Last May Manitou Springs junior Addison Dorsey was the Class 2A girls golf state runner-up to Colorado Academy sophomore Sophia Lee by five strokes.
Tuesday, Dorsey flipped the script.
Dorsey held off Lee and won the 2A state title by two strokes at Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel. Dorsey carded an even-par 72 in Tuesday’s second round for a two-day score of 149. Lee had the low score of the final round, turning in a 71 for a two-day total of 151.
“Second last year, it’s not the greatest feeling, especially when it’s against one of your friends,” Dorsey said. “So I think, I just wanted it so bad that I would do anything for it. So, seeing my growth from freshman year to junior year, I think that’s been really cool to see and watch me develop. I just really wanted it this year and I didn’t want to lose again.”
Neither player was the leader after a cold and wet first round Monday. Dorsey shot a 77 and was one stroke behind St. Mary’s Academy’s Quinn Roman. Lee shot an 80 and was four strokes back.
Roman ended up shooting a 79 on Tuesday and ended up third with a 155.
With a lead over Lee entering the final round, Dorsey was consistent and able to hold off Lee, who shot one stroke better than Dorsey for the round.
The highlight of Tuesday’s 18 holes for Dorsey was an eagle on the par-5 fifth hole. Dorsey also had one birdie and three bogeys to finish even for the day.
“It was really cool,” Dorsey said of her eagle. “I didn’t hit it very close, but I made the putt.”
Although she bogeyed two holes on the back nine, she made par on the final two holes two secure her victory.
She, along with almost the entire field, played better Tuesday after what Dorsey described as the toughest conditions she has ever played in Monday.
The better conditions contributed to her second round success and eventual championship, one that means a lot to her.
“It means a lot because golf’s a very tough sport and I’ve had a lot of ups and downs the last few years,” Dorsey said. “My freshman year at state was pretty disappointing in a sense. So I think just coming out here and winning, it means a lot to me and I know it means a lot to other people who have helped me so much along the way, so I’m really excited.”
Rounding out the top ten individuals were Eads’ Reese Barnett in fourth (156), Denver Christian’s Sarah Farmer and Aspen Murphy in a tie for fifth (160), Resurrection Christian’s Karina Garcia in seventh (162), Resurrection Christian’s Addison Moreno and Kent Denver’s Kaia Chand in a tie for eighth (165) and Rye’s Gloriana Ruiz in 10th (166).
Resurrection Christian won the team title, its first in program history, with the best team round of the day.
RCS shot a 21-over-par 237 to make up a seven-stroke deficit after Monday’s round and finish one stroke ahead of runner-up Denver Christian.
Denver Christian finished with a two-day total of 503 to Resurrection Christin’s 502.
The Cougars’ state foursome was made up of a pair of seniors, Garcia and Avery Stockslager and two freshmen, Moreno and Brittyn Goings.
All four finished in the top 16 individually.
“I’m still trying to comprehend the fact that we just won state my senior year,” Garcia said. “It’s truly amazing that we finally, in our senior year after four years of being on varsity, got to win state.”
Nathan Wright