Loeffler, a three-time winner of the Colorado Open and the 1986 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, has the distinction of having competed in the Colorado Cup in every decade it’s been held — the 1970s, ’80s, ’90s, 2000s and the 2010s.

Furthermore, he’s played multiple times for both the amateur and the professional sides. And he can still distinctly remember competing for the amateur team in the 1978 Cup, when he beat Warren Smith, the much-revered Cherry Hills Country Club head professional. One of Loeffler’s amater teammates that year was Steve Jones, who would go on to win the 1996 U.S. Open.

“As an amateur I always thought, ‘God, if we could just beat these professionals,'” Loeffler said Wednesday. “And now as a professional, it’s like, ‘We can’t let these amateurs win; we’re supposed to be the professionals. We’re supposed to be the cream of the crop.'”

And so it goes in the annual competition, the 44th of which was held Wednesday at the Golf Club at Bear Dance in Larkspur. It’s always been a friendly matchup, but make no mistake about it: each side wants to win.

“It’s all fun, but when you get out there, it’s like, you don’t want to lose either,” said four-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Keith Humerickhouse, the men’s amateur open division captain. “It’s that competitiveness that we all love. Camaraderie is awesome, (but) ultimately you want to win. I don’t care who you are.”

On Wednesday, the Cup matches ended up in a split decision. The men’s amateurs won the open division for the first time in four years. The professionals prevailed in the senior division for the eighth time in nine years. And the amateur women defeated the pros for the 10th time in as many tries.

The CGA amateurs edged their Colorado PGA counterparts 10-8 in the open competition after the completion of four-ball and singles matches. That makes the all-time series 30-12 in the professionals’ favor, with two ties.

With Loeffler going 2-0 on the day, the host Colorado PGA continued to dominate the men’s senior division, prevailing this time by a 13.5-4.5 count. That evens up the all-time senior series 15-15, with two ties.

And the CWGA representatives (pictured above) kept intact their run of perfection in the Colorado Cup, winning 7-2 on Wednesday.

“This is my first time in it, so I didn’t really know what to expect coming in,” said amateur Kathleen Kershisnik, who was under par in winning both her singles and four-ball matches. “But I definitely knew it would be awesome to beat them. I didn’t know we were completely undefeated (all time in the women’s competition), so that’s nice. It probably would have pushed me to do better if I knew that beforehand. I kind of like the pressure. But I’m glad we did (win) it. It’s just a fun event.”

While the men’s senior and women’s division were somewhat lopsided affairs, the men’s open division was close enough that only four of the 24 players involved won both of their matches: amateurs John Ahern and Dylan Mitchell, and professionals Rob Hunt and Eric Bradley.

Humerickhouse rallied late in his singles match with Tray Shehee to square things going into the final hole. But, showing that there’s plenty of sportsmanship to go around in the event, both players agreed to halve their match after they had put their second shots side by side just off the green on the par-5 eighth hole, their last of the day.

“We turned to each other and he said, ‘halve?’ and I said, ‘100 percent I’ll take a halve,'” said Humerickhouse, a former professional who was playing in the Colorado Cup for the first time. “It was awesome. We both were thinking the same thing. That was a perfect ending. On the tee I said, ‘Let’s both make eagle and be done with it.’ And it turns out that’s what happened in a roundabout way.”

And then there was Kershisnik, who made four birdies on the first five holes of her 6-and-5 singles victory over Katie Milstead.

“I played very well and I got the putter going,” said Kershisnik, a University of Wyoming golfer. “When I started out that second match really hot, (Milstead) was giving me a little bit of grief and saying she’s too old for this. It was fun.”

In all, 60 players competed in the event at Bear Dance.

Colorado Cup Matches
At GC at Bear Dance in Larkspur
(Note: P indicates professional, A indicates amateur)

WOMEN’S DIVISION
FINAL SCORE: CWGA 7, CPGA 2

Four-Ball: CWGA 2, CPGA 1
Christie Austin/Tori Glenn, A, def. Sherry Andonian-Smith/Leslie Core Dravecky, 3 and 2
Deb Hughes/Kathleen Kershisnik, A, def. Katie Milstead/Courtney Rudolph, 3 and 2
Holly Shupe/Kimmy Bean, P, def. Kathy Malpass/Samantha Stancato, 2 and 1

Singles: CWGA 5, CPGA 1
Deb Hughes, A, def. Kimmy Bean, default
Kathleen Kershisnik, A, def. Katie Milstead, 6 and 5
Samantha Stancato, A, def. Sherry Andonian-Smith, 7 and 6
Kathy Malpass, A, def. Leslie Core-Dravecky, 7 and 6
Courtney Rudolph, P, def. Christie Austin, 4 and 3
Tori Glenn, A, def. Holly Shupe, 7 and 6

MEN’S OPEN DIVISION
FINAL SCORE: CGA 10, Colorado PGA 8

Four-Ball: CPGA 3, CGA 3
Geoff Keffer/Blake Sharamitaro, P, def. Andrew Cornella/Minkyu Jeon, 6 and 5
Keith Humerickhouse/Alex Kephart, A, def. Dan O’Shaughnessy/Tray Shehee, 5 and 4
Micah Rudosky/Eric Bradley, P, def. Barry Erwin/Jack Adolfson, 2 up
Michael Harrington/Dylan Mitchell, A, def. Shawn Wills/Jeff Carlson, 2 and 1
Rob Hunt/Andrew Hedrick., P, def. Lamar Carlile/Ethan Freeman, 1 up
David Oraee/John Ahern, A, def. Caine Fitzgerald/Travis Morton, 1 up

Singles: CGA 7, CPGA 5
Andrew Cornella, A, def. Andrew Hedrick, 5 and 4
Rob Hunt, P, def. Michael Harrington, 4 and 3
Caine Fitzgerald, P, def. Minkyu Jeon, 4 and 3
John Ahern, A, def. Travis Morton, 3 and 2
Dan O’Shaughnessy, P, def. Alex Kephart, 2 and 1
Keith Humerickhouse, A, halved with Tray Shehee
Jack Adolfson, A, def. Jeff Carlson, 2 up
Lamar Carlile, A, def. Shawn Wills, 3 and 1
Ethan Freeman, A, def. Geoff Keffer, 4 and 3
David Oraee, A, halved with Blake Sharamitaro
Dylan Mitchell, A, def. Micah Rudosky, 2 and 1
Eric Bradley, P, def. Barry Erwin, 1 up

MEN’S SENIOR DIVISION
FINAL SCORE: Colorado PGA 13.5, CGA 4.5

Four-Ball: CPGA 5.5, CGA 0.5
Rick Ellefson/Zane Zwemke, P, def. Guy Mertz/Mike Larson, 4 and 3
Bill Loeffler/Paul Lobato, P, def. Eric Hoos/Frank Wilkinson, 2 and 1
Bob McNamee/Perry Holmes, P, def. Dave Brown/Pat Bowe, 2 and 1Mike Northern/Doug Rohrbaugh, P, def. Harry Johnson/Sean Forey, 2 and 1
Rick Cole/Craig Stephens, P, def. Thomas Roos/Bob Chandler, 2 and 1
Kelly Crone/Art Cudworth, A, halved with David Arbuckle/Gregg Jones

Singles: CPGA 8, CGA 4
Bill Loeffler, P, def. Eric Hoos, 6 and 5
Paul Lobato, P, def. Dave Brown, 4 and 3
Bob McNamee, P, def. Frank Wilkinson, 2 and 1
Mike Larson, A, def. Rick Ellefson, 4 and 3
Thomas Roos, A, def. Craig Stephens, 4 and 3
Rick Cole, P, def. Art Cudworth, 4 and 3
Zane Zwemke, P, def. Pat Bowe, 2 and 1
Guy Mertz, A, def. Gregg Jones, 3 and 2
David Arbuckle, P, def. Kelly Crone, 3 and 2
Mike Northern, P, def. Bob Chandler, 5 and 3
Sean Forey, A, def. Perry Holmes, 3 and 2
Doug Rohrbaugh, P, def. Harry Johnson, 3 and 2

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
 

The 16-year-old from Denver Country Club is certainly finishing the summer tournament schedule on a high note. On Thursday, she won the CWGA Junior Match Play Championship, becoming just the third golfer since 2000 to sweep the association’s Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play titles in the same year.

In addition, Ringsby has been chosen by the USGA to represent the U.S. in the USA-China Youth Golf Match that will be played Aug. 23 and 24 in San Martin, Calif. Only four girls and four boys — all 16 or under — are selected for each side, so it’s no small honor. All the players are members of Leadership Links, which promotes service and volunteerism among junior golfers, and they are all leading candidates for the USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award.

The competition will include four foursomes matches, four four-ball matches and eight singles matches. The U.S. team prevailed in the inaugural matches, held in 2008 in China.

“It’ll be a great experience,” said Ringsby, who will miss the first week of her junior year at Cherry Creek High School because of the event. “Anytime you’re part of an American team, it’s a big honor to represent your country.”

But on Thursday, the first order of business was the final of the CWGA Junior Match Play at Wellshire Golf Course in Denver. With the title on the line, Ringsby (pictured above) defeated Sydney Merchant of Red Rocks Country Club 3 and 2.

Coming on the heels of her CWGA Junior Stroke Play victory in late June, Ringsby joins Somin Lee (2009) and Kelly Jacques (2002) as the only golfers in the new millennium to sweep the CWGA’s Junior Stroke and Junior Match in the same year.

“I’m pretty excited, with this being my second CWGA junior (title of the year),” Ringsby said. “After I won Stroke it was on my mind, but in match play you don’t have as much control as you do in stroke play.”

Now, Ringsby said, it’s a goal to join Lee and Wendy Werley as the only players to have won both junior titles plus the CWGA Stroke Play and Match Play in their careers.

In Thursday’s match, Ringsby never trailed. She and Merchant were tied after seven holes, but Ringsby won five of the next six and held on for a relatively easy victory.

The championship flight consolation final went much longer as University of Wyoming-bound Kathleen Kershisnik of Columbine Country Club overcame Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course in 21 holes. Kershisnik drained a 25-foot birdie putt to end the match.

CWGA Junior Match Play Championship
Wellshire GC in Denver
 
Championship Flight
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC def. Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC 3 and 2
 
Championship Flight Consolation
Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC def. Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC 21 holes
 
First Flight
Dani Urman, Meridian GC def. Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch GC 2 up
 
First Flight Consolation
Jordan Sunset, Boulder CC def. Michelle Romano, Colorado GC 1 up
 
Second Flight
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek GC def. Emma Johnson, CommonGround GC 3 and 2
 
Second Flight Consolation
Nayoun Kim, South Suburban Family Sports def. Katherine Kemp, The Broadmoor GC 3 and 1
 
Third Flight
Kelsey Petersen, Mariana Butte GC def Mary Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch GC 4 and 2
 
Third Flight Consolation
Jennifer Hankins, Thorncreek GC def. Jennifer Kempton, Lone Tree GC Forfeit
 
Fourth Flight
Zarena Brown, Lake Arbor GC def. Michelle Nakayama, Patty Jewett GC 4 and 3
 
Fourth Flight Consolation
Chase Piper, Cherry Hills CC def. Madison Tenney, CommonGround GC Forfeit
 

It took 6 1/2 hours and 25 holes, but Allie Johnston and Claudia Davis gained their first lead in the title match of the CWGA Mashie Championship at about 3:45 p.m. on Wednesday at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club in Aurora.

That coincided exactly with the time when the teenagers became champions of the four-ball match play competition, the CWGA’s first championship of the year.

Davis, a senior-to-be at Arapahoe High School, made a 3-foot birdie — draining her third consecutive pivotal putt — to give herself and Johnston a marathon 25-hole victory in their final against two other teenagers, Kathleen Kershisnik of Columbine Country Club and Patricia Lee of Lone Tree Golf Club.

“I still kind of feel like we should be playing,” said Johnston, a Rock Canyon High School graduate who plays out of Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course. “It was really fun. Mostly I think we were all just wanting to finish and eat.”

Davis (pictured above at left with Johnston), winner of the 2011 CJGA Tournament of Champions, waited until the end to make her major contributions. She made a 10-foot par putt on the 23rd hole to extend the match, holed a 35-foot birdie from behind the green on the 24th hole that Kershisnik matched with a 20-foot birdie of her own, then stuck her tee shot on the decisive 164-yard par-3 seventh hole 3 feet from the flag and won it with another birdie.

“I kind of lost my tempo and my swing for a few holes, but when it really counted, I felt like I stepped up and contributed and helped my teammate,” said the 17-year-old Davis. “It was just exhilarating to make the putt that you know counted to push it to the next hole.”

Kershisnik and Lee (pictured at left), who will play college golf at Wyoming and Georgetown, respectively, could have ended it on the 18th hole, but Lee left a 3-foot par putt short and the match was extended. It was one of several short putts that cost the team as Kershisnik missed a 2-footer on No. 9 and a 4 1/2-footer on No. 14.

But on the extra holes, both teams flourished on the greens. On No. 2, Johnston made a 15-foot birdie and Lee put a 7-footer right on top of her. On No. 4, Lee kept the match going with a 5-foot par. On 5, Davis drained her crucial 10-footer for par. And on 6, both Davis and Kershisnik made bombs. Then Davis closed it out with her 3-foot birdie on No. 7.

“I’m a little frustrated because it was kind of all for nothing in the end,” said Lee, a graduate of Highlands Ranch High School. “We both made crucial putts. We didn’t give any shots away so that’s a bonus, but we lost so that sucks.

“It could have been over a long time ago, but we didn’t give up, so that was good. (Davis) hit a really good shot on 7.”

While a 25-hole match is unusual, Kershisnik played one almost as long last year in the CWGA Junior Match Play, falling in 24 holes to Mikayla Tatman in the quarterfinals.

“All four of us played really well (on Wednesday), but obviously it’s not nice to be on our end,” said Kershisnik, who finished second in a playoff last month at the 4A state high school meet as a Regis Jesuit senior. “We got a few putts rolling (at the end), but it was a little frustrating because we had them around the hole a lot , but we couldn’t get them to fall” earlier in the match.

It was the second CWGA championship for Johnston, who earned CWGA Junior Player of the Year honors in 2011 after dominating the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, winning an AJGA event and qualifying for two USGA championships. The 18-year-old, runner-up in the 2012 5A state tournament, will be playing her college golf at Texas-San Antonio.

Davis, meanwhile, won an CWGA title for the first time. And it was a championship match she won’t soon forget — one in which the biggest lead for either team was 1-up.

“That was crazy,” the golfer from Glenmoor Country Club said. “It was a lot of fun. We really fought. I feel like it was equal. Both teams were trying really hard to just make that one extra shot count.

“I honestly didn’t know when it was going to end. (The scene on the 25th hole is pictured at left.) I thought we might play another 18 out there.”

In the end, Johnston and Davis prevailed in the championship flight of an event that featured 200 players and 13 flights overall. The championship flight included three players who are in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame — Kim Eaton, Janet Moore and Lynn Zmistowski.

“I felt like there’s a lot of great players here, and to have two (teams) of juniors fighting for first place is really special,” Davis said. “I’m proud of myself and my teammate.”

CWGA Mashie Championship
At Heritage Eagle Bend GC in Aurora

Championship Flight
Allie Johnston, Red Hawk Ridge GC and Claudia Davis, Glenmoor CC def.Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC and Patricia Lee, Lone Tree GC, 25 holes
  
Championship Flight Consolation
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC and Sarah Moore, Cherry Hills CC def.Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC and Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC, 2 and 1

First Flight
Vickie Brown, Broken Tee GC def. Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee Englewood def Ruth Van Zee, Canongate Colorado GC and Jessi McVay, Commonground GC, 2 and 1
  
First Flight Consolation
Kim Gosche, CommonGround GC and Sue Davis, Saddle Rock GC def. Danielle Atkinson, The Pinery CC and  Robyn Asbury, The Pinery CC, 3 and 2
  
Second Flight
Brenda Cook, The Links GC and Marie Driessen, Pinery CC def.Debra Bolke, Saddle Rock GC and Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock GC, 1 up
 
Second Flight Consolation
Marti Alter-Cudlip, Denver CC and Beth Hudson, Meridian GC def Mary Jo Deming, Lakewood CC and Sheryl Larsen, Lakewood CC, 2 and 1
 
Third Flight
Karen Leuschel, Coal Creek GC and Laura Wetzel, Coal Creek GC def. Jenny Elliott, Broken Tee GC and Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee GC, 1 up
 
Third Flight Consolation
Jeanine Wasielewski, West Woods GC and Darlene Evans, West Woods GC def. Leanna Rosenow, West Woods GC and Patricia Swanson, West Woods GC, 2 and 1
 
Fourth Flight 
Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC and Chris Leger, GC at Heather Ridge def. Debra Shultz, Saddle Rock GC and Mary Repetto, Broken Tee GC, 5 and 4

Fourth Flight Consolation
Krista Overstreet, Glenmoor CC and Jennifer Jacobsen, Glenmoor CC def. Vicki Porter, Commonground GC and Amy Tomlinson, CommonGround GC, 2 and 1
 
Fifth Flight
Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels and Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels def. Cindy Lantz, CC at Castle Pines and Sharee Merullo, Castle Pines CC, 3 and 2
 
Fifth Flight Consolation 
Patti Godette, Red Hawk Ridge GC and Juliet Miner, Bear Dance GC def Sharon Berglund, The Pinery CC and Barbara Davis, Pinery CC, 3 and 2

Sixth Flight
Theresa Lange, Canongate Colorado GC and Kim Gould, Saddle Rock GC def Jane Anhold, Lakewood CC and Barbara Mcgrath, Lakewood CC, 5 and 4

Sixth Flight Consolation
Jeanette Ali, CC at Castle Pines and Linda Sinsar, CC at Castle Pines def. Jane Anhold, Lakewood CC and Barbara Mcgrath, Lakewood CC, 1 up

Seventh Flight
Debbie Childs, Lone Tree GC and Ellen Thomas, Canongate at Blackstone def. Pat O’Connor, Collindale GC and Irene Stein, Collindale GC, 3 and 2
 
Seventh Flight Consolation
Karen Bergert, West Woods GC and Mary Smith, Fox Hollow GC def. Patricia Cahill, Patty Jewett GC and Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC, 2 and 1

Eighth Flight
Laura Laux, Applewood GC and Joann Smith, Foothills GC def. Kimberlee Powelson, Valley CC and Carol Kishiyama, Valley CC, 1 up
 
Eighth Flight Consolation
Doris Hug, Heritage Eagle Bend GC and Connie Norkoli, Heritage Eagle Bend GC def. Paula Maes, Pradera GC and Billie Dahlbach, Plum Creek GC, 8 and 7

Ninth Flight
Barb Dearing, The Links GC and Cathy Quesnell, Red Hawk Ridge GC def. Nancy Peters, The Courses at Hyland Hills and Marlene Drew, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 23 holes
 
Ninth Flight Consolation
Dolly Moreno, Broken Tee GC and Jo Honeyman, Overland Park GC def. Jane Videtich, The Links GC and Karen Hendrickson, The Links GC, 20 holes

Tenth Flight
Anne Svec, The Courses at Hyland Hills and Kris Van Bladeren, The Courses at Hyland Hills def. Pat Latta, The Courses at Hyland Hills and Laura Fischer, Willis Case GC, 4 and 3

Tenth Flight Consolation
Linda Brown-Stiller, Broken Tee GC and Cathleen Ryland, Broadlands GC def. Sandra Schnitzer, Murphy Creek GC and Bunny Ambrose, Meadow Hills GC, 2 and 1
 
Eleventh Flight
Jan Squires, West Woods GC and Jaki Berry, West Woods GC def. Marilyn Hollman, Buffalo Run GC and Cheryl Miller, Riverdale GC, 5 and 4
 
Eleventh Flight Consolation
Roben Deines, Buffalo Run GC and Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC def. Jan Shoemaker, Twin Peaks GC and Sharla Gambrell, Sunset GC, 3 and 1
 
Twelfth Flight
Marcia Hall, Overland Park GC and Susie Goldberg, Overland Park GC def. Pamela Ortell, Heritage Eagle Bend GC and Debby Wishmier, Heritage Eagle Bend GC, 20 holes

Twelfth Flight Consolation
Phyllis Finlay, Eagle Vail GC and Marilyn Everett, Heritage Eagle Bend GC def. Jo-El Freyer, Denver CC and Jan Lee Heath, Spreading Antlers GC, 2 up
 

Nine golfers who finished in the top 10 at last year’s girls 5A state high school tournament had to take a back seat Tuesday to a player who didn’t crack the top 30 in 2011.

Cherry Creek junior Mackenzie Cohen, who shot 93 in the first round of the 5A state tourney last spring, posted a score 26 strokes better in the final round of this year’s meet en route to an improbable victory Tuesday at Aurora Hills Golf Course.

Cohen (pictured at left), who’s been the No. 3 or 4 player for the Bruins most of the season, fired a 5-under-par 67 Tuesday to earn by far the biggest victory of her career. Her final round included seven birdies in a span of nine holes as she shot the best score of her life — by seven strokes.

‘”It was fun,” the 17-year-old said. “I love playing like that. I just like being out there.”

Cohen’s 3-under-par 141 total gave her a one-shot victory over Rock Canyon senior Allie Johnston, the CWGA Junior Player of the Year in 2011. Johnston also closed with a 67. Arapahoe sophomore Hannah Wood placed third at 143.

The top 10 was filled with many of the same players as last year. In fact, seven golfers who made the top 10 in 2011 did so again on Tuesday. But they couldn’t keep up with Cohen, who finished 33rd at state a year ago.

Asked if she came into the tournament with any expectations of winning, Cohen said, “No, no. I have not played very well at state before so that’s by far the best I’ve ever done.”

Talk about a meteoric rise.

The middle of Cohen’s round set her apart from the pack. In the nine-hole stretch starting on No. 5, she made seven birdies and two pars, sinking many a long putt in the process. Then to keep her momentum going, she drained a 15-foot par save on No. 15.

“I felt good,” said Cohen, who also led Cherry Creek to the team title. “I usually play pretty relaxed. I was just making a lot of putts I guess. … I was just playing how I usually play and it seemed to be working.

“It didn’t really hit me until the 15th or 16th hole. I tried to stay calm and keep playing my game.”

Cohen said she didn’t come close to winning any invitational tournaments this season, but she certainly picked the right time to have her career round.

“I’ve been working pretty hard” on my game, she said. “I’ve worked on my short game a lot. That was my biggest weakness, and (the work) paid off today.”

Johnston (pictured at left), competing in her final high school tournament before moving on to play college golf at Texas-San Antonio, made quite a surge of her own. She posted seven birdies Tuesday, but a missed 3-foot par putt on No. 15 proved costly.

“I was trying to birdie every hole,” she said matter-of-factly. “I figured eventually that would probably get me to a good number.

“I did my best and I was happy I was beat and didn’t just give it away or anything. It feels good still. That was my best score ever (67). I can’t be upset with it.”

This is the second runner-up finish for Johnston in the state high school tournament. She also placed second in 2010, in Class 4A.

Cohen and Johnston led a torrid scoring day for several of the leaders. Four scores in the 60s were posted on Friday, with Cherry Creek’s Calli Ringsby (68 for a share of fourth place) and Highlands Ranch’s Patricia Lee (69 for fourth place) joining in the fun.

One player who may look back on Tuesday with some “what ifs” in her mind is first-round co-leader Shannon Lubar of Chatfield. She finished tied for fourth place, three out of the top spot, but she four-putted twice in the final round. Especially painful was a four-putt from 4 feet that resulted in a triple bogey on No. 6.

With an impressive 9-under-par total of 207 for its top three players on Tuesday, Cherry Creek won its second consecutive state team title — and record ninth overall in girls golf. Creek’s 3-under 429 total was 14 strokes better than 2010 champion Arapahoe. Fairview (461) was third.

Schroeder Rallies to Earn 4A Title in a Playoff: Senior Bryce Schroeder of Pueblo South, the runner-up in the 4A state tournament last year, moved up to the top spot in 2012 on Tuesday with her come-from-behind victory at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley.

After tying Regis Jesuit’s Kathleen Kershisnik in regulation with a 65-foot birdie putt on No. 18 that left her at 3-under-par 143, Schroeder claimed the title with a birdie on the second playoff hole. Schroeder will play college golf at Wichita State.

The University of Wyoming-bound Kershisnik — who has finished second twice at state and third and fourth once each — bogeyed three of the last five holes in regulation to end up in the playoff. She shot a 73 on Tuesday, while Schroeder carded a 71. Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy (71-144) took third place.

In the team race, Regis won its second 4A state title in the last three years. Its 454 total was 13 strokes better than defending champion Pueblo South.

For scores, CLICK HERE FOR 5A and CLICK HERE FOR 4A.
 

For some high school seniors, the end of the school year brings days jammed full of important events.

Take the case of Rock Canyon senior Allie Johnston. On Monday morning, here were the two things on the agenda for the 2011 CWGA Junior Player of the Year: high school graduation ceremonies and the first day of the state tournament.

Most student-athletes wouldn’t want to miss either event, and despite a tight time frame, Johnston didn’t. After “walking” at commencement at Shea Stadium in Highlands Ranch, she shot a 3-over-par 75 at the 5A state high school tournament and trails co-leaders Shannon Lubar of Chatfield (pictured above) and Hannah Wood of Arapahoe (pictured below) by four strokes.

Johnston, the 2011 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champion, received some cooperation from Rock Canyon school administrators — who moved the start time of graduation from 11 a.m. to 8:30 — and from the CWGA, which accommodated roughly 10 graduation-related requests on Monday.

“I got to school at 7, I walked, exited out the side and came here,” Johnston said. “Graduation started at 8:30 and they had me walk first which was pretty funny because it went ‘Johnston,’ then started with the A’s. They just had me walk, then just keep walking straight out.

“I wanted to be there, and it was cool to be there.”

Though Johnston admits her “mind was not in golf mode,” the future Texas-San Antonio golfer is still in contention for the 5A title — as are quite a few players.

Wood and Lubar were the only two golfers to break par on Monday, firing 1-under-par 71s. Legacy sophomore Sarah Hankins carded an even-par 72. In all, there are 14 players packed from 4 over par to 1 under, including defending champion SeungHa Choi of Overland.

Wood picked a very good time to tie the best round of her young golf career, which left her atop the leaderboard at the halfway point of the 36-hole event.

“This is pretty good,” she said despite a couple of three-putts. “I’m trying to go low but it’s kind of hard.”

Wood has been on a nice roll the last few days. On Sunday, she won a CJGA Spring Series tournament at CommonGround and Kennedy golf courses by three strokes. And she carried that strong play over to Aurora Hills, where she posted four birdies and three bogeys. And she capped off Monday’s round with a 20-foot birdie chip-in on No. 18.

So Wood will be in the final group Tuesday (10:27 a.m.) along with Lubar and Hankins. Coincidentally, she was in the lead group for the final round at state last year, but she doesn’t want a repeat of that performance as she shot a final-day 87 to tie for 10th place.

“I’m kind of nervous,” she said. “It’s kind of nerve-wracking, but I know my game is pretty good. I’ve just got to work on my putting. I might have trouble sleeping tonight.”

Lubar is certainly no stranger to pressure situations on the golf course. A year ago, the University of Denver golf signee qualified and competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

On Monday, the Chatfield golfer moved a step closer to her longtime goal of winning a state high school title by recording three birdies and two bogeys in her round of 71.

“It would mean everything (to win this),” said Lubar, who placed seventh at state last year. “I’ve wanted to win state since I was in seventh grade. I’ve always been working toward it. If I don’t, it’s not the end of the world but it’s something I’d really like to do.

“If I beat the course I beat the girls so I’m going to keep focusing on myself and beat the course.”

In the team competition, 2010 champion Arapahoe holds a two-stroke lead over defending champ Cherry Creek. Arapahoe posted a 4-over-par 220 total for its top three players.

Regis’ Kershisnik Fires 70 to Lead 4A Tourney: Regis Jesuit senior Kathleen Kershisnik, who has finished second, third and fourth in her three previous trips to the state tournament, shot a 3-under-par 70 Monday at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley to grab a two-stroke lead in the 4A state meet.

Kershisnik made seven birdies in her round on Thursday.

Pueblo South’s Bryce Schroeder, the 2011 runner-up, shares second place at 72 with Broomfield’s Taylor Dorans, who placed sixth at state each of the last two seasons. Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy is in fourth place at 73.

Regis, which finished third at state last year, holds a 14-stroke lead over Valor Christian at the halfway point of the team competition. Regis posted a 6-over-par 225 total.

Both the 4A and 5A tournament will conclude on Tuesday.

For scores and pairings, CLICK HERE FOR 5A and CLICK HERE FOR 4A.
 

All of the top five finishers at state in 2011 — and nine of the top 11 — will be in the field when this year’s 5A championship is contested Monday and Tuesday (May 21-22) at Aurora Hills Golf Course.

Meanwhile, the 4A state tournament will feature six of the top 10 finishers from a year ago. The 4A meet will be played at Boomerang Golf Links in Greeley, also Monday and Tuesday.

Senior SeungHa Choi of Overland will defend her 5A title, but the 2011 CWGA Junior Match Play champion figures to face a formidable challenge at Aurora Hills. After all, the top five finishers at state last year were separated by only three strokes.

Also in the field this time is 2011 CWGA Junior Player of the Year Allie Johnston (pictured) of Rock Canyon. Johnston is coming off a stellar year in which she won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play by eight shots, captured an AJGA title in Texas, placed second in the prestigious Mary Cave Cup and qualified for two USGA championships.

Another contender figures to be Shinwoo Lee of Cherry Creek, who’s finished second or third in three previous 5A state tournaments. Meanwhile, Patricia Lee of Highlands Ranch has been a 5A runner-up the last two years.

Calli Ringsby of Cherry Creek could also challenge for the title after finishing tied for second last year and later placing second in the CWGA Stroke Play Championship as a 15-year-old.

Other returning players from the top 10 in the 2011 5A state meet are Shannon Lubar of Chatfield (seventh), Claudia Davis of Arapahoe (ninth) and Hannah Wood of Arapahoe and Taylor Buck of ThunderRidge (tied for 10th).

Several of those players have signed to play Division I college golf, with Johnston headed to Texas-San Antonio, Patricia Lee to Georgetown and Lubar to the University of Denver.

Cherry Creek and Arapahoe, who have finished 1-2 in the last two 5A state meets (with each winning a title), figure to be the teams to beat again.

In Class 4A at Boomerang, the field features two players who have been regulars in the top five at the state tournament in recent years.

Bryce Schroeder of Pueblo South was the 4A runner-up last year and finished fifth in 2010. And Regis’ Kathleen Kershisnik placed second in 2009, third in 2010 and fourth last year. Schroeder will play college golf at Wichita State and Kershisnik at Wyoming.

Other returning top-10 finishers from 4A state in 2011 are Taylor Dorans of Broomfield (sixth each of the last two years), Shannon Spinuzzi of Pueblo South (sixth), Katherine Kemp of Cheyenne Mountain (ninth) and Alex Briggs of Broomfield (10th).

Pueblo South, Broomfield and Regis, who finished a close 1-2-3 in the team race last year, likely will battle it out again next week.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE for 5A, and CLICK HERE for 4A.