Harford wins rain-drenched Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open

 

By Jim Bebbington

Haylee Harford, playing in her third Inspirato Colorado Women’s Open, built a big lead the first two days of the three-day tournament and held on just enough Friday to win.

The win earned her a $100,000 pay day, the highest purse for a state golf open in the U.S. and the largest of Harford’s professional career. The winning purse for the Colorado men’s and women’s opens is both $100,000, a rarity in U.S. golf.

Harford, who grew up in Ohio and lives now in South Carolina, began Friday with a 3-stroke lead over her playing partner, Amy Lee of Brea, Calif.

A steady rain poured down on Green Valley Ranch Golf Club Friday as Harford played a conservative round and Lee and others sought to chip away at her lead. On 14, with time running out, Lee nearly drove the green of the 314-yard par 4 14th hole, ending up in a green side bunker. She chipped close but missed her birdie putt, and Harford hung on for the win.

Harford shot a 73 to finish one stroke ahead of second-place finisher Becca Huffer of Denver. Huffer has won two Colorado Opens, in 2013 and 2019.

Up by two strokes on the long par-5 18th hole, Harford hit her third shot into a bunker to the left of the green. She said she had not paid attention to the leaderboard up until then.

“I asked my caddy, do I need to make a par,” she said.

She did not, so chipped softly out of the sand, then chipped from the fringe to less than a foot from the cup. She tapped in for the win, and was doused with water by fellow LPGA players, including 2021 Colorado Open winner Savannah Vilaubi.

“I mean, it’s amazing,” Harford said. “I’m still in shock because to have an equal first prize money for men and women, it’s so inspiring. And companies that are really backing women’s sport, that just means so much to us.  We grind, we work hard week in and week out and to be able to get rewarded like this for a win is unbelievable.”