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

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

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

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

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

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

 For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

The three “” Kim Eaton, Christie Austin and Lynn Zmistowski “” have combined to win this championship eight times since 2006, with Eaton capturing the title four times, and Austin and Zmistowski twice each.

The 36-hole tournament will feature 116 players competing in a variety of flights, with handicap indexes ranging from plus-1 for Eaton to 32.

Last year’s champion, Deb Hughes, isn’t entered as she’s competing in the Senior Women’s North & South Amateur Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. But the winners of every CWGA Senior Stroke Play from 2006 through ’14 are scheduled to tee it up. In addition to Eaton (winner in 2009, ’10, ’12 and ’13), Zmistowski (2006 and ’08) and Austin (2007 and ’14), 2011 champion Mary Doyen is entered. Only six-time champion Lynn Larson has won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play more than Eaton.

Eaton will be seeking her 24th CWGA championship overall as she’s pursuing the record of 25, set by Carol Flenniken. Eaton won the CWGA Senior Match Play title last month at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City.

For Monday’s first-round pairings, CLICK HERE.

Part of the idea behind the yearly rotation of sites for the girls and boys Junior America’s Cup tournaments is giving the competitors a sense of place, along with a wide variety of venues.

For instance, when the Girls Junior America’s Cup was held in Cheyenne last year, there was an unmistakable cowgirl theme. This past summer in Modesto, Calif., it was American Graffiti, given that the coming-of-age movie was supposed to be set in that city.

When the CWGA serves as the host association for the GJAC in 2018, obviously a Colorado-related theme will be in order. And not many courses scream “Colorado” more than Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, which will be the site of the GJAC in 2018 from July 23-26.

After all, Hiwan is set in the Rocky Mountains, features plenty of impressive local wildlife, and hosted the Colorado Open for the first 28 years of its existence. Hiwan has also been a hub of sorts for major junior events held in the state, having hosted the 1965 U.S. Girls’ Junior, the 1976 U.S. Junior Amateur, the 2006 AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions and the 2011 boys Junior America’s Cup.

Even though the GJAC event is more than a year and a half away, the CWGA is already gearing up for the 18-team tournament, which features many of the best female junior golfers from the western U.S., western Canada and Mexico.

“The more we talk to people who have hosted, the more energy and enthusiasm we get,” CWGA executive director Laura Robinson said recently. “We’re throwing a party for 72 of the best high school golfers west of the Mississippi, and we’re competing with others who have gone before us. We have to make it unique for Colorado, and we want it to be memorable.”

This will mark just the third time the Colorado has hosted a Girls Junior America’s Cup, with the previous two instances coming at Eisenhower Golf Club, in 1982 and 2000.

Among the CWGA’s responsibilities as a GJAC host are finding a host club, arranging for host families and rules officials and other volunteers, fundraising, organizing the opening and closing ceremonies, preparing fun activities and entertainment, purchasing gifts for participants, and general day-to-day tournament management.

The organizers for the 2014 event in Cheyenne have shared their GJAC playbook with the CWGA, which has been very helpful, according to Robinson. Now it’s a matter of putting the pieces in place and adding a distinctive Colorado touch to the proceedings.

“We look at it as very big deal,” said Robinson, herself a member at Hiwan. “People are thrilled it’s coming back, including some who have played in the event. It has a lot of visibility. The sense I’ve gotten is it’s like a reunion for a lot of women. If we do it right, it will be an opportunity to be a reunion for a lot of players and a chance to see the next generation. There’s a sense of continuity and history.”

Robinson plans to join Colorado GJAC captains Sue Elliott and Bunny Ambrose in Las Vegas this summer for the 2017 tournament, where a “hand-off ceremony” will take place and the Coloradans will receive flags from all 18 participating four-person teams.

In recent months, Robinson and other CWGA leaders have been making a point to remind other major players in the Colorado golf industry that the GJAC is coming to Colorado in 2018.

“What we’re doing right now is spreading word to the Colorado golf community,” Robinson said. “We know we want it to be a collaborative effort.”

A team representing the CWGA has competed in the Girls Junior America’s Cup since the late 1970s. The 1993 Colorado team (left) — Heather Stock, Jennifer Kern, Ann Grooms and Jennifer McCormick, along with captain Sally Lou Schultz — captured the team title in the prestigious event, with Kern earning the individual championship that year. And as recently as 2013, the Coloradans finished third in the team race.

(It should be noted that when Hiwan and the CGA hosted the boys Junior America’s Cup tournament in 2011, the Coloradans matched their best finish ever by placing third. Robinson served as a volunteer during that event.)

Some of the best girls players in Colorado history have competed for the CWGA in the Junior America’s Cup. That includes Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jill McGill, along with Jennifer Kupcho, Ashley Tait, Becca Huffer, Kelly Jacques, Hannah Wood, Somin Lee and Paige Spiranac.

Among the longest-serving non-playing captains for Colorado over the years have been Schultz (1990 through 2000), Lynn Zmistowski (the earliest captain, in the late 1970s and early ’80s), Georgene McGonagle (mid to late 1980s); and then-CWGA staffers LindaSue Chenoweth (starting in 2000) and Kim Nissen (2006 to 2011 and ’13).

Generally speaking, among the most prominent Girls Junior America’s Cup champions over the years have been impending World Golf Hall of Famer Lorena Ochoa from Mexico (a three-time winner), and fellow LPGA Tour veterans Brandie Burton, Pat Hurst and Dawn Coe-Jones, who recently passed away.

But to hear her tell it, that was about the furthest thing from the truth.

“I haven’t won this before — I’ve come in second once — but that’s a lot of pressure,” the player from Green Valley Ranch Golf Club said. “I was so distracted by how I stood and what I wanted to do — and then I’ve got to hit a shot. It’s very, very stressful.”

However it came about, Tuesday’s performance resulted in a lopsided victory. And not only that, but a career “senior slam” for Hughes in CWGA championships.

Two years after claiming the CWGA Senior Match Play title, Hughes posted her double-digit victory in the Senior Stroke Play. She shot a 5-over-par 79 on Tuesday, leaving her at 7-over 155 overall.

Hughes, who will turn 59 next week, becomes the sixth player to have won both the CWGA Senior Stroke Play and the Senior Match Play over their careers. She joins Lynn Larson, Mary Doyen and Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Christie Austin, Kim Eaton and Lynn Zmistowski.

“When I won the (Senior) Match Play, I wanted this so bad — too much, to be honest,” Hughes said. “I wanted to win both. My wife (Alex) and I, we’re not Buddhists, but in Buddhism you’re supposed to (let go) of expectations. That kind of helped me. But now that I have (the CWGA senior slam), my golf career is pretty awesomely set. It’s the source of immense pride for me.”

Colorado Golf Hall of Fame inductee Janet Moore trailed Hughes by three after the first round, but withdrew before round 2 due to back problems. So tying for second place in the championship flight on Tuesday, at 166, were Bev Hoffenberg of Columbine Country Club and Kathleen Johnson of The Ranch Country Club.

Though Hughes made two double bogeys on Tuesday, including three-putting from 1 foot on one hole, the rest of the round she was rock solid, posting a birdie, 13 pars and two bogeys. And she almost aced the 128-yard par-3 11th hole, where she made birdie, hitting an 8-iron to 6 inches.

For the 36-hole tournament, Hughes finished with six birdies.

All in all, it was a very satisfying end to a golf season in which she has played in an abundance of tournaments, including the recent U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur in Wellesley, Mass.

“I had a really (busy) year” on the golf course, Hughes said. “I was tired. To be honest when I came into the tournament, I was saying to a friend, ‘I just want this to be over. I want to rest, I want to sleep.’ So I get to rest now. And I feel so great about the win.”

Gross-score champions in the other flights of the Senior Stroke Play on Tuesday were: Pam Cortez of Coal Creek (165, first flight), Carol Key of the Country Club of Colorado (173, second flight), Marie Schriefer of South Suburban (177, third flight) and Connie Garcia of Fox Hollow (192, fourth flight).

For interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
 

CWGA Senior Stroke Play
At Par-74 Patty Jewett GC in Colorado Springs
GROSS

Championship Flight
Deb Hughes, Green Valley Ranch Wga 76-79–155
Beverly Hoffenberg, Columbine CC Lga 85-81–166
Kathleen Johnson, Ranch CC Lga 87-79–166
Ron Irons, Eisenhower Wga 86-81–167
Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC Wga 79-89–168
Louise Lyle, Patty Jewett Wgc 83-86–169
Carla Stearns, Wellshire Women 86-89–175
Betty Bullington, Eisenhower Wga 94-86–180
Patty Smogor, Saddle Rock Wga 98-85–183
Jane Ford, Hyland Hills Wga 96-92–188
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 79-WD–WD
 
First Flight
Pam Cortez, Coal Creek Wga 84-81–165
Patricia Swanson, West Woods Wga 88-82–170
Wendy Atkinson, Ranch CC Lga 85-86–171
Karen Leuschel, Riverdale Wga 88-84–172
Lisa Bolam, Highland Meadows GC 89-83–172
Maggie Brindley, Pinehurst CC Wga 90-82–172
Nancy Werkmeister, Foothills Wga 82-90–172
Janine Lowe, South Suburban Wga 85-88–173
Penny Mack, Patty Jewett Wgc 89-84–173
Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC Lga 93-81–174
Betsy White, Kissing Camels Lga 87-93–180
Karen Chase, Fox Hollow Lgc 99-82–181
Kay Geitner, Littleton Lgc 94-91–185
Peggy Puckett, Wellshire Wga 96-94–190
Dee Baker, Shining Mountain Wga 99-92–191
 
Second Flight
Carol Key, CC of Colorado Wga 84-89–173
Valerie Hunter, CC of Colorado Wga 87-87–174
Andrea Berry, Indian Peaks Wga 90-86–176
Becky O’Brien, Links Lga 90-86–176
Pat Dwyer, Patty Jewett GC 89-87–176
Karin Hathaway, Wellshire Women 92-87–179
Lea Croghan, Spring Valley Wga 92-89–181
Jennifer Tempas, Columbine CC Lga 92-90–182
Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels Lga 92-95–187
Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban Wga 96-92–188
Annette Sulzman, Aurora Hills Wga 93-97–190
Kim Kaiser, Foothills Wga 97-95–192
Donna Edelen, Riverdale Wga 94-103–197
Barbara Ingledue, Fox Hollow Lgc 99-99–198
Juliet Miner, Bear Dance Wga 98-100–198
Bobby Jackson, Willis Case Wga 97-WD–WD
 
Third Flight
Marie Schriefer, South Suburban Wga 85-92–177
Barbara DeGrand, Kissing Camels GC 96-82–178
Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 90-90–180
Becky Hammer, Kissing Camels Lga 96-89–185
Becky Finger, Riverdale Wga 95-92–187
Marilyn Swedenburg, Eisenhower Wga 93-95–188
Judy Maillis, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 95-94–189
Sharon Thiel, Riverdale Wga 98-91–189
Beverly Byer, Wellshire Wga 103-94–197
Denise Thornton, Eisenhower Wga 98-99–197
Jalinda Gieck, Patty Jewett Wgc 103-94–197
Amy Hicks, Spring Valley Wga 101-100–201
Connie Norkoli, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 107-94–201
Holly Schuetz, Meadow Hills Wga 106-96–202
Susan Elliott, Riverdale Wga 100-102–202
 
Fourth Flight
Connie Garcia, Fox Hollow Lgc 101-91–192
Cindy Ortega, Foothills Wga 101-92–193
Harlene Bowman, South Suburban Wga 99-97–196
Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC 103-98–201
Linda Schippers, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 105-100–205
Audrey McEwen, Coal Creek Wga 105-101–206
Ramona Conner, Murphy Creek Wga 107-99–206
Barbara Fagan, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 102-105–207
Virginia Newton, Aspen Wga 105-102–207
Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale Wga 104-105–209
Diane Dubose, Applewood Wga 105-104–209
Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale Wga 104-106–210
Cheri Wallace, Meadow Hills Wga 109-105–214
JoAnn Smith, Foothills Wga 103-111–214
Deanna Messerli, Riverdale Wga 105-112–217
Carol Peterson, Twin Peaks 115-122–237

NET
Championship Flight

Kathleen Johnson, Ranch CC Lga 80-72–152
Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC Wga 71-81–152
Ron Irons, Eisenhower Wga 79-74–153
Beverly Hoffenberg, Columbine CC Lga 79-75–154
Carla Stearns, Wellshire Women 76-79–155
Deb Hughes, Green Valley Ranch Wga 76-79–155
Louise Lyle, Patty Jewett Wgc 76-79–155
Betty Bullington, Eisenhower Wga 87-79–166
Patty Smogor, Saddle Rock Wga 91-78–169
Jane Ford, Hyland Hills Wga 88-84–172
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 79-WD–WD
 
First Flight
Pam Cortez, Coal Creek Wga 73-70–143
Karen Leuschel, Riverdale Wga 75-71–146
Janine Lowe, South Suburban Wga 72-75–147
Penny Mack, Patty Jewett Wgc 76-71–147
Wendy Atkinson, Ranch CC Lga 73-74–147
Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC Lga 80-68–148
Patricia Swanson, West Woods Wga 77-71–148
Maggie Brindley, Pinehurst CC Wga 79-71–150
Lisa Bolam, Highland Meadows GC 79-73–152
Nancy Werkmeister, Foothills Wga 72-80–152
Betsy White, Kissing Camels Lga 74-80–154
Karen Chase, Fox Hollow Lgc 88-71–159
Kay Geitner, Littleton Lgc 81-78–159
Peggy Puckett, Wellshire Wga 83-81–164
Dee Baker, Shining Mountain Wga 88-81–169
 
Second Flight
Carol Key, CC of Colorado Wga 69-74–143
Pat Dwyer, Patty Jewett GC 73-71–144
Becky O’Brien, Links Lga 75-71–146
Valerie Hunter, CC of Colorado Wga 73-73–146
Andrea Berry, Indian Peaks Wga 76-72–148
Karin Hathaway, Wellshire Women 77-72–149
Lea Croghan, Spring Valley Wga 77-74–151
Jennifer Tempas, Columbine CC Lga 78-76–154
Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels Lga 76-79–155
Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban Wga 81-77–158
Annette Sulzman, Aurora Hills Wga 78-82–160
Kim Kaiser, Foothills Wga 83-81–164
Donna Edelen, Riverdale Wga 78-87–165
Barbara Ingledue, Fox Hollow Lgc 83-83–166
Juliet Miner, Bear Dance Wga 84-86–170
Bobby Jackson, Willis Case Wga 83-WD–WD
 
Third Flight
Marie Schriefer, South Suburban Wga 68-75–143
Barbara DeGrand, Kissing Camels GC 79-65–144
Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 73-73–146
Becky Finger, Riverdale Wga 76-73–149
Becky Hammer, Kissing Camels Lga 79-72–151
Judy Maillis, Broken Tee Englewood Wga 77-76–153
Sharon Thiel, Riverdale Wga 80-73–153
Marilyn Swedenburg, Eisenhower Wga 76-78–154
Jalinda Gieck, Patty Jewett Wgc 84-75–159
Beverly Byer, Wellshire Wga 85-76–161
Connie Norkoli, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 88-75–163
Denise Thornton, Eisenhower Wga 81-82–163
Holly Schuetz, Meadow Hills Wga 87-77–164
Amy Hicks, Spring Valley Wga 83-82–165
Susan Elliott, Riverdale Wga 82-84–166
Sue Knutson, Coal Creek Wga DQ
 
Fourth Flight
Diane Dubose, Applewood Wga 72-71–143
Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC 74-69–143
Harlene Bowman, South Suburban Wga 75-73–148
Connie Garcia, Fox Hollow Lgc 80-70–150
Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale Wga 76-77–153
Cindy Ortega, Foothills Wga 81-72–153
Ramona Conner, Murphy Creek Wga 81-73–154
Audrey McEwen, Coal Creek Wga 80-76–156
Deanna Messerli, Riverdale Wga 75-82–157
Cheri Wallace, Meadow Hills Wga 81-77–158
Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale Wga 78-80–158
Barbara Fagan, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 79-82–161
Virginia Newton, Aspen Wga 83-80–163
JoAnn Smith, Foothills Wga 78-86–164
Linda Schippers, Heritage Eagle Bend Wga 85-80–165
Carol Peterson, Twin Peaks 83-90–173

Two other college golfers from Colorado, Anna Kennedy (Brigham Young University) and Jaylee Tait (Montana State) will meet in the other semi after two victories each on Tuesday. Kennedy was the 15th seed out of the 16 players who made the championship flight.

Kupcho, the U.S. Women’s Open qualifier from Wake Forest who shot 65 to earn medalist honors on Monday, scored 3-and-2 wins over both Taylor Dorans and Calli Ringsby on Tuesday. Vance, a former state high school champion who now plays for the University of Colorado, prevailed in a 19-hole quarterfinal over Kylee Sullivan to advance. (Kupcho and Vance are pictured together last week, with Kupcho at right.)

Tait prevailed 1 up in the quarters over former 5A state champ Mackenzie Cohen, while Kennedy posted a 7-and-5 win over Calli Gallacher.

In the quarterfinals of the senior championship flight, each of the top three seeds — all Colorado Golf Hall of Famers — won on Tuesday, including defending champion Lynn Zmistowski. Also advancing to Wednesday’s senior semifinals were top-seeded Kim Eaton, a two-time senior champ; 2007 senior winner Christie Austin, and 2014 senior champ Deb Hughes, the fifth seed.

Eaton will face Hughes and Zmistowski will take on Austin in the semis.

The title matches in the championship flight, the senior championship flight and the three handicap flights are all scheduled for Thursday. To see all the brackets, CLICK HERE.

The 2014 and ’15 CWGA Player of the Year played her last eight holes in 5 under par to land the top spot in the 16-player championship bracket. Kupcho (pictured), the Wake Forest freshman who finished sixth last month in the Women’s NCAA Finals, won the CWGA Match Play in 2014.

No other player finished at par or better on Monday. Mackenzie Cohen, the former 5A state high school champion who placed third in this year’s Women’s NCAA Division III Finals, and Sydney Gillespie each carded a 73 to share second place in the stroke-play qualifier. The match-play portion of the event will begin on Tuesday and both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals will be contested on that day.

In the senior championship flight, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton led the way Monday with a 2-over-par 74. Eaton, winner of the CWGA Match Play once and the Senior Match Play twice, overcame a triple-bogey on the 13th hole to earn senior medalist honors.

Next best in the senior flight Monday were two other Colorado Golf Hall of Famers, defending champion Lynn Zmistowski (77) and 2007 senior champ Christie Austin (79). CWGA board member Laurie Steenrod, a former winner in both the Match Play and Senior Match Play, earned the eighth and final spot in the senior championship bracket via a playoff with Suzy Leprino that lasted five holes. Steenrod will face Eaton in Tuesday’s quarterfinals.

While the 16-person championship flight and the eight-person senior championship flight will be played at scratch, there will also be three flights which compete while utlizing their handicaps.

The title matches in each division is scheduled for Thursday.

For the various match-play brackets, CLICK HERE.

Here are the scores from Monday’s stroke-play qualifying:

Championship Flight

Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround WGC 34-31–65

Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch Wga 38-35–73

Mackenzie Cohen, Inverness Lga 37-36–73

Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado WGA 38-36–74

Gillian Vance, CommonGround WGA 37-37–74

Klara Castillo, Kennedy Lga 38-38–76

Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 38-38–76

Janet Moore, Cherry Hills CC Wga 37-39–76

Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 38-38–76

Calli Gallacher, Cherry Hills CC Wga 36-41–77

Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek WGA 40-37–77

Delaney Elliott, CommonGround WGA 41-37–78

Courtney Ewing, Desert Hawk Pueblo West Wga 41-38–79

Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek Wga 38-41–79

Anna Kennedy, Denver CC Lga 39-40–79

Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga 42-37–79

Megan Vernon, Applewood Wga 43-40–83

Michelle Romano, Colorado Golf Club Wga 41-44–85

Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga 45-41–86

Mariah Ehrman, Heritage at Westmoor WGA 40-50–90

Joanna Ringsby, Denver CC Lga WD

Senior Championship Flight

Kim Eaton, Riverdale Wga 36-38–74

Lynn Zmistowski, Willis Case Wga 38-39–77

Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC Wga 37-42–79

Jennifer Hocking, Colorado Springs CC Lga 39-41–80

Deb Hughes, Green Valley Ranch Wga 40-40–80

Louise Lyle, Patty Jewett Wgc 41-40–81

Kelly Martin, Fox Hollow Lgc 38-43–81

Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock Wga 42-40–82

Suzy Leprino, Lakewood CC Wga 42-40–82

Kathy Malpass, Hiwan Wga 45-38–83

Katty Rothberg, Cherry Creek CC Wga 44-43–87

This year’s Match Play is set for Monday through Thurday (June 13-16) at Aurora Hills Golf Course.

Last year’s overall champion, Paige Spiranac, has since become a social media sensation, has appeared on the cover of Golf Digest and earlier this month won an event on the Cactus Tour. In her 35-hole 2015 title match against University of Colorado golfer Brittany Fan, the two players combined to make 22 birdies and were 15 under par. 

And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Lynn Zmistowski notched her fifth individual CWGA championship victory. Zmistowski trailed Kathy Malpass after 16 holes, but won the 17th and 18th for a 1-up win.

While Spiranac has since turned pro, Zmistowski will be back to defend her senior title, and Malpass will return as well. Zmistowski is also a two-time winner of the open division.

In the open division, the entrants include U.S. Women’s Open qualifier and two-time CWGA Player of the Year Jennifer Kupcho; Mackenzie Cohen, the former state high school champion who placed third in the NCAA Division III Finals; and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore. Kupcho claimed the title in 2014.

Among other entrants (open or senior division) are Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Kim Eaton (winner of the open division in 2004 and twice the senior division) and Christie Austin (2007 senior champ), along with former 5A state high school champs Gillian Vance, Calli Ringsby and Michelle Romano.

Championship and senior championship divisions will be the only ones played at scatch, and they will have a qualifying round on Monday (June 13). For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

While Lynn Zmistowski insists she never viewed herself as a volunteer in what she’s done for the game of golf, let it never be said that she was anything but dedicated to the task at hand when a duty was given to her.

Case in point: When she chaired the CWGA Course Rating Committee in the late 1970s and the early 1980s, the USGA created a “Slope” rating system in which golf courses would be rated according to their relative difficulty for players of varying ability. The CWGA and CGA were tasked to rate all of Colorado’s golf courses in accordance with the new Slope system.

In order to get the job done right — and consistently — Zmistowski felt she personally had to participate in every course rating the CWGA conducted. So over the course of less than five years, she played every hole of every golf course in Colorado at the time, giving her a distinction not many people can claim. The state had about 120 golf courses at that time, so that was no small feat.

“For consistency, I made it my mission to go on all the ratings,” Zmistowski said this week. “It was a lot of work, but a lot of fun. I’d play one week in Rangely, the next in Lamar. We had a great committee and always thought being on the committee was an honor. We loved being able to travel together and see the beautiful state of Colorado.

“I think you have to play the course to understand the course, and you have to understand the course to rate it. Colorado was a leader in the whole (Slope rating process). Most of the other states were looking to (the CWGA and CGA).”

It’s that dedication that earned Zmistowski a remarkable honor on Feb. 27 at the CWGA annual meeting — that of CWGA Volunteer of the Century.

With the CWGA leadership wanting some suspense for its centennial celebration at the annual meeting, Zmistowski didn’t find out she had received the award until the day of the event. She was competing in a couples club championship at her home course of Alta Mesa in Mesa, Ariz., that weekend, but had seen the program on the eve of the event. She noticed “Volunteer of the Century” by her name, “but I thought there must be a typo,” she said. But during the annual meeting, fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton texted Zmistowski the news.

“The shock was amazing,” said Zmistowski, who now splits her time between Colorado (Boulder specifically) and Arizona. “I said to my husband (Bill), ‘You’ll never believe this.’ It’s obviously an amazing honor. I never thought of myself as a volunteer. I viewed anything I did related to golf as a passion. It’s just a way to give back to the sport that has given me so much enjoyment.

“I never thought my name would come up under ‘volunteer.’ There are a lot of people who have been outstanding volunteers. I guess I just did it for more years. And I’ve enjoyed it.”

Zmistowski has been a golf volunteer for more than 40 years — ever since Joan Birkland called her in 1975 and asked her to join the CWGA’s Course Rating Committee. Birkland, a standout in both golf and tennis, is a longtime Colorado Sports Hall of Famer. For her part, Zmistowski is a member of the Colorado and Minnesota Golf Halls of Fame, and the Rochester (Minn.) Sports Hall of Fame.

Zmistowski’s volunteer duties have included 30 years on the CWGA Course Rating Committee, including five as chair; more than 25 years on the USGA handicap procedures committee, for which she received the Ike Grainger Award in 2009 (left); six years as the first captain of the Colorado Girls Junior Americas Cup team and working on the GJAC handbook. Zmistowski took her daughter, Kim, on all the Junior Americas Cup trips, and still remembers her doing cartwheels on the practice range.

As recently as last year, Zmistowski volunteered to answer handicap-related questions that the CWGA received. And for the last eight years or so, she’s served on the handicap procedures committee for the Arizona Women’s Golf Associaton and has been the handicap chair for Alta Mesa Golf Club and helps run a major women’s invitational at the course.

“I have all this knowledge and can be helpful to people,” Zmistowski explained. “I feel I can contribute.”

As CWGA Centennial Committee co-chair Nancy Wilson said of Zmistowski at the annual meeting, “It certainly shows her dedication to this organization and to the game of golf. … Lynn Z, as she is affectionately called, has performed each task that she accepted with focused dedication and is very deserving of the Volunteer of the Century award.”

But the Volunteer of the Century wasn’t the only honor Zmistowski was awarded at the CWGA annual meeting. She was also one of nine outstanding players in the history of the association, all of whom have won at least five major CWGA individual championships. Zmistowski, who earlier had claimed titles in two CWGA Match Plays and two Senior Stroke Plays, last year at age 70 earned the senior championship at the 100th CWGA Match Play. (Above, finalist Kathy Malpass congratulates the champion.) In all, Zmistowski has captured 15 individual state amateur titles in Minnesota, Colorado and Arizona.

Zmistowski was the only person to be included on both the CWGA’s “Notable Volunteers” of the century and the “Outstanding Players” of the century.

Overall, Lynn Z has many fond memories of her years in Colorado and volunteering for the CWGA. Here are a couple:

— On the first time she met former longtime CWGA executive director Robin Jervey, with a group at a Denver Nuggets game:

“I had laryngitis and could not say a word,” Zmistowski said. “Robin got the impression I was pretty quiet but once I got my voice back she said, ‘Lynn never shuts up.'”

— On meeting Birkland as the two squared off in the 1971 CWGA Match Play at Denver Country Club, where Zmistowski would go on to earn the title:

“After we teed off and were walking down the first fairway, Joanie said to me, ‘Well, Lynn, who are you and where did you come from?’ We proceeded to play the next 17 holes chatting so much that on the 17th green I said to Joanie, ‘How does our match stand?’ and Joanie said, ‘You’re 1 down.’ We have been very close friends ever since.”

Zmistowski, who considers Willis Case in Denver her home course in Colorado, calls the late Katie Fiorella, a fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and a longtime fixture at Willis Case, her best friend. Fiorella served on the CWGA Course Rating Committee for more than two decades.

“Katie loved every last thing there was to love in Colorado, and she passed that love to me,” Zmistowski said.

(Above, Zmistowski is pictured with Birkland, center, and Fiorella.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sometimes it takes a rookie to topple an undefeated champion.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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