Former CU Golfer Houtsma
Leads Colorado Women’s Open
2005 champ has been a mainstay on leaderboard at Green Valley Ranch
By Gary Baines
Colorado Golf Journal, Wednesday, May 28, 2008
DENVER -- After Lisa DePaulo of Austin, Texas played her first 14 holes in 3 under par and her last four in 7 over, all she could say was, “I just want to know who turned on the fan.”
The afternoon wind took its toll on DePaulo and many others Wednesday in the first round of the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, but two fellow former champions weren’t blown away.
Erin (Kerr) Houtsma, the 2005 champ who’s finished in the top six four times in the last five years at the Women’s Open, looked to extend that trend with a 1-under-par 71 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Her playing partner, defending champion Walailak Satarak of Thailand, three-putted the final hole for a 72. The only other player at par or better was Aspen amateur Kristin Walla, a senior-to-be on the University of Texas golf team.
Houtsma got married on April 26 and moved from Phoenix to Denver, and apparently has made herself right at home in the state where she went to played at the University of Colorado from 2000 to ‘03.
“I always feel comfortable here,” said Houtsma, the leading money-winner in Women’s Open history. “This tournament is so well run and it’s got one of the bigger purses (among comparable events -- $50,000). And Colorado is just home to me.”
If Houtsma can hold onto her lead through Friday’s final round, she’ll become not only the first two-time winner of the Women’s Open, but the first Colorado resident to win the tournament since 1999.
“It would be huge to win (this week),” she said. “Anytime you win, it’s huge, but it would be fun to win with a different name (Houtsma instead of Kerr). It would be all I could hope for.”
Houtsma finished Wednesday with four birdies and three bogeys, continuing her recent strong play. This month, she earned medalist honors in a U.S. Women’s Open local qualifying tournament in Phoenix,
a-indicates amateur
Erin Houtsma, Denver 36-35--71
a-Kristin Walla, Aspen 37-35--72
Walailak Satarak, Thailand 35-37--72
Lacey Jones, Idabel, Okla. 36-37--73
a-Rachel Larson, Longmont 38-36--74
Amanda Costner, Claremore, Okla. 35-39--74
Elena Robles, Redondo Beach, Calif. 39-35--74
a-Becca Huffer, Denver 37-38--75
a-Ashley Tait, Littleton 35-40--75
Jessica Reese, Austin, Texas 38-37--75
Stephanie Ruiz, Edmont, Okla. 37-38--75
Jen Hanna, Greenville, S.C. 38-38--76
Lisa DePaulo, Austin, Tex. 33-43--76
Chelsea Benton, Denver 40-37--77
Jessica Carafiello, Coral Springs, Fla. 39-38--77
Kelly Jacques, Longmont 40-37--77
Trisha Self, Littleton 37-40--77
COLORADO WOMEN’S OPEN SCORES
thus gaining a spot in the sectional qualifying on June 9. If things go well, she hopes to earn a spot in the U.S. Women’s Open for the first time.
In addition to Satarak, Houtsma’s closest competition at the Colorado Women’s Open is Walla, a former standout in skiing and snowboarding. As a sophomore at Aspen High School, Walla competed in the Junior Olympics, winning the upright aerials competition for her age group.
But since going to Texas, Walla has concentrated primarily on golf. On Wednesday, she had a one-birdie, one-bogey performance that she called “the most boring round of golf I’ve ever played.”
Walla was far from the only amateur near the top of the leaderboard. Rachel Larson, who won the 2005 state high school title while attending Longmont High School, shot a 74 Wednesday for a share of fifth place behind Houtsma, Walla, Satarak and Lacey Jones of Idabel, Okla. (73).
Two other Colorado prep champions -- two-time winner Becca Huffer and three-time champ Ashley Tait -- share eighth place at 75.
