CSU has won the Ram Masters team title four consecutive years, and it appears primed to make it five in a row.

The Rams posted a stellar 14-under-par 266 total in round 2 on Monday afternoon at Fort Collins Country Club to open up an 11-stroke lead in the 17-team event.

CSU, which set a tournament record with a 17-under-par total in last year’s Ram Masters, is already at 13-under 547 with one round remaining. Illinois State checks in second at 558.

The University of Northern Colorado shares third place with South Dakota at 568, while the University of Denver is in seventh place at 573 after its first day of competition for the season.

CSU has four players in the top 11 in the 96-player field. Parathakorn Suyasri holds second place at 6-under-par 134, which leaves him one back of leader Dan Starzinski of Wyoming. Three Colorado residents are also in the top 11 for CSU: Jake Staiano (136, third place after a second-round 65); AJ Ott (138, seventh place) and freshman Davis Bryant (139, 11th place).

Ott and Staiano finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in last year’s Ram Masters.

Meanwhile, Joshua Matz is leading the way for UNC at 138 (seventh place), while Coloradan Coby Welch checked in at 139 (11th place).

Pacing DU individually is freshman Cal McCoy (142, 19th place), another Colorado resident.

Also in Fort Collins: The host CSU women, in their season opener, sit in 10th place out of 13 teams after Monday’s opening round of the Ptarmigan Ram Classic at Ptarmigan Country Club in Fort Collins. The Rams shot a 17-over-par 305 and trail leader Boise State by 12. Northern Colorado stands in 12th place at 309. Haley Greb is leading CSU individually (16th place, 74), while Beah Cruz shares sixth place at 72 for UNC.
 

RAM MASTERS INVITATIONAL
Sept. 17-18, 2018 at Par-70 Fort Collins CC
1. (out of 17 teams) Colorado State 281-266–547
2. Parathakorn Suyasri 68-66–134
3. Jake Staiano 71-65–136
7. AJ Ott 72-68–140
11. Davis Bryant 72-67–139
27. Cullen Plousha 72-71–143
Competing Only as Individual
27. Jack Ainscough 71-72–143
42. Andrew Lafferty 74-71–145
42. Oscar Teiffel 75-70–145
61. Akedanai Ponghathaikul 74-74–148

3. Northern Colorado 288-280–568
7. Joshua Matz 68-70–138
11. Coby Welch 72-67–139
49. Marcus Tait 77-69–146
55. Li Chen 73-74–147
85. Jack Castiglia 75-78–153

7. Denver 288-285–573
19. Cal McCoy 70-72–142
27. Jun Ho Won 74-69–143
42. Esteban Missura 72-73–145
42. Carson Griggs 74-71–145
55. Jackson Solem 72-75–147
Competing Only as Individual
27. Roy Kang 71-72–143
42. Eric Hagen 73-72–145
80. John Sand 75-77–152

Also
19. John Paterson, Colorado 74-68–142
61. Andre Leveque, Colorado 73-75–148

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

PTARMIGAN RAM CLASSIC
Sept. 17-19, 2018 at Ptarmigan CC in Fort Collins
10. (out of 13 teams) Colorado State 305
16. Haley Greb 74
22. Jessica Sloot 75
41. Katrina Prendergast 78
41. Ellen Secor 78
60. Sydney Smith 81
Competing Only as Individual
55. Saga Traustadottir 80

12. Northern Colorado 309
6. Beah Cruz 72
27. Morgan Sahm 76
55. Marisa Hisaki 80
60. Nicole Polivchak 81
60. Aili Bundy 81
Competing Only as Individuals
55. Jenna Chun 80

Others
27. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 76
55. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 80

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Pat Rea captured the title in Grand Junction each year from 1961 through ’64, and Skip Tredway went back-to-back in 1982 and ’83.

But on Sunday, those two had to make room in their elite club for former Brigham Young University golfer Justin Keiley.

The 2017 winner made it two straight at Tiara Rado Golf Course, but needed a playoff to do it. After tying former Montrose resident Brandon Bingaman at 21-under-par 192 for three rounds, Keiley birdied the first extra hole (No. 18) for the victory and the $10,000 that goes with it.

The result foiled the bid of Bingaman, who shot a course-record 11-under-par 60 in Sunday’s final round and eagled the 18th hole in regulation. Bingaman, a former Colorado Mesa University standout, won the National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistants Championship in 2017. He went on to finish 28th in the national Assistant PGA Professional Championship in November.

Keiley shot rounds of 67-61-64, while Bingaman went 65-67-60.

Former Grand Junction resident Monte Montgomery (66-63-67), a three-time RMO winner, placed third at 196.

Taking low-amateur honors on Sunday was incoming University of Denver freshman Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, who went 68-68-71–207 to prevail by two in that division. Low senior am by two was Owen Ellis of Boulder (76-70-74–220).
 

Neither played anywhere close to his best on Friday at Valhalla Golf Club, but both can say they easily made the cut in the national Boys Junior PGA Championship.

The University of Denver-bound McCoy finished 29th out of 144 players, while Bryant was 60th.

McCoy went into the final round in 10th place, but shot a 6-over-par 78 on Friday, which left him at 3-over 291 overall. He made two double bogeys and five bogeys in the final round, along with three birdies, including one on his final hole. He ended up 14 strokes behind champion Akshay Bhatia of Wake Forest, N.C., who closed with a 68.

Bryant, a teammate of McCoy’s on the Colorado team that won the Junior America’s Cup last week, posted a final-round 79 for a 299 total. The future Colorado State University golfer, who placed 14th in this event last year, made one birdie and eight bogeys on Friday.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the Coloradans:

29. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 69-75-69-78–291
60. Davis Bryant, Aurora 71-73-76-79–299

For all the scores from the Boys Junior PGA, CLICK HERE.
 

The University of Denver golf signee shot a 3-under-par 69 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky., on Thursday and will go into the final round of the event in 10th place out of the 144-player field.

After going 69-75-69, McCoy stands at 3-under-par 213, which leaves him four strokes behind leaders William Moll of Houston and Akshay Bhatia of Wake Forest, N.C. The 18-year-old Coloradan made four birdies and one bogey on Thursday in round 3.

Meanwhile, Davis Bryant of Aurora, who finished 14th at this event last year, sits in 40th place at 4-over 220 after a third-round 76 in which he bogeyed his final three holes. (McCoy, in the Titleist cap, is pictured with Bryant earlier this year.)

McCoy and Bryant teamed up with Dillon Stewart and Walker Franklin last week as Colorado won the team title for the first time ever at the boys Junior America’s Cup. McCoy placed 14th individually at that event, while Bryant was 17th.

In the last two months, McCoy has also qualified for the CoBank Colorado Open, though he couldn’t play because it conflicted with the JAC; finished first alternate at Fort Collins Country Club in U.S. Amateur qualifying; and placed second to Bryant at the Colorado Junior PGA Championship.

The national boys Junior PGA will conclude on Friday.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the Coloradans:

10. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 69-75-69–213
40. Davis Bryant, Aurora 71-73-76–220

For all the scores from the Boys Junior PGA, CLICK HERE.
 

Following a first-round 69, McCoy was 1 under par for his first nine holes of the second round, leaving him at 4 under overall and two strokes out of the lead after two days.

McCoy (left) made one birdie and eight pars to start round 2.

Meanwhile, Davis Bryant of Aurora did complete his second round on Wednesday and shares 28th place in the 144-player field at even-par 144. The Colorado State University-bound Bryant, one of McCoy’s teammates on the Colorado team that won last week’s Junior America’s Cup title, fired a 73 on Wednesday, making one birdie and two bogeys.

The tournament will continue through Friday.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the Coloradans:

5. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 69 (-1 through 9 holes of round 2)
28. Davis Bryant, Aurora 71-73–144

For all the scores from the Boys Junior PGA, CLICK HERE.
 

Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, a University of Denver signee, shot a 3-under-par 69 and shares ninth place in the 144-player field. McCoy played his first nine holes in 4 under par and finished round 1 three strokes behind co-leaders Ryan Grauman of Alamo, Calif., and Campbell Kremer of hometown Louisville.

Meanwhile, Davis Bryant of Aurora, who finished 14th in this event last year, opened with a 1-under 71, good for a share of 21st place. The future Colorado State University golfer was 3 under through 15, but bogeyed 16 and 17. He finished the day with four birdies and three bogeys.

McCoy and Bryant (pictured together at left) were teammates on last week’s Colorado team that won the boys Junior America’s Cup team title for the first time. Also on that team were Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins and Walker Franklin of Broomfield.

For all the scores from the Boys Junior PGA, CLICK HERE.
 

After 44 years of competing annually in the boys Junior America’s Cup competition, Colorado’s representatives finally had the pleasure of having the team trophy presented to them on Thursday afternoon.

Colorado, which had never before finished better than third place in the prestigious junior event, won the JAC team championship this week after competing in the event since 1975. The Junior America’s Cup now features 18 teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.

And to add icing to the cake for Colorado, Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins captured the individual title out of the field of 72 on Thursday.

“When I signed my scorecard, (captain Dustin Jensen) came over said, ‘I think we did it,'” Stewart relayed later by phone. “It just shocked me and we were really excited after that and I gave all the boys hugs.”

Team-wise, the Coloradans overcame a three-stroke deficit entering the final round at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course in Anaconda, Mont., rallying to overcome Utah and Mexico. The foursome representing the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado posted a 7-under-par 209 on Thursday, giving the team a three-day total of 26-under-par 622. That was one better than Mexico, three better than Utah and four better than fourth-place Arizona.

Joining Stewart on Colorado’s JAC championship team were Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, Davis Bryant of Aurora and Walker Franklin of Broomfield. Bryant was playing on his fourth JAC team, Stewart and McCoy their second and Franklin his first. (The champions are pictured, from left: Franklin, Jensen, Stewart, McCoy and Bryant.)

Prior to Thursday, Colorado’s best showings at the JAC were third places in 2011 (at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen) and in 2015. The JGAC team was fourth last year.

Bryant competed on that team in 2015 — and every year since — so he has some perspective on Thursday’s accomplishment.

“It feels awesome,” said the 18-year-old, who will soon begin his college golf career at Colorado State University.

“We worked well together this week and we didn’t let a bad hole affect us. We hit a shot and forgot about it, which was great. We were able to make a lot of birdies (55 in all, plus two eagles) and take advantage of the shorter holes when we had them. We all made mistakes, but we were able to capitalize on our opportunities. We all helped in some way throughout the week. To bring (the title) back to Colorado, it feels awesome.”

Down the stretch, after Stewart made a double bogey and Franklin a triple bogey early on the back nine on Thursday, the team finished just strongly enough to claim the championship. Stewart played his final seven holes in 3 under and McCoy his final five in 3 under.

Captaining the team once again this year was Jensen, the former CGA managing director of operations, who is now an associate dean at the University of Jamestown (N.D.), his alma mater. Jensen has captained or co-captained every Colorado boys JAC team but three since 2005. Though he’s back in North Dakota full time now, he volunteered for duty in Montana with the CGA and Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado staffs busy with the Girls Junior Americas Cup in Evergreen and the CoBank Colorado Open in Denver.

“It’s crazy. There’s so many years with so many great players. You just never know if and when (winning a title) is going to happen,” Jensen said on Thursday. “These guys were awesome this week. They continued to score constantly. It was just birdie after birdie after birdie. They didn’t complain about anything; they just got in and played.

“We made our par for the course this week 69 and we ended up shooting 1 stroke over par for what we hoped. Twenty-seven under par was the hope and we shot 26 and won by one. I guess we guessed right before the tournament.”

As for Stewart (left), the senior-to-be at Fossil Ridge High School prevailed by two strokes for the individual title. Stewart, who will play his college golf at perennial national power Oklahoma State starting in 2019, carded rounds of 64-68-68 for a 16-under-par 200 total. Last month’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior champion finished the week with an eagle, 20 birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey for 54 holes.

Stewart gained the upper hand early in the round when 36-hole leader Zachary Jones of Utah pumped two shots out of bounds and took a quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 4.

“That kind of flipped everything,” Stewart said. “But I tried not to think about that too much because there was so much golf left to play. … But I’m just happy we won as a team.”

Stewart placed 13th individually at last year’s JAC. He qualified for this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, which was contested this month.

The University of Denver-bound McCoy placed 14th on Thursday, closing with a 69 for a 212 total. Bryant, who finished ninth individually in last year’s JAC, tied for 17th this week at 213.

The 16-year-old Franklin shared 27th place at 215.

All in all, you couldn’t get a much better week for the Coloradans, who emerged with both the team and individual titles and had a great time in the process.

“It’s a really fun tournament because we don’t really get to play many team events like this one until we get to college,” Bryant said. “It’s a fun time to spend with your buddies. We jack around and have fun, but also played some pretty good golf while we were at it. It was a really fun week and we’re really glad to finish it off this way.” 
 

1. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205-208-209–622
1. Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins 64-68-68–200
14. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71-72-69–212
17. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70-70-73–213
27. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73-70-72–215

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

Colorado will go into Thursday’s final day of the JAC just three strokes out of the lead in Anaconda, Mont. The With a 19-under-par 413 total after Wednesday’s second, Coloradans hold third place out of the 18-team field, trailing leader Mexico (410) and second-place Utah (412). The JAC features squads from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Colorado backed up a first-round 205 with a 208 on Wednesday, and every team member is in the top 25 individually out of the 72-player field.

Dillon Stewart (left) of Fort Collins, who shared the individual lead with a first-round 64, is in second place after Wednesday, three back of Utah’s Zachary Jones, who shot a course-record 63 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course. Jones made an eagle and eight birdies on Wednesday, offset by one bogey.

Stewart, the 2018 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior champion, carded a 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday, recording an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, a Colorado State University-bound golfer who’s competing in his fourth JAC, moved up to 14th place with his second straight 70. He played his final four holes in 4 under par, with one eagle and two birdies.

And Walker Franklin of Broomfield and Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch share 24th place at 143, with Franklin firing a 70 on Wednesday and McCoy a 72.

3. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205-208–413
2. Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins 64-68–132
14. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70-70–140
24. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71-72–143
24. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73-70–143
   
For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

With the top three scores from each squad counting toward the team total, Colorado shot an 11-under-par 205. The Coloradans — who have never finished better than third in this event for teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico — trail only Mexico (202) and are tied with Arizona.

Colorado has been a roll in recent years in this 18-team event as it placed third in 2015, sixth in 2016 and fourth last year.

Leading the way in round 1 of the 54-hole event was Stewart, who last month won the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. The future Oklahoma State golfer made nine birdies and one bogey in his 64 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course. That left him tied for the individual lead with Ian Siebers of Washington, who was bogey-free on Tuesday.

Two other Coloradans broke par on Tuesday, four-time JAC participant Davis Bryant of Aurora (2-under-par 70, good for 18th place) and Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch (71, 24th place). Bryant, who made four birdies on Tuesday, will be playing college golf starting this fall at Colorado State University, while McCoy (an eagle and two birdies) is headed to the University of Denver.

Rounding out Colorado’s players was first-time JAC contestant Walker Franklin of Broomfield, who opened with a 73. (Pictured is the Colorado squad, from left: McCoy, captain Dustin Jensen, Stewart, Bryant and Franklin.)

Play will continue through Thursday.

2. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205
T1. Dillon Stewart (pictured below), Fort Collins 64
18. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70
24. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71
34. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

The four Coloradans competing July 24-26 in Anaconda, Mont., will come into the event having played in a combined five JACs.

Records aren’t complete, but Davis Bryant of Aurora might go down as having played in more boys Junior America’s Cups for Colorado than anyone. This will mark his fourth and final appearance, having placed ninth individually last year, 21st in 2016 and 49th in 2015.

More importantly, Bryant helped Colorado finish fourth out of 18 teams in 2017, sixth in 2016 and third in 2015, when the Centennial State matched its best showing ever in the event, also accomplished in 2011 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.

Bryant will be joined on the 2018 Colorado team by Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch and Walker Franklin of Broomfield. Stewart and McCoy likewise played on the 2017, while the 16-year-old Franklin is a first-timer in the event. (Bryant and Stewart are pictured at a recent tournament, with Bryant at left.)

All three of the Colorado returnees have set their college plans. Bryant is headed for Colorado State University and McCoy to the University of Denver, both in the fall, while Stewart has verbally committed to Oklahoma State when he heads for college in 2019.

Here’s a brief rundown on the Colorado JAC representatives this year:

— Davis Bryant of Aurora: Will be playing in his fourth Junior America’c Cup. He finished ninth individually last year. … Will play his college golf at CSU beginning in the fall. … Named the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Boys Player of the Year in 2017. … Has won all four JGAC majors in which he’s competed in 2017 and 18 — three last year and the Colorado Junior PGA this year. He’s also qualified for the national Junior PGA Championship. … Finished 40th out of 212 players in the boys 15-18 division at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships. … Played in the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2015 and ’17, going to match play in the latter. … Finished second to Stewart at last month’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. … Advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying late in the spring. … Won the 5A boys state high school title as a senior at Eaglecrest. … Younger sister Emma is on this year’s Colorado team for the Girls Junior Americas Cup.

— Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins: Will be playing in his second Junior America’c Cup. He finished 13th individually last year. … Has verbally committed to play his college golf at Oklahoma State beginning next year. … Competed this week at the U.S. Junior Amateur. … Won the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior last month, becoming the first local player to claim the title in the boys division. … Finished second last week at the Colorado Junior Amateur. … Also was runner-up at the 5A boys state high school tournament in the fall, behind only Bryant.

— Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch: Will be playing in his second Junior America’c Cup. He finished 31st individually last year. … Will begin his college golf career at the University of Denver beginning in the fall. … Finished 103rd out of 212 players at the recent IMG Academy Junior World Championships. … Has qualified for the CoBank Colorado Open, but will instead compete in the JAC, which has conflicting dates. … Is the first alternate for the U.S. Amateur from the Fort Collins Country Club qualifying site. … Finished second to Bryant at the Colorado Junior PGA and qualifed for the national Junior PGA Championship.

— Walker Franklin of Broomfield: Will be playing in his first Junior America’s Cup. … Finished fourth in the Colorado Junior PGA and fifth at recent Colorado Junior Amateur. … Placed fifth last month in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. … Was the medalist in Colorado qualifying for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship. … Won a JGAC Spring Tour event at Country Club of the Rockies in April. … Tied for second in last fall’s 3A state high school tournament.

At the Junior America’s Cup, which features 18 teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico, the best three scores for each team each day count toward the team total.

For a story on the girls who will represent Colorado at the Girls Junior Americas Cup at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, CLICK HERE.