Rachel Sweeney admits she’s never had a run of birdies quite like it, and not even two lightning delays could derail her on Wednesday.

Sweeney, from Lone Tree Golf Club, made four consecutive birdies on the front nine and six overall in 15 holes as she and teammate Megan McCambridge of Boulder Country Club made it look easy in knocking off the defending champions and claiming the title in the season-opening CWGA Mashie Championship at Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins.

The two college golfers — Sweeney from Lewis University in Illinois and McCambridge from Butler in Indiana — defeated Colorado-based University of Wyoming teammates Kathleen Kershisnik and Samantha Stancato, 5 and 3 in Wednesday’s championship-flight final to earn the top spot in the four-ball match play event.

“I was on a roll,” said Sweeney, an 18-year-old graduate of Mountain Vista High School. “I felt unstoppable. Everything was working.” During her run of consecutive birdies on holes 4 through 7, Sweeney hit approach shots within 10 feet every time.

Kershisnik, who was making her third consecutive appearance in the championship finals of the Mashie, chalked it up to just being one of those days.

“She was on fire today,” the golfer from Columbine Country Club said of Sweeney. “When you can’t get putts to drop and they’re making birdies, it just makes it tough to keep up with them.”

Sweeney and McCambridge (pictured above and at left, with McCambridge in purple) carded seven best-ball birdies in 15 holes, and a couple of times, both players had birdies on the same hole. “We were pin-seeking all day,” McCambridge said.

Sometimes, even when shots were mis-hit, they turned out great. Such was the case on the par-3 15th hole. McCambridge thinned her tee shot, but it bounced and rolled up to 4 feet from the pin. And after Kershisnik and Stancato failed to make par, the putt was conceded and the match was over. 

“I didn’t hit it very well but it ended up being one of those lucky bounces. It just worked out. I’ll take it,” said McCambridge, a product of Fairview High School.

Stancato and Kershisnik (pictured at left) said they played similarly to the two previous days — when they posted consecutive 5-and-4 victories — but they simply ran into a buzzsaw on Wednesday. Even after the second of two lightning delays, Sweeney and McCambridge didn’t cool off, making two birdies on their last three holes.

“We were hitting good shots into the greens but couldn’t make anything,” said Stancato, who plays out of Patty Jewett Golf Course. “It’s hard to come back when (an opponent) makes that many birdies. But we gave it our all.”

All in it, it was a stellar first appearance in the Mashie for Sweeney and McCambridge, especially considering McCambridge had never played Ptarmigan and Sweeney had never played Collindale before this week’s tournament at which both courses were used.

At the Mashie, Sweeney (left) and McCambridge defeated teams that included former Colorado State University women’s golf coach Susan Jennings, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and seven-time Mashie champion Janet Moore, and then the defending champs.

“The last few days we’ve been able to capitalize on mistakes others have made and just kind of get away with pars,” McCambridge said. “We went into today knowing we were going to need to make some birdies to make things happen — and we did.”

In all, 192 players competed in the CWGA Mashie, with the competition broken up into a dozen flights.

CWGA Mashie Championship
At Ptarmigan CC in Fort Collins
(Previous Rounds Played at Ptarmigan and Collindale GC)

Championship Flight Final — Rachel Sweeney (Lone Tree)/Megan McCambridge (Boulder CC) def. Kathleen Kershisnik (Columbine)/Samantha Stancato (Patty Jewett), 5 and 3

Championship Flight Consolation — Susan Jennings (Fox Hill)/Jessica Noffsinger (Greeley CC) def. Cathy Stypula/Lisa Lee, Boulder CC, 2 up

First Flight Championship — Beth Clippinger/Christine Gingrich, South Suburban, def. Kim Gosche/Sue Davis, Saddle Rock, 5 and 4

First Flight Consolation — Nina Dulacki/Jill Kirkpatrick, Broken Tee, def. Mary Doyen/Vicki Porter, Foothills, 3 and 2

Second Flight Championship — Karen Chase (Fox Hollow)/Kim Wells (Sunset) def. Debra Bolke/Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock, 2 and 1

Second Flight Consolation — Laura Wetzel/Karen Leuschel, Coal Creek def. Leslie Keith (Valley)/Laura Dunston (Blackstone), 2 and 1

Third Flight Championship — Nancy Wilson/Jan Carter, Indian Tree, def. Patty Smogor/Judy Maillis, Broken Tee, 3 and 2

Third Flight Consolation — Leanna Rosenow/Patricia Swanson, West Woods, def. Sue Knutson/Pam Cortez, Coal Creek, 3 and 1

Fourth Flight Championship — Lynda McManus/Caitlyn Olson, Highlands Hills, def. Kim Gould/Theresa Lange, Blackstone, 7 and 5

Fourth Flight Consolation — Darlene Evans/Becky Harkey, West Woods, def. Juliet Miner (Bear Dance)/Peggy Puckett (Wellshire), 2 and 1

Fifth Flight Championship — Lita Van Cleave/Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett, def. Norma Bisdorf/Marla Straw, Overland, 2 and 1

Fifth Flight Consolation — Diane Thompson/Regina Valis, Wellshire, def. Pat O’Connor/Irene Stein, Collindale, 2 and 1

Sixth Flight Championship — Katie Kinney (Eaton CC)/Irene Manion (Stone Canyon) def. Laura Fischer (Willis Case)/Dede Rushton (Broken Tee), 1 up

Sixth Flight Consolation — Christina Nelson/Ande Havenar, Ptarmigan, def. Claudia Gallegos (South Suburban)/Janice Campbell (Meadow Hills), 2 up

Seventh Flight Championship — Amber Leis/Meredith Nelson, Fox Hill, def. Mary Smith/Suzanne Elkins, Fox Hollow, 19 holes

Seventh Flight Consolation — Debbie Knoll/Ginny Morley, Ptarmigan, def. Anne Svec/Kris Van Bladeren, Hyland Hills, 2 up

Eighth Flight Championship — Janet Cott (Fox Hollow)/Cheryl Burget (South Suburban) def. Barb Dearing (Links)/Cathy Quesnell (Red Hawk Ridge), 1 up

Eighth Flight Consolation — Kathy Diehl (Broken Tee)/Cindy Ortega (Foothills) def. Gail Bilotta (Blackstone)/Anne Mursch (Black Bear), 1 up

Ninth Flight Championship — Ann Gruidel (Lake Valley)/Marsha Swoboda (Coal Creek) def. Vera Garrett/Bev Nalls, Meadow Hills, 3 and 1

Ninth Flight Consolation — Marilyn Hollman/Cheryl Miller, Riverdale, def. Jeanette Paone/Judy Plock, Overland, 2 and 1

Tenth Flight Championship — Audrey McEwen/Susan Wagner, Coal Creek, def. Nancy Peters/Sammy Scoma, Hyland Hills, 3 and 2

Tenth Flight Consolation — Karen Leake (Eagle Vail)/Sally Lou Schultz (Meeker) def. Roben Deines (Murphy Creek)/Susan Elliott (Riverdale), 4 and 3

Eleventh Flight Championship — Denise Bassett/Billie Dahlbach, Plum Creek, def. Lori Maul/Carolyn Bachamp, Sunset, 2 up

Eleventh Flight Consolation — Marcia Hall/Susie Goldberg, Overland, def. Jo-El Freyer (Denver CC)/Jan Lee Heath (Spreading Antlers), 2 up
    

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