The snowiest month of the year in Colorado has definitely delivered. March is supposed to be the time golf club faces get wiped down for the start of the prep girls season, but so far, tournaments have come few and far between.

Alas, a few girls have been able to get some swings in, with players like Logan Hale (Erie), Chanel Carlacci (Northfield) and Brooklyn Tychsen (Berthoud) off to solid starts to their respective seasons. Tychsen won what is arguably the biggest invitational of the season to this point, while several leagues have been able to get their first rounds in.

While Colorado Preps will consistently take a look at the weekly action as the calendar turns to April, here’s a recap of the early tournaments that have been completed.

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The Big Kahuna

Tychsen led Berthoud to a team victory at the Broomfield Chilly Chili (Colorado Preps’ biggest tournament of the week) held at Eagle Trace on March 23, with her 10-over-par 82 good enough to win the event by a full five strokes over Horizon’s Hayden Hawley. Typically a strong field and competitive event, it was a tough go for everyone out on the course as only one other player, Niwot’s Mina O’Dell, broke 90. Tychsen eagled the par-5 seventh hole as part of her round.

Elsewhere

Timnath’s CheyAnne Schrick, a freshman, had a nice debut at the Brush Invite on March 20. She shot a 76 at the Course at Petteys Park – a round that included two birdies and 12 pars.

The Denver City League has completed two rounds, and Northfield’s Carlacci — also a freshman — has topped the field in both events. She conquered Willis Case on March 11 with a 77 (teammate Makaela Swanson was right there at 78), while also shooting 81 at Overland Park on March 6 to win the league’s opener. Denver South’s Addison Blackwood has also been consistent, with rounds of 82 (at Overland Park) and 83 (at Willis Case).

Prospect Ridge junior Hope Torres has two rounds in the 70s so far, with a 79 at Flatirons and a 78 at Lone Tree both in Metro League play. While Torres won at Lone Tree, St. Mary’s Academy senior Maddy Bante carded a 3-over 73 to win at Flatirons, posting 13 pars.

The Centennial League opening event had a unique par-65 at Springhill, and seven players shot in the 70s with the Cherry Creek trio of sophomore Tatum Platt (70), junior Caitlyn Chin (73) and sophomore Clara Jeon (74) leading the way.

Hunting the Mega Bonus

(No Laying Up)

(Editor’s Note: The No Laying Up series Strapped features the journey of Big Randy and Neil Schuster playing three rounds of golf on a budget. The deal is that if either of them shoots a round under par, they win the Mega Bonus, which doubles their budget for the full trip. An avid No Laying Up fan, Colorado Preps editor-in-chief Dan Mohrmann likes to track high school players going for the Mega Bonus. They will be featured weekly in Adam’s golf recap.)

Erie’s Hale got her season started the way last spring ended, by winning an event and putting together a solid round at Broadlands in the first Front Range League event of the year. Her 1-under 71 included five birdies and 10 pars.

Rock Canyon’s Ashleigh Wilson had two other players right on her heels at Aurora Hills as the Continental League got its season started, but the junior was able to complete her round at 1-under 71 (Ponderosa’s Olivia Meyering and Legend’s Maddie Makino finished at even-par) thanks to five birdies, including four on the front nine.