BROOMFIELD — Brenna Higgins built a six-shot lead on the second day of the Class 5A state golf tournament, then had to mull it over through a 45-minute weather delay.
Rain and lightning sent golfers fleeing for the clubhouse at Broadlands Golf Course on Tuesday. But the momentary pause in action turned out to be just that.
The Valor Christian junior returned to a soppy course and completed a dominant, 6-under-par 66 on Day 2, sending her to a second straight individual title and the Eagles to their third.
“I didn’t really let the delay affect me,” said the even-keeled Higgins, finally letting her emotions pour out following her par on No. 18. “I just kept playing my game and it seemed to be working.”
Following her first round Monday, Higgins said she left some shots out on the course, finishing even-par and a shot behind Day 1 leader Ashleigh Wilson of Rock Canyon. Then proved as much.
“Locked-in” from the first hole on, as described by her coach, Justen Byler, Higgins was 5-under when golfers were brought in amid the early afternoon storm. Upon her return, she was just as good, immediately dropping in her sixth birdie of the day before parring out for a six-shot victory (6-under 138).
“She played amazing and deserves all of it,” said Wilson, who finished runner-up (144) a year after she narrowly missed a 19th-hole playoff won by Higgins, taking third. “She’s one of my really good friends. I couldn’t be happier for her.”
In the team race, the Eagles became the first team to win three straight 5A state titles since Cherry Creek from 2011-13.
Behind Higgins, junior Bella Eide was 2-over on the second day and finished tied for eighth (152). Freshman Ella Scott was two shots back of the lead after the first day, finishing 11th (155), while sophomore Aja Blankenship tied for 17th (160).
Asked if this championship run could’ve been predicted three years ago, Byler smiled and paused for a moment. “No.”
“Truthfully, this is a very difficult sport,” he said. “No matter how talented or skilled somebody may be, or a team may be, it’s difficult to project out that the breaks would fall your way and things would remain as consistent as they are.
“But,” he went on, “I’m not surprised. Simply because how committed and how devoted the girls are to their craft.”
The Eagles won with a score of 10-over 442, 25 strokes ahead of second-place Fossil Ridge (467). Rock Canyon was third (470), followed by Cherry Creek (472) and Mountain Vista (490).
Individually, Ralston Valley’s Addison Hines and Cherry Creek’s Caitlyn Chin tied for third (147). Legend freshman Maddie Makino was fifth (148).
(Brent New)
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5A girls golf results
| PLACE | ATHLETE | SCHOOL | SCORE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brenna Higgins | Valor Christian | -6 |
| 2 | Ashleigh Wilson | Rock Canyon | E |
| 3 | Addison Hines | Ralston Valley | +3 |
| 3 | Caitlyn Chin | Cherry Creek | +3 |
| 5 | Maddie Makino | Legend | +4 |
| 6 | Ashley Chang | Rock Canyon | +7 |
| 6 | Abbi Beld | Fossil Ridge | +7 |
| 8 | Audrey Whitmore | Regis Jesuit | +8 |
| 8 | Bella Eide | Valor Christian | +8 |
| 10 | Ellie Berry | Fossil Ridge | +9 |
Top Teams
| PLACE | SCHOOL | SCORE |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Valor Christian | 442 |
| 2 | Fossil Ridge | 467 |
| 3 | Rock Canyon | 470 |
| 4 | Cherry Creek | 472 |
| 5 | Mountain Vista | 490 |
