Choi wins at The Pinery and overall in league
Junior fires a 68 to win final regular-season Centennial League match; sophomore Kaitlin Zingler takes third as do the Mustangs as a team; regionals are next.
PARKER – Sofia Choi and Mullen may be peaking as the postseason approaches.
The junior fired a 4-iundr-par 68 on Tuesday at The Pinery Country Club to take first in the latest Centennial League match and lead the Mustangs to a third-place finish.
And in completing the regular season, Choi also had the best aggregate score in the league. Add Mustangs junior Kaitlin Zingler, who finished third on Tuesday with a 2-over 74, and the Class 4A group fared well in the 5A-based league.
“Yeah, both Sofia and Kaitlin have had consistent performances, they’ve been really steady and even when it wasn’t their best day, they still finished strong,” Mustangs head coach Kate Walker said.
Choi, the 4A runner-up as a freshman, had two eagles and three birdies. She opened with a 3 on the 412-yard par-5 and also eagled the 411-yard par-5 No. 6. She went 33-35 to edge Eaglecrest’s Emma Bryant, expected to make a serious run at the 5A medalist, by a stroke.
“The ironic thing,” Walker said, “is that she had her (coronavirus COVID-19) vaccine (on Monday) and really didn’t feel well at all.”
Zingler, who has also taken her turns heading the team in 2021, began with one of her two birdies on the day and turned in 37-37.
“Both of them,” Walker said of Choi and Zingler, “were in the top five, top three in a lot of the tournaments. It’s really impressive when you’re playing with (the likes of) Cherry Creek, Arapahoe and Emma Bryant.”
Junior Hannah Giacomin (105), and sophomore Brie Brocato and senior Elle Deorio (118 each) completed Mullen’s efforts.
The Mustangs (365) finished behind Cherry Creek (319) and Arapahoe (346).
Next for Mullen will one of the 4A regionals tournaments. The Mustangs have been switched from Indian Tree Golf Course in Arvada to Overland G.C. not far from school. It will be held on Monday, June 7.
“We’ll prepare for regionals,” Walker said, “and try to get everyone playing their best golf on the same day.”
CENTENNIAL LEAGUE
At The Pinery C.C.
Par 72
Team scores – Cherry Creek 319, Arapahoe 346, Mullen 365, Eaglecrets 382, Cherokee Trail, 384, Grandvew 392.
Mullen individuals – 1. Sofia Choi, 68; 3. Kaitlin Zingler, 74; 20. (tie) Hanna Giacomin, 105; 30. (tie) Brie Brocato and Elle Deorio, 118.
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