3A girls golf: Holy Family’s Hailey Schalk finishes with historical round
BROOMFIELD — In a day of firsts, Holy Family’s Hailey Schalk went for a best. Monday marked the first round of the first-ever Class 3A girls state golf tournament.
And the Holy Family freshman went of a career-best 6-under-par 65.
Not too shabby for a first round at at a state tournament.
“On one, I hit a good tee shot and then I hit my wedge to probably three feet,” Schalk said. “I think that just gave me momentum to keep playing the way I know how to play.”
In a word, she plays well.
Schalk birdied six of her first seven holes. She made par on eight and found her first bit of trouble on the ninth hole.
“I just hit a bad tee shot, so I was in the rough,” she said. “I had a bad lie and I chunked it out. I got up and down (for bogey).”
She started the back nine with yet another birdie, but her momentum leveled off as she made her way in. Her eighth and final birdie of the day came on on No. 13, then she ended with four pars and one bogey that she was visibly frustrated by.
“I just three-putted,” she said.
Beyond nine and 18, she showed poise and talent well beyond that of a freshman in her first round at state. She is long with her driver, accurate with her irons and when her putter is hot, she’s proven she can be tough to beat.
“She made a change yesterday with her putter,” Tigers coach Matt Schalk said. “I think we found it could go either way and it obviously went the right way.”
The Tigers finished the day second in the team hunt at 238. Colorado Academy, last year’s 4A champion, is well in control of the team lead with a score of 215. Cassie Kneen finished at even par while Caroline Jordaan and Marie Jordaan each finished with a 72.
The individual lead might be difficult to overcome for any one of the Mustangs, but they felt they did what they needed to to set themselves up for a second-straight state title.
“We all played pretty well today,” Caroline Jordaan said. “I think we made a good impression on the rest of the field. Especially with a bunch of new teams with it being 3A, we did such a good job today.”
Kent Denver sits in third place after the first day at 240. The battle between the Sun Devils and the Tigers will be a fun race to watch during Tuesday’s second-round.
But all eyes will likely be on Schalk. Going back to 2010, Schalk’s 65 is the best individual score for any player in any class.
She won’t be thinking about that when she’s tees off, though.
“I just need to keep a good attitude and keep hitting the ball well and keep my putter going,” she said. “Just do the same stuff tomorrow.”
The final round of the 3A golf tournament at Broadlands will begin at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday morning.
