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Amber Nicholson pitted herself against some of the best girls golfers in the state Tuesday through Thursday at City Park Golf Course in Denver.

Nicholson came back from Denver with more confidence in her skills, and a first place finish in her flight.

"A few of the girls I played against I knew from state," Nicholson said. "Some of them have their own private coaches."

For Nicholson, Ann Marie Hamilton has been her coach since she started playing the summer before her freshman year.

"She's been a huge influence," Nicholson said. "She's so supportive."

The support that Nicholson has received from Hamilton has been instrumental in her development as a golfer, and in her desire for the game.

"When she first started, she didn't have a mental game, now she's more confident," Hamilton said. "She's having fun now, so that makes a huge difference."

Nicholson remembered to have fun in Denver, which led her to a three-day total of 247 -- good for an average score of 82 and first place in the first flight.

"Tuesday I shot a solid 83," Nicholson said. "I didn't hit into any hazards, but I did have a few errors in my long game."

Nicholson was six strokes behind after the first round, but leader Kristin Kempton from Englewood botched her game Wednesday by shooting a 90. Nicholson improved by a stroke to shoot 82.

"I was playing really well Wednesday," Nicholson said. "I had 25 putts, which is the lowest I've ever had."

Once Nicholson took the lead after the second round, she was determined to stay there. Thursday's final 18-holes would begin well for the incoming senior, but would go sour after the seventh.

"I had three bogeys in a row," Nicholson said. "It wasn't that I wasn't playing well, I just got some tough breaks."

One of those breaks was a triple bogey on the 12th hole, Nicholson regained her composure to par out the other six holes, and record another round of 82.

"I ended strong, so I am happy with that," Nicholson said.

That strong finish is something for Nicholson to be pleased with, considering there were only three golfers from the Western Slope at the tournament.

"I think I snuck up on some of the other girls," Nicholson said. "I didn't really play any CWGA events this summer, just Western Slope. I hope finishing where I did will help the Western Slope get noticed more."

Hamilton was excited to see Nicholson do as well as she did.

"When you get girls from all over like that, it's a different level of golf you're playing," Hamilton said. "When someone loves it as much as you do it makes it that much more fun. Amber is a great kid and leader and I know the younger girls look up to her."

Melanie McDaniels can be reached at 824-7031, ext. 211, or mmcdaniels@craigdailypress.com.