With rain looming, Vance and Gillespie star on first day of 5A girls golf
LOVELAND — Not even looming rainclouds that put a chill in the air — and cast doubt on whether play would be continued Tuesday — could put a damper on Gillian Vance’s smile after 18 holes Monday.
The Dakota Ridge senior shot a four-under 68 to take a two-stroke lead after day one of the Class 5A girls golf state championships at Olde Golf Course in Loveland.
Although the weather mostly cooperated Monday, rain is expected for the rest of the week, and if the course is rendered unplayable, Monday’s results will become final.
“We’ll make a determination (Monday) morning after conferring with course officials. Our hope is to be able to finish the tournament,” said Harry Waterman, CHSAA assistant commissioner who was acting as the site director at the course on Monday. “If not, the results of Day 1 will determine the outcome of the championships.”
The inhospitable climate Monday had no adverse affect on Vance, who took advantage of greens softened by rain to dial in her approach shots, especially on the back-nine, where she pulled away from the pack with a three-under 33.
“When it’s colder it’s usually not going to go as far, and when it’s wet, which it’s been, it’s usually not going to roll as far. So I just wanted to be aggressive because I knew the greens would be pretty receptive,” Vance said of her approach Monday. “I just decided to go for it. I was really able to get it close to the pin.”
Even when she wasn’t knocking down flagsticks with her wedges, Vance was able to sink enough putts to maintain her distance from the pack. Her final birdie, which cemented her place atop the leader board, came on a long putt from off the green at the par-four 15th.
With the uncertainty surrounding play Tuesday, Dakota Ridge head coach Levi Bartholomew said he was glad to see Vance attack the golf course early.
“With the unknowns of the weather coming up (Tuesday) the discussion (Monday) was we needed to be aggressive because it could be the only day of the tournament,” said Bartholomew. “We played today with the idea that today was the second day and she really went after it.”
According to Vance, it helped that she was playing with friend and rival Sydney Gillespie from Regis Jesuit.
“We’ve know each other since we were 10, so it’s really fun playing with her. It’s also kind of sad since this is our last year,” said Vance. “It was really great to see her do so well and it was really comfortable with her out there.”
The two friends were the only two players under par after Monday. Ashlyn Kirschner of Ralston Valley, Morgan Sahm of Grandview, and Alexis Chan of Rock Canyon are all tied for third place with a first-round score of one-over.
Gillespie – who had to leave quickly after her round in order attend her graduation – shook off a bogey on her opening hole to post a two-under 70 and help the defending champion Regis Jesuit Raiders to a dominate position atop of the team leader boards after the first round.
“I’ve got to get going for graduation but I definitely will be keeping my teammates in my prayers,” said Gillespie. “They know that they have a lot of support and I know they’ll finish out strong.”
Her teammates Mary Weinstein and Jaclyn Murray combined with Gillespie for a first-round team score of five-over.
“They’ve all had a lot of tournament experience. They’ve played a ton, they’re all great players, but they’re getting really good at hanging in there and scoring well on a day where you could have scored badly,” said Regis coach George Miller. “I have three players on this team that could win this thing. I’m a very lucky guy.”
Rock Canyon and Legacy round out the team leader board with scores of 18-over and 22-over, respectively.
Second round play is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning. If play does resume, it will be as an 8 a.m. shotgun start.
Vance, for one, hopes the weather holds for one final day of high school golf – even if it would put her first-round lead in jeopardy.
“I would really love to play (Tuesday) even if it’s bad weather, because it would be the same for everybody,” said Vance. “I really hope we can. It’s our last state.”
