AURORA – Elly Carlson, with a swing limited by an ailing back, never considered sitting out of the Class 5A girls’ golf tournament on Monday.

No one ever brought it up because they already knew her answer.

“She wouldn’t have it,” Pine Creek coach Shane Brown said.

Carlson, seen grimacing throughout her round, battled her way to a tie for 37th with a 15-over 87 on day one Monday at a cold and windy CommonGround Golf Course.

Brown called the performance “gritty”.

“(Everyone around) could see her really writhing in pain,” Brown said. “For her to be able to not only hit the ball, but then be able to score as well as she did . that’s impressive.”

Halley McDonald carded a 92 and Elizabeth Pendleton added a 99 for the Eagles, who finished day one in 16th place with 278 points. Rampart’s Arielle Keating led all area golfers with an 86.

Leading the day was Mary Weinstein, who shot a 1-under 71 for Regis Jesuit. The Raiders led all teams with a 230.

The weather factored in, going from sunny to windy and cold, to rainy, back to calm. Golfers with later tee times were hit with the worst of it.

“It got so windy and cold,” said Keating, who had one of the last tee times of the day. “It was ridiculous. We had a par 3 and we literally had to club up like two clubs.”

None of it made things any easier for Carlson. But the junior saved her round by consistently working out of jams.

Her finest work may have been on par-3 No. 17. After she’d toed the ball into another fairway, Carlson responded with a beautiful approach shot, a quick chip, and a putt for bogey.

By the end of the round, she had 10 bogeys and six pars.

“(My back) would tense up out there,” said Carlson. “But I pushed through. I’m good.”

Elsewhere from day one: Coronado’s Allie Garcia shot a 90 and teammate Madi Eurich carded a 94; Palmer’s Charlotte Cliatt shot a 104; and Liberty’s Sarah MacDonald finished at 105.

The tournament will conclude on Tuesday.