AURORA | Like the weather, the Grandview girls golf team’s fortunes changed fast and often Monday at the Class 5A Southern Regional tournament.
Playing on the same Meadow Hills Golf Course where they wrapped up the Centennial League championship a few days earlier, the Wolves slipped in and out of the lead before holding on for a four-stroke victory and an automatic berth in the May 22-23 5A state tournament at The Club at Rolling Hills.
Though none of the Grandview players would say they played their best — and a day where a fast-moving thunderstorm forced a brief half to the tournament — coach Mary Danielson’s team had enough to fend off Arvada West and Highlands Ranch for the team championship. In the process, the team of O’Donnell, Chitkoksoong, sophomore Morgan Ryan and senior Sharae Lewis earned the chance to defend the Wolves’ 5A state title from last season.
Eaglecrest finished eighth in the team standings, but had a pair of state qualifiers in Julia Shaver and Kamryn Crouthers, who shot 93 and 97, respectively.
O’Donnell kept Grandview in good position with her play early, as she birdied the third hole and finished just plus-three for her first nine holes. The back nine was a bit more challenging as she was plus-8, but her teammates started to get things going by then.
Chitkoksoong, the Centennial League champion who shot a 33 over nine holes at Meadow Hills in the final league tournament, had a rough opening stretch with seven consecutive bogies, then straightened up a bit on the back nine, though she was unable to find a birdie.
Ryan made par on her final six holes to help hold Grandview in the lead late.
Lewis’ 95 wasn’t needed in the team score, but she would have qualified individually as well.
Shaver played consistently until the final three holes, when she saw her score increase by seven strokes, however she still finished five strokes clear of a playoff that happened at 98 for the final spot.
Crouthers finished with a 97 that also just kept her out of a playoff that involved Broomfield’s Lauren Hirsch and Douglas County’s Lily Hanson.
Aurora Central had just two scores that counted, with Iris Ayala Mercado’s plus-69 leading the way.
Courtney Oakes is Aurora Sentinel Sports Editor. Reach him at 303-750-7555 or [email protected] Twitter: @aurorasports. FB: Aurora Prep Sentinel
2017 CLASS 5A SOUTHERN REGION GIRLS GOLF
May 8 at Meadow Hills G.C., Aurora
Team scores (par 210): 1. GRANDVIEW 247; 2. Arvada West 251; 3. Highlands Ranch 256; 4. Chaparral 271; 5. Douglas County 281; 6. Rampart 284; 7. Broomfield 292; 8. EAGLECREST 302; 9. Mountain Range 313; 10. Dakota Ridge 338; 11. Brighton 371; AURORA CENTRAL no score
Top 21 individuals (state qualifiers) (par 70): 1. Jenna Chun (Highlands Ranch) 76; 2. Reagan Robinson (Arvada West) 77; 3. Arielle Keating (Rampart) 79; 4. CAITLIN O’DONNELL (GRANDVIEW) 81; T5. AMY CHITKOKSOONG (GRANDVIEW) 82; T5. Katie Malcom (Chaparral) 82; 7. Miranda Schiffbauer (Arvada West) 83; T8. MORGAN RYAN (GRANDVIEW) 84; T8. Amanda Robert (Douglas County) 84; 10. Anna Roh (Broomfield) 86; 11. Danielle Miller (Chaparral) 89; T12. Izzy Ruiz (Highlands Ranch) 90; T12. Claire Hendee (Highlands Ranch) 90; 14. Kaiya Wahl (Arvada West) 91; T15. Julia Bossi (Mountain Range) 92; T15. Leigh Robinson (Arvada West) 92; 17. JULIA SHAVER (EAGLECREST) 93; 18. Haena Kim (Highlands Ranch) 94; 19. SHARAE LEWIS (GRANDVIEW) 95; 20. KAMRYN CROUTHERS (EAGLECREST) 97; 21. Lauren Hirsch (Broomfield) 98 (won in playoff)
1st alternate: Lily Hanson (Douglas County) 98 (lost in playoff); 2nd alternate: Lauryn Rivale (Douglas County) 99
Aurora team-by-team scores (in order of finish)
Grandview (247): Caitlin O’Donnell 81, Amy Chitkoksoong 82, Morgan Ryan 84, Sharae Lewis 95; Eaglecrest (302): Julia Shaver 93, Kamryn Crouthers 97, Mikayla Conaway 112, Rian Nelson 119; Aurora Central (NS): Iris Ayala Mercado 139, Jazmine Rodriguez 203
