pathetic today and I didn’t hit my fairway woods very well. But Jill played very steady and she putted very well.”

And Gaschler was in control almost all the way during Tuesday’s final round. Indeed, after she made pars on the first two holes, her lead was never less than two shots the rest of the way.

Gaschler has won club championships at Willis Case and at Foothills, but Tuesday marked her first CWGA championship.

“It feels great,” she said. “It was my first time in this tournament and my first time winning anything CWGA-wise.”

In that sense, Gaschler’s mindset coming into the championship probably helped her cause.

“I really didn’t have much expectations,” she said. “I just wanted to play and have fun.I was trying to be relaxed and play golf. So that (victory) was a real surprise.”

Gaschler comes from a long line of strong women players from Willis Case, including Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Katie Fiorella and Zmistowski. In fact, when Gaschler started developing as a golfer after taking up the game in her 20s, she played a considerable amount with another Hall of Famer, Carol (Sorenson) Flenniken. Flenniken is one of the top female amateurs in state history, having won a dozen CWGA Match/Stroke Play championships after claiming titles in the 1960 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 1964 British Ladies Amateur.

“I’m fortunate to play out of Willis Case,” Gaschler said. “There are a lot of good players there. We have a lot of strength. And I played a lot with Carol Flenniken when I started golfing, and that was real good for me too. That was a big part of it in me becoming better.”

For the scores from all eight flights of the Senior Stroke Play, CLICK HERE.