Tori Glenn picked up in the first CWGA championship of 2015 where she left off in one of the last of 2014.
Which is to say she won it.
The 20-year-old from the Ridge at Castle Pines North paired up with University of Colorado teammate Megan Haase of Flatirons Golf Course to defeat defending champions Rachel Sweeney of Lone Tree Golf Club and Megan McCambridge of Boulder Country Club 2 and 1 in Wednesday’s championship-flight final of the CWGA Mashie at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. (The champions are pictured at left and below.)
It was the second straight year that the defending champs have lost in the finals as Sweeney and McCambridge beat 2013 winners Kathleen Kershisnik and Samantha Stancato last spring.
For Glenn, Wednesday marked her second victory in a CWGA four-ball event in the last 10 months. Last August, she teamed up with Christie Austin to capture the title in the CWGA Brassie, which features a four-ball stroke-play format.
And this week, Glenn proved equally adept at four-ball match play.
“For me, (these team tournaments) are a way to ease yourself into more competitive events where a lot of college players play,” she said. “And they’re just more fun. It’s good to have fun.”
This was a final full of notable nuggets. For the second straight year, the CWGA Mashie title match featured four college players. And this time around, each team included a Megan. And three of the four finals competitors work together on the player-services staff at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield (Glenn, Haase and McCambridge).
Glenn, the 2014 CWGA Match Play runner-up, made a birdie on the first hole to give her team a lead it would never relinquish. Haase parred No. 2 to go 2 up, and they were 3 up after four holes.
“It was real fun,” said Haase, a 21-year-old grew up in Spokane, Wash. “Both of us played pretty well — and we played well together.
“We were always at least 1 up so that was a nice little comfort zone. But even being there, it was a little nerve-wracking.”
On the other side, McCambridge and Sweeney (left) were left playing catch-up all day long.
“We were confident the whole time we could get back up, but we couldn’t get putts to fall,” said McCambridge, a junior to-be at Butler University in Indiana. “We’d win one hole, then halve several in a row. We were never able to get back to an all-square or 1-up position that we’re accustomed to.”
Despite Sweeney being the longest hitter in the finals, she and McCambridge can point to the par-5s as significant in their downfall on Wednesday. Two of the three holes in which neither made a birdie or better were par-5s, and both resulted in lost holes. Overall, Sweeney and McCambridge were a combined 6 over par on the par-5s.
“That was a big issue,” said Sweeney, a junior-to-be at Lewis University in Illinois. “Usually I can reach par-5s in two or at least get close. Off the tee, I didn’t really set myself up for a good look.”
After being 1 up at the turn, Glenn and Haase (left) expanded their lead with a best-ball par on the par-5 13th as Sweeney had a lost ball and McCambridge left her approach in a bunker, and both bogeyed.
On No. 17, Sweeney almost extended the match as a 40-foot birdie attempt just missed. But a 3-foot par putt by Haase closed things out.
“Overall, they both played well and we didn’t quite have enough to take care of business out there,” McCambridge said.
Haase credited Glenn with steady play throughout the week that kept the two Buffs advancing.
“Tori played really solid. I owe a lot to her,” Haase said. “I definitely struggled the first day. I got better the second day. And I got a lot better today. Tori helped me out and was encouraging. If she knows something (that will help), she’ll tell me. That just built my confidence up.”
CWGA Mashie Championship
At Black Bear GC and Heritage Eagle Bend
Championship Flight Final — Tori Glenn/Megan Haase def. Rachel Sweeney/Megan McCambridge, 2 and 1.
Championship Flight Consolation Final — Lisa Lee/Cathy Stypula def. Susan Jennings/Jessica Noffsinger, 1 up.
First Flight Final — Carol Henderson/Carla Stearns def. Theresa Lange/Ruth Van Zee, 3 and 1.
First Flight Consolation Final — Denise Cohen/Vicki Warren def. Brenda Cook/Lynn Larson, 3 and 2
Second Flight Final — LeAnna Rosenow/Patricia Swanson def. Mary Doyen/Vicki Porter, 1 up.
Second Flight Consolation Final — Melis Ward/Karen Williams def. Stephanie Stewart/Cheryl Wilkinson, 3 and 2.
Third Flight Final — Kim Gosche/Heidi Horner def. Cindy Lantz/Corrina Ruttkar, 19 holes.
Third Flight Consolation Final — Susan Schell/Cindy Speer def. Kelli Gopsill/Janine Lowe, 2 up.
Fourth Flight Final — Lori Gude/Paulette Jerpe def. Kay Geitner/Marie Schriefer, 3 and 2.
Fourth Flight Consolation Final — Chris Jansen/Janis Ward def. Juliet Miner/Peggy Puckett, 3 and 2.
Fifth Flight Final — Debbie Childs/Ellen Thomas def. Norma Bisdorf/Marla Straw, 6 and 5.
Fifth Flight Consolation Final — Deborah Beckman/Rebecca Howard def. Lyndon Lieb/Judy Maillis, 3 and 2.
Sixth Flight Final –Bonnie Catalano/Karen Moore def. Patti Godette/Kristi Samuelson, 3 and 1.
Sixth Flight Consolation Final — Anne Svec/Kris Van Bladeren def. Amy Ennis/Karen Leuschel, 1 up.
Seventh Flight Final — Linda Loveland/Linda Powell def. Dede Rushton/Laura Fischer, 6 and 5.
Seventh Flight Consolation Final — Amber Leis/Meredith Nelson def. Pam Godfrey/Julie Workman, 2 and 1.
Eighth Flight Final — Cheryl Burget/Janet Cott def. Suzanne Elkins/Mary Smith, 3 and 1.
Eighth Flight Consolation Final — Jaki Berry/Dee Riedel def. Gail Bilotta/Anne Mursch, 5 and 4.
Ninth Flight Final — Claudia Svarstad/Rochelle Tisdale def. Barbara Bostwick/Linda Brown-Stiller, 3 and 2.
Ninth Flight Consolation Final — Carol Casteel/Ronda Palsulich def. Mari Johnson/Pamela Schmidt, 3 and 2.
10th Flight Final — Sharon Colon/Cathy Reith def. Roben Deines/Susan Elliott, 2 up.
10th Flight Consolation Final — Maree Albright/Joyce Craig def. Audrey McEwen/Susan Wagner, 4 and 3.
11th Flight Final — Jan Place/Linda Schippers def. Donna Jones/Patricia Moore, 4 and 3.
11th Flight Consolation Final — Thelma Benefiel/Jan Squires def. Denise Bassett/Billie Dahlbach, 3 and 1.
