There was a time, not so long ago, that arguably the biggest name in women’s amateur golf worldwide was Kimberly Kim.

After all, she was — and still is — the youngest winner in the history of the U.S. Women’s Amateur (14 in 2006). And three other times, she finished runner-up in USGA championships — twice in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and once in the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

And after her one — and, as it turned out, only — season as a University of Denver golfer, she qualified at The Broadmoor and made her pro debut at the 2010 U.S. Women’s Open. Then in the fall of that year, she earned her LPGA Tour card in her first time trying as a pro. But after competing on the top women’s tour in the world, the Hawaii native lost her card at the end of 2011.

Ever since then, it’s been an uphill battle for Kim (pictured above) to live up to the extremely high standard she set for herself as a teenager.

“At first it was (difficult),” she said Wednesday after completing the first round of the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. “But I think I was playing bad for so long that now I don’t really worry about it. Now I’m just trying to build up.”

Earlier this month, Kim missed out on her chance to earn an LPGA Tour card for 2016 after failing to advance out of stage I of qualifying. But on Wednesday, she showed some positive signs in shooting a 2-under-par 70 at GVR and sharing third place after the opening round of the 21st Colorado Women’s Open.

Karinn Dickinson of Scottsdale, Ariz., a former University of Washington golfer, made six birdies and fired a 5-under-par 67 to grab the day 1 lead. Allison Emrey of Charlotte, N.C., a former Wake Forest golfer who recently turned pro, stands in solo second place at 69. 

A total of 10 players broke par on Wednesday, with Kim being one of them despite bogeying her final two holes.

“I was playing really solid at the start,” said the just-turned 24-year-old, who lived in Pueblo for a time before moving back to Hawaii. “I was hitting it really well. On the back (nine), I think I was thinking of my score too much so I screwed up at the end.

“This course is tough. It’s kind of tight and the greens are rolling really fast, which is good. But it’s set up tough.”

This is Kim’s second time playing the Colorado Women’s Open. She placed 38th two years ago. But Wednesday marked the best of her four competitive rounds at GVR as she carded five birdies and three bogeys.

“I’m starting to play better overall,” she said. “I was injured at the beginning of the year (broken right hand) so maybe the break helped me.”

Meanwhile, considering the record three-day scoring total for a Colorado Women’s Open at GVR is 7 under par (Becca Huffer in 2013), Dickinson (left) is certainly off to a good start with her 5-under 67.

“I went in with the mindset of no expectations — just to have fun,” said the 26-year-old, who played in the 2013 U.S. Women’s Open. “I haven’t been playing great lately, so it’s great to finally put a good round together. Everything just came into place today. These greens here are fast, they’re good, and they can be tricky. But I felt like I stayed patient and calm and let the game come to me.”

Dickinson has status on the Symetra Tour, but has played on that circuit just twice this year. She helps in the golf shop at Troon Country Club in Scottsdale, and plays in state opens and Cactus Tour events, but is skipping Q-school this year.

“I really haven’t been dialed in with my game as much I’d like this year, so I kind of took time off to regroup, go back to the drawing board and make a new plan,” she said.

Despite missing the cut in her only previous Colorado Women’s Open appearance, Dickinson called the CWO “probably my favorite tournament of the year.”

Kupchos Hosting Emrey, Who Shoots 69: Last year, amateur Jennifer Kupcho from Westminster finished second at the Colorado Women’s Open and ran away with low-amateur honors.

Kupcho, who recently advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur, isn’t back this year as she’s already headed to Wake Forest to prepare for her first season as a college golfer. But her parents, Mike and Janet, were still at Green Valley Ranch on Wednesday as they’re serving as a host family for competitor Allison Emrey (left), who wrapped up her college career at Wake Forest in the spring.

And, coincidentally, Emrey sits in second place after Wednesday, having shot a 3-under-par 69 with Mike Kupcho caddying for her.

The Kupchos met Emrey at the Women’s Western National Amateur earlier this summer and suggested she look into competing at the CWO. Emrey turned pro in July and has since advanced to stage 2 of LPGA Tour qualifying. The Colorado Women’s Open is her fourth event as a pro.

“I have a great caddie,” said Emrey, who made five birdies and two bogeys on the day. “There’s a few challenging holes (at GVR), but Mr. Kupcho helped me out a little bit as far as where to hit it — a good plan and a safe plan. If you can navigate around the course and take the best odds, you’re going to play well out here.”

Notable: The top Coloradan on the scoreboard after Wednesday’s first round is Symetra Tour player Ashley Tait of Littleton, who posted a 2-under-par 70 and shares third place. The 2008 CWGA Stroke Play champion made three birdies and one bogey on the day. … Rachel Sweeney of Highlands Ranch, who teamed with Megan McCambridge to win the 2014 CWGA Mashie Championship, leads the amateur standings after round 1, in which she shot a 1-under-par 71. Sweeney plays college golf at Lewis University in Illinois. … The field will be cut to the low 44 players and ties after Thursday’s second round of the 54-hole tournament, which concludes on Friday. … Two Coloradans who have won the Colorado Women’s Open in the last decade, Becca Huffer (2013) and Erin Houtsma (2005), struggled considerably in round 1. Huffer carded an 82 and Houtsma an 81.

For scores from the Colorado Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.

Tori Glenn picked up in the first CWGA championship of 2015 where she left off in one of the last of 2014.

Which is to say she won it.

The 20-year-old from the Ridge at Castle Pines North paired up with University of Colorado teammate Megan Haase of Flatirons Golf Course to defeat defending champions Rachel Sweeney of Lone Tree Golf Club and Megan McCambridge of Boulder Country Club 2 and 1 in Wednesday’s championship-flight final of the CWGA Mashie at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. (The champions are pictured at left and below.)

It was the second straight year that the defending champs have lost in the finals as Sweeney and McCambridge beat 2013 winners Kathleen Kershisnik and Samantha Stancato last spring.

For Glenn, Wednesday marked her second victory in a CWGA four-ball event in the last 10 months. Last August, she teamed up with Christie Austin to capture the title in the CWGA Brassie, which features a four-ball stroke-play format.

And this week, Glenn proved equally adept at four-ball match play.

“For me, (these team tournaments) are a way to ease yourself into more competitive events where a lot of college players play,” she said. “And they’re just more fun. It’s good to have fun.”

This was a final full of notable nuggets. For the second straight year, the CWGA Mashie title match featured four college players. And this time around, each team included a Megan. And three of the four finals competitors work together on the player-services staff at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield (Glenn, Haase and McCambridge).

Glenn, the 2014 CWGA Match Play runner-up, made a birdie on the first hole to give her team a lead it would never relinquish. Haase parred No. 2 to go 2 up, and they were 3 up after four holes.

“It was real fun,” said Haase, a 21-year-old grew up in Spokane, Wash. “Both of us played pretty well — and we played well together.

“We were always at least 1 up so that was a nice little comfort zone. But even being there, it was a little nerve-wracking.”

On the other side, McCambridge and Sweeney (left) were left playing catch-up all day long.

“We were confident the whole time we could get back up, but we couldn’t get putts to fall,” said McCambridge, a junior to-be at Butler University in Indiana. “We’d win one hole, then halve several in a row. We were never able to get back to an all-square or 1-up position that we’re accustomed to.”

Despite Sweeney being the longest hitter in the finals, she and McCambridge can point to the par-5s as significant in their downfall on Wednesday. Two of the three holes in which neither made a birdie or better were par-5s, and both resulted in lost holes. Overall, Sweeney and McCambridge were a combined 6 over par on the par-5s.

“That was a big issue,” said Sweeney, a junior-to-be at Lewis University in Illinois. “Usually I can reach par-5s in two or at least get close. Off the tee, I didn’t really set myself up for a good look.”

After being 1 up at the turn, Glenn and Haase (left) expanded their lead with a best-ball par on the par-5 13th as Sweeney had a lost ball and McCambridge left her approach in a bunker, and both bogeyed.

On No. 17, Sweeney almost extended the match as a 40-foot birdie attempt just missed. But a 3-foot par putt by Haase closed things out.

“Overall, they both played well and we didn’t quite have enough to take care of business out there,” McCambridge said.

Haase credited Glenn with steady play throughout the week that kept the two Buffs advancing.

“Tori played really solid. I owe a lot to her,” Haase said. “I definitely struggled the first day. I got better the second day. And I got a lot better today. Tori helped me out and was encouraging. If she knows something (that will help), she’ll tell me. That just built my confidence up.”

CWGA Mashie Championship
At Black Bear GC and Heritage Eagle Bend

  Championship Flight Final — Tori Glenn/Megan Haase def. Rachel Sweeney/Megan McCambridge, 2 and 1.
  Championship Flight Consolation Final — Lisa Lee/Cathy Stypula def. Susan Jennings/Jessica Noffsinger, 1 up.
  First Flight Final — Carol Henderson/Carla Stearns def. Theresa Lange/Ruth Van Zee, 3 and 1.
  First Flight Consolation Final — Denise Cohen/Vicki Warren def. Brenda Cook/Lynn Larson, 3 and 2
  Second Flight Final — LeAnna Rosenow/Patricia Swanson def. Mary Doyen/Vicki Porter, 1 up.
  Second Flight Consolation Final — Melis Ward/Karen Williams def. Stephanie Stewart/Cheryl Wilkinson, 3 and 2.
  Third Flight Final — Kim Gosche/Heidi Horner def. Cindy Lantz/Corrina Ruttkar, 19 holes.
  Third Flight Consolation Final — Susan Schell/Cindy Speer def. Kelli Gopsill/Janine Lowe, 2 up.
  Fourth Flight Final — Lori Gude/Paulette Jerpe def. Kay Geitner/Marie Schriefer, 3 and 2.
  Fourth Flight Consolation Final — Chris Jansen/Janis Ward def. Juliet Miner/Peggy Puckett, 3 and 2.
  Fifth Flight Final — Debbie Childs/Ellen Thomas def. Norma Bisdorf/Marla Straw, 6 and 5.
  Fifth Flight Consolation Final — Deborah Beckman/Rebecca Howard def. Lyndon Lieb/Judy Maillis, 3 and 2.
  Sixth Flight Final –Bonnie Catalano/Karen Moore def. Patti Godette/Kristi Samuelson, 3 and 1.
  Sixth Flight Consolation Final — Anne Svec/Kris Van Bladeren def. Amy Ennis/Karen Leuschel, 1 up.
  Seventh Flight Final — Linda Loveland/Linda Powell def. Dede Rushton/Laura Fischer, 6 and 5.
  Seventh Flight Consolation Final — Amber Leis/Meredith Nelson def. Pam Godfrey/Julie Workman, 2 and 1.
  Eighth Flight Final — Cheryl Burget/Janet Cott def. Suzanne Elkins/Mary Smith, 3 and 1.
  Eighth Flight Consolation Final — Jaki Berry/Dee Riedel def. Gail Bilotta/Anne Mursch, 5 and 4.
  Ninth Flight Final — Claudia Svarstad/Rochelle Tisdale def. Barbara Bostwick/Linda Brown-Stiller, 3 and 2.
  Ninth Flight Consolation Final — Carol Casteel/Ronda Palsulich def. Mari Johnson/Pamela Schmidt, 3 and 2.
  10th Flight Final — Sharon Colon/Cathy Reith def. Roben Deines/Susan Elliott, 2 up.
  10th Flight Consolation Final — Maree Albright/Joyce Craig def. Audrey McEwen/Susan Wagner, 4 and 3.
  11th Flight Final — Jan Place/Linda Schippers def. Donna Jones/Patricia Moore, 4 and 3.
  11th Flight Consolation Final — Thelma Benefiel/Jan Squires def. Denise Bassett/Billie Dahlbach, 3 and 1.

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