Photo by Leo Derkowski
Berthoud High School senior Brooklyn Tychsen taps in for par on the final hole to win the Chilly Chili Invitational in Broomfield.

By Leo Derkowski

The Surveyor

Berthoud High School senior Brooklyn Tychsen marked her return to the fairway last Saturday with an impressive first-place finish at the 14th Chilly Chili Invitational, shooting 82.

The Lady Spartans golf team saw their first real action of the season last week with competitions in Brush and Broomfield. On March 20, the varsity team, sans Tychsen, traveled to Petteys Park Golf Course in Brush, finishing second. The team followed that up by taking first place at the Chilly Chili Invitational hosted by Eagle Trace Golf Club in Broomfield on March 23.

Last Wednesday in Brush, Berthoud showed well with four players in the top ten. Rosie Hirai came in fourth, Kaylee Padilla in fifth, while Malia Sylva and Mason Premer tied for sixth. The combined team score of 295 was good for second place in the seven-team contest. Resurrection Christian High School finished first with a score of 283.

“Berthoud entered today’s first league meet of the season with expectations of competing to the best of our abilities and we partially met these,” said Head Coach Dave Hunn. “It gave our four girls an opportunity to compete in the same conditions on the same golf course, something we haven’t done this season. I was very pleased with the composure and commitment to compete of all four. From their demeanor, you really couldn’t tell if the girls made a birdie or double bogey. We strive for this, staying even-keeled throughout the round.”

The weather was a factor at the start of the round, but the girls were prepared for the brisk breeze which brought the wind chill down around freezing. “Rosie looked comfortable leading the way for the team today,” commented Hunn.

“She played within herself and proved where her place was on the team. Mason, Kaylee and Malia also played well in tough conditions.”

Over the weekend in Broomfield, the Spartan’s top varsity team comprised of Tychsen, Sylva, Padilla and Hirai, led the 13-team field almost from the start and never relinquished the lead, finishing in first place with a score of 272, eight strokes over Peak to Peak High School. Tychsen won the tournament, Sylva placed ninth with a 93 and Padilla carded a 97 for 10th place. Hirai just missed making the top ten, shooting 99 for the day.

Brooklyn had a close battle with Hayden Hawley of Horizon High School for first place as the pair were tied through most of the day. Tychsen teed up on the 18th hole with a two-stroke lead and making par would secure the win. She blocked her tee shot into the adjoining fairway and faced a difficult path to the green, but decided to go for it. Her second shot went over a bunker, skirted a small pond and between two large trees onto the small, sloping surface of the green. A nice downhill lag putt and a tap-in for par clinched the win.

“Taking a victory in the second round of competition is pleasing to see,” said Hunn. “The Lady Spartans put in tons of off-season and preseason work and it’s great for them to see the fruits of their labor. And I’m not surprised at Brooklyn’s score today. Her game has matured in both the mental and physical aspects.”

Berthoud sent two varsity squads to Broomfield, with the second varsity team also performing well, taking tenth place. Brooklyn Tychsen’s younger sister, freshman Avery Tychsen, led the other Spartan varsity golf team in scoring followed by sophomore Madie Kuntz and freshmen Brenna Corbitt and Julia Reed. “These players are going to be a big part of our program in the not-so-distant future,” said Hunn. “Using the round today as a ‘work in progress’ opportunity in real competition is invaluable. We saw enough quality shots and mature approaches to course management to see that the future of Spartan girls golf is in good hands.”