THORNTON - In the mental test that was this season's Class 5A girls state golf tournament, Ella Scott came through with flying colors.

The Valor Christian junior — laden with the pressure of being the defending individual state champion — faced brutal conditions on the opening day of the tournament at Thorncreek Golf Club and then on the second day had to overcome a determined challenger.

In the end, Scott did both things, as she took a lead despite the arduous opening round and held off Legend freshman Scout Fitzgerald to take medalist honors again. Scott shot a 2-under-par 70 Tuesday for a four-stroke victory, while she also led the Eagles to a fifth consecutive team state title.

"Last year, I had the hope and dream of winning, but it didn't feel super realistic," said Scott, who won by three strokes at Todd Creek Golf Club last season. "It was like this would be super cool, but it wasn't really like this needs to happen. There was not that extra pressure there was this year, knowing what I did last year. There's some comfort in that and it was like 'OK, if I can do it once, I can do it again, sure,' but it's a different course, it's a different feel and the conditions were crazy this year.

"It definitely added a lot of pressure, but I was able to relax, trust the process and stick it out."

Indeed all of the 84 golfers in the field were faced with conditions that were extremely abnormal, especially for the most important tournament of the year.

Cold, gusting winds and non-stop rain — conditions Valor Christian coach Justen Byler said were "as poor as I've ever been a part of as far as finishing a round" — made Monday a total test of mental strength and fortitude.

As a whole, the field handled it as well as could be expected (as seven players managed to shoot in the 70s), but Scott and Fitzgerald were in a different class. Scott shot 73 and took a two-stroke lead into the second round over Fitzgerald, putting the two in the final grouping together.

So Scott was acutely aware of Fitzgerald getting within one stroke of the lead in the final round after a birdie on No. 16. Her cool response was to go out and make birdie on the par-3 No. 17 — in which she put her first shot within 13 feet of the hole before sinking the putt — and making a steady par to close it out.

"I think it was good for me to be able to fire back with a birdie on 17, knowing where she sat and knowing if I can pull away, I'm harder to chase," Scott said.

Fitzgerald finished with an even-par 72 in the final round, which included two birdies on both the front and back nines. She was never able to quite catch up to Scott, however, and made bogey on her final two holes.

"I felt like I was in it, I felt like I had a good chance up there, but at the end of the day, Ella played amazing and I just didn't do enough," Fitzgerald said. "I feel pretty good though. It was good to finish my freshman year that way."

With the victory, Scott sets herself up for the chance to become a three-time champion next season, the same quest she ended for former teammate Brenna Higgins last season.

Valor Christian finished with a 19-stroke victory over Legend in a repeat of the top of the standings from the previous season. The program moved into a tie for the third-most state championships in state history along with Heritage and Mullen at five, while Colorado Academy has seven and leader Cherry Creek has 11.

It was a new look Eagles team, however, as Scott and returner Aja Blankenship were buoyed by the additions of two elite freshmen, Emma Nguyen and Chloe Johnson.

Both posted top-10 finishes, as Nguyen tied for fourth with a two-day total of plus-4 152, while Johnson tied for eighth at 156.

"Each experience has been a new one," Byler said of the latest title. "New relationships, a new team, but it's one big family. I think that's what makes it so special. They believe in the team aspect of what we've been doing and they've done that all year long, from seniors all the way down to freshmen. I couldn't be more proud."

Legend finished 28 strokes behind in 2025 and closed the gap a bit this time with the addition of Fitzgerald, who was supported by an 11th place result from senior Adyson Ice and a tie for 15th from junior Maddie Makino.

Individually, Rock Canyon senior Ashley Chang shot the round of the tournament with a blistering 68 that followed an 80 in the difficult opening round conditions. Chang's second round included four birdies in a six-hole stretch on the back nine that helped her finish just a stroke behind Fitzgerald for third place.

In a testament to a new wave of young talent, four freshmen finished in the top 10, with Fitzgerald, Nguyen and Johnson joined by Pine Creek's Henly Wilson, who shot 153 to finish sixth.

The top 10 also included Cherry Creek senior Tatum Platt (tied for fourth), Castle View sophomore Aiven Amella (seventh), Ralston Valley senior Addison Hines (eighth) and Chaparral junior Lilie Cohen (10th.)