Persson-Gulda Shares Lead At Heather Farr Memorial

BROOMFIELD, Colo. - Senior Maria Persson-Gulda currently holds a share of first place at the eighth annual Heather Farr/CU Memorial golf tournament here Monday at the Omni Interlocken Resort. Colorado is four strokes off the lead and sitting in a tie for fourth place.

The Buffaloes got a very solid outing from Persson-Gulda, who shot a one-over 73 in the morning round, the second-lowest round of the morning. Her afternoon loop was even better, as she put up a one-under 71, CU's first sub-par round of the year and one of just four on Monday's 36 holes.

"Maria had it going today,” said CU head coach Anne Kelly. “She was three under for awhile. She bogeyed 16 and 17 but still kept it to one under so that was very good.

Kelly's senior and co-leader of the tournament agreed with her coach's assessment.

“This morning I was kind of a little bit rusty I guess,” said Persson-Gulda. “I was a couple over and made a birdie and finished one over. I played really well this afternoon....put my shots close to the pin and was getting them to fall. I was three-under for most of the round. Then it got a little dark, and I got into a little trouble on two of the last four, but still managed to stay under. It was really a lot of fun out there today.”

Teammate Hannah Hoch is in a tie for 12th after her rounds (74-75-149), with freshman Lindsay Caljouw just two strokes back of her (76-75-151), currently tied for 17th.

"It's a tight race out there,” said Kelly. “Hannah is getting better. She is getting back on her game that's for sure. As for Lindsay, that's a long day for a freshman. That's probably the longest day of golf she's ever experienced in her life. She hung in there extremely well.

Colorado also had good play from the fourth and fifth players in their lineup, Jessie Malcolm and Lindsay Koth. Malcolm's morning round of 78 scored for the Buffs, while Koth's afternoon round of 77 scored as well.

“We got consistent play from Malcolm and Koth,” said Kelly. “They both contributed. That's what we need from our fourth and fifth spot. They aren't real happy with their scores so I'm sure they want to come out and improve on that tomorrow."

Tomorrow the Buffs will make a go at winning their home tournament for the first time ever. CU has finished second three times in the eight-year history of the tournament (1998, 2000 and 2001) and a Buff has earned medalist honors just once, when Kiersten Albright did it in 1998.

Denver is the current leader (299-296-595) trailed by Fresno State (304-293-597), San Jose State (294-304-598) and CU (301-298-599) as well as New Mexico State (297-302-599). Persson-Gulda's co-leader is Renee Skidmore of Idaho, who shot 72-72-144.

"I think the team worked really hard the last three weeks to prepare for this tournament,” said Persson-Gulda. “As for me, I'm on my home course. I'm a senior. We've been out there putting in a lot of hours, and I think all day I just thought about going out there and doing what I deserve. I think the team, we went into this tournament with those thoughts and we'll think that way tomorrow.”

CU will have that chance beginning at 8:30 a.m. at the Omni Interlocken Resort. The teams will again tee off in a shotgun start on the Eldorado and Sunshine courses at the Omni. Admission and parking are free for spectators. The Omni Interlocken Resort is located off Highway 36 and the Interlocken exit in Broomfield.