Moran’s Career Round Nets State Title

Kelly Moran had never shot 70 or better until this week, but the golfer from Boulder Country Club picked an opportune time to venture into uncharted territory.

The 17-year-old Fairview High School graduate fired that 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday — the same day that two of her pursuers in the CWGA Junior Stroke Play did likewise.

The result was that her best was just good enough for the state title at Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone.

“I really like going out where it’s close or I’m in contention,” said Moran, who will play college golf at NCAA Division I William & Mary in Virginia beginning in the fall. “I’ve been playing really well, but I kept having one thing off in my game. But it all came together today.”

Actually, Moran did end up with a two-stroke margin in her wire-to-wire victory in the Junior Stroke Play. She birdied her 16th hole from 3 feet on Wednesday to give her a little cushion, but it was always close.

Moran finished with a 2-over-par 218 total, two stokes better than Jaylee Tait of Raccon Creek Golf Course, who matched Moran’s 70. Likewise firing 70 was third-place finisher Sarah Hankins of Thorncreek Golf Club, who checked in at 222.

“This means a lot,” said Moran, who placed third in this tournament a year ago. “It’s a good way to close out (her junior golf career in the state, though she still has a tournament or two left). I knew I had to win one of them.

“This is probably my biggest win with the field they had here. Maybe it’s tied with the (high school) regional I won as a junior.”

On Wednesday, Moran posted three birdies — all from inside of 5 feet — and one bogey in her career-best round. But if there was one area of her game that didn’t cooperate on the final day, it was her putter.

“I kept having short birdie putts and they wouldn’t drop,” she said. “It was frustrating. I was hitting it close. If I putted good, I could have gone lower, but I’m not complaining.

“I was proud of how I handled the mental part of my game today.”

Moran wasn’t the only CWGA Junior Stroke Play winner from Fairview High School. Former teammate Megan McCambridge won the First Flight on Wednesday after carding rounds of 79-84-73 for a 236 total.

CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. 74-74-70–218

Jaylee Tait, Littleton, Colo. 75-75-70–220

Sarah Hankins, Thornton, Colo. 75-77-70–222

Gillian Vance, Lakewood, Colo. 74-75-79–228

Samantha Barker, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-73-78–228

Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-78-78–230

Kylee Sullivan, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80-73-82–235

Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-82-79–235

Sydney Merchant, Morrison, Colo. 80-78-79–237



FIRST FLIGHT
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. 79-84-73–236

Joanna Kempton, Littleton, Colo. 79-83-77–239

Madison Tenney, Evergreen, Colo. 83-78-79–240

Andrea Ballou, Larkspur, Colo. 82-82-78–242

Dani Urman, Greenwood Village , Colo. 79-81-83–243

Delaney Benson, Littleton, Colo. 80-84-79–243

Jennifer Hankins, Thornton, Colo. 77-85-81–243

Adara Pauluhn, Longmont, Colo. 80-84-80–244

Hannah More, Littleton, Colo. 83-79-84–246



SECOND FLIGHT
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 86-73-76–235

Jenni Chun, Lone Tree, Colo. 87-80-78–245

Margot Leibold, Englewood, Colo. 88-81-80–249

Jacquelin Biggs, Englewood, Colo. 88-77-86–251

Ashlyn Kirschner, Arvada, Colo. 88-79-85–252

Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 88-86-79–253

Heather Kroll-Schoonover, Arvada, Colo. 86-90-84–260

Mariah Ehrman, Westminster, Colo. 87-89-90–266

Julia Kim, Aurora, Colo. 87-90-91–268



THIRD FLIGHT
Katherine Kemp, Colorado Springs, Colo. 91-78-80–249

Morgan Stacks, Thornton, Colo. 91-80-87–258

Emilee Strausburg, Lakewood, Colo. 90-88-86–264

Courtney Ewing, Pueblo West, Colo. 94-87-87–268

Natasha Brandy McClain, Castle Pines, Colo. 92-88-89–269

Madison McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. 93-92-93–278

Andrea Hoos, Thornton, Colo. 94-98-88–280

Duval Sutherland, Parker, Colo. 95-104-99–298

Julia Baroth, Denver, Colo. 105-101-101–307