ANNIKA Tour kicks off in Colorado for first time

Todd Creek Golf Club hosts women’s pro developmental league

By Jasmine Ying

Megan Osland, one of more than 100 young professional golfers playing in the first ANNIKA Tour Colorado Championship this week, finished a tidy 6-under par first round Tuesday and came off the Todd Creek Golf Club course impressed.

This is the tournament’s first year in Thornton and organizers have spent more than a year rounding up volunteers to help pull it off.

Osland is from British Columbia, Canada, and said Colorado has so far treated her well.

“I mean for a first year tournament everything about this has been first class,” she said. “I mean, from the volunteers to the staff, and how it’s being run, it’s definitely one of the best I’ve played all year. I’m really impressed so far.”

The four-day tournament runs through Friday, Aug. 1, with the winner taking home at least $10,000. Players on the ANNIKA Tour are primarily former college players who are working to gain experience to climb toward LPGA status.

Osland led after Tuesday’s rounds. She said the greens on this course were particularly difficult. 

“The greens are running really fast and firm, so I’d say that’s probably the most challenging part of it,” Osland said. 

Osland started the round with three birdies on the first three holes and finished with an eagle on No. 18 to bring her to 6-under par

Jennifer Rosenberg from Syosset, New York, is in second at 4-under along with Lauren Miller of Dallas. Rosenberg said she is also grateful for the tournament atmosphere today.

“I mean, the hospitality and everyone around here, you can tell that they really care about this tournament,” she said. “It’s awesome to be a part of, and these days you don’t just see that a lot.” 

Rosenberg said Todd Creek showed itself to be unpredictable with some tricky holes in the back nine. 

“For me today, the back nine was definitely harder than the front,” she said. “I was on a roll. I had four birdies in a row. I was making putts and then had a setback on 15. It was kind of just a roller coaster for the last four holes I would say.” 

Rosenberg started her round off with birdies on holes 1 and 3 but had a double-bogey on 15. 

The top players plan to maintain their current strategies while making small adjustments to specific holes.

“I’m just going to keep my game plan and stick to what I know,” Rosenberg said. “The only thing is hole 15. I’m definitely going to change what I hit off the tee.”

Osland expressed a similar approach moving forward. 

“There were a couple holes that I’ll probably do something a little different off the tee,” Osland said. “But other than that, I’ll go into each round with the same kind of mindset and same game plan.”

The tournament continues through Friday. For updated scores, go to the tournament website and follow Colorado AvidGolfer on Instagram, Facebook and TikTok for live coverage through the week. 

Colorado AvidGolfer Magazine is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it, publishing eight issues annually and proudly delivering daily content via coloradoavidgolfer.com.

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