Suffice it to say it was quite a change of pace at the CGA Women’s Stroke Play Championship.
After successive years in which Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster won the titles by 21, 19 and 13 shots, Friday’s tournament went to a sudden-death playoff — one that lasted three holes to determine a champion.
Erin Sargent of Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont rallied from four strokes behind entering the final day to force extra holes at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. But Kristin Glesne, a resident of San Antonio who plays golf at the University of Iowa and is working this summer at Vail Golf Club, claimed the title in the 71st annual event.
Glesne (left and below) ended up going wire-to-wire in the tournament, but went 57 holes to emerge with the trophy. The 21-year-old two-putted from 25 feet, sinking a 3-footer for par, to beat Sargent on the third extra hole. Sargent three-putted there from 40 feet, missing a 5-footer for par, to fall in the playoff.
Glesne became the first out-of-state resident to win the CGA Women’s Stroke Play since Australian Emma Bennett earned the title in 2007.
“I haven’t won a tournament in a long time,” Glesne said. “I’ve never won a college tournament. The last tournament I’ve won is probably the city junior (in San Antonio) before I went to college, so this is really exciting.”
Glesne, who has grandparents that live in Genesee and a dad who grew up in Denver, just happened upon the CGA Women’s Stroke Play given the fact that she’s living in Colorado this summer.
“I just googled Colorado golf tournaments and I found the CGA,” she said. “I thought this would be a good tournament to play in.
“Everybody has been so welcoming (in Colorado). The CGA has been awesome. It’s cool to come out and win my first event in Colorado.”
Sargent, a University of Wyoming golfer who qualified for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur, finished runner-up in the Women’s Stroke Play for the second straight year.
“I’m just ready for next year,” the Longmont resident said with a smile. “I can’t wait for the next Stroke Play, that’s for sure. Of course I wanted to win it (this year). I felt like I put up some good scores. I hung in there and really tried to chase it this last day.”
This was only the second Women’s Stroke Play since prior to 2010 to be settled by fewer than five shots. Hannah Wood of Centennial scored a one-stroke victory in 2014.
Glesne shot rounds of 72-70-76 for a 2-over-par 218 total and could have won the title in regulation, but missed a 3-foot birdie putt on No. 18.
“I was hitting the ball super well the first two days,” she said. “Today I’m sure it had something to do with nerves, but I definitely was not hitting it as well so it was a little bit more of a battle. Erin was playing so well and dropping a lot of putts, so that was definitely putting the pressure on me. “
Sargent (above) went 73-73-72 to tie the University of Iowa golfer. She made four birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey in regulation on Friday.
“All I can say is I fought all day long,” said Sargent, a junior-to-be at Wyoming. “I put up three solid scores. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough, but I’m proud of the way I played. I was committed to every shot I hit and played the best I could.”
Kelsey Webster (below) of Boulder Country Club, who will begin her college golf career at the University of Colorado beginning in the fall, finished third at 221 after closing with a 76.
University of Denver golfer Mary Weinstein placed fourth for the second straight year, this time with a 222 total after her second consecutive 72.
CGA Women’s Stroke Play
At Par-72 Black Bear Golf Club in Parker
TOP FINISHERS
Championship Flight
Kristin Glesne 72-70-76–218 (won playoff)
Erin Sargent 73-73-72–218
Kelsey Webster 75-70-76–221
Mary Weinstein 78-72-72–222
First Flight
Kylee Sullivan 79-82-76–238
Katherine Hollern 79-80-80–239
Staci Creech 82-78-79–239
Kathy West 83-78-79–240
Second Flight
Susan Hartwell 78-78-80–236
Louise Lyle 81-81-80–242
Allie Besant 91-78-81–250
Nina Dulacki 84-88-79–251
Third Flight
Mariko Coplin 86-91-83–260
Amanda Westrick 93-87-82–262
Ria Woodruff 85-93-92–270
Patricia Smogor 97-94-82–273
Trish Swanson 92-95-86–273
For all the scores from the Women’s Stroke Play, CLICK HERE.
