Golfers take 1st at league

Emma Thompson carded a personal-best 104 to get her first career victory by a three-stroke margin to lead Holyoke girls golf to its first team victory of the season in league tournament action in Brush on Monday, June 7.

Holyoke shot 332 as a team to win, followed by Resurrection Christian and Yuma 343, Brush 347 and Wray 355. Estes Park did not have enough golfers for a team score.

Grace Roberts and Erin Andersen both shot 114 and tied for seventh. Amy Mackay placed 11th with a 119.

Coach Nick Flaa said the team is peaking at the right time as they head to the regional tournament in Estes Park on Thursday, June 10.

Thompson, Roberts, Andersen and Mackay will be competing at the regional tournament.

“Emma Thompson has improved each week, capping off what has been an awesome regular season,” Flaa said. Noting that her strength is her ball-striking, he pointed out that she has not used a driver since the first tournament of the season and has kept the ball in play. She has also capitalized more than once around the greens, adding to her confidence.

Flaa added that Roberts and Andersen played steady golf in Brush to help Holyoke get the win. Roberts’ short game has improved immensely, Flaa said, and he noted that she has a great eye for reading greens and has eliminated three-putts.

He said Andersen has shortened her swing considerably and has accelerated through the ball better. Her driver is one of her best clubs, and she’s advancing the ball with ease.

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Girls place 5th at home

Holyoke girls golf team hosted a tournament at Holyoke Golf Club on Tuesday, June 1, taking fifth place as a team.

Coach Nick Flaa acknowledged there is a sense of comfort when playing a competitive round on the home course.

“You’re comfortable with all the shots and the obstacles may not seem as threatening,” he said.

Flaa added a big thank you to Don Schelling, superintendent of Holyoke Golf Club, for providing amazing course conditions.

“We are lucky to have what we have,” Flaa added.

In the tournament, Flaa said Emma Thompson again led the way. He noted that she struggled a bit to find a groove on the front nine with a 65, but followed it up with a 49 on the back.

“She noted that the difference between the two nines was her iron game,” Flaa said. “She gave herself more chances around the green, kept it in the area and found a way to get the ball in the hole.”

Flaa went on to say that Amy Mackay and Grace Roberts also played solid golf, but need to eliminate the big numbers. He said their good shots are about as good as they can be hit, but the bad shots cost them.

He said Grace Gibson did some good things on the course but just struggled to string consecutive shots together throughout the day.

Otis won the tournament with a team score of 323, followed by Fort Morgan 324, Brush 351, Yuma 354, Holyoke 357, Wray 376 and Kit Carson 385.

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