Girls Golf: Boulder Country Club to host Class 5A state championships

Fairview golfer Kelsey Webster will be making her fourth straight bid for the Class 5A state title almost literally in her own backyard.

With an impressive four-stroke win in the Central Region tournament at South Suburban GC on May 7, the senior earned a chance to vie for her sport’s top honor at the Boulder Country Club, host of this year’s state championship tournament, and a venue the Gunbarrel resident is “very, very familiar with,” according to Fairview golf coach John Zerwin. That doesn’t necessarily mean she’ll have a leg up on the rest of the field, however.

“It’s an advantage and a disadvantage,” Zerwin said. “The expectations are higher because it’s your home track, but it’s obviously nice being home and being in your own bed.”

Webster will enter the 2018 championships as a favorite, even without the home course advantage, after the impressive win in the regional and a strong close to the regular season. She took fourth (+7) in the competitive Ashley Forey Invitational at Golden’s Rolling Hills GC on April 30, and then took first (+1) at the final Front Range league meet of the year at Knolls on May 2 to capture her second straight individual league title.

Zerwin said Webster is “very hopeful” about her title chances this year, and will be looking to “play well” after struggling in past state tournament appearances.

“The last couple of years at state have not been her best game, so she’s been disappointed with it all,” he said. As a junior, Webster finished in a four-way tie for ninth overall, with a +16 over two rounds at Rolling Hills. “Her game has really matured this year, so I think she’s in a lot better spot to handle the pressure at state.”

Zerwin is excited about having the Class 5A state tournament so close to home, and said the Boulder Country Club will offer “a class A event for the girls”. He invited golf fans to come out on May 21 and 22 for “a really fun experience.”

“There’s a lot of really good high school girls golfers in this state,” he said. “This is a great opportunity to come see them.”

Play gets underway at the two-day Class 5A state golf tournament at 8:30 a.m. on Monday, May 21.

5/7 — 5A Central Region Tournament, South Suburban G.C., Centennial

Team scores — Highlands Ranch 236, Columbine 244, Grand Junction 252, Chaparral 253, Arapahoe 255, Heritage 275, Rampart 284, Brighton 289, Horizon 293, Fairview 296, Pomona 313, Rangeview 340.

Top individuals — 1. Kelsey Webster, Fairview, 69; t2. Haena Kim, Highlands Ranch, 73; t2. Katherine Malcolm, Chaparral, 73; t4. Jenne Chun, Highlands Ranch, 74; t4. Tess Mitchell, Columbine, 74; 6. Brittlynn Odell, Grand Junction, 78; 7. Gracie Olkowski, Grand Junction, 79; 8. Courtney Packer, Arapahoe, 81; t9. Annika Schooler, Columbine, 82; t9. Gabby Esquibell, Heritage, 82.