Kelsey Webster graduated from Fairview High School on Sunday, then shot a 1-under-par 71 in front of many friends and family members on her home course Monday in the first day of the 5A girls state high school tournament. And on Tuesday she hopes to add another great memory to put an exclamation mark on her high school golf career.
“I graduated Sunday and had graduation parties on Saturday,” Webster said. “I haven’t been able to respond to text messages it’s been so busy, but it’s been fun. On Wednesday I’ll kick my feet back and watch some movies for sure.”
Possibly as a state champion.
But Regis Jesuit sophomore Katie Berrian has her own hopes for a magical end to the season — in her case in the form of her first high school victory coming in the state tournament. And she’ll take a one-stroke lead over Webster into the final round at Boulder Country Club.
And, of course, there are many others who have dreams of their own going into the final day of the season.
Berrian, who hadn’t shot better than 75 in high school competition this year, fired a 2-under-par 70 on Monday to hold the solo lead at the halfway point of the 5A state meet in Boulder. After a water ball resulted in a bogey on No. 17, she made a 7-foot downhill birdie putt on the treacherous 18th green to cap her round.
Berrian (left) finished with four birdies and two bogeys on the day.
“I was on top of my game,” said Berrian, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 11-13 Junior Series champion in 2015. “It was fun. I would have been happy with (a season-best score) in a league tournament, but at state it makes me feel even better. I love the course and I knew I would play well. I had a good feeling about it.”
Webster, who estimates she’s played the Boulder Country Club course 150 times in her lifetime, birdied the final hole Monday after three-putting No. 17 for bogey. The 5A Central Regional champion carded four birdies and three bogeys on the day, but wasn’t thrilled with the outcome.
“I’m actually a little bummed,” said Webster, who will play golf at the University of Colorado starting in the fall. “My game feels really good and everything, but things were a little sloppy today. I just made some silly mistakes (including a couple of three-putts on the back nine). It felt like a 5 or 6 under round, but silly mistakes cost me some shots.
“Nothing really felt good today. I’m always happy shooting under par, but it sucks to know (there was a lower score) out there.
“Obviously I wanted to be in the lead going into tomorrow, but being one shot back I think it will give me an edge. I usually play better from behind. It’ll be good if I can clean some things up.”
Webster (left) birdied the first hole from 30 feet, but that wasn’t a sign of things to come with the putter.
“I think on this course my mind is very much in attack mode and that birdies are possible on every single hole here,” she said. “That’s why I’m so bummed because I have made birdies on every single hole of this course.”
Eaglecrest’s Emma Bryant, attempting to become just the second freshman since 2002 to win a Colorado girls state high school title, stands in third place at 73 despite a double-bogey 7 on the final hole. On the previous hole, the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play champion had drained a 30-foot putt to save par after going in the water.
Defending 5A champion Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview is among those in a tie for fourth place at 75.
In the team competition, Regis Jesuit (24-over-par 240) holds a one-stroke lead over Grandview and is three ahead of Cherry Creek.
Jordaan 1 Up on Schalk in 3A: Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy, who posted the lowest score of any Colorado player in regional state-qualifying tournaments, grabbed the lead in the 3A state meet by shooting a 3-under-par 68 at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.
Jordaan’s bogey on the final hole was her only one of the day as she carded four birdies.
Jordaan, who placed third last year at state, will take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Hailey Schalk of Holy Family into the final round. Schalk, who last year became the first freshman since 2002 to win a Colorado girls state high school title, has won every high school tournament in which she’s played over the course of two seasons.
Schalk, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Girls Player of the Year in 2017, played her last six holes in 4 under par en route to a 69 on Monday. That stretch included an eagle on the 451-yard, par-5 16th hole and a birdie on 18.
Charlotte Hillary of Kent Denver, the 3A runner-up last year, holds third place at 75.
Kent Denver, at 30-over-par 243, holds a six-stroke lead over Colorado Academy in the team standings.
2017 Champ Lehigh Shares Lead in 4A: Three players, including defending champion Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, share the lead after Monday’s opening round of the 4A tournament at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.
Lehigh, a junior who has committed to play her college golf at the University of New Mexico, shot a 7-over-par 78 along with Jessica Zapf of Windsor and Maxine Choi of Cheyenne Mountain.
Those three are five strokes ahead of the next-best player.
In the team competition, Glenwood Springs leads at 47-over-par 260, while Loveland and Windsor are at 264.
For scores from the three state tournaments, CLICK HERE.
