Golden and Valor girls golf teams complete 4-peat

ARVADA — Ski caps and hoodies were in fashion during the final Jeffco League girls golf tournament Thursday at Indian Tree Golf Club.

With temperatures hanging round 50 degrees, Golden and Valor Christian stayed hot. The Demons (Class 4A) and Eagles (Class 5A) both claimed their fourth straight Jeffco League team championship. 

“It is super cool because I actually don’t go to Golden High School,” said senior Mollie Todd, who attends Golden View Classical Academy. “It is really meaningful to be with this team to win all four years. It is a super cool thing.”

Todd and Dakota Ridge senior Bella Kith tied for the individual 4A title at the final of six Jeffco League tournaments. Both shot a 8-over-par, 81. 

“I didn’t play great. I had a few bad holes, but I was able to pull through and do better than 85,” Todd said. “I really struggle on this course, so it’s a big deal for me to play good on this course.”

Todd finished third in the final 4A Jeffco League standings. Littleton sophomore Zoe Bar-Or took home the medalist title and Pomona junior Riley Kinsella was the league runner-up. 

While Todd does graduate, the Demons will return their four juniors — Olivia Dorland, Satya Scheffelman, Lizzy Trapp and Malia Stevens — next year. Dorland, Scheffelman and Trapp all joined Todd as first team all-conference selections.

“I didn’t really feel that much pressure,” Todd said. “I was just happy to go out there one last time to play with my friends and everything.”

Ralston Valley sophomore Addison Hines nearly put a little ding in Valor’s armor. Hines and defending 5A individual state champion — Valor junior Brenna Higgins — were tied going into the final hole after Hines birdied the par 3 No. 17th hole.

However, a missed chip and a three-putt on the 18th hole led to a bogey for Hines.

“I had a bogey-free round going. It was a lot of pressure,” Hines said going to the final hole. 

Higgins was able to par the final hole to shoot a tournament best 3-under, 70. The junior also claimed the 5A Jeffco individual medalist title this year.

“I obviously always want to win, but I didn’t have too many nerves,” Higgins said of being tied with Hines going to the final hole. 

Higgins is experience in pressure-packed situation, having defeated Smoky Hill’s Sophia Stiwich in a one-hole playoff last year at the state tournament to put icing on the top of the Eagles’ back-to-back team titles a year ago.

“That has been the ultimate goal since the beginning of the season,” Higgins said of Valor going after a third straight 5A team title. 

Hines and Columbine junior Emory Crawley joined Higgins and her Valor teammates Ella Scott, Bella Eide and Aja Blankenship as 5A Jeffco League first team all-conference selections.

“They (Valor) have a really good team. It’s been tough,” Hines said. “I’ve had to play my absolute best to even try to get a win. It’s good competition and a good learning experience.”

Hines won individual titles at Meadows and Fox Hollow conference tournaments this spring.

Teams will head to their respective regional/state qualifying tournament next week. The 4A state tournament will be held May 20 and 21 at The Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs and the 5A state tournament will be at The Broadlands in Broomfield.