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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A qualifying tournament for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur on Monday at Cherry Hills Country Club proved restorative for more than one player in the field.

For instance, former Greeley resident and University of Denver golfer Kelly Schaub demonstrated she still has some golf mojo despite the fact that she hadn’t played a competitive round of golf in a non-team event in almost four years. The three-time CWGA Player of the Year, who now lives in Scottdale, Ariz., not only qualified for the Mid-Am, but finished fourth in the 36-player tournament with a 6-over-par 78.

The qualifying field was “very competitive, so I’m very surprised,” said Schaub, who estimates she’s played a total of just 20 rounds of golf over the last four years since getting into the real-estate business.

Then there’s Kay Daniel (pictured) of Covington, La., who came within a stroke of her all-time best tournament score Monday despite not having played any golf at altitude until last week.

“This is one of my better (competitive rounds),” the 42-year-old orthodontist said. “I’ve been playing really good this summer, better than I have in the last 10 years. There haven’t been many years I’d step out on a golf course and expect to shoot par or under, and I really feel like I can do that now. It’s a confidence thing.”

Daniel earned medalist honors Monday with a 2-under-par 70, which was five strokes better than the nearest competition. She was joined at Cherry Hills by 10 other qualifiers for the Mid-Am, which is scheduled for Oct. 5-10 in Asheville, N.C.

Also advancing were Stacey Arnold of Westminster (75), Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Village (77), Schaub (78), Shannon Lutynski of Lakewood (79), Linda Jeffery of Abilene, Texas (79), Maren Scoggins of Nashville, Tenn. (80), Kareen Markle of Meridian, Idaho (83), Krista Morgan of Breckenridge (84), Samantha Bartron of Boulder (84), and Meg Christensen of Houston (85).

Markle and Christensen also qualified in Colorado last year for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Am.

All of the top finishers Monday are veterans of USGA championships, having competed in an estimated 10 or more.

Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, has made it to the round of 32 at the Mid-Am each of the last two years. And given that Monday’s qualifying tournament was held at her home course, it was no surprise that she easily punched her ticket to the national tournament for players 25 and older.

Moore, 49, made a special trip back to Colorado to compete in the qualifier as she coaches the women’s golf team at Wheaton College in Illinois, and the squad had already begun practice and qualifiers for the upcoming season.

In fact, because of a scheduling conflict with the Mid-Am and her team’s conference championship, Moore isn’t sure she’ll compete in the USGA event.

“I’m going to see how our team does this year, and if our team is doing really well and has a chance to win conference, I might make a decision before then not to go to the Mid-Am,” Moore said. “It’s my daughter (Sarah’s) senior year, so I’d like to be there if I could. If we’re not playing as well, then I might try to slip out Friday night (Oct. 4 before the final round of the conference meet) and play Saturday (Oct. 5 in the Mid-Am).”

If Moore does end up playing in North Carolina, she’s proven in the last couple of years that she can make a little noise.

“I’d like to do well,” she said. “I always look forward to the Mid-Am and I always like to do well in it. Someday I’d like to do really well.”

On Monday, Moore recorded three birdies at Cherry Hills — where she and husband Kent have been members for more than two decades — en route to her 77.

“To play your home course, I think you’re a lot more relaxed,” she said. “It’s just an advantage that way.”

While Daniel, a former Louisiana women’s amateur champion, set the standard Monday, Arnold was the low Coloradan with her 75.

“I haven’t been playing very much, so it was a good round for me for sure,” said Arnold, who estimates she’s made match play in USGA championships all but once or twice on her national trips.

The 44-year-old Arnold played college golf at the University of Iowa, was the Women’s Big Ten Golfer of the Year in 1991 and was inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 2003. Arnold said this will be her fourth U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

Schaub, a 33-year-old former golf professional, estimates she’s competed in more than 15 USGA championships, including the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open. There have also been a U.S. Girls’ Junior, along with multiple U.S. Publinks, USGA State Teams, U.S. Women’s Amateurs and U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateurs.

But it took some urging from her mom to get her to try to qualify on Monday.

“I was sitting at home and she said, ‘I think you should play,'” Schaub recalled. “I’m like, ‘Really?’ She said, ‘It’s time for you to play. I would like to see you play and get back and caddie. That was the main reason — she wanted to caddie because we used to be the duo together. So I signed up and she caddied.”

Monday’s round started out a little choppy as Schaub shot a 7-over-par 42 on the first nine. But she played the back in 1 under to easily qualify.

“I was nervous going in, then kind of got in a groove,” she said. “And I was nervous again at the end. But being back in the competitive spirit is fun. It took me four years to get back here, but now I’m ready to keep on going.”

U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Cherry Hills CC in Cherry Hills Village

QUALIFIED
Kay Daniel, Covington, La. 34-36–70

Stacey Arnold, Westminster, Colo. 36-39–75
Janet Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 39-38–77
Kelly Schaub, Greeley, Colo. 42-36–78
Shannon Lutynski, Lakewood, Colo. 40-39–79
Linda Jeffery, Abilene, Texas 37-42–79
Maren Scoggins, Nashville, Tenn. 41-39–80
Kareen Markle, Meridian, Idaho 42-41–83
Krista Morgan, Breckenridge, Colo. 42-42–84
Samantha Bartron, Boulder, Colo. 38-46–84
Meg Christensen, Houston, Texas 44-41–85

ALTERNATES (In order)
Christie Austin, Cherry Hills Village, Colo- 42-44-86
Suzanne Smith, Breckenridge, Colo. 40-46–86

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Carly McNaughton, Canada 42-44–86
Karen Hale, Boynton Beach, Fla. 42-45–87
Cindy Pallatino, Scottsdale, Ariz. 46-42–88
Laurie Steenrod, Aurora, Colo. 45-44–89
Debbie Blount, Atlanta, Ga. 44-45–89
Jill Gaschler, Denver, Colo. 45-45–90
Janet Yoder, Elbert, Colo. 42-48–90
Holly Schmitt, Centennial, Colo. 45-45–90
Rochelle Brotsky, Windsor, Colo. 44-46–90
Sheila Schroeder, Englewood, Colo. 44-47–91
Beverly Hoffenberg, Pueblo, Colo. 46-46–92
Lisa Stone, Aurora, Colo. 42-51–93
Lori Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. 46-48–94
Catherine Stypula, Boulder, Colo. 45-51–96
Vickie Brown, Aurora, Colo. 48-48–96
Katty Rothberg, Denver, Colo. 47-49–96
Ampi Diaz, Mexico 45-51–96
Tricia Manley, Denver, Colo. 47-49–96
Sheryl Larsen, Denver, Colo. 47-50–97
Blair Fraser, Bouler, Colo. 48-49–97
Patty Smogor, Centennial, Colo. 49-50–99
Sally Lawrence, Englewood, Colo. 47-52–99
Tonya Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 45-54–99
 

Simply join forces.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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