Palmer leads way as 10 area golfers advance

Colorado Springs will be well represented at this year's 5A state girls golf tournament after Palmer, Doherty, Coronado, Air Academy and Pine Creek all had 10 golfers qualify in a regional at the Colorado Springs Country Club on Monday.

Palmer was the only area team to qualify for the 5A state tournament at Raccoon Creek Golf Club in Littleton on May 19-20 after Jamie and Forre Zook, as well as senior Elizabeth Raitz helped the Terrors to a fifth-place finish (280) on their home course.

Jamie Zook, who won the Metro League individual championship last week, qualified for state for the second year in a row despite playing her best round, a 92.

"I played awful but I'm happy I played well enough to go to state," she said.

Freshman Forre Zook will join her after matching her sister's score.

"Forre's performance today was huge," said Palmer coach Jason Kohl. "She's playing way beyond a freshman in the the way she conducts herself on the course."

Doherty's Paige Crawford placed fourth with a round of 80, which helped the Gladiators secure fourth with a team score of 274; the best showing for an area school. Maree Wurtz also qualified.

"I just stayed relaxed out there, which helped me maintain my focus," Crawford said. "Last year's experience helped me not be as nervous this time. It will be great to go to state again with Maree."

Highlands Ranch won the regional with a score of 240 followed by Douglas County (251) and Mountain Vista 261.

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