Individual golf battle enlivens championship

Girls 5A players go to playo round

BY JIM BENTON SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Valor Christian took most of the suspense out of the girls 5A state golf championship by winning its second straight title by 21 strokes.

However, one of the Eagles’ top players added a little suspense to the nal day of the state tournament on May 31 at Black Bear golf course in Parker.

Sophomore Brenna Higgins tied Sophia Stiwich of Smoky Hill for the individual championship with 143 two-round totals and forced a playo . However, the sudden-death playo was also unfortunately one-sided as Higgins was declared the state champ when Stiwich conceded after hitting two tee shots out of bounds.

Higgins hit her drive down the left side of the fairway on the 18th hole while Stiwich’s tee shot went far to the right and was out of bounds. She hit another drive from the tee and it too landed in the weeds, Stiwich then walked to Higgins and conceded, which sent Valor teammates running towards Higgins to celebrate.

“We had the drama at the end,” said Valor coach Justin Byler. “We would rather not have drama but at the same time it makes for some fun. From the tee box we didn’t know where Sophia’s ball had ended up. It looked like it had been found but we didn’t know if it was out of bounds or playable.

“So it was a matter of making a good swing, putting the ball in the middle of the fairway so we had an opportunity to be on the green in two and maybe two or three putt. at was the strategy of going second there.”

Byler gained a lot more respect for Stiwich after she conceded.

“She made a di cult decision and I have a huge amount of respect for her,” added Byler. “It was a tough decision for a young lady because she played so well for two days. We would have all liked to see it nish on the green, not only for Brenna’s sake but for Sophia’s because they both deserved that. You see a lot of things in this sport but that’s the rst time I’ve seen that one.”

Higgins followed up on what she had done during the rst two rounds when she teed o in the playo .

“I hit a 5-wood o the tee and that’s what I did both days,” she said. “It could have gone either way for both us. I’m really happy with the outcome right now.”

Higgins shot a 6-under-par 66 on the rst day of the tourney on May 30 and had a nal round 77 for her 1-under-par 143 total. Stiwich had rounds of 67 and 76 and left a putt inches short on the nal hole of regulation, which would have given her the individual title.

“It’s incredible,” said Higgins. “I’ve spent so much time preparing for this. I was shaking through the nal ve holes. I was putting really well in the rst round. I didn’t miss a green and that helped.”

Valor Christian had rounds of 224 and 237 to wind up with a 461 total. Castle View rallied during the second round and wound up second with a 482 total (242-240). Rock Canyon was third at 494, Cherry Creek fth at 495, Legend sixth with a two-day score of 503 and Mountain Vista seventh at 506.

“It’s hard to put into words,” said Byler. “I’m super super proud of these young ladies. ey handled themsleves with grace and humility all year long, even experiencing a level of success.” e other two members of Valor’s golf team were Isabella Hidalgo, who was 28th with a 173 score, and Halahn Lee, who nished 29th at 174 Rock Canyon sophomore Ashleigh Wilson had the best score in the nal round with a 2-under-par 70 and was third in the individual race with a 145 total after an opening round 75.

Higgins older sister, senior Elle, tied for fth in the individual standings with a 74-75 149 two-round total. She tied with Castle View’s Sydney McCord (75-74 149).