The wind blew so hard during one squall Monday afternoon at CommonGround Golf Course that multiple golf bags were toppled and several players and spectators alike were sent running for cover.
Later in the day, when the weather improved somewhat, it was Regis Jesuit senior Mary Weinstein who was blowing away the competition at the girls 5A state high school tournament.
Just hours before she was scheduled to graduate from high school, Weinstein played her last eight holes in 3 under par and birdied her last two in opening up a four-stroke lead at the halfway point of the state meet.
“The beginning of my round wasn’t the best, but I got it back at the end, so I was pretty happy with that,” said Weinstein (pictured), a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program based at CommonGround.
Weinstein, the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year, shot a 1-under-par 71 and is 18 holes away from finishing her high school career with a state title.
“Every day is a new day (and) anyone can shoot whatever they want, but if I can keep this up …” said the Regis University golf signee.
Though Weinstein hasn’t won a state high school title before, last year she certainly established herself as a premier junior player in the state. She won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship. She placed a distant second to CWGA Player of the Year Jennifer Kupcho at the CWGA Stroke Play, and ended up 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships.
On a day when the conditions went from sunny, cool and breezy to strong winds (left), cold and light rain to sunny, cool and relatively calm, Weinstein was the only player to break 75 at CommonGround. Sharing second place, at 3-over 75, are fellow seniors Morgan Sahm of Grandview and Delaney Elliott of Monarch, and junior Jordan Remley of Ralston Valley. At 76 are 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play champ Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview and Jaclyn Murray of Regis.
Remley is on the leaderboard despite a triple bogey and a double bogey, and Chitkoksoong despite a quadruple bogey.
“There were a couple holes where I blew up,” said Remley, who only has been playing golf for 2 1/2 years. “I just had to come back from those. I came back and fought from there.”
Sahm, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions girls winner, has placed in the top 10 in each of her first three trips to state. But on Monday, the worst of the weather came up when she was finishing, and she three-putted her 16th and 18th holes and missed a short birdie putt on her 17th.
“I just want to finish strong and I know we have a strong team this year, so it would be really cool to win (a state title),” said Sahm, a University of Northern Colorado signee. “I’m really excited. It would be a cool way to end golf at Grandview.”
Another NCAA Division I signee who hopes to finish her high school career with a bang is Elliott, who has signed with Montana State.
“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” she said. “I just want to stay patient and be committed.”
In the 5A team competition, Weinstein’s Regis Jesuit squad (14-over-par 230) leads by eight strokes in its quest for a third consecutive state title. Sahm’s Grandview team is in second at 238.
Sargent Grabs Top Spot in 4A Meet at Pueblo CC: Senior Erin Sargent from Silver Creek, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year, shot a 3-over-par 75 Monday at Pueblo Country Club and holds a one-stroke lead heading into Tuesday’s final round of the girls 4A state tournament.
Sargent, a University of Wyoming signee who finished third at state last year, made two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in the first round.
Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy holds second place at 76, while Kelsey McKenna of Air Academy is third at 77 despite two double bogeys.
Colorado Academy appears destined to end Cheyenne Mountain’s team-title win streak at three as CA stands at 28-over-par 244 and with a 21-stroke advantage over Cheyenne Mountain.
For scores from the girls state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A
