AURORA – The Class 4A state tournament was anything but a made for television event. There wasn’t one ounce of drama after Day 1 for either Holy Family’s Jessica Mason or the Discovery Canyon Thunder.

Both had sizable leads after Monday’s first round, and both expanded on them on a blazing Tuesday afternoon at CommonGround Golf Course.

Mason kept the medalist honors at Holy Family, following her teammate Hailey Schalk’s three-year hold on the event from 2017-19. She won by 10 shots and of the three subpar rounds that were shot over the two days, she had two of them, going 69-71, for a two-day total of 140. She was 10 shots better than Mullen’s Sofia Choi, whose eagle on No. 18 to close out her second round helped her match Mason’s 71.

Discovery Canyon’s foursome of Emily and Christina Cheng, Mena Song-Lew and Lauren Jaworowski were even better on Day 2 and blew out the field by 34 shots over a Windsor team that rallied from a tough first day to earn some hardware.

Emily Cheng (74), Lauren Cheng (78) and Song-Lew (78) all placed in the top 15 and Joworowski was 23rd for the Thunder, who claimed their first state title in the sport and the first girls title for the school that opened in 2007.

“This means everything,” said an emotional Thunder coach Mark Liggett, whose wife Susan begged her husband to join his team on Tuesday after missing Day 1 to be by her side in the hospital in Colorado Springs as she recovered from multiple surgeries.

“They are all really serious about their games and they came out here and they got down to business.”

It was a brilliant run for Discovery Canyon, which graduates just Christina Cheng, and will return its full compliments including several up and coming freshmen. The Thunder rolled through regionals and with their No. 1 ranking through iWanamaker, had their sights firmly set on proving to those north of I-70 that good golf was being played down south.

“We don’t deal with the Northern teams that much (especially this year), so we didn’t really know what they were thinking,” Liggett said.

Tuesday may very well have been the perfect elixir for Liggett’s soul.

“Just being up here and being with them, I didn’t want to miss it,” said Liggett, who has been married to his lovely for 35 years.. “She was feeling a little better and she told me last night to go, you can’t do anything else for me at the hospital.

“I love being able to cheer them on and watch them play their game and watch them break through.”

As for Mason, she was in control from the start. She just kept making pars and her nearest playing competitors — Mead’s Timbre Shehee and Emily Cheng — were making random bogeys to fall further behind.

“I wasn’t super nervous on No. 1 because I knew I had an eight shot lead and I just kept telling myself ‘I’m not going to blow it today and if I do, I’m going to be very upset,” Mason said. “When the lead  continued to grow, I just had to keep doing what I was doing, but don’t be arrogant about it. Be who you are and play your game.”

Mason was fearless throughout the day and the highlight of her day came at the 451-yard par-5 No. 11. She hit 8-iron in from 196 yards and just missed the elusive albatross by inches as the ball rolled over the cup and settled 2 feet behind it for a tap in eagle that took her to 6-under for the tournament.

“This means a lot, because freshman year (after finishing fifth) I was just kind of behind (Hailey) and now that I’m not, it’s nice to say that I’ve always been here,” Mason said. “It’s just coming to grips with my game and getting better.

“Feels good to keep the legacy going and hopefully next year too.”

AURORA – You have to hand it to the Discovery Canyon foursome on their performance on Monday at CommonGround G.C. in the opening round of the Class 4A state golf tournament.

Mere moments before their collective morning tee times, the Thunder group of Emily Cheng, Christina Cheng, Lauren Jaworowski and Mena Song-Lew got the usual words of encouragement from their coach Mark Liggett.

But they didn’t get to see his face, just heard his voice from back home in Colorado Springs, where he was at the bedside of his wife Susan, who is still in the hospital after complications from a surgery the week prior.

The Thunder (team score of 255), who to a player will admit they didn’t play their best golf on Monday in the ideal conditions at CommonGround, played for their coach and will carry an eight-shot lead over Holy Family (263) into Tuesday’s second round. Cheyenne Mountain (266) is in third and both Windsor (272) and Mullen (272) are lurking in fourth.

“They were all in a better mood this morning when they got the news last night that (Susan) had come out of her third surgery and found out what was making her so sick,” said Discovery Canyon assistant coach David Schwartz, whose team is in search of its first title in the sport. “They were happy to hear that and they all had a chance to talk to him on the phone and that put them all at ease that she is in a better place at least physically.”

Sophomore Emily Cheng led the way for Discovery Canyon, firing a 6-over par 78 on the 5,907-yard layout. She sits alone in third place and will be in the final pairing tomorrow with Holy Family’s Jessica Mason (3-under par, 69) and Mead’s Timbre Shehee (77).

Christina Cheng (88) and Jaworowski (89) rounded out the scoring three for Discovery Canyon.

“They did exactly what they needed to do today, finish in first place, and I think tomorrow will be a better day,” Schwartz said. “They didn’t play their best today and our top three really weren’t on their game, but we are looking forward to tomorrow and the warm weather.”

Schwartz and his team, who are hoping to have Liggett back tomorrow, know that the course they saw on Monday – damp and somewhat receptive after the overnight rains – will play a lot differently on Tuesday in what is supposed to be a 90-plus degree dry day.

“It did play a little slower as compared to the practice round yesterday and that is the most difficult thing for younger players is to readapt to changing conditions,” he said. “Tomorrow will be a totally different day and now that they have the bad rounds out of the way, they know what is in store for them tomorrow.”

As for Mason, who is attempting to keep the medalist honors at Holy Family after three straight wins by Hailey Schalk from 2017-2019, it was a nearly flawless round of golf.

The Tigers junior had it to 4-under after pouring in a 12-foot eagle putt on No. 15, and ultimately finished with a 3-under score of 69. The only blemishes on the card were a couple of three putt bogeys on the inward nine’s two difficult par-3’s.

Mason will carry an eight shot lead into tomorrow’s final round and will have a front row seat to watch her two closest chasers try and catch her.

“I was relaxed today and everything was good today, so tomorrow I just have to come back out and do the same thing,” said Mason, who went a perfect 5-for-5 in Northern Colorado Athletic Conference tournaments this season. “Even if you do have an eight-shot lead, you still have to play well.”

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

PUEBLO — As a freshman, Aubri Braecklein trotted around Elmwood Golf Course and finished at 19-over in the Class 3A girls golf state championship. She, like every other competitor that year, watched as Holy Family’s Hailey Schalk grabbed a six-stroke win.

Her sophomore year, she faced a four-stroke deficit to Colorado Academy’s Caroline Jordaan but the second day of the tournament at Eagle Valley Ranch was wiped out by weather.

In 2021, after her junior season was cancelled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Braecklein decided that she wouldn’t be denied a third time. She entered the day trailing St. Mary’s Academy freshman Maddy Bante by three strokes but fired a 2-under-par 69 to battle back and win the state championship in her final high school competition.

“This is really special,” Braecklein said. “I’ve had a rough season. I hurt my wrist and I’ve been trying to battle back from that so that made today really special.”

She had her moments where her round was looking spectacular. She got her first birdie of the day on the par 5 third hole then landed her tee shot on No. 6 within two feet of the cup. But it was her shot on the par 3 seventh that truly made it feel like it was going to be her day.

Aubri Braecklein’s putt on 18 falls into the cup to give her the 2021 3A girls golf state title. (Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

The ball landed on the right side of the green then started rolling forward and banking left, toward the direction of the pin. She was a foot away from a hole-in-one, but felt like she had every bit of momentum at that point.

“I knew I was close, but I didn’t think it was tap-in range,” Braecklein said. “It was a lot closer than I thought.”

Bante did her best to keep up with Braecklein’s pace, but the course wasn‘t as favorable to her Tuesday as it was in Round 1.

Too many times it looked as though her putts were going to fall but they ended up missing the cup by inches on either side. She didn’t quite finish her hunt to become the first freshman to win the 3A title since Schalk in 2017 but competing on that stage gave her valuable experience that she’ll look to apply in the future.

“I need to stay the course and not think too far ahead,” Bante said. “I have to think about the next shot and follow what I think is right and just do what I need to do.”

She’s far from going away empty-handed. Bante and teammate Natalie Tatar finished second and third on the individual leaderboard and Mallory Hopper finished in a tie for 11th after firing an 86. Those scores were good enough to win a team state title, the first girls golf title in school history, the second overall team championship in school history and the first since a field hockey title in 2008.

“It’s really special because I know that I made a difference that helped our team win,” Bante said. “I couldn’t have done it without the other three players we had in Reese (Brown), Natalie and Mallory.”

They also did it for their coach. Ann Wolta Blackstone is in her third battle with breast cancer and watching the way her team battled through two days of competition had her fighting back tears when trying to process the weight that the accomplishment carried.

“It’s such an amazing feat,” Wolta Blackstone said. “In all these years we’ve never won state and we’ve never even won regionals. I’m so proud of my girls. It was such an amazing and beautiful thing to watch.”

And they’ll have a chance to do it again. Bante and Brown are freshmen, while Tatar and Hopper are both juniors.

All of them will be back looking to win more gold in the spring of 2022.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Katelyn Lehigh accomplished several personal goals in spectacular fashion while winning the Class 5A girls golf individual state championship on Tuesday.

The junior golfer opened the final day at City Park Golf Course in a tie for the lead with teammate Taylor Bandemer and turned in a 4-under 66 that tied the 18-hole course record during her closing round and clinched her first state title. It was a championship effort over two years in the making. Lehigh’s two-day score of 138 added a third individual title to her family name – her older sister Lauren Lehigh won state titles in 2019 and 2018 (4A).

While she accomplished each of those things, Katelyn Lehigh’s focus remained elsewhere.

From the start, Lehigh was invested in helping Loveland win its first team title since moving up to 5A and second overall in the program’s history, which the Loveland girls accomplished collectively on Tuesday with a team score of 450.

“The team title always comes first and we did it together,” Lehigh said. “It has always been the goal to win it as a team and win it individually. But playing for the team title is the most important thing and it took all of us. If Reece (Bandemer) and Taylor (Bandemer) and Maryn (Harlow) didn’t play well, it wouldn’t have really mattered what I did.”

Taylor Bandemer tied for eighth with a 154. Reece Bandemer shot a 77 on Day 2 and finished in 14th place. Harlow tied for 50th with a score of 181.

After overcoming her fear of a blow-up opening round on Monday to position herself as the frontrunner for Day 2, Lehigh said her nerves disappeared when it came time to seal the deal on Tuesday. She split six birdies equally between the front and back nines for a 66.

“I was super nervous about everything yesterday,” Lehigh said. “Today, being paired with Olivia (Steen), it felt like pretty much every other high school tournament because we pretty much played together pretty much every single high school tournament. So, I was surprisingly calm today.”

Chasing Lehigh for most of the tournament, Prairie View junior Lily Nelson finished runner-up. She shot a 1-under 69 on the second day. It was the first tournament round under par of her prep career, and it came at a good time.

“It went really well,” Nelson said. “My putting was really good today and I was able to get some up-and-downs. My driver was also pretty good. I’m more confident because I’ve gotten better over the season and I’m looking forward to doing it again next season.”

Fossil Ridge’s Olivia Steen placed third, going 2-over on Tuesday for an overall 146. Eaglecrest’s Emma Bryant, who won the 5A individual title as a freshman in 2018, carded a 147. Valor Christian’s Grace young placed fifth at 149.

Rock Canyon was second in the team scoring. The Jaguars were 25 strokes behind Loveland and Cherry Creek was third with a score of 492.

The Season D girls golf state championships are Monday and Tuesday. Find live leaderboards below or download the CHSAA Golf app.

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Class 5A

• Day 1 tee times
• Location: City Park Golf Course
• Live leaderboard (iWanamaker)

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Class 4A

• Day 1 tee times
• Location: Commonground Golf Course
• Live leaderboard (iWanamaker)

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Class 3A

• Day 1 tee times
• Location: Elmwood Golf Course
• Live leaderboard (iWanamaker)

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

PUEBLO — Sometimes perspective can provide the proper inspiration. That’s certainly the case for the St. Mary’s Academy girls golf team. Like any team playing in the Class 3A state tournament at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo, the Wildcats are looking for a state title. But there is so much more on the line for them.

A state championship isn’t just an achievement. It’s a thank you. They want to thank coach Ann Wolta Blackstone for the time that she dedicates to them to help them improve their game. Especially when she has a life-changing battle of her own.

Wolta Blackstone is going through her third battle against breast cancer. But even in the midst of fighting off a life-threatening disease, she’s coaching her girls through their swings and seeing the best results she can.

Led by freshman Maddy Bante’s even-par 71, the Wildcats came out of the first day of the state tournament with the team lead.

“It’s amazing,” Wolta Blackstone said. “I’ve coached for six years at St. Mary’s Academy, and this is the first time I’ve had three really good golfers. It’s just so fun. It’s fun to watch them compete and have a good time.”

Having a good time can certainly help when the scores are favorable.

The Wildcats have three players inside the top 10 on the leaderboard. Bante’s 71 was the low round of the day at Elmwood and she’ll go into Tuesday’s final round with a three-stroke lead over Jefferson Academy’s Aubri Braecklein.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

She never let herself get into too much trouble. She made a bogey on the par 4 fifth hole then regained the stroke by sinking a long birdie putt on the par 5 ninth.

On the back nine, she made bogeys on 13 and 17 but got a huge emotional and confidence boost as she chipped in for eagle on 16.

Bucket for Bante on the par 5 16th and all of a sudden she’s 1-under for the tournament. #copreps pic.twitter.com/rwMxmWInUJ

— Daniel Mohrmann (@DanMohrmann) June 21, 2021

“I definitely was not expecting that,” Bante said. “I just wanted to get it to within a few inches. It will bring me a lot more confidence on that hole and get me to thinking I can get there in two.”

Her tee shot veered left on 18, but she escaped the trouble and got up and down for a par and the best round of her life. As she walked off the green, she and Wolta Blackstone embraced and allowed the emotions of the round and situation at hand wash over them.

Prior to heading to the course, the team had surprised their coach with a fresh set of golf shirts for everyone. The St. Mary’s Academy logo was in pink and a pink ribbon along with “Coach Ann” were stitched on the right sleeve.

It was the idea way for them to remember to play with their emotions on their sleeves as they hunt the first girls golf title in school history.

“I really wanted to do something special for her,” junior Mallory Hopper said. “This year I thought we would make it all about her because she inspires us with her strength every single day. It was a way to honor all that she does for us.”

Hopper’s 83 has her in 10th place on the leaderboard while Natalie Tatar shot 77 to sit in fourth. With Bante sitting in first heading into Tuesday, the Wildcats have a chance to take both the individual title and the team championship.

And there’s nothing they’d like more than to play their way to those championships for their coach.

“I’m so blessed with Coach Ann,” Bante said. “We are so thankful for her so doing this for her is just a small thing compared to what she’s done for us.”

Tuesday’s goal of winning a state title is a goal for both players and coach. It’s no longer about any of them doing anything for each other. It’s all about doing something together.

(Dan Mohrmann/CHSAANow.com)

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Between Classes 5A and 4A, Lauren Lehigh won a pair of girls golf state championships during her time at Loveland and was the last high school player to win a 5A state title in Colorado.

Her younger sister, Katelyn Lehigh, had designs on extending the Lehigh family’s reign over Class 5A but the global pandemic cancelled the 2020 season, leaving the Loveland junior with a long while to heap expectations upon herself for when her opportunity would finally come. On Day 1 of the 5A state tournament at the newly redesigned City Park Golf Course, Lehigh didn’t succumb to the pressure of living up to her family name in the final days of Season C.

Carding a two-over 72 on Monday, Lehigh will open Tuesday’s final round in a tie for the lead with senior teammate Taylor Bandemer. The duo’s first-day effort positioned their Loveland team with a 10-stroke lead in the team competition.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

“My freshman year, we had state at Harmony and it got rained out to one day,” Lehigh said. “So, that’s the only state experience I’ve had because COVID cancelled last year. So, I was definitely really nervous coming into today. I feel like I set expectations for myself over the past couple of years to play well. I’ve played well all high school season and I just tried to settle down and play my game because you can’t win it on the first day.

“The fear going in was that I would do something, it would blow up, and everything I’ve been working towards for the past two years would just suddenly be gone. That’s not the case, so I’m really happy.”

Both Lehigh, who tied for eighth in 2019, and Bandemer stayed steady throughout Monday’s opening round. Bandemer birdied No. 8 and No. 13 to lower her score after starting 3-over through the first five holes. Lehigh birdied No. 9 to make the turn at 1-over and posted a lone bogey on the back nine to stay at 2-over on a mild-weather June day that didn’t see any player go low.

“I played pretty solid golf. I hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of greens,” Lehigh said. “I couldn’t seem to get a put to the hole but my midrange putting really saved me today. I made a lot of five- and 10-footers for par. But nothing went drastically wrong, so I’m good.”

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

It has been over two years since the last girls golf state championships and since 2018 that Eaglecrest’s Emma Bryant won the 5A title as a freshman. Still in the hunt to reclaim the title from the Lehigh sisters, Bryant shot a 5-over 75 and will be three strokes behind the co-leaders when play resumes on Tuesday morning.

Right on the heals of the Loveland pair, Prairie View junior Lily Nelson sits third after carding a 73. Fossil Ridge junior Olivia Steen, who was fourth in 2019, is currently fourth at 74. Rock Canyon’s Grace Dunkleberger, who tied Lehigh for eights place in 2019, and Mountain Vista’s Abby Aeschleman are tied at 75 with Bryant in fifth place.

Ten strokes behind Loveland (225) in the team competition, Rock Canyon (235) will begin the second day in second place. Arapahoe (248) is third 23 strokes behind the front-running team.

“I think our girls were really tough and I’m really proud of how they played,”  Rock Canyon coach Ron Saul said. “They had some adversity out there and I really expect that they’re going to make a run at it tomorrow. We’re 10 shots back but you can make that up in a heartbeat. And they’ve got the talent to do it.”

Fossil Ridge won the team title in 2019. Loveland was second, just one stroke back. Cherry Creek was third.

Pairing and tee times for Day 2 will be released Monday night.

(Brad Cochi/CHSAANow)

Tee times for the second day of girls golf’s state championships in Season D are below.

The tournaments for all classifications run June 20-21. Class 5A will be held at City Park in Denver, Class 4A will be at Commonground in Aurora, and Class 3A is at Elmwood in Pueblo.

Live scores and updates can be found at iWanamaker.com.

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Class 5A

Download: PDF
[pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/5A-day-2-pairings.pdf”]
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Class 4A

Download: PDF
[pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/4A-Day-2-Pairings.pdf”]
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Class 3A

Download: PDF
[pdf-embedder url=”https://old.chsaanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/3A-day-2-pairings.pdf”]

Cherry Creek had three of the top five finisher as it claimed the Class 5A Southern Regional title at Broken Tee.