In the Hunt

Three players with strong Colorado connections posted top-five finishes in mini-tour action this weekend.

Amateur Emily Gilbreth, who represented Colorado in the final playing of the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, finished second in the Western Skies tournament on The Cactus Tour in Gilbert, Ariz. And Colorado Springs resident Samantha Stancato tied for fifth in the same event.

And former Air Force Academy golfer Tom Whitney ended up fourth in the weather-shortened Northwest Mississippi Championship on the Adams Pro Tour.

Whitney, who recently moved from Fort Collins to Texas, carded rounds of 69-69-71 for a 7-under-par 209 total, which left him four strokes behind champion Edward Olson. Whitney, who made the cut in the CareerBuilder Challenge on the PGA Tour earlier this year, earned $6,530. He finished with 15 birdies and an eagle in three rounds.

In the Western Skies tournament, Gilbreth, the 2017 CWGA Match Play champion, ended up tied for second, three strokes behind winner Sirene Blair of South Jordan, Utah, after taking a double bogey on the final round of the event. Gilbreth went 65-72-74 for a 5-under 211 total.

Stancato, meanwhile, posted scores of 71-72-71 to check in at 214.