Being a Colorado girl, Somin Lee feels right at home competing in the Centennial State.
That’s undoubtedly one of the reasons she’s been thriving in big tournaments in Colorado this month.
In mid-May the Denver resident — and Pepperdine freshman — shot a final-round 67 at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie to finish sixth individually at the women’s NCAA West Regional.
Then on Wednesday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, Lee fired a 3-under-par 69 despite a three-putt bogey from 12 feet on the final hole. That gives the 2011 CWGA Player of the Year a share of the lead after the first round of the 54-hole HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.
“I’m really happy with my round except for the last hole,” the Overland High School graduate said. “The wind caught (my putt) a little bit, and I just wanted to be done I guess. I rushed through it. (The ball) was wobbling a little bit. (I thought) ‘OK I’m just going to hit it.’ But I’m happy with the round today.”
Lee (pictured above), who was the low amateur and placed sixth overall in last year’s Women’s Open, is tied for the lead with 2011 runner-up Joy Trotter of Chino Hills, Calif. Trotter went bogey-free in her round of 69 on Wednesday.
The only other player to break par in the first round was Shannon Fish of Spring, Texas, a contestant in this year’s Big Break Atlantis on the Golf Channel. The former University of Texas golfer opened with a 71.
Other Coloradans in the top 10 after round 1 are 2008 Women’s Open runner-up Becca Huffer of Denver (72, fourth place) and Kelly Jacques of Longmont (73, seventh place). Huffer, who recently completed her college career at Notre Dame, is making her professional debut this week.
Lee, a 20-year-old native of South Korea, is bidding to become just the second amateur champion in the history of the Colorado Women’s Open, which debuted in 1995. Paige MacKenzie of Yakima, Wash., prevailed in 2006.
Professionals “are golf players and I’m a golf player,” said Lee, who was paired with former LPGA Tour regular Katie Kempter on Wednesday. “Maybe they’re pro but I want to be on that level one day so it’s really fun to play against them. It would be really good to be one of those. I’m just excited for this tournament.”
The 2011 CWGA Match Play champion birdied 10, 11 and 12 and made five birdies overall, offset by two bogeys. On the par-4 10th, she hit a hybrid approach from about 200 yards to within 2 inches.
“That was kind of a lucky one, but I’ll take it,” said Lee, who last week finished 77th in the women’s NCAA Finals.
Lee’s 69 was a nine-stroke improvement over her first-round score last year.
“I finished sixth last year and my goal was to play better if I can,” she said. “Last year I had a bad first round. This year it was better, so hopefully I will continue all the birdies and good shots for the next two days and hopefully I’ll do it (win).”
While almost all the championship competitors had played Green Valley Ranch at least once before Wednesday, University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman was thrown into the deep end with no course experience.
Coleman, a sophomore who helped CU qualify for the NCAA Finals for the first time in program history, only got into the Women’s Open field on Tuesday night after a position opened up.
The problem was, only one spot was available, and Coleman is one of two twin sisters who play for the Buffs. So CU coach Anne Kelly texted the twins, asking which of them wanted to play this week.
Kristin Coleman said Jenny should get the nod.
“Jenny played a lot better at nationals (45th place vs. 113th for Kristin),” said Kristin, who caddied for her sister on Wednesday. “I’m working on my full swing, so I wasn’t quite ready.”
(Jenny and Kristin are pictured together at left on Wednesday.)
Despite having never seen GVR before, Jenny Coleman shot a 2-over-par 74 after a three-putt bogey on the final hole. She shares 12th place overall.
“I had no practice round and had never played the course,” she said. “You definitely throw away a couple of shots just because of that, but it’s OK.”
But having Kristin on the bag was a plus, Jenny said.
“It was nice,” she said. “It helped since neither one of us had played the course. It helped to have both opinions as to what to do on shots.”
Jenny said Kristin had never caddied for her before, though Jenny was on the bag for Kristin at the U.S. Girls’ Junior several years ago.
Chip Shots: Among those spectating at the Colorado Women’s Open Wednesday was part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy, part of the newest class of the World Golf Hall of Fame. … Another winner on the LPGA Tour, Cindy Figg-Currier, is competing in the Women’s Open this year and struggled early on Wednesday. She double bogeyed two of her first three holes and shot a 4-over-par 76. … The championship field will be cut to the low 46 competitors and ties after Thursday’s second round. … While Denver’s Becca Huffer opened with a 72 in her first official round as a professional, former CU golfer Jessica Wallace started with a 77 in her pro debut.
For scores from Wednesday, CLICK HERE.
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2012 HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open
When: Wednesday through Friday (May 30-June 1). Tee times Thursday run from 7 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Where: Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road).
Format: 54 holes of stroke play. Most of the professionals will play with amateur partners, competing simultaneously in the championship and in a best-ball pro-am team event. A cut will be made after round 2.
Purse: $73,000 total — including the pro-am — with $64,000 going to the pros and $9,000 in prizes to the amateurs.
Field: Approximately 116 players for the championship, 150 overall.
LPGA Champion in Field: Among those competing is Cindy Figg-Currier, winner of an LPGA event in 1997 and more than $1.9 million in her LPGA career.
Thursday Tee Times: CLICK HERE.
Fan Information: The tournament is open to spectators free of charge.
