Brian Miller
ARVADA - It took an additional week, but the teams in the Class 4A Metro West Regional girls golf tournament finally got in its round of 18 holes.
A mixture of rain and snow had forced the postponement of the tournament midway through the round May 7, with the teams starting over Monday at Westwoods Golf Club. A sunny, cloudless day still saw a number of high scores, but regional champion Regis and 16 additional golfers were able to earn their way into the state tournament, which runs May 21-22 at Boomerang Golf Course in Greeley.
“The nerves just definitely add up quite a bit,” Golden junior Karli Denk said of starting fresh. “But when you get here it doesn’t really feel like you’ve already played it.”
Regis shot a combined 242 to qualify as a team. Valor Christian was second at 258, followed by Golden (280) and Green Mountain (282). Jefferson Academy freshman Jennifer Kupcho earned medalist honors with an even par 72.
Denk shot a 14-over-par 86 to earn her first trip to state, and teammate Rachael Joha also qualified with a 92.
“I was kind of hoping for something better, but it is what it is,” Denk said. “Getting in, it’s either yes or no. It’s a yes, so that’s exciting.”
Joha shot a 48 on the Cottonwood Course, but came back with a 44 on Sleeping Indian.
“I came out here with hopes of `this can’t be my last round of my junior year,’” Joha said. “I just came out here with the goal to make it to state. It felt good to be right in the middle of the pack.”
Green Mountain nearly qualified its entire foursome. The Rams’ Nicole Rooney, Jaclyn Fields and Leandra Nikont each shot 94s to qualify; Sirena Alvarado’s 98 was good for first alternate.
Nikont initially had an AP Chemistry exam scheduled for May 7 and wasn’t able to play. The rescheduling gave her a second chance, and the senior came through despite shooting a 51 on Cottonwood.
“I definitely knew I had to step it up. The confidence kind of dwindled a little bit, but I parred three right in a row on the back,” Nikont said. “I was really excited coming in with an opportunity to go to state.”
The goal for Boomerang will be to play even as a team like Green Mountain did Monday.
“I think we’re definitely going to try to keep it even just like today, have nice, even scores,” Nikont said. “We don’t need to pressure ourselves into anything too fantastic.”
D’Evelyn freshman Emilee Strausberg qualified for her first state tournament after carding a 91. Arvada’s Samantha Salazar qualified as well with a round of 94.
Ralston Valley takes 5A regional
Backed by another strong round from its foursome, Ralston Valley’s girls golf team rolled to the 5A Metro West Regional title Thursday at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton, qualifying for the 5A state tournament May 21-22 at Aurora Hills.
The regional was initially set for May 7 at Fox Hollow, but the inclement weather postponed the tournament midway through the round.
The Mustangs shot a combined 247, with all four players shooting below 90. Alex O’Laughlin led the way with a 76; Gabby Hehir shot an 84, Rachel Rodriguez an 87 and Ashlyn Kirschner an 89.
Dakota Ridge was second at 289, with Gillian Vance recording medalist honors with a 71. Chatfield’s Shannon Lubar was second with a 76.
Also qualifying for state included Bear Creek’s Amber Garcia (98), along with Lakewood’s Casey Conlan (99) and Evan Flynn (106).
Metro West Regional Team Scores
5A: Ralston Valley 247, Dakota Ridge 289, Chatfield 296, Columbine 312, Northglenn 320, Lakewood 333.
4A: Regis 242, Valor Christian 258, Golden 280, Green Mountain 282, Jefferson Academy 301, Evergreen 314, Mullen 316, D’Evelyn 328, St. Mary’s Academy 330, Wheat Ridge 347, Arvada 354, Kent Denver 364, Machebeuf 388, Conifer 390, Kennedy 432.
