Several Colorado junior golfers will begin their college careers at NCAA Division I women’s programs later this year, but not before doing battle one last time as high school players.
Stanford-bound Calli Ringsby of Cherry Creek will defend her 5A state high school title on Monday and Tuesday at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton. Among other seniors likewise expecting to be in the hunt there are Hannah Wood of Arapahoe (University of Oklahoma), Sarah Hankins of Legacy (Wyoming), Jenni Chun of Highlands Ranch (Cal State Bakersfield) and Jaylee Tait of Columbine (Montana State).
All told, nine of the top 10 5A finishers from a year ago are back for another run at the state title. Four of the top five performers from the 5A state tournament a year ago are now seniors.
And at the 4A state meet Monday and Tuesday at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs, junior Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy should be considered the favorite. Though Kupcho hasn’t formally signed with a college program — that isn’t allowed until the senior year — she has committed to play college golf at Wake Forest.
All in all, a lot of firepower will be on display.
Ringsby (pictured above) has finished second, fourth and first in her previous three state high school appearances. In 2012, she swept both the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play titles, and was selected to play in the USA-China Youth Golf Match.
Wood, the winner of the last two CJGA Tournament of Champions titles, has gone 10th, third and third the last three years at the state high school tournament. She’s been a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course the last two years. In 2013, she competed in three USGA championships and won the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational junior tournament in Texas.
Kupcho has finished third and second in her other state appearances (Kala Keltz, now at Northern Colorado, won the 2013 4A title). Kupcho competed in four USGA championships in 2013 and was named the CWGA Junior Player of the Year. Last year, she went to the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team. She was also named to the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround.
Earlier this week, Kupcho placed an impressive sixth in U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying in Colorado.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Ringsby, Wood, Kupcho and Sydney Merchant made up the team that represented the CWGA in the Girls Junior America’s Cup last year.
Merchant, a sophomore at Dakota Ridge, won the CWGA Junior Match Play in 2013 and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur. She’s been stellar this high school season, claiming two of her tournament victories with rounds of 68 and 63. She tied for third in the 2013 5A state tournament as a freshman and should certainly be in the mix again this year.
Team-wise next week, Cherry Creek will be seeking its fourth consecutive 5A state title, while Cheyenne Mountain will be defending in 4A. Cheyenne Mountain is led by Kylee Sullivan, who finished sixth individually last year and who will be playing at her home course (the Country Club of Colorado) for the state meet. Sullivan won the CJGA Junior Series Championship last year at that same course.
Here are the 2014 champions, both team and individual, for the regional state-qualifying tournaments that were held earlier this month:
5A Central Regional at Broken Tee — Team Winner: Regis Jesuit 228. Individual Winner: Sydney Gillespie, Regis Jesuit, 71.
5A Western Regional at Fox Hollow — Team Winner: Fossil Ridge 247. Individual Winner: Ali Pepper, Arvada West, 78.
5A Southern Regional at Colorado Springs Country Club — Team Winner: Arapahoe 246. Individual Winner: Hannah Wood, Arapahoe, 71.
5A Northern Regional at Highland Meadows — Team Winner: Rock Canyon 227. Individual Winner: Michelle Romano, Rock Canyon, 71.
4A Colorado Springs Regional at Eisenhower Silver — Team Winner: Cheyenne Mountain. Individual Winner: Kylee Sullivan, Cheyenne Mountain, 77.
4A Western Regional at Adobe Creek — Team Winner: Montrose 246. Individual Winner: Kiselya Plewe, Dolores, 72.
4A Southern Regional at Hollydot — Team Winner: Pueblo East 256. Individual Winner: Gia Zupancic, Pueblo East, 75.
4A Northern Regional at Olde Course in Loveland — Team Winner: Broomfield 259. Individual Winner: Haley Patterson, Yuma, 78.
4A Metro West Regional at Indian Tree — Team Winner: Colorado Academy 241. Individual Winner: Jennifer Kupcho, Jefferson Academy, 74.
