Chris Raap skipped a day of school Thursday to play golf, but he wasn’t too worried about it, especially since he won the season-ending CJGA Junior Series Championship for the 10-and-under age group.
“I don’t care if I miss school,” the 10-year-old from Highlands Ranch said with a smile after his victory on the Fowler Course at Boulder Country Club.
Girls champion Kacey Godwin of Denver (pictured) doesn’t head back to the classroom until September, but the days of summertime junior golf in Colorado are quickly coming to an end. There are still a couple of tournaments in September, plus the Tournament of Champions in October, but the meat of the CJGA season ended Thursday. In many ways it’s been a banner year for the CJGA, despite tough economic times.
Dustin Jensen, director of youth programs for the CGA, said Thursday that the number of competitive rounds played in CJGA events this year will be close to 4,000, a 25 percent increase over 2008. And the CJGA will have just under 1,000 members in 2009. In both cases, those are record numbers for the organization.
Asked how that can be the case at a time when many people are tightening their financial belts, Jensen notes that the CJGA is simply more affordable than other options.
“We’re a non-profit association, and we run quality, affordable junior events,” Jensen said.
While it’s not unusual for other organizations to charge $100 to $200 — or even more — for entry fees to junior tournaments, Jensen said CJGA costs average about $20 for a nine-hole event, $40 for an 18-hole event and $60-$80 for a 36-hole tourney.
This year, the CJGA will host 42 tournaments, not counting the work it does on high school events. And with the CGA/CWGA-owned course at CommonGround putting an emphasis on developmental programs, the number of CJGA members could very well continue to increase in coming years.
Godwin, for one, certainly enjoys CJGA events.
“They’re a lot of fun,” she said. “They’re not overly competitive, but they’re competitive enough to make it fun.”
Without a doubt Raap and Godwin had smiles on their faces Thursday. Both 10-year-olds finished their CJGA seasons on high notes on the Fowler Course. Raap, who plays out of The Links Golf Course, shot 8-over-par 62 for two trips around the par-3 layout, fending off Trevor Olkowski of Fruita by one stroke. Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree, the year-long points leader in the age group, placed third at 66.
Godwin, from South Suburban Family Sports, notched her fifth CJGA win of the year in finishing at 22-over-par 76, good for a three-stroke margin over Trinity Goderstad of Cherry Hills Village.
“This is a pretty big deal; I’m very proud of myself,” said Godwin, a sixth-grader-to-be at Stanley British Primary School.
As for Raap, a student at Copper Mesa Elementary School, Thursday marked his second CJGA victory in the last two weeks.
“It’s my biggest win,” he said. “I’m real happy.”
Thursday’s tournament wrapped up the 2009 Junior Series Championship, which featured most of the top performers from the 2009 CJGA season. Earlier, Alex Gutesha and Somin Lee won in the 14-18 age group, and Andrew Howe and Sydney Gillespie captured titles in the 11-13 division.
CJGA JUNIOR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP (10 and Under)
At Par-54 Fowler Course at Boulder Country Club
Boys
Christopher Raap, The Links Golf Course 30-32–62
Trevor Olkowski, Bookcliff CC 31-32–63
Tyler Zhang, South Suburban Family Sports 34-32–66
Henry Rock, Coal Creek GC 33-35–68
Asher Nolting, Green Valley Ranch 33-35–68
Johnny Schlager, Omni Interlocken 33-35–68
Jack Castiglia, Fox Hollow Golf Course 36-33–69
Reese Taylor, The Golf Club at Bear Dance 35-35–70
Raymond Simanjuntak, Centre Hills 38-32–70
Connor Vecqueray, Deer Creek Golf Club 37-35–72
Canon Olkowski, Bookcliff CC 35-37–72
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch 37-37–74
Maxwell Toenjes, Columbine CC 43-33–76
Zach Gomez, Green Valley Ranch 34-42–76
Hunter Umholtz, Boomerang 38-42–80
Riley Thomson, Colorado GC 41-40–81
Luca Falagrady, The Heritage at Westmoor 36-46–82
Kyle Colen, Meadow Hills 41-42–83
Dominick DeVencenty, Green Valley Ranch 42-43–85
Azur Ewari, South Suburban Family Sports 46-40–86
Girls
Kacey Godwin, South Suburban Family Sports 39-37–76
Trinity Goderstad, Glenmoor 40-39–79
Empress Hawkins-Kimmel, Fox Hill 38-43–81
Zarena Brown, Indian Tree GC 45-43–88
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills 47-43–90
Jenna Chun, South Suburban Family Sports 49-43–92
Julia Bossi, Thorncreek GC 54-49–103
Lindsay Taylor, The Golf Club at Bear Dance, 51-52–103
Amisha Singh, South Suburban Family Sports 55-52–107
