There are certainly worse ways to spend your birthday than playing golf at scenic Perry Park Country Club while cruising to victory in a CWGA championship.

Just ask Colorado State University women’s golf head coach Annie Young, who celebrated turning 34 on Wednesday by easily winning the CWGA Brassie with one of her players, CSU senior Elisabeth Rau.

To add an extra layer of frosting to her birthday cake, teams of coaches and players from CSU finished 1-2 Wednesday in the championship flight of the event, with Young and Rau earning bragging rights with a hefty nine-stroke victory.  (The champs are pictured together, with Rau at left, and again below.)

CSU assistant coach Jessa LaBarbera teamed with incoming freshman Ellen Secor from Portland to place a distant second.

“They had (done) plenty of trash talking before,” Young noted of LaBarbera and Secor.

“It was actually our goal to play with them today so we could give each other crap,” Secor said.

All in good fun, mind you.

Young, the 2002 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links champion and a two-time Big 12 Conference winner, and Rau shot a 4-under-par 68 Wednesday at Perry Park — the best score of the four-ball stroke-play event — to finish with a 7-under 137, the lowest winning total for the Brassie since 2009.

The winners, both competing in a CWGA championship for the first time, played their last 14 holes in 6 under par after having been 2 over through four. “We were like, ‘We’ve got to wake up,'” Young said of their slow start. “Then a couple of putts fell, and you get rolling.”

Meanwhile, LaBarbera and Secor (left) shot an even-par 72 Wednesday to finish at 2-over 146.

Caroline Jordaan and Jordan Remley, two of the better junior players in the state, took third place — and finished as the top non-Rams in the championship field — at 148 after back-to-back 74s.

All in all, it wasn’t a bad performance for the champions considering Young had played in just one tournament — this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifying — in the last seven or eight years, by her reckoning. Her tournament play has been very limited since accepting the Oklahoma State women’s coaching job in 2008 despite having advanced to the final stage of LPGA Tour qualifying.

“This tournament, I was like, ‘I’ll have plenty of time to practice,'” she said. “I played in a scramble and one other round of golf (in preparation). But it’s so different when you’ve got a good teammate. It’s easy to play golf when you can count on somebody else.

“It was fun. This was a perfect event if you don’t get to play a ton of golf.”

And Rau hasn’t exactly been a tournament-playing machine this summer, either. The Texan took about six weeks off from golf while she attended summer school. In fact, it was Rau’s lack of play that was partly the impetus for Young signing the two up for the Brassie. And that led to Young suggesting that LaBarbera enter too, with Secor.

Despite their lack of much time playing golf this summer, Young and Rau managed to cover for one another and racked up 11 birdies in two days at Perry Park.

“We worked well together,” Rau said of she and Young. “We had fun out there, which was the most important thing. I’ve been with her the last three years so I know she knows my game and we’re really comfortable with each other.

“There was some coaching, but it was more teamwork than anything. I helped her with putts, she helped me. Even on the golf course now (during the college season), it’s not so much coaching as it is having someone out there to support you.”

Meanwhile, the two CSU teams, which played in back-to-back groups on the course each day, didn’t hesitate in giving each other friendly grief throughout the tournament.

“We were yelling back and forth tee to green,” reported LaBarbera, who played under Young before becoming her assistant. “They were in front of us yesterday (in the pairings) and we were in front today. They kept on saying, ‘Come on, let’s go’ the whole time.”

All of which left Secor and LaBarbera seeking to avenge their loss.

“We said, ‘We want a rematch’ and they’re like, ‘No, no, no.’ We’ll see,” Secor said.

After their playful back and forth on the course, Rau noted later, “We’re graceful winners now.”

Joining Young/Rau as gross champions in the Brassie Wednesday were Kathy Malpass/Katherine Moore-Lilly (first flight), Cathy Skrine/Jo Ann Higgins and Pam Cortez/Sue Knutson (tie, second flight), Jacquelyn Danner/Julie Krueger (third flight), Bonnie Catalano/Pam Levkulich (fourth flight), Gay Scovel/Julie Workman (fifth flight), Carol Casteel/Ronda Palsulich (sixth flight) and Lucille Moreno-Peacock/Lourdes Swanson and Harlene Bowman/Judy Fountaine (tie, seventh flight).
 

CWGA Brassie Championship
At Par-72 Perry Park CC in Larkspur

GROSS SCORES
Championship Flight
Annie Young, Ptarmigan CC Wga / Elisabeth Rau, The Sports Club Four Seasons R–69-68–137
Jessa LaBarbera, Ptarmigan Country Club / Ellen Secor, Loveland Wga–74-72–146
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC WGA / Jordan Remley, Jgac Club–74-74–148
Amy Morrow, Perry Park CC Wga / Sara Swaney, Perry Park CC Wga–73-76–149
Allie Johnston, Red Hawk Ridge Wga / Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga–74-77–151
Tori Glenn, Ridge at Castle Pines N Wga / Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga–74-77–151
Ann Guiberson, Willis Case WGA / Lynn Zmistowski, Willis Case Wga–79-76–155
Meghan Christensen, Cordillera WGA / Terri Katz, Cordillera Wga – Valley–85-81–166
 
First Flight
Kathy Malpass, Hiwan Wga / Katherine Moore-Lilly, Cordillera Wga – Valley–73-73–146
Kelly Martin, Fox Hollow Lgc / Mariko Coplin, Willis Case Wga–73-79–152
Kim Wells, Sunset Wga / Karen Chase, Fox Hollow Lgc–78-76–154
Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock Wga / Lynn Larson, Pinery CC Wga–77-77–154
LeAnna Rosenow, West Woods Wgc / Debbie Mills, Meridian Wga–78-78–156
Sue Hartwell, West Woods Wgc / Jean Miller, West Woods Wgc–83-75–158
Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC Wga / Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC Wga–79-80–159
Kelli Poppenhagen, Meadow Hills Wga / Laura Stuto, Denver Athletic Club Wga–84-79–163
Laura Dunston, Canongate Colorado Wgc / Meagan Arvidson, Lga at Blackstone/Black Bear–80-85–165
 
Second Flight
Pam Cortez, Coal Creek Wga / Sue Knutson, Coal Creek Wga–78-84–162
Jo Ann Higgins, Fox Hill Club Wga / Cathy Skrine, Fox Hill Club Wga–80-82–162
Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban Wga / Ann Cates, South Suburban Wga–86-81–167
Kay Geitner, Littleton Lgc / Marie Schriefer, South Suburban Wga–85-82–167
Chris Jansen, Broken Tee Wgl / Janis Ward, Red Rocks CC Lga–85-84–169
Juliet Miner, Bear Dance Wga / Lisa Bolam, Highland Meadows GC–86-83–169
Penny Berg, West Woods Wgc / Rochelle Tisdale, West Woods Wga–86-85–171
Darlene Evans, West Woods Wga / Lynn Benjamin, West Woods Wgc–88-87–175
 
Third Flight
Jacquelyn Danner, Castle Pines Wga / Julie Krueger, Lone Tree Lga–83-84–167
Berta Thimmig, Riverdale Wga / Dot Lindsey, Riverdale Wga–87-83–170
Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels Lga / Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels Lga–81-89–170
Janine Lowe, South Suburban Wga / Ellen Thomas, Canongate Colorado Wgc–84-87–171
Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee Englewood Wga / Judy Maillis, Broken Tee Englewood Wga–90-84–174
Karen Leuschel, Riverdale Wga / Connie Brodt, Fox Hill Club Wga–84-91–175
Jan Carter, Indian Tree Wga / Nancy Wilson, Indian Tree Wga–89-87–176
Cathy Quesnell, Red Hawk Ridge Lgc / Patti Godette, Red Hawk Ridge Lgc–92-88–180
 
Fourth Flight
Pam Levkulich, Cherry Creek CC Wga / Bonnie Catalano, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga–81-86–167
Becky Hammer, Kissing Camels Lga / Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett Wgc–83-87–170
Marla Straw, Overland Park Wgc / Norma Bisdorf, Overland Park Wgc–85-86–171
Margaret Breakey, Kissing Camels Lga / Dawn Kay Vaughn, Kissing Camels Lga–82-89–171
Cindy Ortega, Foothills Wga / Kathy Diehl, Broken Tee Englewood Wga–88-87–175
Maria Erlinda Trujillo, / Doreen Tallman, South Suburban Wga–93-86–179
Sharon Thiel, Riverdale Wga / Diane Storlie, Riverdale Wga–89-91–180
Donna Edelen, Riverdale Wga / Becky Finger, Riverdale Wga–91-89–180
 
Fifth Flight
Gay Scovel, Patty Jewett Wgc / Julie Workman, Patty Jewett Wga–91-88–179
Barbara Bostwick, Broken Tee Englewood Wga / Linda Brown-Stiller, Broken Tee Wgl–90-91–181
Pam Thompson, Kissing Camels Lga / Susan Gaston, Kissing Camels Lga–90-92–182
Mari Johnson, Broken Tee Englewood Wga / Pamela Schmidt, Broken Tee Englewood Wga–93-93–186
Jennie Jones, Littleton Lgc / Janice Campbell, Meadow Hills Wga–92-94–186
Beverly Byer, Wellshire Wga / Ramona Conner, Murphy Creek Wga–95-93–188
Chris Leger, Heather Ridge Golf Club Wga / Sharon Berkowitz, Heather Ridge Golf Club Wga–92-97–189
Susan Elliott, Riverdale Wga / Deanna Messerli, Riverdale Wga–95-100–195
 
Sixth Flight
Carol Casteel, South Suburban Wga / Ronda Palsulich, Lone Tree Lga–92-92–184
Kathy Mansueto, Broken Tee Wgl / Betty-Ann Wittenberg, Broken Tee Englewood Wga–95-91–186
Nancy Peters, Hyland Hills Wga / Sammy Scoma, Hyland Hills Wga–97-94–191
Barbara Bender, Coal Creek Wga / Lucille Carroll, Coal Creek GC–99-93–192
Laura Laux, Foothills Wga / JoAnn Smith, Foothills Wga–96-96–192
Jayne Graham, Valley CC Wga / Bethany Atkins, Valley CC –100-92–192
Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale Wga / Mary Bunch, Riverdale GC–98-99–197
Clarissa Gliksman, Overland Park GC / Jeanne Surbrugg, Overland Park Wgc–100-105–205
 
Seventh Flight
Lucille Moreno-Peacock, Overland Park Wgc / Lourdes Swanson, Commonground Wgc–101-94–195
Harlene Bowman, South Suburban Wga / Judy Fountaine, –95-100–195
Margie Doss, Meadow Hills Wga / Rose Rismanchi, Aurora Hills Wga–96-102–198
Judi Hart, Foothills Wga / Barbara Irwin, Foothills Wga–97-102–199
Audrey McEwen, Coal Creek Wga / Susan Wagner, Coal Creek Wga–101-98–199
Tina Reeves, Broadlands GC / Kay Boyle, Eagle Trace Lga–104-101–205
Jan Squires, West Woods Wgc / Monita Pacheco, Fossil Trace Wga–105-100–205

As she accepted her glass trophy after winning the CWGA Brassie Championship for the fourth time, Janet Moore noted that the trick to winning team titles is “picking good partners.”

While the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer from Cherry Hills Country Club meant that as a compliment to her teammate this weekend — Metro State University of Denver golfer Allie Johnston — picking good partners certainly works both ways.

With Saturday’s victory at Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth, Moore claimed her 19th CWGA championship. And while she’s best known for winning the CWGA Stroke Play a remarkable five times in the 1990s, also impressive is that she has 14 CWGA two-person team titles to her credit. Besides her four Brassie championships, she’s claimed seven wins in the CWGA Mashie, and three in the now-defunct CGA/CWGA Mixed Championship.

The bottom line is, a golfer could do a heck of a lot worse than partnering with Moore in a team event.

No doubt Johnston, a former CWGA Match Play champ, foresaw the possibilities because it was her idea to email Moore asking if she was available for the Brassie. (Moore missed last year’s tournament.) And with Moore’s longtime tournament partner and fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, Christie Austin, defending her Brassie title this year with University of Colorado golfer Tori Glenn, Moore took Johnston up on her offer. (The two are pictured above and at left.)

And, predictably, the top of the Brassie leaderboard had the names Janet Moore and Christie Austin right at or near the top, though this time not together. After having paired up for nine CWGA titles — six Mashies and three Brassies — these last two years each has won the Brassie with other partners.

“It does feel different but it’s fun,” said the 51-year-old Moore, who coached the Wheaton College women’s golf team in Illinois the last four seasons before departing in the spring. “I love playing with different people. But it is a little bit awkward just because (Christie and I) have played so many times together. But I love playing with Allie. It was so much fun and she hits such a nice ball and she’s such a great player.”

On Saturday, after outstanding rounds by both teams, Moore and Johnson prevailed by two over runners-up Austin and Glenn (left). With each team recording six best-ball birdies on the day, Moore and Johnston closed with a 5-under-par 67 in the four-ball stroke-play event, while Austin and Glenn carded a 66 — 10 strokes better than their first-round total.

“We had a good day and they had a good day,” said Austin, winner of five Brassies overall. “We just had too bad of a day yesterday.”

With Moore making four birdies en route to a 70 on her own ball Saturday and Johnston carding three birdies — including a 4-footer on No. 18 — they finished with a 4-under-par 140 total.

“It was fun. We had a great time,” said Johnston, who won her fourth CWGA title, having previously captured the 2011 Junior Stroke Play, 2012 Match Play and the 2012 Mashie with Claudia Davis.

Runners-up Austin and Glenn checked in at 142 on Saturday, with CU golfers Gillian Vance and Allie Zech, the first-round leaders, placing third at 143 after a 71 on Saturday.

For Johnston (left), she is starting to return to form after a tough couple of years health-wise. The Castle Rock resident said she was sick much of 2013 and didn’t compete in any tournaments. Then last year, she underwent gall bladder surgery, hernia surgery and foot surgery all within a period of about eight months.

But, as was the case in the 2012 Mashie, Johnston won the Brassie in her first time playing the event.

“It’s really impressive how she’s playing after being injured,” Moore said.

As for Austin and Glenn, they turned things around in a big way on Saturday after putting themselves behind the 8 ball with Friday’s 76. In round 2, Glenn made six birdies on her own ball, and Austin carded pars on the three holes Glenn was over par.

“(Tori) was a birdie machine,” Austin said. “And whenever she was in trouble, I made par. It was pretty easy today. We were happy to be in the hunt.”

Said Glenn: “It was fun. This tournament is always fun.”

For the scores from all seven flights, CLICK HERE.
 

A good partnership in golf is considered one in which the players “ham and egg it” very well. In other words, when one is struggling, the other picks up the slack and plays well.

Christie Austin and Tori Glenn certainly did that on occasion over the weekend, but they ham and egg it on a bigger scale. Austin is 57 years old and has a daughter, Julie, close to the age of Glenn, who is 19. And before Sunday, Austin had won about a dozen CWGA championships, while Glenn was still looking for her first.

But whatever the case, the two hit upon a good enough complementary formula that they claimed the championship flight title Sunday at the 48th annual CWGA Brassie at the Gold Course at Hyland Hills in Westminster.

“It’s so much fun to win a state championship,” noted Austin, a former USGA Executive Committee member from Cherry Hills Country Club. “This just sort of fell into place, which is great because we were really looking forward to (playing in the tournament together). We played a practice round and everything. We made a big effort here,” she added with a laugh.

Austin won the Brassie — which features a four-ball stroke-play format — for the fourth time on Sunday. But on the previous two occasions (2001 and ’10), her partner was Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore. Moore couldn’t play this time around, so Austin thought of Glenn, the University of Colorado golfer with whom she was paired in the Colorado Cup matches early last month. (The pair are pictured, with Austin at right.)

“I’m really happy she invited me; it was fun,” said Glenn, the 2014 CWGA Match Play runner-up who has been playing golf for just a little more than three years.

Austin and Glenn shot a 1-under-par 72 Sunday, giving them a 5-under 141 total and a four-stroke victory. But that margin gives a false impression of how close the final round was. Going into the last hole — the short par-3 16th in their case — Austin and Glenn led two-time champions D’Ann Kimbrel and Stacey Arnold of Willis Case Golf Course by just one.

But on a hole measuring less than 110 yards, Kimbrel hit her tee shot into the water short of the green and Arnold’s ball barely stayed out of the lake. That led to them taking a best-ball double-bogey 5 on the relatively easy hole. Meanwhile, after nine consecutive pars for the Austin/Glenn team, Austin closed out the round by draining a 30-foot birdie putt, accounting for a three-stroke swing on the hole. (At top, Austin gets a high-five from Glenn.)

“It’s just disappointing how we finished,” said Arnold, who won the Brassie with Kimbrel in 2009 and ’12. “D’Ann and I are both working Joes so we don’t get out (for golf) very much. It’s disappointing to finish that way but it was fun to play with those guys (Austin and Glenn). They played good, and for Christie to finish with a 2 — she had been so close with so many putts — that was nice for them.”

Arnold and Kimbrel, the director of maintenance at the Riverdale golf courses in Brighton, closed with a 73 to place second at 145. (At left, Arnold, standing, discusses something with Kimbrel.)

Deb Hughes of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, who defeated Austin in the final of the 2014 CWGA Senior Match Play, and Sue Davis of Saddle Rock Golf Course were one of four championship flight teams to shoot a 76 on Sunday, and they finished in third place at 150.

“Stacey and D’Ann got close — it was a one-stroke difference — but we just kept grinding,” Austin said. “It was a day when neither one of us (Glenn or Austin) felt real comfortable on the course. We didn’t hit it especially pure. But we were just kind of steady and got up and down a few times. It was a grinding kind of day I’d say.”

As Glenn noted, the winning pair played much better in Saturday’s first round, shooting a 69. That round included a stretch in which Glenn went eagle-birdie-birdie, with the eagle coming on the same hole Austin birdied. Glenn also chipped in for a birdie during that run. Austin and Glenn later added back-to-back birdies on Nos. 16 and 17.

“Yesterday was so much better,” said Glenn, who plays out of the Ridge at Castle Pines North. “We’d make birdies on top of each other. It was a good day. Today (Sunday), Christie covered my butt.” (At left, Glenn and Austin confer about a shot.)

Whatever the case, Glenn was happy to claim her first CWGA championship title.

“It feels good,” said Glenn, who finished fourth as a Valor Christian senior at the 2013 4A state high school tournament. “I was second in the Match Play and I’ve always been kind of close in the CWGA events this summer, but I never came out on top. So this is good.”

For scores from the championship flight and the seven other flights, CLICK HERE.

The two Coloradans, who both play golf for the University of Wyoming, parlayed their Solheim experience into a victory in the CWGA Brassie Championship, which concluded Tuesday at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs. (Stancato is pictured, at left, with Kershisnik.)

The victory gives the two Cowgirls a sweep of the CWGA’s four-ball tournaments in 2013. Two months after claiming the title in the CWGA Mashie — a four-ball match-play event — they won by five Tuesday in the Brassie, a four-ball stroke-play tournament.

Watching the Solheim Cup “was awesome, even though the U.S. lost,” said Kershisnik, a 19-year-old two-time state high school runner-up from Columbine Country Club. “It was so much fun watching the team format. There’s a lot you can learn from the attitude the (U.S. and Europeans teams) had — congratulating each other and pumping each other up.”

Kershisnik and Stancato can relate. A year ago, they didn’t know each other, but they became teammates at Wyoming. And now they’re going to be roommates; in fact, they’re moving back up to Laramie on Wednesday.

But on Tuesday, they capped off the summer season by shooting a best-ball 5-under-par 67, giving them a 4-under 140 total for two rounds at Flying Horse. That strong finish allowed them to leave the other three first-round co-leaders in the dust on day 2.

Four-time Brassie champion Christie Austin, the former USGA Executive Committee member from Cherry Hills Country Club, teamed up with two-time winner Cindy Pallatino of CommonGround Golf Course to finish five strokes behind following a final-round 72. Coincidentally, Austin was also runner-up to Stancato and Kershisnik at the CWGA Mashie, but her partner then was Janet Moore.

Tying for third Tuesday, 10 strokes behind the winners, were Sue Davis of Saddle Rock and Jessi McVay of CommonGround, and Saddle Rock golfers Laurie Steenrod and Lisa Stone. Davis and McVay shot 73 Tuesday, while Steenrod and Stone posted a 77.

The CWGA championship was the second each for Stancato and Kershisnik, with them teaming up on both occasions.

“This feels pretty good,” said Stancato, a 20-year-old from Patty Jewett Golf Course who qualified for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur. “It gives us a nice confidence boost going into the college season. I wanted to play in something before (the college year started), so I called Kathleen and she was excited.

“It’s really fun to play with all the ladies. It’s a lot different than college, but just as fun.”

On Tuesday, with Stancato shooting 70 on her own ball, she and Kershisnik started the round with a best-ball bogey but went 6 under par over the next 12 holes to pull away.

“We definitely played more as a team today,” said Stancato, who was playing in her hometown of Colorado Springs. “Yesterday when we messed up it seemed to be on the same hole.”

CWGA Brassie Championship
At Par-72 Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs

GROSS 
Championship Flight
  –73-67–140; Samantha Stancato, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC
  –73-72–145; Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC ; Cindy Pallatino, CommonGround GC
  –77-73–150; Sue Davis, Saddle Rock GC; Jessi McVay, CommonGround GC
  –73-77–150; Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC; Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC
  –73-81–154; Lois Meredith, Perry Park CC ; Ron Irons, Eisenhower GC
  –84-75–159; Vickie Brown, Broken Tee GC; Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee GC
  –80-80–160; Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC ; Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC
  –79-81–160; Ann Cates, South Suburban GC; Beth Clippinger, South Suburban GC

  First Flight
  –71-72–143; Linda Raunig, Broken Tee GC; Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee GC
  –74-78–152; Carla Shearer, Perry Park CC; Laura Watt, The Club at Flying Horse
  –77-76–153; Cindy Lantz, CC at Castle Pines ; Kathryn Davis, CC at Castle Pines
  –75-80–155; Brenda Cook, The Links GC; JoLynn Ryckman, The Pinery CC
  –74-81–155; Debra Bolke, Saddle Rock GC; Laura Dunston, Canongate at Blackstone CC
  –80-78–158; Debi Kline, Kissing Camels GC; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC
  –82-79–161; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
  –81-80–161; Marianne Ceriani, The Club at Rolling Hills ; Tangy Buchanan, Columbine CC

  Second Flight
  –78-77–155; Maria Tafuri, Aspen GC; Heidi Horner, Aspen GC
  –76-86–162; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, GC at Heather Ridge
  –78-86–164; Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock GC; Leslie Keith, Valley CC
  –82-83–165; Sandy Queen, South Suburban GC; Sharon Berglund, The Pinery CC
  –87-86–173; Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC ; Vivian Parle, Colorado Springs CC
  –88-87–175; Nancy Boodel, Valley CC ; Carol Race, Valley CC
  –91-91–182; Juliet Miner, The GC at Bear Dance; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC
  –92-96–188; Mary Lou Fehr, Saddle Rock GC; Nancy White, Saddle Rock GC

  Third Flight
  –82-85–167; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC
  –82-85–167; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC
  –79-90–169; Jan Carter, Indian Tree GC; Nancy Wilson, Indian Tree GC
  –83-86–169; Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee GC; Judy Maillis, Broken Tee GC
  –83-87–170; Dot Lindsey, Riverdale GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
  –86-90–176; Pam Levkulich, Meridian GC; Bonnie Catalano, Meridian GC
  –87-90–177; Anne Lewis, Heritage Eagle Bend GC; Barbara Johnston, Heritage Eagle Bend GC
  –87-94–181; Jennie Jones, Raccoon Creek GC; Sherri Wirth, Littleton GC

  Fourth Flight
  –80-90–170; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
  –84-86–170; Lavonne Weinbender, Patty Jewett GC; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC
  –86-86–172; Melanie Gleason, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC
  –82-90–172; Linda Korte, Overland Park GC; Norma Bisdorf, Overland Park GC
  –86-88–174; Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban GC; Nona Radin, Lakewood CC
  –93-82–175; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
  –89-88–177; Cindy Christiano, Red Hawk Ridge GC; Liza DePinto, Red Hawk Ridge GC
  –90-88–178; Lila Bradley, The Club at Flying Horse ; Peggy Cox, The Club at Flying Horse
  –89-90–179; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
  –92-95–187; Diane Storlie, Riverdale GC; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC

  Fifth Flight
  –89-87–176; Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale GC; Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale GC
  –89-93–182; Mary Watt, The Club at Flying Horse ; Connie Brown, The Club at Flying Horse
  –95-88–183; Cheryl Miller, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Riverdale GC
  –89-95–184; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC; Roben Deines, Riverdale GC
  –94-94–188; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –86-103–189; Pamela Schmidt, Broken Tee GC; Becky Kenny, Red Hawk Ridge GC
  –94-98–192; Margie Doss, Fitzsimons GC; Rose Rismanchi, Fitzsimons GC
  –101-102–203; Dee Ann Knudsen, South Suburban GC; Lucy Adler, Murphy Creek GC

NET
  Championship Flight
  –66-69–135; Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC; Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC
  –69-68–137; Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC ; Cindy Pallatino, CommonGround GC
  –66-73–139; Lois Meredith, Perry Park CC ; Ron Irons, Eisenhower GC
  –72-67–139; Samantha Stancato, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC
  –72-68–140; Sue Davis, Saddle Rock GC; Jessi McVay, CommonGround GC
  –76-67–143; Vickie Brown, Broken Tee GC; Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee GC
  –72-72–144; Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC ; Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC
  –72-74–146; Ann Cates, South Suburban GC; Beth Clippinger, South Suburban GC

  First Flight
  –63-64–127; Linda Raunig, Broken Tee GC; Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee GC
  –62-67–129; Carla Shearer, Perry Park CC; Laura Watt, The Club at Flying Horse
  –62-68–130; Debra Bolke, Saddle Rock GC; Laura Dunston, Canongate at Blackstone CC
  –66-65–131; Cindy Lantz, CC at Castle Pines ; Kathryn Davis, CC at Castle Pines
  –65-71–136; Brenda Cook, The Links GC; JoLynn Ryckman, The Pinery CC
  –70-68–138; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
  –72-69–141; Debi Kline, Kissing Camels GC; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC
  –72-72–144; Marianne Ceriani, The Club at Rolling Hills ; Tangy Buchanan, Columbine CC

  Second Flight
  –65-64–129; Maria Tafuri, Aspen GC; Heidi Horner, Aspen GC
  –62-69–131; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, GC at Heather Ridge
  –64-73–137; Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock GC; Leslie Keith, Valley CC
  –68-69–137; Sandy Queen, South Suburban GC; Sharon Berglund, The Pinery CC
  –71-71–142; Nancy Boodel, Valley CC ; Carol Race, Valley CC
  –74-72–146; Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC ; Vivian Parle, Colorado Springs CC
  –75-75–150; Juliet Miner, The GC at Bear Dance; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC
  –77-83–160; Mary Lou Fehr, Saddle Rock GC; Nancy White, Saddle Rock GC

  Third Flight
  –65-67–132; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC
  –66-69–135; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC
  –67-68–135; Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee GC; Judy Maillis, Broken Tee GC
  –64-73–137; Jan Carter, Indian Tree GC; Nancy Wilson, Indian Tree GC
  –67-71–138; Dot Lindsey, Riverdale GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
  –68-73–141; Pam Levkulich, Meridian GC; Bonnie Catalano, Meridian GC
  –70-73–143; Anne Lewis, Heritage Eagle Bend GC; Barbara Johnston, Heritage Eagle Bend GC
  –70-76–146; Jennie Jones, Raccoon Creek GC; Sherri Wirth, Littleton GC

  Fourth Flight
  –65-67–132; Lavonne Weinbender, Patty Jewett GC; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC
  –63-72–135; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
  –64-71–135; Linda Korte, Overland Park GC; Norma Bisdorf, Overland Park GC
  –74-62–136; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
  –66-70–136; Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban GC; Nona Radin, Lakewood CC
  –70-67–137; Cindy Christiano, Red Hawk Ridge GC; Liza DePinto, Red Hawk Ridge GC
  –71-68–139; Lila Bradley, The Club at Flying Horse ; Peggy Cox, The Club at Flying Horse
  –69-71–140; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
  –73-69–142; Melanie Gleason, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC
  –73-75–148; Diane Storlie, Riverdale GC; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC

  Fifth Flight
  –68-66–134; Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale GC; Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale GC
  –65-69–134; Margie Doss, Fitzsimons GC; Rose Rismanchi, Fitzsimons GC
  –67-72–139; Mary Watt, The Club at Flying Horse ; Connie Brown, The Club at Flying Horse
  –70-70–140; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –74-68–142; Cheryl Miller, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Riverdale GC
  –67-79–146; Pamela Schmidt, Broken Tee GC; Becky Kenny, Red Hawk Ridge GC
  –72-74–146; Dee Ann Knudsen, South Suburban GC; Lucy Adler, Murphy Creek GC
  –71-76–147; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC; Roben Deines, Riverdale GC
 

Simply join forces.

The women from Willis Case Golf Course have been quite a force to be reckoned with in team events over the last 4 1/2 years, with Sunday proving just the latest example.

Kimbrel and Arnold (pictured) paired together to win their second CWGA Brassie Championship, this one by three strokes at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison. They also won the event in 2009, likewise on the Western Slope.

But that’s just the Brassie, a four-ball stroke-play event. In the other CWGA two-person team championships, Kimbrel and Arnold have combined to win three Chapman titles and one Mashie.

Add it all up and they’ve paired up to claim six CWGA team championships since 2008.

“It feels good to win again,” said Arnold, 43. “Anytime you win, it’s a good thing. We’ve known each other for 16 years, and we know each other’s games. (Ironically) we don’t ham-and-egg-it very well. We tend to play well on the same holes.”

Added Kimbrel, 53: “We team up well, but Stacey is a really good player. I ride her coattails — and that’s the truth. I help out here and there.”

On Sunday, Arnold and Kimbrel made four birdies to expand their first-round lead, shooting a 3-over-par 74 for a 7-over 149 total.

Lynne Batchelder and Nancy Ziereis, both of Valley Country Club, placed second at 152 after consecutive rounds of 76. Sally Lawrence of Broken Tee and Liz Kennedy of Tiara Rado came in third, at 154, after a final-round 78.

Laurie Steenrod, who won two previous CWGA Brassie titles at Dos Rios — in 2000 and 2008, both with Lynn Larson — finished fourth this year. She and Lisa Stone from Saddle Rock Golf Course shot two straight 79s and ended up nine strokes behind Arnold and Kimbrel.

“It was fun,” Kimbrel said of the victory in Gunnison. “We were looking for a little vacation, but once you get out there, you try to do your best. It’s fun to try to win.”

Both Batchelder and Ziereis, and Kennedy and Lawrence were ahead of Arnold and Kimbrel about a third of the way through Sunday’s round. But Arnold and Kimbrel birdied Nos. 8, 9 and 12 to pull ahead for good.

“We played with Nancy and Lynne and they started out really good,” Arnold said. “They had us worried for a while. We had to turn it on.”

Perhaps the pressure to play well for the team’s sake is one of the keys to the success of Kimbrel and Arnold.

“It’s nice to have someone on your side, but you also feel bad when you play bad,” Arnold noted.

CWGA Brassie Championship
At Par-71 Dos Rios GC in Gunnison

GROSS SCORES
Championship Flight
  –75-74–149; Stacey Arnold, Willis Case GC; D’Ann Kimbrel, Willis Case GC
  –76-76–152; Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC ; Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC
  –76-78–154; Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee GC; Liz Kennedy, Tiara Rado GC
  –79-79–158; Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC; Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC
  –83-80–163; Marianne Ceriani, The Club at Rolling Hills ; Tangy Buchanan, Columbine CC
  –82-83–165; Mary Pierson, Raven GC at Three Peaks; Marti Alter-Cudlip, Denver CC
  First Flight
  –79-74–153; Mary Jo Elder, Dos Rios GC ; Denise Mayfield, Dos Rios GC
  –77-78–155; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC; Barbara Hall, Dos Rios GC
  –81-80–161; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, Heather Ridge GC
  –82-82–164; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC; Sarah Watson, Kissing Camels GC
  –83-84–167; Dot Lindsey, Buffalo Run GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
  –85-83–168; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
  Second Flight
  –82-78–160; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
  –82-79–161; Vicci Carricato, Dos Rios GC ; Janet Fennern, Dos Rios GC
  –82-85–167; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC
  –86-85–171; Ginger Doubek, Meadow Hills GC; Mary Repetto, Foothills GC
  –89-83–172; Kelli Roark, Broken Tee GC; Kristi Davis, Broken Tee GC
  –92-88–180; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC
  Third Flight
  –82-84–166; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
  –85-86–171; Nondis Lowther, Rifle Creek GC; Betsey Frazier, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –85-87–172; Erin Galbreath, Glenwood Springs GC; Nancy Peterson, Glenwood Springs GC
  –83-89–172; Kelly Hall, Bookcliff CC ; Vicki Riley, Bookcliff CC
  –102-91–193; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
  –97-97–194; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC; Diane Storlie, Buffalo Run GC
  Fourth Flight
  –85-83–168; Sandra Schnitzer, Murphy Creek GC; Bunny Ambrose, Meadow Hills GC
  –81-88–169; Debbie Childs, Lone Tree GC; Lisa Livermore, Lone Tree GC
  –89-86–175; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC; Sharon Mcveigh, Patty Jewett GC
  –86-92–178; Melissa Mcpherron, River Valley Ranch GC; Julie Warren, River Valley Ranch GC
  –91-91–182; Roben Deines, Buffalo Run GC; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC
  Fifth Flight
  –88-82–170; Susie Goldberg, Overland Park GC; Colleen Renner, Foothills GC
  –89-91–180; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –88-98–186; Kathy Kluck, Broken Tee GC; Lynne Smith, Broken Tee GC
  –96-91–187; Vivian Heggie, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Buffalo Run GC
  –97-97–194; Caroline Wahlborg, Meadow Hills GC; Margaret Henry, Meadow Hills GC

NET SCORES
First Flight
  –63-64–127; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC; Barbara Hall, Dos Rios GC
  –68-63–131; Mary Jo Elder, Dos Rios GC ; Denise Mayfield, Dos Rios GC
  –69-67–136; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, Heather Ridge GC
  –69-69–138; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC; Sarah Watson, Kissing Camels GC
  –69-71–140; Dot Lindsey, Buffalo Run GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
  –74-72–146; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
  Second Flight
  –66-65–131; Vicci Carricato, Dos Rios GC ; Janet Fennern, Dos Rios GC
  –69-64–133; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
  –67-70–137; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC
  –72-69–141; Ginger Doubek, Meadow Hills GC; Mary Repetto, Foothills GC
  –73-69–142; Kelli Roark, Broken Tee GC; Kristi Davis, Broken Tee GC
  –77-73–150; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC
  Third Flight
  –64-66–130; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
  –62-71–133; Kelly Hall, Bookcliff CC ; Vicki Riley, Bookcliff CC
  –68-69–137; Erin Galbreath, Glenwood Springs GC; Nancy Peterson, Glenwood Springs GC
  –68-70–138; Nondis Lowther, Rifle Creek GC; Betsey Frazier, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –83-73–156; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
  –79-78–157; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC; Diane Storlie, Buffalo Run GC
  Fourth Flight
  –64-64–128; Sandra Schnitzer, Murphy Creek GC; Bunny Ambrose, Meadow Hills GC
  –63-69–132; Debbie Childs, Lone Tree GC; Lisa Livermore, Lone Tree GC
  –70-67–137; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC; Sharon Mcveigh, Patty Jewett GC
  –69-68–137; Roben Deines, Buffalo Run GC; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC
  –66-74–140; Melissa Mcpherron, River Valley Ranch GC; Julie Warren, River Valley Ranch GC
  Fifth Flight
  –63-58–121; Susie Goldberg, Overland Park GC; Colleen Renner, Foothills GC
  –67-67–134; Caroline Wahlborg, Meadow Hills GC; Margaret Henry, Meadow Hills GC
  –70-65–135; Vivian Heggie, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Buffalo Run GC
  –67-69–136; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
  –65-76–141; Kathy Kluck, Broken Tee GC; Lynne Smith, Broken Tee GC