Colorado University Athletics
CU Women Golfers Ranked No. 20 In Nation
February 22, 2016 | Women's Golf
BOULDER – After a solid spring debut, the University of Colorado women's golf team moved up in both golf polls this past week.
The Buffs climbed two places in the latest Golfweek poll and are ranked No. 20 in the country while earning a No. 33 ranking in the first Golfstat poll of the spring. Colorado opened its spring season at the Peg Barnard Invitational in Stanford, Calif., where they shot 295-299—594 or 26-over par and finished in sixth place. The team was paced by junior Esther Lee, who carded a 3-over par scorecard and finished tied for 11th place overall. Lee is ranked No. 13/17 (Golfweek/Golfstat) in the country.
Colorado heads back to the west coast for its next tournament in a couple weeks. The Buffs are set to play in the Bay Area Intercollegiate in Fairfax, Calif., March 7-8.
Future Buffs Playing In Australian Ladies Masters
Both of Colorado's 2016 signees—Kirsty Hodgkins and Robyn Choi are set to compete in this week's Australian Ladies Masters, a Ladies European Tour sanctioned event.
Choi qualified after winning the 2015 Greg Norman Junior Masters this past December, posting a 67-71-76-68—282 and edged out future fellow Buff, Hodgkins by one stroke. Choi's final round included an eagle, four birdies and a bogey to finish at 5-under and overtake Hodgkins who started the day with one stroke lead.
Hodgkins had another opportunity to make the tournament after playing in a junior qualifier last week and took advantage of it. She shot a 2-under par and finished third overall in the event to claim the final qualifying spot.
Former Buffs Finish In Top Three
Colorado women golfer alums Jessica Wallace and Jenny Coleman finished second and third, respectively in the Symetra Tour's IOA Championship in Beaumont, Calif. this past weekend.
Wallace completed the event at 10-under par, 206, draining 16 birdies over the 72-hole tournament. She had a share of the lead through 36 holes, but rookie Erynne Lee from UCLA carded a 7-under 65 to claim the title, finishing one stroke ahead of Wallace at 11-under par.
Coleman earned a tie for third place, one stroke behind Wallace at 9-under par. She shot 68-71-68—207 and made 13 birdies.
The pair's former teammate Emily Talley has also been busy since earning her Ladies European Tour card in December. Talley qualified for the tour after finishing in a seventh place tie at the Lalla Aicha Tour School in Marrakech, Morocco. She shot 12-under par and had three birdies in her final round to help claim a place on the tour.
The 2012 CU graduate made her European Tour debut in the New Zealand Women's Open at Clearwater Golf Club earlier this month. She shot 74-73—147 or 3-over par and just missed advancing to the tournament's final day. She is considered a reserve for the Australian Ladies Masters this week and is waiting to find out if she will have an opportunity to compete.
Talley, now a resident of Oslo, Norway is scheduled to play her next event on the Symetra Tour in Florida this spring before returning to the Ladies European Tour in May.
