Faith Mewmaw never felt like a golfer until she hit the biggest putt of her life.
Playing in a three-way playoff for the final qualifying spot for the state tournament, the AnimasHigh School freshman hit her drive down the center of the fairway, hit her approach to the front edge of the green, chipped on and two-putted for bogey. Her competition didn’t fare as well, as both girls three-putted for double and triple bogeys, and Mewmaw’s 5-foot bogey putt dropped to send her to state.
“I’ve never felt like I was a ‘golfer’ until the moment I made the winning putt,” Mewmaw said. “I’m very grateful I’m able to be able to play golf.”
Mewmaw was first to the tee on hole No. 10 at Yampa Valley Golf Course in Craig. She hit a solid drive right down the middle after being introduced in front of the largest gallery she’s ever teed off in front of. While the rest of the competitors were cheered on by their teammates, Mewmaw’s biggest fans were her grandparents Gordon and Wanda Greve.
“The playoff hole I wasn’t expecting at all,” Mewmaw said. “There were like 20 people watching us, and everyone had their teammates. All I had was my grandparents and my coaches, so I as very nervous. I just had to breathe.”
Mewmaw is the only DHS player who will make the trip May 23-24 to Pueblo Country Club for the Colorado High School State Girls Golf Championships. She shot a 93 and never recorded anything more than a double bogey to finish 11th overall the Class 4A Western Slope Regional. She beat Montrose’s Nicole Cherry and Dolores’ Abigail Smith in the playoff.
“She played really consistent all day,” DHS head coach Kirk Rawles said. “She chipped in on her 10th hole, No. 1 on the course, to save a par. That was the highlight of the round.”
There was some great golf played at the top of the leaderboard Saturday. Elly Walters of Rifle shot a 1-over 73 to win the regional, and Dolores’ Kiselya Plewe finished one shot back for second place. Eagle Valley’s Taylor Sandoval shot 5-over to finish third.
Durango’s Lauren Biery finished 29th overall after shooting 107. Taylor Edwards shot a 110 to finish 33rd, and Katrina Chandler finished 38th after shooting a 115.
“Lauren played really solid. She had two blowup holes, but played really consistent outside that,” Rawles said. “Katrina actually hit the ball really well, but she had lots of shots around the green and wasn’t sharp with her chipping and putting. Taylor had her second-best round of the year, but, looking at her card, she couldn’t get into a rhythm of consistency.”
Mewmaw will have a few weeks to sharpen her game before state. As only a freshman, Rawles is excited to see her step onto such a big stage.
“We are excited for Faith and for her to buckle down on the day she needed to,” Rawles said. “She showed some nerves as freshman going into that arena and in the rain and cold.
“We will fine tune some things as we have every week and get some more miles under her belt.”
jlivingston@durangoherald.com
