Perhaps it was a sign that great things were in store for the team from The Club at Rolling Hills when a player with a 20.4 Handicap Index made two natural birdies during Monday’s CGA Women’s Club Team Championship.
That defies the laws of probability, but nevertheless, Bev Conklin made it happen, which led to Rolling Hills capturing its first title ever at the event.
With its two highest handicappers — Conklin and Debra Rooney — shooting their best scores ever (85 and 102, respectively), Rolling Hills prevailed by four strokes out of 32 teams on Monday at Inverness Golf Club in Englewood.
In a tournament that features an ABCD stroke-play format in which the scores of four players of significantly varying abilities are added up for a gross aggregate team total, Rolling Hills posted an 82-over-par 362 tally.
Besides Conklin’s 85 and Rooney’s 102, A player Andrea Grilli carded an 86 and B player Terry Reed an 89. (The winners are pictured, from left: Grilli, Reed, Conklin and Rooney.)
“This is the first time we’ve ever won (the Club Team title) at our club,” said Grilli, who along with Reed has represented Rolling Hills at this event on multiple occasions. “Absolutely bragging rights. We’re pretty excited.”
Tying for second at 366 in the final CGA women’s championship of 2018 were Kissing Camels and Fox Hollow. Denise Cohen paced Kissing Camels with a 78, while Kelly Chapin shot 79 for Fox Hollow, making three 2s in the process. Also breaking 370 were Broken Tee (367), Foothills (368) and the Country Club at Woodmoor (368).
Defending champion Colorado Golf Club tied for 16th at 383.
As for Rolling Hills, what was the key to Conklin draining birdie putts of 10 and 18 feet and leading the way for the team with a career-best 85?
“I just really wanted to make my captain happy,” she said of Grilli. “I practiced all weekend long. I have blisters (on her hand) because I didn’t want to disappoint. We came out here Friday to play (at Inverness). Then I played Saturday and Sunday and practiced.”
With Grilli not having her best day and Reed playing about average by her standards, Reed said the key for the victory was the play of Club Team rookies Conklin and Rooney.
“This was the first time playing in this for our C and D players, and they were lights out,” Reed said. “I think that made all the difference — our C and D players playing so well.”
But Conklin and Rooney noted they couldn’t have done what they did without help from Grilli and Reed.
“Our A and B players really helped us through,” Conklin said. “It was all their encouragement, (saying) we’re just out here for fun and they really didn’t put any pressure at all on us. I am not a good green reader. They helped me where to putt. It was truly a team effort.”
Added Rooney: “I totally agree with that. Our A and B players were awesome.”
Rolling Hills finished seventh in the Women’s Club Team last year after tying for second in 2016.
On Monday, “When we did have one or two blow-up holes, then we’d get right back on track,” Reed said. “The greens were really running true and were in great shape. We really felt comfortable putting and chipping.”
For all the scores from Monday’s CGA Women’s Club Team Championship, CLICK HERE.
