Cherry Creek duo are frontrunners to lead team to Colorado 5A girls golf title

Walk down the fairway with MacKenzie Cohen and there's a good chance she'll break into song.

For the Cherry Creek (Greenwood Village) senior, it's therapeutic.

"On the golf course, I sing a lot," she said. "That definitely helps me take pressure off myself, which is when I play a lot better."

Cohen had plenty to sing about in 2012, because she was the best golfer in Class 5A, Colorado's largest classification. After two consecutive 33rd-place finishes in 2010 and 2011, Cohen won the 5A individual title and helped the Bruins to a second-straight team title.

"For me, I try to stay as relaxed as possible and not try to think about it too much," she said. "What helped me going into the end of the season last year was just to make sure I was having fun out on the course. I really just like being out there and being with everyone and playing. For me, what really helped was just to stay relaxed."

Golf is one of many activities Cohen uses to keep busy. She swims for the Bruins' JV team, is the drum major in the marching band and is a part of the school's top choir.

"I've got a lot of things keeping me busy, but I like it that way," she said. "I definitely like having sports and music in my life. I like having the balance between all of it."

It's a balance Cohen doesn't plan on giving up any time soon. She is currently trying to decide her future between a pair of Division III liberal arts colleges, DePauw University in Indiana and Centre College in Kentucky. Playing Division III athletics, she said, will give her a better opportunity to pursue her passion in music as well.

In fact, she is likely to get even busier in college. She's considering a double major in music and psychology so that she can go into music therapy.

"My cousin has autism and I've always been interested in (music therapy)," she said. "You use music as part of their therapy and healing."

Before she heads off to college and to pursue career goals, however, Cohen has some work to do with the Bruins this spring.

Cherry Creek is the two-time defending champion and is likely the favorite to win another title with three of its four state players back from 2012.

"I think it is (a championship team)," Cohen said. "We only lost one senior last year (seventh-place finisher Shinwoo Lee). Even though she was definitely a big part of our team, being at such a big school like Creek, we're lucky that we have the depth and the team that we do."

The Bruins are so deep, in fact, that Cohen may not be their best player. Junior Calli Ringsby finished fourth at state a year ago, just three shots behind Cohen. Ringsby finished in a tie for second as a freshman in 2011.

This spring, Cohen said Ringsby is the favorite to take individual honors.

"She's definitely the one to beat this year," Cohen said. "She's been so close every single year. I know that no matter what happens, she's just always going to be very close."

Ringsby, however, isn't looking to get very close. She wants the top spot this time around.

"That's definitely the goal," she said. "To be honest, I was a little bit disappointed the last two years; especially last year with my performance in the first round."

Ringsby fired a four-over 76 in the first round last year at state and followed it up with a 4-under 68. Since then, she has put countless hours into improving her game.

"I think my game is really coming around," she said. "I'm starting to get more control of the club. I've gotten a lot stronger. My putting has really improved.

"I'm really excited. I think the season is going to be my best yet and I'm really looking forward to it."

Senior Dani Urman (17th at state) also returns for the Bruins, who will be seeking their 10th state championship since the sport was first sanctioned in 1990. No other team has more than five titles.

As usual, Arapahoe (Centennial) is likely to challenge the Bruins for the championship. The Warriors return standout Hannah Wood, who was third as a sophomore in 2012. Arapahoe won the title in 2010 and has been runner-up to Cherry Creek the past two years.

The Bruins are also looking to become the first team to win three championships in a row since 2005. That year, Skyline completed a four-year reign in Class 5A and Mullen won the last of its five straight Class 4A titles.

"My main goal is just to be able to help the team win state," Cohen said. "Individually, whatever happens, happens. I just want to make sure that as a team we do the best that we can."

In Class 4A, Regis Jesuit (Aurora) will be seeking its third title in four years. The Raiders lost just one senior – Kathleen Kershisnik, who lost the individual title in a playoff – and should be among the favorites to finish on top. Sophomore Sydney Gillespie finished fifth a year ago.

Along with Gillespie, Jefferson Academy (Broomfield) sophomore Jennifer Kupcho (third) and Broomfield senior Taylor Dorans (fourth) should be among the favorites for the individual title in 4A.