5A girls golf: Higgins prevails as medalist to add to Valor Christian’s team title

PARKER – There was very little drama in the chase for the team championship at the Class 5A girls state golf tournament, but plenty in the race for medalist.

Boosted by an outstanding first day at Black Bear Golf Club, host Valor Christian brought a 14-stroke lead into Wednesday’s final round and for all intents and purposes had sewed up the championship, the second straight for the Eagles.

That margin would grow even larger by the end for coach Justen Byler’s Valor Christian team, which won the title by 21 strokes over Castle View. The cherry on the top came at the end when the Eagles added an individual state championship from sophomore Brenna Higgins, who prevailed over Smoky Hill freshman Sophia Stiwich in a one-hole playoff after the two had battled throughout the entire second day.

“It’s really hard to put into words, but I’m super, super proud of these young ladies,” Byler said of his team of Higgins, her sister Elle, Isabella Hidalgo and Halahn Lee.

“I’m super proud of the fact that they were able to accomplish something, but I’m even more proud of how they treated their playing partners, how they treated other schools and how they treated each other,” he added. “Certainly we’ve had some individual success, but the team component of what I watched it what makes me the most proud.”

Part of the reason the Eagles were in such good position going into the final day was the play of Brenna Higgins, who got off to a blistering start in Tuesday’s opening round, which she finished atop the leaderboard after shooting a round of 6-under-par 66 that included an eagle and four birdies.

But she couldn’t shake Stiwich, who made eight birdies of her own in the opening round to finish just a shot behind.
The two were paired together for the final round along with Cherry Creek sophomore Caitlyn Chin — the only other player to shoot under par in the opening round — and it was a constant back-and-forth throughout the entire round.
Putts just lipped out for both players multiple times and Stiwich’s aggressive style gave her the advantage multiple times, while Higgins’ steady play gave her the edge at times.

Tied on No. 18, Stiwich had a par putt from the fringe of the green that would have won the tournament, but it came up an inch short. Both players finished with bogeys on the hole, prompting them to replay 18 as a playoff hole.

Stiwich’s tee shot went out of bounds, while Higgins played a safe shot into the middle of the fairway and awaited Stiwich’s next shot. The freshman had to go back to the tee and again put a shot out of bounds, which basically took her out of the running to win the playoff, so she conceded.

Higgins said she was shaking for the last five holes, but was glad to have prevailed in a competition that was so close.

“It could have gone either way for both us, for sure,” said Higgins, who finished with a 77 on the second day for a two-day total of 143. “But I’m really happy with the outcome right now.”

“I have a huge amount of respect for her (Stiwich), lot of humility, tough decision for a young lady because she played so well for two days,” Byler said. “We’d all like to see it finish on the green, not just for Brenna’s sake, but for Sophia’s because she deserved that. You see a lot of things in this sport and that’s the first time I’ve seen that one.”

When the result was secured, Valor Christian teammates mobbed Higgins and doused her with water in celebration.

One of those to greet her was her sister, Elle, who also had a big hand in the championship as she tied for fifth individually.

“She’s just said ‘I’m so proud of you’ and that felt really good,” Brenna Higgins said.

Hidalgo finished with rounds of 84 and 89 to finish at 173, one stroke ahead of Lee, who finished with rounds of 89 and 85.

Castle View — which finished ninth last season — ended up as the 5A runner-up with a 12-stroke margin over Rock Canyon. The SaberCats were paced by Sydney McCourt, who finished tied with Elle Higgins for fifth place individually with rounds of 75 and 74.

Following Stiwich (who shot 67 and 76 for her two-day total of 143) in the top 10 came Rock Canyon’s Ashleigh Wilson, who had the tournament’s best second round with a 2-under 70 that brought her in two strokes behind the co-leaders. Chin shot 68 in the opening round and 80 in the second round to hang on to fourth, while Fossil Ridge’s Ellie Barry took seventh and Cherokee Trail’s Kaleigh Babineaux eighth.

Ralston Valley’s Addison Hines and Rock Canyon’s Ashley Chang finished in a tie for ninth.