Girls Golf: Solem shoots 85 at Northern League Event #6

“If it’s breezy, hit it easy.”

That was Niwot head golf coach Ed Weaver’s advice to his players at the windy Centaurus Invitational, held last Wednesday at Indian Peaks golf course in Lafayette. With gusts topping 35 mph, Weaver feared that his young golfers might have trouble adjusting their swings to accommodate the blustery conditions.

Luckily, he needn’t have worried. Led by freshman Julia Solem’s career-best 85, the Cougars placed third overall in the Northern League’s sixth event, behind league leaders Northridge and Loveland.

“We had a really good day today,” Weaver remarked after the round.

That’s a bit of an understatement when it comes to the Cougars’ number one golfer, Solem, who broke 90 for the first time ever in tournament play, improving her prior season-best by six strokes. With pars on seven holes, the ninth-grader finished fourth overall, her highest finish of the season.

Joining Solem in Lafayette was junior Mya Ostrom, who shot a 101, which was good for 14th

place. Freshman Trinity Pleffner (109) was 22nd overall, while senior Sarah Scharff (113) finished just behind her, in 24th. Pleffner, who was new to tournament play this year, recorded her first career par on the par-4 third hole.

Between weather delays, injuries and inexperience, Weaver’s team got off to a bit of a slow start this season, but he sees only good things ahead for his team down the stretch.

I’m finally getting critical mass,” he said after this team’s strong showing at Northern League

Event #5 in Loveland two weeks ago. “We’re about halfway through, and we’re starting to gel.”

Weaver is hopeful team leaders Solem and Ostrom will continue their steady improvement, and thinks both have a good chance of qualifying for state at the upcoming Class 4A Regional tournament.

“Mya is smart, and I’m finding out that she is pretty coachable,” he said. “I worked with her some in Loveland, and she responded with some really nice shots.”

Up next for the Cougars is the DiLoretto Invitational at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster on April 24, followed by the Estes Park Invitational on April 26.

Northern League Match #6, Indian Peaks Golf Course

Team scores — Loveland 330, Northridge 349, Niwot 408, Mountain View 412, Centaurus 416.

Top Niwot individuals — 4. Julia Solem, Niwot, 85; 14. Mya Ostrom 101; 22. Trinity Plaffner 109; 24. Sarah Scharff 113.