Colorado Records Fifth-Place Finish At Golfweek Red Sky Classic

WOLCOTT, Colo. – After dealing with a long weather delay for rain and lightning and then having playing suspended Tuesday night due to darkness, the University of Colorado women's golf team was finally able to finish their second round of play on Wednesday at the Golfweek Red Sky Classic.
 
Because of the delays, officials made the call to reduce the tournament from 54 to 36-holes at the 6,305-yard, par 72 Fazio Course at Red Sky Golf Club. Colorado finished the tournament fifth, recording their first top-five finish of the 2021-22 season.
 
The Buffaloes dealt with the delays, as well as the change of weather on Tuesday between warm and cold, rain and wind, better than most of the field. CU shot a 12-over 300 in the second; only seven teams scored better than that in the second round. The 300, combined with their first-round score of 283, gave CU a 583. It was two-strokes ahead of Kennesaw State and five-strokes behind Washington State (578).
 
East Tennessee State won the tournament shooting a 570 (279-291).
 
"We all were disappointed with the weather issues and having the third round canceled," head coach Anne Kelly said. "Unfortunately we got off to a rough start the first nine Tuesday and just didn't have enough holes to make up for it. We have a talented group of players and we just need to putt better and take advantage of more birdies opportunities."
 
Individually redshirt freshman Lauren Gooding had a great tournament despite it being cut to just two rounds. She finished tied for third, carding a 141 with rounds of 68 and 73 and was on pace to record one of the best debut tournaments by a Buff. She could have recorded up to a 76 in her third round and have tied for the fifth-best debut (217). Had she carded another 68, she would have tied the record of 209. Her 68 from the first round tied for the second-best debut round by a Buff in program history.
 
"I'm really proud and happy for Lauren with her tie for third in her first event as a Buff!! Her performance was impressive and she has potential for even better play," said Kelly.
 
Gooding started Tuesday on the first tee and hit back-to-back bogeys to start. After the first two holes, she made par on the next five holes before recording the second eagle of her collegiate career and the second of this tournament, on a par 4, 335-yard No. 8 to bring her score back to even. Gooding finished the front nine even, making par on the ninth hole.
 
Her back nine started with a bogey on the 10th but then she made par on six consecutive holes before play was called for the night. When she was able to get back on the course Wednesday morning, Gooding recorded a bogey on No. 17 but bounced back with a birdie on the 18th hole to finish the second round 1-over.
 
Hailey Schalk, like Gooding, also had three holes left to play in the tournament. Through the first 15 holes on Tuesday, she recorded five birdies and was 2-over in the round. After play resumed on Wednesday, she finished up with a pair of bogeys and made par once for a 4-over 76. She ended up tied for 24th with a 145 (69-76).
 
Diane Baillieux and Ellie Gower each had one hole remaining when play was suspended. Both made par to finish their rounds when they were able to resume action. Gower ended up with a 74 as she recorded four birdies and make par eight times in the second round. She ended up tied for 42nd overall (75-74—149). Baillieux was 5-over for the round (79), only sinking one birdie, and tied for 38th (71-77—148).
 
Malak Bouraeda and Natalie Vo both finished on Tuesday. Bouraeda ended up tied for 98th (81-79—160) while Vo, who played as an individual, tied for 34th (71-76—147).
 
Denver's Anna Catherine Krekling won medalist honors, carding a 138. She shot a 66 in the first round and a 72 in the second.
 
The Buffaloes will be back in action October 11-12 at the Illini Invitational.
 
NOTES: In the second straight round, Lauren Gooding fired her second eagle and now has two in her collegiate career (in her first tournament). She is one of three players in the tournament to have two eagles as Delaware's Oihana Etxezarreta and New Mexico State's Amelia McKee also have two … as a team CU has three eagles in the tournament but technically Natalie Vo's eagle from the first round does not count for the team as she is playing as an individual.