Golf, which never seems to encourage the cheering or emotion of other sports, has an advocate in Heritage senior Kayley Kempton.

At the Class 5A state tournament last year, Kempton pulled off the most exciting feat in golf, a hole-in-one on the 94-yard No. 13 at Highlands Ranch Golf Club. She didn't let the ace get to her game, either, as Kempton finished second with a two-day total of 141.

Kempton's habit of keeping emotions in check is part of her nature and a calculated stance.

"If I pump my fist after making a birdie, then that might make the other girls work harder to beat me," Kempton said.

They already have to work hard. In addition to her runner-up finish at state, Kempton also won the Heritage Invitational and one other tournament where she edged state champion Becca Huffer of Littleton and seventh-place finisher Jenna Zamprelli of Douglas County.

Kempton had some cautious, nonfist-pumping quotes after winning her home tournament at Columbine Country Club.

Some media types, though, figured Kempton's reticence was because weather forced a split of the golfers into two sessions and scorecards weren't turned in from the afternoon group.

Kempton was not going to go overboard talking about winning the Heritage Invitational when she wasn't even sure that had happened.

Still, one wondered if Kempton had a reserved public persona, and a more celebratory style in private.

"No," Heritage coach Jill Schrader said emphatically. "I do think she was pretty happy about signing with CSU, though."

Kempton is most expansive when talking about her sister, Kristin, who will play for Heritage this season.

The Kemptons are the main reason why Heritage is ranked No. 1 as a team entering this season.

A freshman, Kristin did well in age-group competition in the summer but also is taking on the difficult task of playing tennis for the Eagles this spring.

"It will be great this year playing with my sister," Kayley said. "She's pretty good, so I won't worry about her."

Girls golf and tennis are spring sports in Colorado, and Kayley quit tennis her freshman year when she found instant success on the links and decided to concentrate on her best sport.

Kempton is one of those rare girls golfers, a top-notch player who wanted most of all to stay in-state for college.

Many of the state's other stars have signed with Oklahoma, Texas, Mississippi, North Carolina and other schools with warmer climates.

Zamprelli, who signed with Wyoming, was a frequent playing partner of Kempton during the summer, so she got to know the Heritage star a lot better.

"I think I finally figured Kayley Kempton out," Zamprelli said. "She really, really cares, but she just keeps it deep down inside."

Elsewhere in 5A, Huffer returns for her junior season and other strong contenders include Melissa Martin of Grand Junction Central, Brooke Collins of Monarch and Bethany Buchner of Loveland.