Manitou Springs, Riverdale Ridge highlighting the week in girls golf

Colorado girls golfers are essentially making the turn around the state this week, as the season comes toward its fast and furious finish in about five weeks. This week included some breakthrough performances, including one by a Manitou Springs freshman who posted quite a rare feat in capturing her first career win, while another young player from Riverdale Ridge keeps on finding herself atop leaderboards. Erie, Valor and Prospect Ridge also keep on playing with consistency.

The Big Kahuna

While Mountain Vista did not have a single golfer in the top five at Thursday’s Heather Cho Memorial, played at University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch, the Golden Eagles (325) won the team battle over Legend (338) and Rock Canyon (339; played without star Ashleigh Wilson). Shae Maiorana led MVHS with a 5-over-par 77, while her three highest-scoring teammates all were 83 or lower. Meanwhile, Jags Ashley Chang totaled three birdies and had just one hole in the green as she carded a 71 to win. Six others shot in the 70s — Maddie Makino (Legend) and Brooke Hudson (Chaparral) were at 74; Audrey Whitmore (Regis Jesuit) shot 75; Adyson Ice (Legend) and Shelby McCord (Castle View) shot 76; and Elizabeth Malcolm (Chaparral) matched Maiorana at 77.

Elsewhere

Grandview’s Caroline Ryan rebounded nicely from a rough start at Saddle Rock on Thursday, shooting a 33 (3-under) on her back nine and finishing at 1-over 73 as medalist for the Centennial League’s third varsity tournament.

Meadow Hills witnessed quite a battle between three solid teams on Wednesday, with Lutheran (254) edging Littleton (255) and Pine Creek (259) for the team title at the Elizabeth Lady Cardinal Invitational. Thirteen players shot in the 70s or 80s, led by Littleton’s Zoe Bar-Or with a 2-over 73. Pine Creek’s Annette Parker turned in a 77. Bar-Or also fired a 73 at Broken Tee on Monday to win the Class 4A portion of the Jeffco League event there, making eagle on the par-5 sixth hole.

Manitou Springs’ Rye Invitational win Wednesday was sparked by a freshman, as Addie Dorsey won the event at Hollydot with a 70 (more on that below). Salida’s Kyndra Johnson carded a 72 as the pair ran away from the rest of the field.

Hope Torres (Prospect Ridge) and her 73 at Cherry Creek Country Club paced the Miners to a team win at the Metro League Pink Tournament on Monday. She again topped the league field, along with St. Mary’s Academy’s Maddy Bante, with matching 75s at Thorncreek on Thursday.

Valor Christian had the top four golfers at the 5A Jeffco League meet at Broken Tee, led by freshman Ella Scott’s 3-under 67. Brenna Higgins was even (70), while Bella Eide and Aja Blankenship each carded matching 73s.

Durango’s Ellie White had an eagle on the par-5 second hole at Cobble Creek as part of her winning round of 78 (6-over) in the Montrose Red Hawk Tournament on Monday. The Demons won the tournament, as well.

Annette Parker (Pine Creek), Lauren Kachel (Doherty) and Kyndra Johnson (Salida) all carded 5-over 78 at Patty Jewett Golf Course as the medalists for the Palmer Terror Invitational on Monday.

Erie dominated its own Cocoa Classic at Lake Valley on Monday, beating teams like Ralston Valley, Fossil Ridge and Lutheran. Seven players shot in the 70s, with RV’s Addison Hines turning in a 1-over 71 thanks to an eagle on the par-5 ninth hole.

The Brighton girls won the Fort Morgan April Fool’s tournament at Quail Dunes last week, where 10 players overall broke 90 including Riverdale Ridge winner Brynn Balliet (78), who also won the Longs Peak League tournament on Monday at Fox Hill (with a 75). The Bulldogs’ Kaylin Leydon and Raleigh Puzio shot 82 and 83, respectively, to finish third and fourth.

Hunting the Mega Bonus

What a round for Dorsey on Wednesday. Starting out on No. 4 at Hollydot, she posted a rare, bogey-free round of 70 (1-under), making birdie on the 17th and then finishing out her remaining four holes with confidence to win the Rye Invitational.

Scott had an impressive six birdies and an eagle in her round Monday. She shot a 31 over her final nine holes, including an eagle on No. 9.

Erie’s Logan Hale was in a zone of her own at Wednesday’s Loveland Invitational at the Olde Course, shooting 2-under 70. She birdied her first hole of play (No. 17) and hovered between even and 2-under the rest of the way.

Chang, a sophomore for the Jaguars, was 1-under through nine holes at the DU course before a double-bogey at 10. But she steadied herself right away and birdied the 16th and 18th holes to make sure she left the course on a high note at 71.