Samantha Stancato and Kathleen Kershisnik weren’t happy with the results — a lopsided American loss — when they attended the Solheim Cup together at Colorado Golf Club over the weekend. But the inspiration they drew from watching some of the best women’s golfers in the world certainly turned out to be a big plus.
The two Coloradans, who both play golf for the University of Wyoming, parlayed their Solheim experience into a victory in the CWGA Brassie Championship, which concluded Tuesday at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs. (Stancato is pictured, at left, with Kershisnik.)
The victory gives the two Cowgirls a sweep of the CWGA’s four-ball tournaments in 2013. Two months after claiming the title in the CWGA Mashie — a four-ball match-play event — they won by five Tuesday in the Brassie, a four-ball stroke-play tournament.
Watching the Solheim Cup “was awesome, even though the U.S. lost,” said Kershisnik, a 19-year-old two-time state high school runner-up from Columbine Country Club. “It was so much fun watching the team format. There’s a lot you can learn from the attitude the (U.S. and Europeans teams) had — congratulating each other and pumping each other up.”
Kershisnik and Stancato can relate. A year ago, they didn’t know each other, but they became teammates at Wyoming. And now they’re going to be roommates; in fact, they’re moving back up to Laramie on Wednesday.
But on Tuesday, they capped off the summer season by shooting a best-ball 5-under-par 67, giving them a 4-under 140 total for two rounds at Flying Horse. That strong finish allowed them to leave the other three first-round co-leaders in the dust on day 2.
Four-time Brassie champion Christie Austin, the former USGA Executive Committee member from Cherry Hills Country Club, teamed up with two-time winner Cindy Pallatino of CommonGround Golf Course to finish five strokes behind following a final-round 72. Coincidentally, Austin was also runner-up to Stancato and Kershisnik at the CWGA Mashie, but her partner then was Janet Moore.
Tying for third Tuesday, 10 strokes behind the winners, were Sue Davis of Saddle Rock and Jessi McVay of CommonGround, and Saddle Rock golfers Laurie Steenrod and Lisa Stone. Davis and McVay shot 73 Tuesday, while Steenrod and Stone posted a 77.
The CWGA championship was the second each for Stancato and Kershisnik, with them teaming up on both occasions.
“This feels pretty good,” said Stancato, a 20-year-old from Patty Jewett Golf Course who qualified for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Amateur. “It gives us a nice confidence boost going into the college season. I wanted to play in something before (the college year started), so I called Kathleen and she was excited.
“It’s really fun to play with all the ladies. It’s a lot different than college, but just as fun.”
On Tuesday, with Stancato shooting 70 on her own ball, she and Kershisnik started the round with a best-ball bogey but went 6 under par over the next 12 holes to pull away.
“We definitely played more as a team today,” said Stancato, who was playing in her hometown of Colorado Springs. “Yesterday when we messed up it seemed to be on the same hole.”
CWGA Brassie Championship
At Par-72 Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs
GROSS
Championship Flight
–73-67–140; Samantha Stancato, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC
–73-72–145; Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC ; Cindy Pallatino, CommonGround GC
–77-73–150; Sue Davis, Saddle Rock GC; Jessi McVay, CommonGround GC
–73-77–150; Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC; Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC
–73-81–154; Lois Meredith, Perry Park CC ; Ron Irons, Eisenhower GC
–84-75–159; Vickie Brown, Broken Tee GC; Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee GC
–80-80–160; Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC ; Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC
–79-81–160; Ann Cates, South Suburban GC; Beth Clippinger, South Suburban GC
First Flight
–71-72–143; Linda Raunig, Broken Tee GC; Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee GC
–74-78–152; Carla Shearer, Perry Park CC; Laura Watt, The Club at Flying Horse
–77-76–153; Cindy Lantz, CC at Castle Pines ; Kathryn Davis, CC at Castle Pines
–75-80–155; Brenda Cook, The Links GC; JoLynn Ryckman, The Pinery CC
–74-81–155; Debra Bolke, Saddle Rock GC; Laura Dunston, Canongate at Blackstone CC
–80-78–158; Debi Kline, Kissing Camels GC; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC
–82-79–161; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
–81-80–161; Marianne Ceriani, The Club at Rolling Hills ; Tangy Buchanan, Columbine CC
Second Flight
–78-77–155; Maria Tafuri, Aspen GC; Heidi Horner, Aspen GC
–76-86–162; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, GC at Heather Ridge
–78-86–164; Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock GC; Leslie Keith, Valley CC
–82-83–165; Sandy Queen, South Suburban GC; Sharon Berglund, The Pinery CC
–87-86–173; Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC ; Vivian Parle, Colorado Springs CC
–88-87–175; Nancy Boodel, Valley CC ; Carol Race, Valley CC
–91-91–182; Juliet Miner, The GC at Bear Dance; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC
–92-96–188; Mary Lou Fehr, Saddle Rock GC; Nancy White, Saddle Rock GC
Third Flight
–82-85–167; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC
–82-85–167; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC
–79-90–169; Jan Carter, Indian Tree GC; Nancy Wilson, Indian Tree GC
–83-86–169; Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee GC; Judy Maillis, Broken Tee GC
–83-87–170; Dot Lindsey, Riverdale GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
–86-90–176; Pam Levkulich, Meridian GC; Bonnie Catalano, Meridian GC
–87-90–177; Anne Lewis, Heritage Eagle Bend GC; Barbara Johnston, Heritage Eagle Bend GC
–87-94–181; Jennie Jones, Raccoon Creek GC; Sherri Wirth, Littleton GC
Fourth Flight
–80-90–170; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
–84-86–170; Lavonne Weinbender, Patty Jewett GC; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC
–86-86–172; Melanie Gleason, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC
–82-90–172; Linda Korte, Overland Park GC; Norma Bisdorf, Overland Park GC
–86-88–174; Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban GC; Nona Radin, Lakewood CC
–93-82–175; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
–89-88–177; Cindy Christiano, Red Hawk Ridge GC; Liza DePinto, Red Hawk Ridge GC
–90-88–178; Lila Bradley, The Club at Flying Horse ; Peggy Cox, The Club at Flying Horse
–89-90–179; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
–92-95–187; Diane Storlie, Riverdale GC; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC
Fifth Flight
–89-87–176; Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale GC; Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale GC
–89-93–182; Mary Watt, The Club at Flying Horse ; Connie Brown, The Club at Flying Horse
–95-88–183; Cheryl Miller, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Riverdale GC
–89-95–184; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC; Roben Deines, Riverdale GC
–94-94–188; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
–86-103–189; Pamela Schmidt, Broken Tee GC; Becky Kenny, Red Hawk Ridge GC
–94-98–192; Margie Doss, Fitzsimons GC; Rose Rismanchi, Fitzsimons GC
–101-102–203; Dee Ann Knudsen, South Suburban GC; Lucy Adler, Murphy Creek GC
NET
Championship Flight
–66-69–135; Lisa Stone, Saddle Rock GC; Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC
–69-68–137; Christie Austin, Cherry Hills CC ; Cindy Pallatino, CommonGround GC
–66-73–139; Lois Meredith, Perry Park CC ; Ron Irons, Eisenhower GC
–72-67–139; Samantha Stancato, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC
–72-68–140; Sue Davis, Saddle Rock GC; Jessi McVay, CommonGround GC
–76-67–143; Vickie Brown, Broken Tee GC; Sally Lawrence, Broken Tee GC
–72-72–144; Lynne Batchelder, Valley CC ; Nancy Ziereis, Valley CC
–72-74–146; Ann Cates, South Suburban GC; Beth Clippinger, South Suburban GC
First Flight
–63-64–127; Linda Raunig, Broken Tee GC; Nina Dulacki, Broken Tee GC
–62-67–129; Carla Shearer, Perry Park CC; Laura Watt, The Club at Flying Horse
–62-68–130; Debra Bolke, Saddle Rock GC; Laura Dunston, Canongate at Blackstone CC
–66-65–131; Cindy Lantz, CC at Castle Pines ; Kathryn Davis, CC at Castle Pines
–65-71–136; Brenda Cook, The Links GC; JoLynn Ryckman, The Pinery CC
–70-68–138; Kim Wells, Sunset GC; Karen Chase, Foothills GC
–72-69–141; Debi Kline, Kissing Camels GC; Denise Cohen, Kissing Camels GC
–72-72–144; Marianne Ceriani, The Club at Rolling Hills ; Tangy Buchanan, Columbine CC
Second Flight
–65-64–129; Maria Tafuri, Aspen GC; Heidi Horner, Aspen GC
–62-69–131; Cathy Weber, Perry Park CC ; Chris Leger, GC at Heather Ridge
–64-73–137; Cathy Neistat, Saddle Rock GC; Leslie Keith, Valley CC
–68-69–137; Sandy Queen, South Suburban GC; Sharon Berglund, The Pinery CC
–71-71–142; Nancy Boodel, Valley CC ; Carol Race, Valley CC
–74-72–146; Carol Heupel, Colorado Springs CC ; Vivian Parle, Colorado Springs CC
–75-75–150; Juliet Miner, The GC at Bear Dance; Peggy Puckett, Wellshire GC
–77-83–160; Mary Lou Fehr, Saddle Rock GC; Nancy White, Saddle Rock GC
Third Flight
–65-67–132; Carlene Decker, Kissing Camels GC; Valerie Rock, Kissing Camels GC
–66-69–135; Patti Stringer, Patty Jewett GC; Sallie Gallegos, Patty Jewett GC
–67-68–135; Lyndon Lieb, Broken Tee GC; Judy Maillis, Broken Tee GC
–64-73–137; Jan Carter, Indian Tree GC; Nancy Wilson, Indian Tree GC
–67-71–138; Dot Lindsey, Riverdale GC; Berta Thimmig, Riverdale GC
–68-73–141; Pam Levkulich, Meridian GC; Bonnie Catalano, Meridian GC
–70-73–143; Anne Lewis, Heritage Eagle Bend GC; Barbara Johnston, Heritage Eagle Bend GC
–70-76–146; Jennie Jones, Raccoon Creek GC; Sherri Wirth, Littleton GC
Fourth Flight
–65-67–132; Lavonne Weinbender, Patty Jewett GC; Julie Workman, Patty Jewett GC
–63-72–135; Pam Godfrey, Patty Jewett GC; Lita Van Cleave, Patty Jewett GC
–64-71–135; Linda Korte, Overland Park GC; Norma Bisdorf, Overland Park GC
–74-62–136; Donna Edelen, Riverdale GC; Becky Finger, Riverdale GC
–66-70–136; Claudia Gallegos, South Suburban GC; Nona Radin, Lakewood CC
–70-67–137; Cindy Christiano, Red Hawk Ridge GC; Liza DePinto, Red Hawk Ridge GC
–71-68–139; Lila Bradley, The Club at Flying Horse ; Peggy Cox, The Club at Flying Horse
–69-71–140; Pat Cahill, Patty Jewett GC; Connie Arbuckle, Valley Hi GC
–73-69–142; Melanie Gleason, Patty Jewett GC; Kathleen Comes, Patty Jewett GC
–73-75–148; Diane Storlie, Riverdale GC; Sharon Thiel, Riverdale GC
Fifth Flight
–68-66–134; Bunny Ambrose, Riverdale GC; Sandra Schnitzer, Riverdale GC
–65-69–134; Margie Doss, Fitzsimons GC; Rose Rismanchi, Fitzsimons GC
–67-72–139; Mary Watt, The Club at Flying Horse ; Connie Brown, The Club at Flying Horse
–70-70–140; Cindy Lonis, Devil’s Thumb GC; Vicki Ripp, Devil’s Thumb GC
–74-68–142; Cheryl Miller, Riverdale GC; Marilyn Hollman, Riverdale GC
–67-79–146; Pamela Schmidt, Broken Tee GC; Becky Kenny, Red Hawk Ridge GC
–72-74–146; Dee Ann Knudsen, South Suburban GC; Lucy Adler, Murphy Creek GC
–71-76–147; Susan Elliott, Riverdale GC; Roben Deines, Riverdale GC
