Dolores Sharaf wins Aspen Invitational golf title
The Aspen Times
Beth Wille / Special to The Aspen Times |
Patience and practice paid dividends Tuesday for Aspen High School golfer Dolores Sharaf.
Sharaf, a senior, won medalist honors in the annual Aspen Invitational golf tournament at River Valley Ranch in Carbondale.
She carded a tournament-best 79 to win by two strokes over a pair of Rifle High School golfers — Elly Walters and Masi Smith. Their matching 81s helped the Bears win the team title Tuesday with a composite 254.
Glenwood Springs, led by Lauren Murphy’s 82, finished second with a 263.
Aspen, with medalist Dolores Sharaf at 79 and freshman sister Mae Sharaf at 98, finished tied for third place with Grand Junction High School (279).
Freshman Elsa Cassity added a 102 for Aspen, and senior Nikki Blizzard shot 104 in the chilly, but dry, conditions.
Julia Fahy added a 115 for the Skiers.
Grand Junction was paced by Avery Hill’s 85 and Bailey Summers’ 88.
“I’m so happy she broke through today,” said Aspen head coach Don Buchholz, adding that Sharaf had been working doubly hard in preparation for the River Valley Ranch tournament. “She played so well.”
The victory was extra special for Dolores Sharaf because it was the first tournament win of her high school career. And it came in her senior season in her “home” tournament.
“It was all about putting for me,” Sharaf said as her teammates showered her with congratulations. “There were a lot of up-and-downs.”
And the putts dropped.
“I had a lot of 10- to 12-footers for par,” she said after taking advantage of her approach game. “I have been playing here awhile, and I really enjoy it.”
She said conditions were supreme for golf early on the course on the outskirts of Carbondale.
“In the middle of the day, it got a little windy, which was a factor. But it wasn’t too bad,” said Sharaf, the daughter of Maureen and Carter Sharaf.
Sharaf, who just a month and a half ago competed in the state high school skiing championships, credited her teammates with inspiring her winning performance.
“I love my teammates,” she said.
Aspen Invitational
River Valley Ranch/Carbondale
RIFLE 254 — Elly Walters 81, Masi Smith 81, Emily Neuroth 92, Savannah Seay 95, Eve Miller 99.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS 263 — Lauren Murphy 82, Audrey Jones 86, Lisa Kelley 95, Callie Jones 93, Cheyenne McLelland 105.
ASPEN 279 — Dolores Sharaf 79, Mae Sharaf 98, Elsa Cassity 102, Nikki Blizzard 104, Julia Fahy 115.
GRAND JUNCTION 279 — Avery Hill 85, Bailey Summers 88, Savannah Balint 106, Jenne Greenlee 109, Lily Gerson 116.
MONTROSE A 298 — Alex Hanley 94, Taylor Kettell 102, Nicole Cherry 102, Jennifer Grandberg 104, Kennitha Hawley 115.
FRUITA MONUMENT 315 — Kelli DeCrow 95, Hannah Thornburg 99, Aryn Montgomery 121, Maci Wiley 127.
GUNNISON ONE 342 — Elizabeth Felix 109, Jaden Cavarra 116, Bailyn Salsbury 117, Taylor McDonald 118, Madison Nelson 119.
GUNNISON TWO 350 — Laura Hanks 113, Madelynn Felix 121, Randi Vincent 123.
COAL RIDGE 352 — Cheyenne Williams 103, Macy Elmer 122, Joelyn Prize 127, Isabelle Brontoll 135, Brittany Rhodes WD.
MONTROSE B 362 — Kinzey Gill 107, Hayley Reed 126, Elle Edecker 129, Madison Schneider WD.
GLENWOOD SPRINGS B 387 — Delaney Teri-Savage 123, Mary Stinson 126, Bailey Johnson 138.
Individual Results
Dolores Sharaf, Aspen, 79
Elly Walters, Rifle, 81
Masi Smith, Rifle, 81
Lauren Murphy Glenwood Springs, 82
Avery Hill, Grand Junction, 85
