Wednesday marked the first day that high school golfers from Colorado — and elsewhere — who are part of the class of 2019 could formalize their choice of college golf programs by signing national letters of intent.

As is often the case, an impressive number of Coloradans will be playing college golf starting next fall. And plenty of those will be headed to NCAA Division I programs. And to take it yet another step, quite a few Coloradans will be joining DI teams that are among the best in the country.

In fact, between 2019 and 2020 graduates, nine golfers from the Centennial State have either verbally committed to — or have signed with — college programs currently ranked among the top 100 in the nation in Division I:

— Dillon Stewart (left) of Fossil Ridge High School in Fort Collins, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Boys Player of the Year in 2018, signed on Wednesday with defending NCAA Division I champion Oklahoma State, the No. 1-ranked men’s team in the nation. The Cowboys have now won 11 NCAA titles in men’s golf.

— Two other high school seniors, Jack Hughes of Aspen and former Grand Junction resident Canon Olkowski, will be joining the University of Colorado men’s program, which won two tournaments in the fall and is ranked 73rd in the country, according to Golfstat. Olkowski, who now resides in Las Vegas, is the younger brother of current Buff Trevor Olkowski.

— Dawson Holmes of Aspen will be playing his college golf at the College of Charleston in South Carolina, a program ranked 44th in the nation among DI teams.

— Caroline Jordaan (left) of Lakewood and Colorado Academy, long one of the top girls players in the state, is becoming a University of Denver golfer. The Pioneers are currently slotted No. 79 in the country by Golfweek.

— Lauren Lehigh of Loveland High School, the JGAC’s Girls Player of the Year this past season, is headed to the University of New Mexico, the No. 85 women’s program in the country as of the end of the fall season.

As for high school juniors who recently made verbal commitments to play college golf, they add to the trend:

— Hailey Schalk of Erie and Holy Family High School, the 2017 JGAC Girls POY who won the 3A state high school titles as both a freshman and a sophomore, plans to play at CU, which is ranked No. 36 in the nation by Golfweek. Schalk has been receiving college scholarship offers since early in her eighth-grade year. Her dad, Matt Schalk, is the PGA general manager and director of golf at Colorado National Golf Club, the home course for the CU men’s and women’s golf teams.

— Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village and Kent Denver, winner of two of the first three JGAC Tournament of Champions, has committed to Northwestern, the No. 15 women’s team in the nation, according to Golfstat.

— And Marie Jordaan of Lakewood, Caroline Jordaan’s younger sister, is headed to Santa Clara in California, which sits No. 95 in the country, according to Golfstat.

All told in just the Class of 2019, at least 10 Colorado residents and/or JGAC members have signed or will sign letters of intent for DI programs:

Besides the aformentioned six, there’s:

— Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora, who’s headed to the University of Northern Colorado.

— Morgan Ryan of Centennial and Jessica Zapf of Windsor will be teammates at the University of Wyoming.

— And TJ Shehee of Mead will play for the UNC men.

It isn’t often that a Coloradan signs a letter of intent to play golf for the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, but Stewart did just that on Wednesday afternoon.

“It means a lot with all the hard work I’ve put in through the years,” Stewart said recently. “Waking up early and going to play all day until the moon comes up (and) I’m still up there and have my flashlight on the range when I was little. I couldn’t get enough. It just shows that if you have a dream and you want to achieve it, you can put the work in and anything is possible.”

Signing a prestigious letter of intent on Wednesday caps a big year for Stewart, who will graduate from Fossil Ridge in December, though he won’t enroll in OSU until the fall semester. In 2018, he won the individual title in the boys Junior America’s Cup, which featured some of the top junior golfers from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico, and led Colorado to its first team title ever in that event. Earlier, Stewart became the first Colorado boy to win the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior — one of two AJGA titles he claimed in 2018. In the fall, he captured the 5A state high school individual championship and led Fossil Ridge to its first team title in boys golf. Stewart also shared medalist honors in qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur.

And now, Stewart is going to Stillwater, Okla., to play his college golf.

“It is a dream of mine,” he said. “I’ve always wanted to go there. When I was little I was a Rickie (Fowler) fan; that’s what sparked the whole idea. Being with that group of (top-level players) day in and day out as your family, you’re just going to get that much better. That’s what I’m really looking forward to. You’re practicing with some of the top players in the country and the world every day.”

Here are the Colorado residents and JGAC members who have signed letters of intent or have verbally committed to a college program:

CLASS OF 2019
Boys
— Brandon Bervig of Colorado Springs (Liberty HS) — University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
— Jonas Graham of Parker (Chaparral HS) — Colorado Mesa
— Peter Grossenbacher of Eaton (Eaton HS) — Colorado Mesa
— Dawson Holmes of Aspen (Aspen HS) — College of Charleston (S.C.)
— Jack Hughes of Aspen (Aspen HS) — University of Colorado
— Tyler Mulligan of Parker (Chaparral HS) — Oregon Tech
— Former Grand Junction resident Canon Olkowski, now of Las Vegas — University of Colorado
— Riley Rottschafer of Centennial (Arapahoe HS) — Fort Lewis
— TJ Shehee of Mead (Mead HS) — University of Northern Colorado
— Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins (Fossil Ridge HS) — Oklahoma State
— Jack Tickle (Arapahoe HS) — University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
— Jake Welch of Highlands Ranch (Valor Christian HS) — Colorado School of Mines
— Colter Zwieg of Aspen (Aspen HS) — Methodist University (N.C.)

Girls
— Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora (Grandview HS) — University of Northern Colorado
— Sydney Eye of Golden (Ralston Valley HS) — Metropolitan State University of Denver
— Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood (Colorado Academy) — University of Denver
— Brooke Kramer of Aurora (Cherokee Trail HS) — Chadron State (Neb.)
— Lauren Lehigh of Loveland (Loveland HS) — University of New Mexico
— Morgan Ryan of Centennial (Grandview HS) — University of Wyoming
— Kinsey Smith of Windsor (Windsor HS) — Chadron State (Neb.)
— Jessica Zapf of Windsor (Windsor HS) — University of Wyoming

Out-of-State Signees for Colorado-Based Schools
Boys
— Spencer Adam of San Diego — Air Force Academy
— Brady Arnett of Woodbury, Minn. — University of Denver
— Blake Danni of Cheyenne, Wyo. — Northern Colorado
— Logan Hensley of Casper, Wyo. — Northern Colorado
— Aidan Mann of Elmhurst, Ill. — Colorado Mesa
— Andrew Ni of Edinburgh, Scotland (junior from New Mexico Junior College) — CSU-Pueblo
— Jamie Roberts of Perth, Scotland — CSU-Pueblo
— Zachary Slayton of Austin, Texas — Colorado Christian

Girls
— Andrea Bergsdottir of Gothenburg, Sweden — Colorado State University
— Tomine Bjerkelo of Sandnes, Norway — Colorado State University
— Thea Bjekelo of Sandnes, Norway — Colorado State University
— Erika Danielsson of Finland — University of Denver
— Abbi Fleiner of Reno, Nev. — University of Northern Colorado
— Sophie Johnson of Telford, Shropshire, England — University of Colorado
— Anna Krekling of Oslo, Norway — University of Denver
— Mattie Millwee of Fresno, Calif. — CSU-Pueblo
— Gabby Minier of Goleta, Calif. — Colorado State University
— Rileigh Vojta of St Francis, Minn. — CSU-Pueblo
— Anna Zanusso of Venice, Italy — University of Denver

CLASS OF 2020 VERBAL COMMITMENTS
— Hailey Schalk of Erie (Holy Family HS) — University of Colorado
— Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village (Kent Denver HS) — Northwestern
— Marie Jordaan of Lakewood (Colorado Academy) — Santa Clara

(Note: This story will be updated as more signees/commitments are publicized. Please let us know additional signees by emailing golfjournal@coloradogolf.org) 

In a field of 56 players — 35 on the boys side and 21 on the girls — 16-year-old Jacob Mason of Westminster shot a 2-under-par 69 for the boys lead and 3A state high school champion Jackson Klutznick of Denver posted a 1-under 70 to also finish in red numbers.

Meanwhile Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, who has committed to play her college golf at the University of Denver, carded an even-par 71 to take a three-stroke lead in the girls competition at the fourth and final JGAC Tour major of 2018.

Mason, the winner of a JGAC Tour event at Legacy Ridge in July, placed sixth individually on Tuesday at the 3A state high school meet while competing for Holy Family. He made four birdies and two bogeys on a cool Saturday at DCC.

Klutznick also carried over his strong play from the 3A state tournament, carding three birdies and two bogeys in round 1.

Billy Howenstein of Boulder, who tied Mason for sixth play at the 3A meet, holds third place at even-par 71 after a one-birdie, one-bogey day.

In the girls tournament, Caroline Jordaan and her younger sister, Marie, are 1-2 on the scoreboard, with 2016 JGAC Tour Championship winner Charlotte Hillary of Englewood sharing second place with the younger Jordaan.

Caroline Jordaan, runner-up in the 3A state tournament in the spring, recorded five birdies and five bogeys in round 1. She had three “2s” on her card.

Marie Jordaan and Hillary finished with one birdie and four bogeys each on Saturday.

Defending champion Hailey Schalk of Erie and 2018 JGAC Girls Junior Tour points leader Lauren Lehigh of Loveland each opened with a 77.

The 36-hole tournaments for both the boys and girls will conclude on Sunday.

For scores from the JGAC Tour Championship, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS
 

Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood tied for sixth out of 136 players in the girls 15-18 tournament. She carded rounds of 73-80-76-76 for a 17-over-par 305 total. That left her 12 strokes behind champion Jillian Bourdage.

And in the boys 16-18 event, TJ Shehee of Mead and Micah Stangebye of Montrose were among those who tied for eighth place out of 134 golfers.

Shehee went 71-71-75-74 for a 3-over-par 291 total. At that same figure, Stangebye carded scores of 71-73-72-75.

Those two finished 11 strokes behind champion Yuki Moriyama.

In earlier phases of the Optimist International, Nicholas Pevny of Aspen won the boys 12-13 tournament (READ MORE), while Eva Pett of Denver placed sixth in the girls 13-14 division (READ MORE).

Here are the results of the Colorado golfers at the Optimist this week:

Boys 16-18
8. TJ Shehee of Mead 71-71-75-74–291
8. Micah Stangebye of Montrose 71-73-72-75–291
34. Walker Franklin of Broomfield 77-73-76-76–302
Missed 54-Hole Cut
Ryder Heuston of Louisville 73-81-75–229
Bo Wardynski of Parker 77-76-79–232
Blake Schneiter of Grand Junction 80-81-81–242
Tyler Mulligan of Parker 85-82-79–246
Finn Sapp of Avon 81-84-84–249
 
Girls 15-18
6. Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood 73-80-76-76–305
28. Leigha Devine of Windsor 83-76-77-79–315
46. Jessica Zapf of Windsor 80-78-79-85–322
Missed 54-Hole Cut
Emma Bryant of Aurora 82-81-80–243
Meghan Vogt of Broomfield 83-83-80–246
Morgan Ryan of Centennial 82-83-82–247
Jenna Chun of Englewood 83-83-81–247
Katherine Malcolm of Parker 93-83-89–265
Brooke Kramer of Aurora 93-95-88-276

The 16-year-old shot a 3-under-par 69 — her low round of the event — on Thursday and finished 43rd out of a field that originally numbered 144.

Only seven players shot a lower score in the final round.

Hillary, a 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier, moved up 20 spots on the scoreboard with the strong showing on Thursday. She made six birdies and three bogeys on the day, leaving her at 2-over-par 290 for the week.

Hillary was the only one of the three Coloradans competing this week who made the 36-hole cut in Kentucky.

Yealimi Noh of Concord, Calif., the No. 70-ranked women’s amateur in the world, took a seven-stroke lead into the final day and won by four. She carded a final-round 69 for a 24-under-par 264 total.

The national Boys Junior PGA is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

Girls Junior PGA Championship
Monday through Thursday in Lexington, Ky.

43. Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village 77-70-74-69–290
Failed to Qualify for Final 2 Rounds
81. Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood 78-72–150
111. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland 78-76–154

For all the scores from this week’s girls tournament, CLICK HERE.
    

Hillary (left), who played in the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior, shot a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday, which lifted her 35 spots on the scoreboard and allowed her to made the 36-hole cut to the top 70 players and ties.

The 16-year-old birdied her final two holes and finished the day with three birdies and one bogey. That left her with a 3-over-par 147 total and in a tie for 61st place with two rounds remaining.

Yealimi Noh of Concord, Calif., leads the 144-player field with a 13-under-par 131 total.

As for the other two Coloradans in the original field, Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood (78-72–150) missed the cut by two and Lauren Lehigh of Loveland (78-76–154) by six.

The national Boys Junior PGA is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.
 

Girls Junior PGA Championship
Monday through Thursday in Lexington, Ky.

61. Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village 77-70–147
Failed to Qualify for Final 2 Rounds
81. Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood 78-72–150
111. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland 78-76–154

For all the scores from this week’s girls tournament, CLICK HERE.
 

With the 144-player field being cut to the low 70 and ties after round 2, the top Coloradan after Monday’s opening day was Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, who made three birdies and shot a 5-over-par 77, which left her in 96th place.

The other two local players competing, Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood and Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, are another stroke back, at 78, in a tie for 110th place. Jordaan is competing in the event for the second time, having made her debut in 2015.

Alexa Melton of Covina, Calif., leads the Girls Junior PGA after posting a 9-under 63 on Monday.

The national Boys Junior PGA is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 3 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Ky.

For all the scores from this week’s girls tournament, CLICK HERE.
 

The 2018 major championship season for the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado started off a lot like how the 2017 year ended. And, for that matter, how the 2017 season began.

For the second straight year at the Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Club, the titles in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship went to Davis Bryant of Aurora in the boys ranks and to Hailey Schalk of Erie in the girls division.

Bryant became the first boys player to win consecutive Colorado Junior PGAs since Steven Kupcho in 2010 and ’11. And Schalk became the first girl to repeat since Steven’s sister, Jennifer Kupcho, did the honors in 2012 and ’13. Jennifer Kupcho, of course, recently won the women’s NCAA individual title.

Overall, Bryant is the fourth boy to win the Coloado Junior PGA twice in a row, while Schalk is the seventh girl. (The two champions are pictured at left.)

“To do this two years in a row is awesome and amazing. It’s a great feeling,” said Bryant, who was likely competing in his final JGAC major as he has conflicts with the remaining tournaments in 2018. “To play as consistently as I have and to win by four shots … I was real motivated after last week when I got second place to Dillon (Stewart) at the AJGA. That motivated me to come here and take care of business, which I was able to do.”

Said Schalk: “It’s really cool to win two years in a row because that doesn’t happen very often. For me to do what Jennifer Kupcho did is really special.”

Even more notably, both Bryant and Schalk have won the last four JGAC majors in which they’ve competed.

“That’s pretty cool,” said Bryant (left). “It’s like a grand slam in a way. To win four (straight) that I’ve played in … it hasn’t really sunk in yet. But I’m really happy I was able to get it done.”

Schalk likewise relishes that feat.

“I’m definitely proud of that accomplishment,” said the junior-to-be at Holy Family High School. “It’s cool to be able to win my last four because that just doesn’t really happen (often).”

Adding even more to the significance of Bryant and Schalk’s victories on Wednesday, their dads — Matt Bryant (Green Valley Ranch Golf Club) and Matt Schalk (Colorado National Golf Club) — are Colorado PGA general managers, making their kids repeating in the Colorado Junior PGA all the more appropriate.

On Wednesday, after taking an eight-stroke lead into the final round, Davis Bryant prevailed by four shots. And after leading by three after two rounds, Schalk emerged with a six-stroke victory.

In both cases, it continued an early-season trend of relative routs in the top junior championships in Colorado. Last week in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, the boys margin of victory was six and the girls seven. And at last month’s girls state high school tournaments, the margins were seven (5A), six (3A) and, in the lone exception, one (4A).

On a windy final day at Eisenhower GC, Bryant shot a 1-over-par 73 to post a 6-under 210 total. The 18-year-old, who will play his college golf at Colorado State University beginning in the fall, made two birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday.

“Today was the hardest round I’ve played in a while,” Bryant said. “Knowing you have an eight-shot lead, and the last thing you want to do is blow the lead. It crept in my head a little last night.

“But I love this golf course. I play real well here. I understand the greens and know where to miss it and where not to miss it. I did a really good job of that over the three days.”

Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, a University of Denver-bound golfer, crept within three strokes of Bryant with three holes left on Wednesday and checked in at 214 overall after closing with a 69.

“I wanted to catch Davis, but I knew it was going to be very hard to do, especially with how well he can play,” McCoy said. “I just wanted to put some pressure on him and make him think a little more over some short putts and some drives. If I caught up to him, great. If I didn’t, I knew second is, I guess, good enough. Even though you want to win, it’s tough when you’re eight back with one round left.”

Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, who recently advanced to the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, placed third at 221 after a final-round 73.

In the girls division, the 16-year-old Schalk (left) shot her second consecutive 77 to finish at 228. The two-time 3A state high school champion made 13 pars and five bogeys on Wednesday.

Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, the 2015 Colorado Junior PGA Champion, was runner-up at 234 as she sank a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to edge out 2017 4A state high school champ Lauren Lehigh of Loveland. Jordaan posted a final-round 80 for a 234 total, while Lehigh placed third at 235 after a 79.

“I definitely tried to come in first, but I struggled on the front nine a little bit,” said Jordaan, who will play golf at DU starting in 2019. “I tried to keep it together on the back to get in the top two.”

In addition to the Colorado Junior PGA Championship titles being on the line on Wednesday, the top two boys finishers and the top two girls landed spots in the national Junior PGA Championship that will be held in Kentucky. The national girls tournament is set for July 9-12 at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington and the boys for July 31-Aug. 3 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Valhalla has hosted three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.

Bryant and McCoy gained the boys berths and Schalk and Jordaan the girls. Bryant finished 14th in the 2017 national Junior PGA, while McCoy and Schalk missed the cut in their respecive tournaments. Jordaan missed the cut on her first trip to the national Junior PGA, in 2015.

“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m happy I ended up getting a spot because I didn’t play my best golf. I’m happy it worked out in the end.”

Said McCoy: “It feels pretty good” to go to a national championship. “Whenever you’re playing for a bigger tournament, there’s always added pressure. This year I want to do a little better, but the first stage was to get into it, and I’m feeling pretty good.”

Another Coloradan who has landed a spot in the national Junior PGA is Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, who’s competing this week in the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship in Park City, Utah.

For scores from the Colorado Junior PGA: BOYS, GIRLS

(Below is a photo of the new clubhouse at Eisenhower Golf Club.)

They called it the “Bryant Slam” when Davis Bryant and younger sister Emma jointly won all four Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors in 2017. So do you call it the “Sibling Sweep” when the pair wins both the boys and girls 5A state high school titles in the same school year?

Almost eight months after Davis Bryant claimed the 5A boys crown as a senior at Eaglecrest, Emma held up her end by capturing the 5A girls title as an Eaglecrest freshman on Tuesday at Boulder Country Club. It’s the first time two players with the same surname have won the boys and girls state individual prep championships in one school year.

“After he won state we were like, ‘Oh that would be so cool if Emma won state too. That’s never happened before.'” Emma Bryant recalled the family thinking. “I was like, ‘It could happen. I don’t know. I guess you’ve got to see where the cards fall.’ Getting the Bryant Slam was so cool, but us both winning state … He got an excellence medal at school. I probably will too. And thinking who won state this season, it’ll be, ‘Oh, Emma and Davis Bryant, they both won state.’ That’s so cool. I’m not exactly walking in his footsteps; I’m kind of building my own path a little bit. But I’m going back to his path a tad bit.”

(Emma and Davis Bryant are pictured above, while Emma celebrates with Eaglecrest teammates below.)

In helping keep the 5A high school titles all in the family, Emma Bryant became just the second freshman since 2002 to win an individual state high school title in Colorado girls golf. Holy Family’s Hailey Schalk did the honors as a freshman last season and repeated as 3A champion on Tuesday (see below, along with the 4A tournament details).

Bryant came into Tuesday’s final round three strokes out of the lead. But the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play champion used a stellar front nine of 5-under-par 31 to shoot the first subpar round of her life on Tuesday — a 2-under 70. That led to a seven-stroke victory margin with a 1-under 143 total.

“I honestly didn’t feel like she could pull it off for two days and play as well as she did,” said Davis Bryant, the JGAC Boys Player of the Year in 2017 who followed his sister throughout Tuesday’s round. “She proved me wrong, and I’m happy she did.

“It’s like the Bryant Slam again. It’s so cool because we have a golfing family. Everybody in our family is involved with the game of golf and in the golfing community (dad Matt is PGA general manager at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club and mom Julie is the executive director of The First Tee at GVR). Everyone around us supports golf and wants the best for us. For what I was able to do last season, then Emma winning the Colorado Junior Match Play and really proving herself these last two days and taking it to another level, I’m so excited and proud. It feels awesome.”

In winning on Tuesday, Emma Bryant overcame home-club favorite Kelsey Webster of Fairview, a senior who will play her college golf at the University of Colorado beginning in the fall. Webster was 1 under par for the tournament through eight holes on Tuesday, but the par-4 ninth at her home club potentially ruined a fairytale ending to her high school career.

Webster (left) hit her second shot thin and over the green on the ninth, which features a putting surface that slopes heavily from back to front. The senior putted from the back fringe and off the front of the green and ended up taking five putts (two from off the green) to get down from 70 feet behind the hole, giving her a triple-bogey 7. And when Bryant birdied No. 9 with a big-breaking 25-footer, there was a four-stroke swing on the hole and the freshman went to the back nine with a six-stroke lead.

“Obviously it was a super disappointing day. I let my emotions get the best of me I think,” said Webster, the 5A Central Regional champion. “I couldn’t get the ball in the hole (on No. 9). I kind of played hockey. I was super duper bummed after that hole. Everybody has those holes; it’s just unfortunate that I had that hole at that time.

“I didn’t feel a ton of pressure (from playing on her home course in her final state tournament). I just wanted it really badly. That’s where my disappointment comes from. I know that I’m loved either way. It was just pressure on myself because I wanted it so bad.”

With first-round leader Katie Berrian of Regis Jesuit faltering early in the round — she was 4 over par through five holes Tuesday — Webster turned out to be the last challenger for Bryant. But the ninth hole turned things sour, and she ended up shooting a 9-over 81 and tying for third place at 8-over 152 overall. Also at that figure were Berrian, Leigha Devine of Fossil Ridge, Payton Canon of Cherry Creek and Meghan Vogt of Broomfield.

Morgan Ryan of Grandview finished second on Tuesday as a 73 put her at 6-over 150. Defending champion Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview placed eighth at 153.

After making birdie on her first three holes on Tuesday and converting five overall on her front nine, Bryant suffered a couple of double bogeys on the back side before closing with a 10-foot birdie.

“After nine I was like, ‘I’m 5 under with nine holes to play. I can’t screw up that much, right?,'” Bryant said.

Whatever the case, the fact that her first sub-par round came in the final day at state en route to victory, it was a pretty special outcome.

“It feels so good to shoot under par,” said the 15-year-old, who picked up her fifth individual victory of the season on Tuesday. “I love it so much. I really wanted to shoot in the 60s today. Some of those holes really screwed me up (on the back nine) but I’m so happy to shoot under par.”

With some golf-related guidance over the years from her parents and Davis — with her brother particularly helping her out with the mental side of the game — the work paid dividends on Tuesday.

“Everything I’ve tried to help her with, it feels so good,” Davis said. “Days like today, everything we talked about and practiced, all the long nights of putting and chipping and a bunch of different competitions, it feels so good. It’s a great way to start a high school career, and hopefully she can continue to play as well as she did here.”

Meanwhile, Cherry Creek (left) claimed the 5A team title on Tuesday, notching victory No. 11 to the Bruins’ record total. But this was Creek’s first championship since 2013.

Cherry Creek finished with a two-day total of 46-over-par 478, two better than Grandview.

Schalk (3A) Still Undefeated in High School Ranks: Holy Family sophomore Hailey Schalk remained unbeaten in her two seasons of high school tournaments and kept alive her chances for an unprecented four Colorado girls state high school golf titles by repeating as 3A individual champion at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.

Schalk, the 2017 GJAC Girls Player of the Year, came from behind on Tuesday to capture the crown. She shot a bogey-free 4-under-par 67 on Tuesday and finished at 6-under 136. She played the last 24 holes of the tournament in 8 under par.

Schalk became the eighth player to win at least two Colorado girls state high school titles, joining Lynn Ann Moretto (3), Ashley Tait (3), Jennifer Kupcho (2), Becca Huffer (2), Kelly Jacques (2), Jennifer McCormick (2) and Emily Wood (2).

First-round leader Caroline Jordaan, a junior from Colorado Academy, finished second, six strokes back of Schalk, after a second-round 74. It was Jordaan’s third straight top-three finish at state (second in 4A, third in 3A and second in 3A.

Last year’s runner-up, sophomore Charlotte Hillary of Kent Denver, placed third on Tuesday after a second-round 72 left her at 147.

Colorado Academy (62-over-par 488) claimed the 3A team title by seven over Kent Denver. It was CA’s fifth girls golf state title since 2007, and third straight.

18th Hole Pivotal in Choi’s 4A Victory: The 4A state tournament at the Country Club of Colorado proved to be a battle of attrition, with local player Maxine Choi of Cheyenne Mountain winning by one stroke at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Choi posted rounds of 78-80 for a 16-over-par 158 total and finished a stroke ahead of defending champion Lauren Lehigh of Loveland. Choi’s 8-foot birdie on the final hole on Tuesday — combined with Lehigh’s bogey there — proved the difference. Lehigh struggled down the stretch, playing her final six holes in 7 over par in shooting 81.

Jessica Zapf of Windsor and Lauren Murphy of Glenwood Springs tied for third at 164.

Windsor captured the 4A team title by six over Glenwood Springs, while Loveland was another two back in third place. It was the Wizards’ first girls golf state team title in school history.

For scores from the three girls state tournaments, CLICK HERE.
 

Kelsey Webster graduated from Fairview High School on Sunday, then shot a 1-under-par 71 in front of many friends and family members on her home course Monday in the first day of the 5A girls state high school tournament. And on Tuesday she hopes to add another great memory to put an exclamation mark on her high school golf career.

“I graduated Sunday and had graduation parties on Saturday,” Webster said. “I haven’t been able to respond to text messages it’s been so busy, but it’s been fun. On Wednesday I’ll kick my feet back and watch some movies for sure.”

Possibly as a state champion.

But Regis Jesuit sophomore Katie Berrian has her own hopes for a magical end to the season — in her case in the form of her first high school victory coming in the state tournament. And she’ll take a one-stroke lead over Webster into the final round at Boulder Country Club.

And, of course, there are many others who have dreams of their own going into the final day of the season.

Berrian, who hadn’t shot better than 75 in high school competition this year, fired a 2-under-par 70 on Monday to hold the solo lead at the halfway point of the 5A state meet in Boulder. After a water ball resulted in a bogey on No. 17, she made a 7-foot downhill birdie putt on the treacherous 18th green to cap her round.

Berrian (left) finished with four birdies and two bogeys on the day.

“I was on top of my game,” said Berrian, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 11-13 Junior Series champion in 2015. “It was fun. I would have been happy with (a season-best score) in a league tournament, but at state it makes me feel even better. I love the course and I knew I would play well. I had a good feeling about it.”

Webster, who estimates she’s played the Boulder Country Club course 150 times in her lifetime, birdied the final hole Monday after three-putting No. 17 for bogey. The 5A Central Regional champion carded four birdies and three bogeys on the day, but wasn’t thrilled with the outcome.

“I’m actually a little bummed,” said Webster, who will play golf at the University of Colorado starting in the fall. “My game feels really good and everything, but things were a little sloppy today. I just made some silly mistakes (including a couple of three-putts on the back nine). It felt like a 5 or 6 under round, but silly mistakes cost me some shots.

“Nothing really felt good today. I’m always happy shooting under par, but it sucks to know (there was a lower score) out there.

“Obviously I wanted to be in the lead going into tomorrow, but being one shot back I think it will give me an edge. I usually play better from behind. It’ll be good if I can clean some things up.”

Webster (left) birdied the first hole from 30 feet, but that wasn’t a sign of things to come with the putter.

“I think on this course my mind is very much in attack mode and that birdies are possible on every single hole here,” she said. “That’s why I’m so bummed because I have made birdies on every single hole of this course.”

Eaglecrest’s Emma Bryant, attempting to become just the second freshman since 2002 to win a Colorado girls state high school title, stands in third place at 73 despite a double-bogey 7 on the final hole. On the previous hole, the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play champion had drained a 30-foot putt to save par after going in the water.

Defending 5A champion Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview is among those in a tie for fourth place at 75.

In the team competition, Regis Jesuit (24-over-par 240) holds a one-stroke lead over Grandview and is three ahead of Cherry Creek.
 

Jordaan 1 Up on Schalk in 3A: Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy, who posted the lowest score of any Colorado player in regional state-qualifying tournaments, grabbed the lead in the 3A state meet by shooting a 3-under-par 68 at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.

Jordaan’s bogey on the final hole was her only one of the day as she carded four birdies.

Jordaan, who placed third last year at state, will take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Hailey Schalk of Holy Family into the final round. Schalk, who last year became the first freshman since 2002 to win a Colorado girls state high school title, has won every high school tournament in which she’s played over the course of two seasons.

Schalk, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Girls Player of the Year in 2017, played her last six holes in 4 under par en route to a 69 on Monday. That stretch included an eagle on the 451-yard, par-5 16th hole and a birdie on 18.

Charlotte Hillary of Kent Denver, the 3A runner-up last year, holds third place at 75.

Kent Denver, at 30-over-par 243, holds a six-stroke lead over Colorado Academy in the team standings.

2017 Champ Lehigh Shares Lead in 4A: Three players, including defending champion Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, share the lead after Monday’s opening round of the 4A tournament at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

Lehigh, a junior who has committed to play her college golf at the University of New Mexico, shot a 7-over-par 78 along with Jessica Zapf of Windsor and Maxine Choi of Cheyenne Mountain.

Those three are five strokes ahead of the next-best player.

In the team competition, Glenwood Springs leads at 47-over-par 260, while Loveland and Windsor are at 264.

For scores from the three state tournaments, CLICK HERE.

In the second season for three separate classifications, all three events are set for Monday and Tuesday (May 21-22), with the 5A tournament at Boulder Country Club, 4A at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs, and 3A at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.

Here are some things worth noting for next week:

— Last year, Hailey Schalk of Holy Family became the first freshman to win a Colorado girls state high school individual title since Ashley Tait managed the feat in 2002 en route to a record-tying three state prep championships.

Schalk, the 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Girls Player of the Year, has won every high school tournament in which she’s competed so far in her career. She’ll put that record on the line at the 3A meet in Pueblo.

— This year will mark the first time since 2007 that all of the individual state champions will be back to defend their titles. That includes Grandview junior Amy Chitkoksoong (5A), Loveland junior Lauren Lehigh (4A) and Holy Family sophomore Schalk (3A). Lehigh has verbally committed to play her college golf at the University of New Mexico.

— Fairview senior Kelsey Webster, who will play golf for the University of Colorado beginning in the fall, will compete in her final state tournament on her home course, Boulder Country Club. Webster, who won the 5A Central Regional with a 3-under-par 69 at South Suburban earlier this month, finished ninth at state last year. Webster’s 69 was one of two scores in the 60s at the regional state qualifying tournaments. Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy, who tied for third in last year’s 3A state meet, fired a regional-best 67 at the 3A Region 2 tournament at CommonGround this month. Webster shot a 66 in a March tournament at Harmony Club.

— Two players who teamed up in the recent U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship — and advanced to the match play round of 32 — will compete against one another in the 3A tournament in Pueblo. That would be Schalk and Charlotte Hillary of Kent Denver, both sophomores who finished 1-2 in last year’s 3A meet.

Both players won regional tournaments, and earlier this week Hillary finished seventh out of 48 players in the 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open Qualifying at The Ranch Country Club.

— Two other regional champions will similarly square off in the 5A tournament in Boulder after meeting in last year’s Colorado Junior Match Play final. Eaglecrest freshman Emma Bryant defeated Chitkoksoong 1 up in that match to claim the title.

— In Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Tour events held so far this spring, girls champions have included Chitkoksoong (twice) and Marie Jordaan of Colorado Academy. Chitkoksoong defeated Jenna Chun of Highlands Ranch in a 5A playoff last year and was runner-up at the state tournament as a freshman. Chun will play her college golf at the University of Northern Colorado beginning in the fall.

— Speaking of Colorado Academy, it’s won four state team titles since 2007, including last year’s 3A crown. CA and 4A Windsor posted the lowest team scores at regionals this month, 227. In 5A, Ralston Valley will defend its title after winning a girls golf state championship last year for the first time. Also back to defend after winning its first girls golf state title last year is Loveland in 4A.

For Monday’s state tournament tee times, CLICK HERE.

Here are the teams and players that won regional tournaments earlier this month to qualify for state:

5A Northern Regional at Collindale GC — Team: Fossil Ridge 242; Individual: Emma Bryant, Eaglecrest, 75.

5A Southern Regional at Colorado Springs CC — Team: Grandview 240; Individual: Amy Chitkoksoong, Grandview, and Morgan Ryan, Grandview, 79.

5A Central Regional at South Suburban GC — Team: Highlands Ranch 236; Individual: Kelsey Webster, Fairview, 69.

5A Western Regional at Fox Hollow GC — Team: Cherry Creek 229; Individual: Brooke Kramer, Cherokee Trail, 73.

4A Region 1 at Garden of the Gods Club — Team: Coronado 254; Individual: Zoey Rodriguez, Pueblo South, and Maxine Choi, Cheyenne Mountain, 78.

4A Region 2 at Eisenhower GC’s Silver Course — Team: Valor Christian 277; Individual: Isabell Deak, Air Academy, 84.

4A Region 3 at Pelican Lakes GC — Team: Windsor 227; Individual: Jessica Zapf, Windsor, and Kinsey Smith, Windsor, 74.

4A Region 4 at Highland Hills GC — Team: Loveland 254; Individual: Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, 74.

3A Region 1 at Hollydot GC — Team: The Classical Academy 271; Individual: Hailey Schalk, Holy Family, 70.

3A Region 2 at CommonGround GC — Team: Colorado Academy 227; Individual: Caroline Jordaan, Colorado Academy, 67.

3A Region 3 at Olde Course at Loveland — Team: Jefferson Academy 240; Individual: Charlotte Hillary, Kent Denver, 70.

3A Region 4 at Rifle Creek GC — Team: Rifle 242; Individual: Masi Smith, Rifle, 72.