Girls golf: Fairview’s Hickey and Legacy’s Milan motivated for 2024 after 5A state
PARKER — Perhaps next spring all the late drama surrounding the Class 5A girls golf tournament will again involve a player from the Boulder area. It’s been a few years.
Juniors Ava Hickey of Fairview and Ayla Milan of Legacy finished outside contention on the final day of the tournament Wednesday, both wrapping up a third straight trip to state that they wished went a little better. Now, their eyes are set on the future.
Hickey finished tied for 15th, Monarch senior Lillian Dehner capped her career in 25th and Milan was 34th at Black Bear Golf Club.
“It’s not what I wanted,” Hickey said after her best state performance yet, finishing 16th in 2022 and 31st in 2021. “I was trying for top 10. But, you know, I think I can get that next year. I’m feeling confident going into my senior year.”
Hickey carded 11-over-par 83 on the second day after shooting 79 on a weather-delayed opening round Tuesday. She was six strokes back of a top-10 finish and 19 away from champion Brenna Higgins of Valor Christian.
Dehner, meanwhile, shot an 85 after an 87. Milan penciled in a 92 following her 86.
It was the third straight season a player from the Boulder area did not finish inside the top 10 in the 5A tournament. Former Broomfield golfer Meghan Vogt was the last to do it, finishing second in 2019. Ex-Fairview player Kelsey Webster was third in 2018 and ninth in 2017.
Front Range League first-teamers Hickey and Milan will have the chance to change that in 2024.
“I think I’ll just practice this summer to make sure that (92) doesn’t happen again,” Milan said. “I’ll make it my goal to have a good state next year and a good overall season.”
All local players were off the course when the drama picked up between leaders Higgins and Smoky Hill’s Sophia Stiwich.
Higgins lost the lead on a double bogey on par-3 No. 16, then tied it back up with a par putt on 17. Stiwich missed a winning putt by maybe an inch on 18 before bowing out in the playoff after she hit her first drive out of bounds and her second attempt into the deep weeds.
“The last, like, five holes, I was shaking a lot,” Higgins said. “It could have gone either way for both of us.”
Valor Christian won the team title for a second straight year.
Other area finishers went like this: Amelia Barr, Legacy, T47th, 188; Alexia Perez, Fairview, T60th, 200; Pippa Cooper, Monarch, T60th, 200; Jessica Levy, Fairview, T80, 228.
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