Girls Golf: 2026 State Championships Day 1 Recap
Photo: Dan Mohrmann
AURORA – The first day of the 2026 Girls Golf State Championships took place on Monday at four rain-soaked sites across the state.
The second round of the two-round tournament will take place tomorrow with all individual and team champions crowned at the conclusion of play.
THORNTON – Valor Christian’s Ella Scott holds a two-stroke lead over the individuals following the first day of the 5A Championship at Thorncreek Golf Club in Thornton, as she finished the round at 1-over 73. Cherry Creek’s Tatum Platt and Legend’s Scout Fitzgerald are tied for second at 3-over 75 apiece, while Valor Christian’s Emma Nguyen is one stroke back of that, at 4-over 76, and Ralston Valley’s Addison Hines is one stroke back of that, at 5-over 77.
In a tie for sixth place is Castle View’s Aiven Amella and Pine Creek’s Henly Wilson, at 79. Regis Jesuit’s Natalie Furgason and Rock Canyon’s Ashley Chang are tied for eighth, at 80, while Valor Christian’s Chloe Johnson rounds out the top-10 with an 81.
With three golfers in the top-10, Valor Christian ranks first among the teams with a 14-over 230. Legend sits second, at 25-over 241, while Cherry Creek is four strokes back of that, at 29-over 245.
MONTROSE – Air Academy’s Landry Frost and Ponderosa’s Kaylee Meyering are one stroke apart and sitting atop of the leaderboard, with Frost carding a 3-over 74 and Meyering signing for a 4-over 75. In third place is Riverdale Ridge’s Brynn Balliet at 8-over 79.
A slew of players are all within striking distance of the top five, as fourth through 10th place features nine golfers within five strokes of one another. Tied for fourth are a pair of Durango golfers, as Jayden Craig and Dylan Livingston turned in matching 15-over 86s, while Ponderosa’s Olivia Meyering and Pueblo West’s Gabi Benfatti are one stroke back of that and tied for sixth at 87.
Three strokes back of that are a pair of golfers – Riverdale Ridge’s Leah Johnson and Falcon’s Brooklyn Kinder – whom hold a one-stroke lead over 10th place. Johnson and Kinder shot an 87 today, while Dakota Ridge’s Nora Hogan, Monarch’s Malone Schaefer and Thomas Jefferson’s Addison McCarthy all turned in a matching 91 to sit tied for 10th going into the final round.
Ponderosa has the team lead at the end of day 1, with the team combining for a score of 48-over 261. Air Academy is second by one stroke, as the Kadets have shot 55-over 268 and Riverdale Ridge is at 269. One-stroke back of that, and in fourth, is Durango, at 270.
DENVER – Timnath is atop both the team and individual leaderboards following the first day of play at the Foothills Golf Course. Freshman Peyton Landon leads all golfers with a 3-over 75, while teammates – junior Cheyanne Schrick and freshman Isla Carlucci – are two and three strokes back, respectively. Schrick shot a 5-over 77 today, while Carlucci signed for a 6-over 78. Littleton’s Zoe Bar-Or sits fourth wth a 7-over 79, while Lutheran’s Tess Morris and Steamboat Springs’ Katharina Cosby are tied for fifth at 8-over 80.
In a three-way tie for seventh place is Holy Family’s Danikka Nielsen and Acadia Curtis with Mullen’s Ayla Rueschhoff, as the trio shot an 81 today. Lutheran’s Chace Atkinson rounds out the top 10 one stroke back of that, at 82.
The highlight of the day came on hole 17, though, when Rifle’s Mikhayla Washington sunk a hole-in-one.
Among the teams, Timnath holds a 16-stroke lead over second place Holy Family, with the Cubs turning in a 14-over 230. The Holy Family Tigers are at 30-over 246, which sits three strokes ahead of third-place Lutheran (33-over 249).
LONE TREE – Quinn Roman, of St. Mary’s Academy, holds a narrow lead over the individuals following the first day of the 2A Championship at Lone Tree Golf Club, with her 4-over 76 being the first round’s best score. Mainitou Springs’ Addison Dorsey is one stroke back of that after signing for a 5-over 77, while Eads’ Reese Barnett carded a 6-over 78 to sit third.
In fourth place is Colorado Academy’s Sophia Lee, at 8-over 80, while Rye’s Gloriana Ruiz rounds out the top five at 9-over 91.
Denver Christian’s Sarah Farmer and Kent Denver’s Kaia Chand are tied for sixth, each with an 82, with Denver Christian’s Aspen Murphy sitting eighth, at 83. A three-way tie for ninth rounds out the top-10 individuals, with Resurrection Christian’s Karina Garcia and Addison Moreno, and Montezuma Cortez’s Amita Crowley all turning in an 85 through the first round.
With two golfers in the top-10, Denver Christian leads the team race with a 42-over 258. Resurrection is seven strokes back, at 49-over 265, with St. Mary’s Academy sitting third with a 55-over 271.
