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Craig — Monday, during the first round of the 4A girls state golf championships in Golden, Moffat County senior Meghan Innes said "everything felt off. I just couldn't put it together"

On Tuesday, during the final round of play at Rolling Hills Country Club, Innes finally put it together.

The senior carded an 86 - eight strokes better than Monday's round - to vault from the 23rd position to a tie for 16th overall.

"I had a great back nine," Innes said, "I was only two over. I just got in that groove that I was looking for (Monday). It was fun; everything finally came together."

Innes played in her fourth consecutive state championship, her best round coming two years ago when the then sophomore finished tied for 12th.

"I really wanted to place in the top 10 this time, but it just didn't happen," Innes said. "I was really close. A shot here and a shot there (Monday), and I would have got it."

Innes finished three shots outside the top 10.

Nicholson had what she called "an awful round" Monday, but the sophomore knew what she needed to do today to improve.

"I have to start stronger," she said about Tuesday's final round. "I was eight over after the first two holes. I'm not doing that again."

She didn't.

Nicholson started on the back nine, working her way to a score of three over through her first four holes.

But, Nicholson said her driver left her.

"I started having problems off the tee," she said. "Everything was going left. Wide left, long left and short left."

Nicholson said she worked out her "kinks" off the tee, but her flat blade came up and bit her.

"I had problems with my putter," she said. "The greens ate me up. It was like putting on glass."

MCHS coach Ann Marie Roberts walked the course with the team, spending nine holes with each golfer.

Walking up the 18th fairway with Innes, Roberts said the season was flashing before her eyes.

"I've been with Meghan since she was a freshman," she said. "It's hard to walk up that last hole knowing it's really the last hole."

Innes is moving on to Carroll College to play golf and study nursing.

Nicholson will return next year, more experienced and admittedly with more drive.

"I've got another year under my belt with lots of experience gained," she said. "I'll definetly be back here next year. Count on it."