As she accepted her glass trophy after winning the CWGA Brassie Championship for the fourth time, Janet Moore noted that the trick to winning team titles is “picking good partners.”

While the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer from Cherry Hills Country Club meant that as a compliment to her teammate this weekend — Metro State University of Denver golfer Allie Johnston — picking good partners certainly works both ways.

With Saturday’s victory at Spring Valley Golf Club in Elizabeth, Moore claimed her 19th CWGA championship. And while she’s best known for winning the CWGA Stroke Play a remarkable five times in the 1990s, also impressive is that she has 14 CWGA two-person team titles to her credit. Besides her four Brassie championships, she’s claimed seven wins in the CWGA Mashie, and three in the now-defunct CGA/CWGA Mixed Championship.

The bottom line is, a golfer could do a heck of a lot worse than partnering with Moore in a team event.

No doubt Johnston, a former CWGA Match Play champ, foresaw the possibilities because it was her idea to email Moore asking if she was available for the Brassie. (Moore missed last year’s tournament.) And with Moore’s longtime tournament partner and fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, Christie Austin, defending her Brassie title this year with University of Colorado golfer Tori Glenn, Moore took Johnston up on her offer. (The two are pictured above and at left.)

And, predictably, the top of the Brassie leaderboard had the names Janet Moore and Christie Austin right at or near the top, though this time not together. After having paired up for nine CWGA titles — six Mashies and three Brassies — these last two years each has won the Brassie with other partners.

“It does feel different but it’s fun,” said the 51-year-old Moore, who coached the Wheaton College women’s golf team in Illinois the last four seasons before departing in the spring. “I love playing with different people. But it is a little bit awkward just because (Christie and I) have played so many times together. But I love playing with Allie. It was so much fun and she hits such a nice ball and she’s such a great player.”

On Saturday, after outstanding rounds by both teams, Moore and Johnson prevailed by two over runners-up Austin and Glenn (left). With each team recording six best-ball birdies on the day, Moore and Johnston closed with a 5-under-par 67 in the four-ball stroke-play event, while Austin and Glenn carded a 66 — 10 strokes better than their first-round total.

“We had a good day and they had a good day,” said Austin, winner of five Brassies overall. “We just had too bad of a day yesterday.”

With Moore making four birdies en route to a 70 on her own ball Saturday and Johnston carding three birdies — including a 4-footer on No. 18 — they finished with a 4-under-par 140 total.

“It was fun. We had a great time,” said Johnston, who won her fourth CWGA title, having previously captured the 2011 Junior Stroke Play, 2012 Match Play and the 2012 Mashie with Claudia Davis.

Runners-up Austin and Glenn checked in at 142 on Saturday, with CU golfers Gillian Vance and Allie Zech, the first-round leaders, placing third at 143 after a 71 on Saturday.

For Johnston (left), she is starting to return to form after a tough couple of years health-wise. The Castle Rock resident said she was sick much of 2013 and didn’t compete in any tournaments. Then last year, she underwent gall bladder surgery, hernia surgery and foot surgery all within a period of about eight months.

But, as was the case in the 2012 Mashie, Johnston won the Brassie in her first time playing the event.

“It’s really impressive how she’s playing after being injured,” Moore said.

As for Austin and Glenn, they turned things around in a big way on Saturday after putting themselves behind the 8 ball with Friday’s 76. In round 2, Glenn made six birdies on her own ball, and Austin carded pars on the three holes Glenn was over par.

“(Tori) was a birdie machine,” Austin said. “And whenever she was in trouble, I made par. It was pretty easy today. We were happy to be in the hunt.”

Said Glenn: “It was fun. This tournament is always fun.”

For the scores from all seven flights, 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.

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.

Jennifer Kupcho won her first CWGA championship at the grand old age of 17.

It took her eight days to notch victory No. 2.

The senior-to-be at Jefferson Academy followed up last week’s CWGA Junior Stroke Play win with a title in one of the association’s most prestigious championships, claiming the top spot Thursday in the 99th CWGA Match Play at Lone Tree Golf Club.

That means that in the last 5 1/2 weeks, Kupcho has won the 4A state high school tournament and the two CWGA titles, qualifying for the U.S. Girls’ Junior in between for good measure.

“It’s exciting to accomplish all that,” said the Wake Forest recruit (pictured above and below). “Hopefully I can just keep going. It’s exciting to get it all done in one year.”

At 17 years old, Kupcho becomes one of the youngest champions in the history of the CWGA Match Play, which was first contested in 1916. Becca Huffer is believed to be the youngest Match Play champ, having won the 2005 championship at age 15. And now Kupcho and Huffer are the only players to have claimed the CWGA Match Play and the Junior Stroke Play titles in the same year.

Kupcho completed her trifecta with a 6-and-5 victory over University of Colorado golfer Tori Glenn in Thursday’s 36-hole title match. Kupcho, part of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course, won her last three matches at Lone Tree 4 and 3, 5 and 3, and 6 and 5.

“Jennifer is a solid player. I really respect her game,” said Glenn, a Castle Pines resident who placed fourth in the 2013 4A state high school meet as a Valor Christian senior. “She was making so many birdies, so it was kind of hard to compare with that.”

After shooting a 4-over-par 76 in the first 18 against Glenn (left), Kupcho made five birdies in the 13 holes of the second 18, standing 2 under par in that round when the match concluded. She closed things out with an 8-foot birdie on the par-3 13th that Glenn couldn’t match from slightly closer.

“This means a lot,” said Kupcho, the 2013 CWGA Junior Player of the Year. “Most of the people in the field were college players, and it’s exciting to get the opportunity to play against them.”

The Westminster resident won the first two holes of Thursday’s match with pars as Glenn started double bogey-bogey. But Glenn, a former gymnast who has only been playing golf for a little over three years, managed to cut the deficit to 1 down through 19 holes.

Kupcho responded with birdies on 2, 3, and 5 in the second round to give herself a cushion she wouldn’t relinquish.

“The second 18, to win the hole you had to birdie,” said the 19-year-old Glenn. “It was fun.”

And on the par-5 11th hole in the afternoon, even a birdie wasn’t enough as the players halved the hole with that score when Kupcho got up and down from the bunker (left) and Glenn drained a 15-foot putt.

Kupcho’s putter was much more cooperative during the final 18 than it was in the first round.

“I started making putts more in the afternoon, so I was able to make more birdies,” she said. “I didn’t really have confidence in the first 18. Once I got done with 18, I practiced putting and I got my confidence back.”

Even though Kupcho has won both CWGA championships she’s competed in in 2014, it sounds like she’s going to give her competitors a break for the remainder of the CWGA events in 2014. She’ll be in San Diego for the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships when the CWGA Junior Match Play is scheduled next month, and she’ll be in Flagstaff, Ariz., for the U.S. Girls’ Junior when the CWGA Stroke Play is contested.

CWGA Match Play Championship
At Lone Tree GC

Championship Final — Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC, def. Tori Glenn, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 6 and 5

Championship Flight Consolation Final — Mackenzie Cohen, Inverness GC, def. Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace GC, 1 up

For the Match Play Tree, CLICK HERE.

Apparently, Glenn herself is nowhere near satisfied with that.

The Valor Christian senior and University of Colorado women’s golf recruit not only advanced to state and is on the leaderboard, but she’s the outright leader after Monday’s first round of the meet at Broken Tee Golf Course.

Glenn shot a 2-over-par 74 in the rain and wind on Monday and grabbed a one-stroke advantage heading into Tuesday’s final round. She hit 17 greens in regulation and closed with a 1-under-par 35 on the back nine.

A former high-level gymnast, Glenn is one shot ahead of Taylor Dorans of Broomfield (pictured) and Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy heading into the final 18.

Glenn started playing golf as a sophomore, but just a year later she placed ninth at state. And now this year’s tournament is the future CU golfer’s to lose.

“You just keep on cutting strokes back and improving,” she said of her rapid progress in golf. “That’s all you can ask for in this game.”

It wasn’t long ago that Glenn had her sights set on a gymnastics scholarship at the University of Denver. But that was before she broke her right leg during her sophomore year at Valor Christian.

Just a few months after suffering the injury, she competed in golf at the junior varisty level — while wearing a cast on her leg.

“I was on one leg, hobbling around and hitting away,” she said. “When you love something it doesn’t matter what obstacle is in front of you. You’ll go for success no matter what.”

Glenn said she won “about” five high school tournaments this season and averaged 75. But after her 74 Monday, she thinks she’s capable of going even lower in Tuesday’s final round.

“I’m hoping I can go under tomorrow,” Glenn said. “I had three three-putts today; my distance control was off a lot. Tomorrow will be better. I’m excited.”

Likewise for the other contenders.

Dorans, a University of Wyoming golf signee, has finished fourth once and sixth twice in her previous trips to state. Kupcho, who placed third last year at state, had the lowest state-qualifying round this season — in either Class 4A or 5A — in firing a 67 at Fox Hollow in the 4A Metro-West Regional.

Dorans missed two putts inside of 4 feet in her first 10 holes, but finished strong, going 1 under in her last seven despite closing with a bogey.

“I feel really good,” she said. “I’m coming out here just playing for myself — having fun, enjoying it, because it’s my last high school tournament. I’m kind of just embracing it and doing what I can. I can’t control what the other girls are going to do, but as long as I play for myself, I’ll be happy.”

Meanwhile, Kupcho thinks if she gets her putting homed in, she’ll be in good shape on the final day.

“I hit everything good (on Monday), but I just couldn’t putt,” she said. “The first four holes I had 5-footers on every one and only made one.”

Cheyenne Mountain leads the 4A team competition by five strokes after Valor Christian’s Laura Cohan forgot a penalty stroke and signed for an incorrect score. Therefore, the team couldn’t use her total of 86 among its three best individual scores. Instead, it counted a 95. That dropped Valor from first to second place as it has a 253 total, compared to Cheyenne Mountain’s 248.

Cohan will be able to compete in Tuesday’s final round and her score can be used for VC’s second-day team total.

For 4A scores, CLICK HERE.

Cherry Creek’s Ringsby Leads 5A By Two in Grand Junction: Cherry Creek junior Calli Ringsby took a two-stroke lead at the halfway point of the 5A girls state tournament at Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction.

Ringsby, who swept the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play championships last year, fired a 1-over-par 73 on Monday. The junior, who made three birdies and four bogeys in the opening round, is seeking her first state high school title after placing second in 2011 and fourth last year.

Three players share second place at 75 heading into Tuesday’s final round. University of Colorado signee Claudia Davis of Arapahoe is tied for that spot with Jenni Chun of Highlands Ranch and Michelle Romero of Rock Canyon.

Defending champion Mackenzie Cohen of Cherry Creek opened with an 82 and shares 20th place.

Two-time defending 5A state champion Cherry Creek shot a 236 and leads the team competition by three over Arapahoe.

For 5A scores, CLICK HERE.