WINDSOR — For the fourth time in four tournaments this season, the Resurrection Christian girls golf team finished in the top three after taking third at its home invitational Tuesday at RainDance National.
Timnath won the event with a score of 226. The Class 3A Cubs are currently the No. 2 team in the state. Class 5A Valor Christian was second with a 241, and the Cougars were third with a 264, 10 strokes better than fourth-place Columbine (274).
After winning their first tournament of the season — the Chilly Chili Invitational in Broomfield on March 14 — the Cougars finished second at the Liberty Common Eagle Invite last Wednesday behind Timnath, and third Monday at the Windsor Wizard Invitational behind the Cubs and Holy Family.
“I think our team is looking really great,” RCS senior Karina Garcia said. “We’ve been the top 2A school at all the tournaments we’ve been to. For our 2A team, I think third place is a great spot for today.”
RCS is currently the top team in Class 2A by a wide margin, but the season is still young.
Tuesday, the Cougars looked to have a strong showing on their home course, one of the longest and more challenging 18 holes in the state. Despite finishing third, the top foursome of two seniors and two freshmen put up solid scores given cooler temperatures and breezy conditions.
Freshman Addy Moreno led the team with an 81 on the par-72 course to tie for fifth place. Only one player carded a score under par as Timnath freshman Peyton Landon won the individual title with a 71.
“There were some ups and downs,” Moreno said. “The conditions definitely make it difficult. This is not a friendly course to play with wind and just really cold.”
Garcia finished in a tie for ninth with an 87. Senior Avery Stockslager tied for 24th with a 96, and Brittyn Goings was 29th with a 97. Despite being the team’s fourth score, Goings had one of the best shots of the day when her tee shot on the par-3 12th hole landed about a foot from the cup and she was able to make the short putt for birdie.
Berthoud finished 11th in the team standings with a 314. The Spartans were led by junior Avery Tychsen’s 96, which tied for 24th place. Junior Julia Reed was 34th with a 102, senior Madie Kuntz tied for 58th with a 116, and sophomore Kaitlyn Guzman tied for 64th with a 118.
Tychsen’s round was highlighted by an eagle on the par-4 third hole.
“I was going to hit my driver, and then I was kind of second-guessing myself, so I pulled out a shorter club,” Tychsen said. “I was not used to that club at all, and I just went for it and I hit it to about three feet from the pin and it was a good feeling, and I was just really happy. Then I just kind of had to lock in my putting and then I made my putt and it was really nice.”
Mountain View finished 15th with a 326. The Mountain Lions were led by senior Amelia Gallatin, who tied for 42nd with a 106. Senior Sadie Gallatin tied for 48th with a 109. Junior Makenna Higgins tied for 52nd with a 111 and senior Jaya Hickey, a state qualifier last year, tied for 66th with a 121.
Loveland finished 16th, 15 strokes behind the Mountain Lions with a 341. Junior Hailey McCann led the Red Wolves with a 104 to tie for 36th place. Junior Belyn Downer tied for 52nd with a 111. Junior Madison Peterson tied for 73rd with a 126 and freshman Amelia Windell was 77th with a 129.
RCS had two other golfers in the field. Sophomore Courtney Foxworth was 57th with a 114 and sophomore Molly Malone tied for 61st with a 118.
While the Cougars have emerged early on as one of the favorites in Class 2A this season, they believe they will only get better by playing challenging courses against some of the best teams in the state, most of whom will be 3A, 4A and 5A teams.
“Knowing we can compete with a 3A team (Timnath), who is really, really good, means that we can compete as a 2A team and be really successful,” Moreno said. “It kind of challenges me to be better in my own way, but then it also gives me hope knowing that if we’re competing with them, we can compete with anybody in 2A.”
