ENGLEWOOD | The greens at South Suburban Golf Course were fast during Tuesday Class 5A Metro-East Regional girls golf tournament, but they couldn’t keep five Aurora players from making the state tournament.
On a day where putting became a more frustrating proposition than usual, Grandview freshman Morgan Sahm grinded out a 2-over-par 74 in her first regional tournament to post the top score among Aurora players from six schools in the 11-team field.
Sahm finished third overall, two strokes off the pace of medalist Callie Ringsby of Cherry Creek, and led the group of city qualifiers that also included Regis Jesuit’s Sydney Gillespie, Sofia Vigil and Mary Weinstein, along with Eaglecrest’s Jamie Griffin.
The five will join Rangeview’s Julia Kim and Jasmine Trevizo — who qualified out of the 5A Metro-West Regional Monday — in the 5A state tournament May 20-21 at Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction.
Regis Jesuit won the 4A state championship last season and didn’t skip a beat as it made the move up to 5A this year.
Behind Gillespie’s 78, Vigil’s 81 and Weinstein’s 85, the Raiders finished fourth in the team standings and joined winner Arapahoe, runner-up Cherry Creek and third-place Heritage as teams with at least three state qualifiers.
Senior Lauren Richardson also has a chance to appear at state, as she is the first alternate.
Griffin had terrible luck with putts rimming out all day, but the Eaglecrest senior turned in an 84 that was good enough to put her in the state tournament for the fourth consecutive season.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
CLASS 5A METRO-EAST REGIONAL (at South Suburban G.C.)
Team scores: 1. Arapahoe 311; 2. Cherry Creek 312; 3. Heritage 326; 4. REGIS JESUIT 329; 5. Denver East 379; CHEROKEE TRAIL, EAGLECREST, GRANDVIEW, Littleton, OVERLAND, SMOKY HILL no score
State qualifiers: 1. Callie Ringsby (Cherry Creek) 72; 2. Hannah Wood (Arapahoe) 73; 3. MORGAN SAHM (GRANDVIEW) 74; 5. Claudia Davis (Arapahoe) 75; 5. Holly Schaefer (Arapahoe) 78; 6. Kaycee Villanueba (Heritage) 78; 7. SYDNEY GILLESPIE (REGIS JESUIT) 78; 8. Mackenzie Cohen (Cherry Creek) 79; 9. Dani Urman (Cherry Creek) 79; 10. Joanna Kempton (Heritage) 80; 11. SOFIA VIGIL (REGIS JESUIT) 81; 12. Margot Leibold (Cherry Creek) 82; 13. Jenn Kempton (Heritage) 83; 14. JAMIE GRIFFIN (EAGLECREST) 84; 15. Nikki Backman (Arapahoe) 85; 16. Delaney Benson (Heritage) 85; 17. MARY WEINSTEIN (REGIS JESUIT) 85; 1st alternate: LAUREN RICHARDSON (REGIS JESUIT) 85; 2nd alternate: EMILY JUNG (GRANDVIEW) 89
