Buffs Compete At Pair Of Tournaments In The U.K.

BOULDER — A duo of sophomores on the University of Colorado women's golf team, Ellie Gower and Issy Simpson, wrapped up play in a pair of tournaments in the United Kingdom on Thursday.
 
Simpson played in the British Women's Amateur at West Lancashire Golf Club in Liverpool. She advanced to the match play portion of the event after shooting a 71 (1-under) in stroke play to tie for first, which also tied for co-medalist honors. Play was shortened from two rounds of stroke play to one due to the weather.
 
In the match play portion of the tournament, she faced off against the defending champion, Emily Toy, and lost 1 down.
 
Following the match, she said, "It was such a tight match, so it's a difficult pill to swallow. It was an unfortunate draw after coming first in qualifying."
 
According to Simpson, winds were around 45 mph and "it was just awful torrential rain." The match was called after about 15 holes of play.
 
At Sandy Lodge Golf Club in Northwood, Gower took part in the English Girls' Amateur Stroke Play Championship and tied for ninth after two rounds with a 5-over 149 (77-72).
 
Gower shot a 77 in the first round, which included a pair of birdies, but she also carded three bogeys and two double-bogeys. The second round saw improvement as she scored a 72 with five birdies.
 
The tournament usually includes a third round, but it was canceled due to weather, which was unfortunate because Gower was playing a great round. She had just two holes left in the round to play and was sitting on a 63.
 
"I was tied for third with a birdie putt on 17 and then had 18 to play, so I could have got to 2-under (for the round)," Gower said following the cancellation of the third round. "So that's a shame."