Race for Jeffco girls golf league medalists heating up

GOLDEN — Ralston Valley junior Addison Hines is in position to capture the girls golf Class 5A Jeffco League individual medalist title.

Hines is atop the leaderboard with a 35.13 9-hole scoring average through the first four of six Jeffco League tournaments. The junior shot a 1-under-par, 70 Monday at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden to keep the overall medalist lead with two conference tournaments remaining.

“I defintely need to have a good positive attitude and stay confident,” Hines said of how she will hold off the pack of Valor golfers attempting to chase her down for the medalist title. “I need to believe in myself.”

Hines said her top immediate goal is to claim the 5A Jeffco medalist title. The final Jeffco League tournament is scheduled for Thursday, May 1, at Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada.

On the Ralston Valley junior’s heals are five formidable Valor golfers from the three-time defending 5A team champions. Freshman Jamie Wilson, sophomore Ella Scott, junior Aja Blankenship, along with seniors Brenna Higgins and Bella Eide hold the 2 through 6 spots in the 5A Jeffco individual standings.

Scott actually won Monday’s Ashley Forey Memorial Tournament at Rolling Hills with a 2-under-par, 69. Scott is sitting in second place in the overall standings, while two-time defending 5A individual state champion — Higgins — is in third.

Hines said she spent last summer playing several tournament that featured many of the top players in Colorado after she finished tied for third at the 5A state tournament a year ago.

“It defintely helped my confidence a lot,” Hines said attempting to win an individual state title this spring. “I know I can do it if I have a good mindset and play my best.”

Hines won the first two league tournaments at Applewood and Fox Hollow to open up a lead in the individual medalist standings. Last year, Higgins just edged Hines by a single stroke for the individual 5A Jeffco title.

“I’ve been pretty happy,” Hines said about her junior campaign. “I had a good first two tournaments. I’ve been playing good. I’ve been hitting it well.”

While Hines still has a few weeks left of her junior season and her senior campaign next year at Ralston Valley, Hines has already verbally committed to continue her playing career at the college level.

“I am really excited for that,” Hines said of her already verbally committing to UNLV. 

Golden senior Olivia Dorland is the leader for the 4A Jeffco League medalist title. Dorland has a 41.88 9-hole average after her round of 87 at Rolling Hills on Monday.

“It is nice because there is a home advantage,” said Dorland of playing Rolling Hills where she is a member. “But at the same time it adds that pressure because I should play better than some of my competitors. If you don’t have a good day on the greens you aren’t going to shoot that well.”

Dorland was a 4A second-team all-state selection as a junior.

“My goal is to break into that top-10 (at state). I’m really hoping I get there,” Dorland said. “I’ve been training a lot. I did a lot of the junior PGA tournaments over the summer. I’m feeling really good about my game right now. I’m having a really fun senior season.”

Golden is in firm command of winning a fifth straight 4A Jeffco team title. The Demons have more than a 300-stroke lead over Dakota Ridge.

Dakota Ridge sophomore Nora Hogan is the closest competitor to Dorland. Hogan shot a solid round of 82 on Monday to put her 9-hole scoring average at 42.75.

Littleton junior Zoe Bar-Or is running away with the 3A Jeffco League individual medalist title. Bar-Or had a round of 77 on Monday. She has a 38.0 9-hole average, which is a full four strokes better than Pomona senior Riley Kinsella. The Lions also have a comfortable leading the 3A Jeffco team standings.