A large swarm of bees near the clubhouse proved a nuisance during the second round of the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, but it was Erin Houtsma who really caused a buzz Thursday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver.
The Denver-based pro reeled off five straight birdies en route to the lowest round in the 16-year history of the Women’s Open. Houtsma’s 7-under-par 65 also set a women’s course record at Green Valley Ranch.
The score was four shots better than the next-best round posted this week.
“I haven’t seen many rounds of golf like that,” marveled Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore, who was caddying for his wife Janet in the same group as Houtsma.
A score like that “is there to be had” at Green Valley Ranch, 2001 champion Tamara Beckett said. “But 65 is a very good score.”
In all, the former University of Colorado golfer recorded eight birdies in the low round of her life.
“I feel really comfortable here,” said Houtsma, who has finished in the top 10 at the Women’s Open six times in the last nine years, including her win in 2005. “I always expect to play well here. I wasn’t expecting to make five birdies in a row, but it just happened. And it was really easy.”
Houtsma stands at 5-under-par 139 for two rounds and will take a two-stroke lead into Friday’s final 18. Just three other players are under par going into the last day. Australian Beckett trails by two after making double bogey on her final hole Thursday. She, too, ran off five straight birdies early in her second round, but settled for a 3-under-par 69 and a 141 total.
LPGA Tour player Moira Dunn (70-142) and first-round leader Lisa Ferrero (73-143) are also in red figures. Other LPGA Tour members in contention include Samantha Richdale (71-144), Kris Tamulis (72-145) and former University of Denver golfer Katie Kempter (73-145).
Considering how life has changed for Houtsma in the last year, the fact that she’s shooting a 65 and leading the Colorado Women’s Open is no small feat. Last year, while 6½ months pregnant, she made the cut in the Women’s Open. Then 9½ months ago, she gave birth to son Connor.
“Golf is so different now that I’m a mom,” Houtsma said. “I’ve been practicing a lot at Colorado National Golf Club. (Connor) sits on the putting green while I hit putts. He’s the best baby for that. He likes being outside and going to the driving range. He just hangs out. It’s been easy to practice.”
The work Houtsma has put in apparently paid off on Thursday, when she shared her career round with dad and caddie Steve Kerr, the owner of Colorado National. Houtsma birdied her second through sixth holes (11 through 15 at Green Valley Ranch), marking the first time she’s chalked up five straight birdies.
“My husband always says if I ever made five birdies in a row I’d get something special. I can’t wait to see what it is,” she said.
Houtsma already ranks No. 2 on the all-time money list for the Colorado Women’s Open, and with a good finish on Friday she’ll move past Walailak Satarak into the top spot. First prize will be $11,000.
Beckett would have gone into Friday as a co-leader had she not faltered at the end of her round Thursday. But she pulled her drive left on her 18th hole (No. 9) and made a double bogey that left her two behind.
“It’s very disappointing; other than that it was a good round,” Beckett said. “When it happens on the last, it doesn’t make dinner taste any better.”
Another Australian, former Duke player Alison Whitaker, leads the amateur competition. Whitaker, who finished third overall in last year’s Women’s Open, stands at even-par 144 and shares fifth place. Two former Colorado state high school champions, Bethany Buchner of Loveland (146) and Becca Huffer of Denver (147) are next best in the amateur standings.
All told, the 51 women who shot 10-over-par 154 or better survived the 36-hole cut.
