AURORA | Seung Ha Choi roared from a deficit to win last season’s Class 5A girls golf state championship, but a slow start prevented the Overland senior from repeating Tuesday.
On a day of blistering golf shot at par-72 Aurora Hills Golf Course — which included two rounds of 5-under-par 67, a 68 and a 69 — Choi’s 71 put her in a tie for seventh place individually, leading the way for the six city players in the field.
Choi finished with a two-day total of 145, four strokes off the pace set by her final round playing partner, Mackenzie Cohen of Cherry Creek. Cohen dropped seven strokes from her first round, making seven birdies in a stretch of nine holes at one point, to win the tournament by one stroke over Rock Canyon’s Allie Johnston and two over Arapahoe’s Hannah Wood.
The team of Cohen, Callie Ringsby, Shinwoo Lee and Dani Urman was a staggering 9-under par on the day and 3-under 429 for the two-day tournament, cruising past Centennial League rival Arapahoe (443) and third-place Fairview (461).
Eaglecrest’s Jamie Griffin had the next-best score among Aurora golfers, shaving three strokes off her first round total for a 5-over 77 on Tuesday. The Raptors’ junior had trouble sinking putts all tournament, but had her best career finish in three trips to the state tournament, tying for 18th overall.
Four young Aurora players made their state debuts: Overland sophomore Soleil Worthy came in 58th with a two-day total of 182, while Rangeview teammates Julia Kim (199) and Danae Bushman (211) were 72nd and 80th, respectively. Gateway freshman Malorie Williamson rounded out the city contingent in 83rd.
NOTES: Aurora Central High School hosted the tournament, led by athletic director Nate Smith and golf coach Larry Taylor. The last time the Trojans hosted the state tournament, it was also at Aurora Hills back when Lee Rosa was the school’s athletic director. Rosa was one of the two honorary starters for the tournament along with Aurora Public Schools Athletic Director Tony Antolini. …The 5A state tournament is scheduled for Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction in 2013 according to CHSAA’s Tom Robinson.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
2012 CLASS 5A GIRLS STATE GOLF TOURNAMENT
At Aurora Hills Golf Course, May 21-22
Team scores: 1. Cherry Creek 222-207 — 429; 2. Arapahoe 220-223 — 443; 3. Fairview 240-221 — 461; 4. Highlands Ranch 243-230 — 473; 5. Rock Canyon 248-235 — 483; 6. Legacy 250-243 — 493; 7. Heritage 257-239 — 496, 8. Ralston Valley 251-253 — 504; 9. Fort Collins 274-267 — 541; 10. Columbine 283-273 — 556; 11. Standley Lake 286-286 — 569; 12. Legend 280-No score — No score
Top 10 individuals (par 72): 1. Mackenzie Cohen (Cherry Creek) 74-67 — 141; 2. Allie Johnston (Rock Canyon) 75-67 — 142; 3. Hannah Wood (Arapahoe), 71-72 — 143; T4. Patricia Lee (Highlands Ranch) 75-69 — 144; T4. Shannon Lubar (Chatfield) 71-73 — 144; T4. Callie Ringsby (Cherry Creek) 76-68 — 144; T7. SEUNG HA CHOI (OVERLAND) 74-71 — 145; T7. Sarah Hankins (Legacy) 72-73 — 145; T7. Shinwoo Lee (Cherry Creek) 73-72 — 145; 10. Claudia Davis (Arapahoe) 73-75 — 148
Aurora results: T7. Seung Ha Choi (Overland) 74-71 — 145; T18. Jamie Griffin (Eaglecrest) 80-77 — 157; T58. Soleil Worthy (Overland) 88-94 — 182; 72. Julia Kim (Rangeview) 103-96 — 199; 80. Danae Bushman (Rangeview) 109-102 — 211; Malorie Williamson (Gateway) 115-110 — 225