Schalk Places Third, Lau Ties For Fifth At CGA Women’s Stroke Play

BOULDER – A pair of Buffaloes finished in the top five of the CGA Women's Stroke Play Championship as Hailey Schalk recorded a third-place finish and Alisha Lau tied for fifth, June 25-27, at Boulder Country Club.
 
Schalk, a native of Erie, Colo. who will be a sophomore in the fall at the University of Colorado, finished with a 218. She carded rounds of 72-74-72 on the 6,385-yard, par-70 course. This is the second top-ten finish for Schalk at a CGA event as she was 10th at the Colorado Women's Open at the beginning of June.
 
"Overall it was a good weekend that definitely tested my game," Schalk said. "I wasn't striking the ball nearly as well as I could have, only hitting 15 greens combined the last two rounds. My short game definitely saved me throughout the tournament, which gave me lots of confidence there! Not the finish I was hoping for but was a grind for sure."
 
Lau, a senior-to-be who hails from Richmond, British Columbia, tied for fifth with two others after recording a 10-over 222. She improved each day, carding rounds of 75-73-72.
 
Issy Simpson, who will be a junior this coming fall at CU, tied for 12th at the tournament. The London, England native finished with a 227. Simpson shot a 72 on the first day and then carded rounds of 79 and 76.
 
Leigha Devine won the tournament, shooting a 4-over 214 (75-68-71), while Caroline Jordaan was second (71-73-72—216).
 
CU had another connection at the tournament as Kristine Franklin, the wife of associate head coach Brent Franklin, won the mid-amateur division, firing a 219 during the three-day event. She recorded a 74 in the first round and shot an even 70 on the second day. She finished the event with a 75 and had a 15 stroke advantage on the runner-up, Kasha Scott, who recorded a 234 (76-77-81).