Joy Trotter’s father urged her to write a victory speech prior to the final round of the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open “just in case.”
The golfer from Chino Hills, Calif., thought better of the idea, which left her a little unprepared following her win Friday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver.
“I really don’t know what to say,” the 21-year-old professional told reporters. “It’s my biggest win ever. I’ve finished second a lot, but I finally did it. I was shaking on 18 and wanted to cry before I made my (final) putt but I didn’t.”
While Trotter couldn’t have written a better ending Friday, she spoiled what could have been a storybook professional debut for Denver’s Becca Huffer.
Huffer, a two-time state high school champion and the runner-up in the 2008 Women’s Open, very nearly came out on top in her first tournament playing for prize money. But after holding a one-stroke lead going into No. 15, the former Notre Dame golfer bogeyed three of her final four holes to finish two strokes behind Trotter.
“The ending was a bit rough,” said Huffer (pictured at left), who nevertheless earned $6,350 for her first pro check.
Trotter, the runner-up in her first Women’s Open appearance last year, followed that up with a strong finish on Friday to earn the top spot, worth $11,000, her biggest payday.
Huffer gained the outright lead when she made a 3-foot birdie putt on No. 12 and Trotter bogeyed Nos. 10 and 11. But Trotter would par in from there, while Huffer missed the green for a bogey on No. 15 and three-putted from 40 feet on No. 17 to fall out of the top spot. Then she lipped out a 3-foot par putt on No. 18.
“I’ve just been working on my short putts and sometimes they don’t go in, obviously,” Huffer said.
Meanwhile, Trotter had no such putting problems. Playing a group behind Huffer, she drained an 8-foot slider for par on No. 14, and also got up and down from 6 feet for pars on 15 and 16. The former UC-Irvine golfer two-putted from 30 feet on No. 17 and got down in two after a ticklish 20-foot birdie putt on No. 18.
Trotter (pictured at left), winner of four Cactus Tour events this year, shot a 1-over-par 73 Friday to finish at 3-under 213.
“I live to win pretty much,” she said. “And winning at this level is really good.”
Kelly Jacques of Longmont (71 Friday for a 217 total) and Kayla Mortellaro of Phoenix (74-217) tied for third place.
University of Colorado golfer Jenny Coleman, who hadn’t seen the course before Wednesday’s first round, claimed low-amateur honors as a final-day 71 left her at 218. She edged out last year’s low-am, Somin Lee of Denver, by one stroke after Lee bogeyed the final hole to finish sixth for the second straight year.
Coleman got into the tournament only the night before it started, so to post a top-five showing was a bonus. A 15-foot birdie on No. 18 Friday made the difference in the low-amateur competition.
“I’m very satisfied,” said the CU junior-to-be, whose twin sister Kristin caddied for her. “I played pretty well.”
Huffer has now placed in the top 10 three of the last four times she’s competed in the Colorado Women’s Open. Besides being second in 2008 and this year, she was ninth in 2010 before missing the event last spring.
“It was pretty good playing all week,” she said. “I had a lot of fun. It gives me a little bit of confidence going into the rest of (what she plays in this summer).
“It was always like, ‘Yeah, I want to go win (this week),’ but I wanted to get some solid rounds in, and I think I did that. And I put up a respectable showing.
“I’ve played enough rounds where it’s nothing different (competing as a professional). But obviously now I get some money, so that’s kind of fun.”
Trotter, Huffer and Jacques will be among those who will now head down to the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs to try to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open on Sunday. The top three finishers in the 36-hole event will earn berths in the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf.
Chip Shots: While Huffer finished second for the second time in the Colorado Women’s Open, Jacques placed third for the second time, having previously done so as an amateur in 2007. … For the second time in two days, an amateur contestant in the pro-am made a hole-in-one at the Women’s Open. On Friday, Robert Quick of Littleton aced the 185-yard 17th hole with a 7-iron. On Thursday, Keith Lawton of Castle Rock made his hole-in-one on the 156-yard fifth hole. … Erin (Kerr) Houtsma extended her lead on the Colorado Women’s Open all-time money list on Friday. The 2005 champion finished 34th this year and earned $407, bringing her record all-time CWO total to $27,911. … Professional Rebecka Heinmert of Sweden and amateur partner Molly Greenblatt of Denver won the best-ball pro-am team competition on Friday, finishing with a 20-under-par total for a three-stroke victory.
For scores, CLICK HERE.
