When the executive directors and the staffs from the CGA and the Colorado Section PGA met last October to determine what programs it made the most sense to team up on, junior golf ended up major priority No. 1.
A year later — after plenty of brainstorming, meetings and work on all sides — the seeds bore fruit on Monday, when it was announced that the CGA and Colorado PGA are joining forces in a major effort to bolster junior golf in the state.
As part of a memorandum of agreement signed by CGA president Phil Lane and Colorado PGA president Leslie Core-Drevecky (pictured) on Monday at the Section’s Fall Membership Meeting at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club, a Junior Tour will be created that includes four junior major championships in Colorado.
Three of those events currently exist — the CGA’s Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play, and the Colorado PGA Junior Championship — and will be part of the Junior Tour, along with the Tour Championship, though the names will be rebranded.
All the major championships will feature both boys and girls competitions. There will also be plenty of other Junior Tour tournaments, mostly 36-hole events on Mondays and Tuesdays, with those competitions meant for top-level junior players who aspire to play college golf (handicap 8.1 or lower).
In addition, there will be a developmental Junior Series that will help players not yet ready for the Junior Tour to progress with their game.
Staff from the CGA and Colorado PGA will jointly oversee both the Junior Tour and Junior Series.
Another aspect of the collaboration will be the creation of a website that acts as a clearinghouse for all things junior golf-related in Colorado, including but not limited to registration for Junior Tour and Junior Series events; the PGA Junior League; the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, which exposes school kids to the game through P.E. classes; the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy and the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship.
The name for that website as well as the name for the collaborative program in general — and many other details — have yet to be finalized. But with 2016 being the first year for the program, the plan is to have all the details ironed out in time for a Golf Summit that’s scheduled for February.
“With the two organizations and what great things they’ve accomplished, just imagine now becoming one powerhouse where our focus is all going to be about the kids and the families. How can that not be great?” said Eddie Ainsworth (left), executive director of the Colorado PGA. “For me, this is a major day. This is just huge.”
Between the CGA and the Colorado PGA, many pieces that will make up this collaborative effort have been in place, while others will be new. The bottom line is to streamline the junior golf process, fill in the voids, further build the junior golf ranks, and create some new excitement with a series of grand slam events.
“It’s the best practices of two organizations (being joined) and I think they’re really going to be complementary,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA. “We’re basically taking the best of what the PGA has been doing — you’ve seen how much they’ve grown their junior golf programs in the last few years — and the history and the legacy of the CGA and the CJGA, and putting the two together. It’s really exciting.
“It will be better (for junior golfers) because it’ll be cooler. It’s going to be better because the tournamemts are going to feel different. They’re going to feel more like, ‘Wow!’ It’s going to be better for parents because the website is going to be simple to use and easy to navigate and very user-friendly. It’s going to be better top to bottom.”
The CGA plans to revamp the trophies for its oldest junior championships — the Junior Match Play, which dates back to 1951, and the Junior Stroke Play, which began in 1977. But the list of champions for those events, which include such luminaries as Hale Irwin, Mike Reid, Brandt Jobe and Mark Hubbard, will remain a fixture on the re-done trophies.
“The kids are going to want to win the ‘Grand Slam’ (in a calendar year),” noted Mate (left). “How cool will that be?”
Mate likened the impending tweaking of the championship names to what was done for the PGA Tour’s BMW Championship, which for most of its storied history was known as the Western Open.
The Colorado associations are following the lead of Nebraska and Northern California, where PGA Sections and golf associations have joined forces for the betterment of junior golf. For the CGA and CPGA, Monday’s memorandum of agreement has been more than a year in the making.
“We’re just at the beginning of a long journey,” said Mate, who once worked at the Colorado PGA. “(Nebraska and Northern California) are three or four years in, and their feedback is, ‘This is the best thing we’ve ever done.’ It’s not without its challenges. You have two organizations and a lot of people’s fingers in the pie. The thing I probably appreciate more than anything at this stage of my life is, ‘Is it sustainable?’ We’re going to build this to last.”
And beyond the benefits for junior golf, this collaboration marks another area where the CGA and the Colorado PGA have found it makes more sense to work in tandem than separately. Those areas have also included the annual Golf Summit and the upcoming Century of Golf Gala, which will celebrate 2015 marking the 100th “birthday” of the CGA.
“I’ve been saying it since the first day I’ve been in this job: We’ve all got to check our logos at the door and work together,” Ainsworth said. “We can make more things happen. I know Ed’s heart, I know my heart. It’s about junior golf, it’s about making a difference and introducing more people to the game.
“It’s like Ed said, ‘Everybody’s chips are in and we’re going to make this thing work.'”
As part of the changes, the CJGA, which was jointly created in 1984 by the CGA and the Colorado PGA but eventually was overseen exclusively by CGA staff, will go by the wayside, with many of its functions becoming part of what will be essentially a joint operating agreement.
“A lot has changed (since ’84),” Mate said. “Now we’re going back to the spirit of working together.”
Isaac Petersilie was kicking himself a little for forgetting to sign up for the inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior that CommonGround Golf Course hosted early this month. But while he would have loved to compete against the stellar field that assembled for that event, he’s made the most of his opportunities since then.
Later in the same week the AJGA tournament was held, Petersilie not only won the Springer tourney held in his hometown of Colorado Springs, but he prevailed by eight shots.
Then last week, the 2013 4A state high school champion earned one of two spots at stake in his age division for next month’s prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in the San Diego area. Then to cap off his June to remember, Petersilie rallied in a major way on Wednesday to win the 39th CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton.
The Coronado High School senior-to-be, who has committed to play college golf at the University of Denver beginning in 2016, made up four shots on the final seven holes of regulation, then won a sudden-death playoff with a 15-foot birdie on the first extra hole.
“I felt like in the past when I’ve been down I’ve kind of rushed it and tried to force something to happen,” the 17-year-old said. But this time around, he just got into a nice groove and let the birdies flow.
Petersilie (left and above) played his final nine holes — including the playoff — in 5 under par to overcome AJ Ott of Fort Collins, who led after each of the first two days.
“He made a lot of putts coming in,” Ott said of Petersilie, who drained three birdie attempts of 12-20 feet in his last seven holes, including the playoff.
After both players birdied their 18th hole in regulation — Ott nearly chipped in for eagle and Petersilie missed a 9-foot eagle attempt — it was time for sudden death. Petersilie hit his tee shot pin-high to the right of the green on the playoff hole, the 375-yard dogleg-left 10th. After Ott went into the bunker off the tee and blasted to the back fringe, he missed his 15-foot birdie attempt. That opened the door for Petersilie, whose birdie putt — on a similar line as playing partners Ott (below) and Coby Welch had earlier 
in the day — just trickled into the cup.
All in all, it was 180 degrees different than how the final round of the CGA Junior Stroke Play went last year. In 2014, Petersilie led going into the final day following rounds of 68-69 at Indian Tree. But he struggled on day 3, posting a 76 that dropped him to fourth place.
“This means a lot,” Petersilie said. “Last year I was close. I didn’t play too well (in the final round). It felt good to put three consistent rounds together and give myself a chance.”
Petersilie closed with a 3-under-par 69 Wednesday, giving him an 8-under 208 total. He made five birdies and a bogey in 19 holes on Wednesday.
Ott, a 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier who will play college golf at Colorado State beginning in 2016, carded a 2-under 70 on Wednesday.
Jackson Solem (left) of Longmont placed a distant third, six strokes out of a playoff, after a 72 on Wednesday. Fellow Longmont resident Daniel Pearson checked in in fourth place at 217, also closing with a 72.
Ott had a four-stroke advantage on Petersilie after both made birdie on their 11th hole Wednesday. Ott was 3 under par at the time and hadn’t carded a bogey on the day. But he made two down the stretch — one via a lost ball off his tee shot at his 12th hole and another after hitting his approach into the bunker on his 16th.
“I played pretty bad on the back,” said the Fort Collins High School senior-to-be. “I didn’t give myself very many looks. I was struggling to make pars from some ridiculous spots on the greens.
“I got a little quick on the back nine and hit some shots I haven’t hit in a while. I’ve got to slow it down a little coming down the stretch.”
Ott, like Petersilie, has been on a roll of late. He finished third at the AJGA Irwin Colorado Junior, was medalist in Junior World qualifying, then finished second in a playoff on Wednesday.
“I’m playing really good,” the 17-year-old left-hander said. “I’m a lot more comfortable than I was last year. It’s a little disappointing to only finish off one of the (recent three tournaments with a win), but I’ll be back soon. I just need to work on a few things.”
CGA Junior Stroke Play
At Par-72 Raccoon Creek GC in Littleton
x-won sudden-death playoff
x-Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 69-70-69–208
AJ Ott, Ft. Collins, Colo. 67-71-70–208
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. 72-70-72–214
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 70-75-72–217
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 77-64-77–218
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 71-69-79–219
Brittain Walton, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 74-71-75–220
Jackson Vacek, Lafayette, Colo. 79-70-72–221
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 73-75-73–221
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 78-72-72–222
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 71-75-76–222
Cameron Berndt, Elizabeth, Colo. 77-71-74–222
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 72-77-74–223
Wes Moran, Colorado Springs, Colo. 75-72-76–223
Cole Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 74-73-77–224
Josh Hill, Superior, Colo. 74-76-75–225
Evan Buchalski, Loveland, Colo. 75-71-79–225
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. 75-75-75–225
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-76-75–225
Alec Poorman, Boulder, Colo. 68-78-81–227
Li Chen, Westminster, Colo. 75-76-76–227
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 75-78-74–227
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-73-80–227
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo. 73-83-72–228
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo. 76-78-75–229
Josh Caridi, Fort Collins, Colo. 78-73-78–229
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo. 76-74-80–230
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 75-76-79–230
Roy Carlsen, Arvada, Colo. 72-75-84–231
Reese Leiker, Littleton, Colo. 76-77-78–231
Nick Leibold, Littleton, Colo. 75-80-77–232
Alex Gorman, Broomfield, Colo. 76-80-76–232
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 81-73-78–232
Jake Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 75-76-82–233
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 82-74-78–234
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, Colo. 76-80-79–235
Will Firestone, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 75-79-81–235
Gary Schlatter, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 76-80-80–236
Alan Jake Berry, Littleton, Colo. 75-78-83–236
Austin Lienemann, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 76-77-84–237
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 83-73-82–238
Trey Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo. 77-78-83–238
Brett Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 78-78-83–239
Samuel Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 78-75-89–242
Marcus Tait, Littleton, Colo. 78-77-DQ
MISSED CUT
Cody Steigerwald, Colorado Springs, Colo. 78-79–157
Will Hazen, Aspen, Colo. 79-78–157
Bridger Tenney, Evergreen, Colo. 79-79–158
Canon Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. 79-79–158
Nick Michas, Golden, Colo. 77-81–158
Ian Thorpe, Superior, Colo. 79-79–158
Eric Oneth, Greenwood Village, Colo. 81-77–158
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 81-79–160
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins, Colo. 78-83–161
David Packer, Greenwood Village, Colo. 81-80–161
Jacob Gannon, Longmont, Colo. 82-79–161
Zach Zurcher, Parker, Colo. 82-80–162
Turner Johnson, Centennial, Colo. 83-80–163
Brock Dowdy, Denver, Colo. 79-84–163
Matthew Atkins, Loveland, Colo. 81-82–163
Mark Hillary, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 81-83–164
Cameron Kirke, Greenwood Village, Colo. 83-81–164
Trevor Glen, Thornton, Colo. 83-82–165
Jake Garrett, Littleton, Colo. 81-84–165
Liam Short, Evergreen, Colo. 84-82–166
Chance Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 84-82–166
Arthur Zabronsky, Parker, Colo. 84-83–167
Cole Folwell, Boulder, Colo. 83-84–167
Josh Pusar, Castle Pines, Colo. 81-86–167
Walker Franklin, Broomfield, Colo. 83-84–167
Cade Kilkenny, Centennial, Colo. 83-86–169
Reese Hummel, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 89-80–169
Zach Gomez, Westminster, Colo. 82-88–170
Cole Chalmers, Denver, Colo. 81-89–170
Nishant Datta, Broomfield, Colo. 88-83–171
Max Messner, Greenwood Village, Colo. 85-87–172
Jack Schoenborn, Castle Rock, Colo. 84-88–172
Brayden Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo. 84-88–172
Robby Walker, Centennial, Colo. 90-83–173
Andrew Stroh, Colorado Springs, Colo. 87-90–177
Jordan Phung, Littleton, Colo. 94-84–178
Ryan Hunt, Parker, Colo. 92-87–179
Tyler Mulligan, Parker, Colo. 90-96–186
Logan Gorman, Colorado Springs, Colo. 85-DQ
Ross Macdonald apparently has taken quite a shine to the CGA Junior Stroke Play trophy.
The golfer from the Country Club at Castle Pines on Friday became the first player since the 1980s to win consecutive Junior Stroke Play Championships. And just for good measure, he also finished second in the event, in 2012 to Jimmy Makloski.
And the scary thing is, if he so chooses he’ll probably be eligible to compete in the event one more time before he begins his college golf career at the University of Colorado in the fall of 2015.
If he would by chance win again next year, with three victories and a second he’d probably be the top performer ever in the CGA Junior Stroke Play. That title currently belongs to Scott Petersen, who won three straight championships from 1987 through ’89.
As it is, only two other players in the 38-year history of the Junior Stroke Play have repeated as champion: Petersen and Luke Maten, who won the event in 1980 and ’81.
“I’ve worked hard this whole year to give myself a chance to win this tournament again,” said Macdonald (pictured above). “To join the few players who have accomplished that, it means a lot to me.
“It’s probably one of the biggest days of my life. Last year winning the tournament was definitely my biggest win, but defending it was even tougher with all the pressure. Doing it two years in a row means a whole lot to me.”
Macdonald rallied on the back nine Friday to catch his Valor Christian High School teammate, Coby Welch (left) of The Links Golf Course, then beat him on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada.
After both players parred the first extra hole, Welch gave Macdonald an opening when he missed the green on the second hole and couldn’t sink his 6-foot par putt. Macdonald two-putted from 40 feet for his par, draining a 5-footer for the victory.
Macdonald, part of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course, matched the lowest round on Friday — a 3-under-par 67 — to finish at even-par 210 for three days. The 15-year-old Welch closed with a 72 to force the playoff.
Grant Rogers (left) of the Omni Interlocken Resort Golf Club (212 after a 71 Friday) placed third, while second-round leader Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs Country Club (76 Friday) shared fourth place at 213 with Glenn Workman of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West (73).
Welch (left) was in control for much of the final day, standing at 5 under par for the tournament through 11 holes. But he played the next four holes in 5 over par, going bogey, par, triple bogey, bogey. After bogeying the par-5 12th, the par-5 14th proved even more costly as his tee shot went out of bounds right and he needed to sink a 15-foot putt for an 8. Then he missed a short par putt on the next hole to drop back further.
“It was a bad swing (off the tee on 14),” said Welch, a junior-to-be at Valor Christian. “I hadn’t done it all day. I was hitting the ball good, then that one shot killed me.
“I knew I was (still in it). I just couldn’t get it started again. I started off the day well, but couldn’t finish.”
Macdonald (left), in the fourth-to-last group, played his back nine in 3-under-par 32 to make up a lot of ground in a hurry on Welch, who carded a 39 on that side. Macdonald drove the green on the 328-yard 10th hole and two-putted for birdie, and added birdies on the two par-5s on the back nine, making up six strokes on Welch on those two holes alone.
Macdonald liked being out of the main fray of contenders in the final round, teeing off almost a half-hour before the second-day leaders. He stayed under the radar most of the day.
“I looked at it as a positive so I wouldn’t have as much pressure on me,” the 17-year-old said. “I could just go out, put a good number up there and see what happens. I ended up making some birdies on the back nine. It all ended up going my way.
“I thought I was a little out of (contention for the title), but then I got to 17 and some of the kids walking with us told us things were kind of going downhill in the groups behind us and everything was really close,” Macdonald said. “I knew I was still in it if I made the smart decisions and finished strong.”
Playing against a high school teammate and a friend in the playoff had its pluses and minuses.
“It was kind of tough because we’re such good friends,” Macdonald said. “Beating one of your best friends is always hard. But I knew it was all positive. Both of us get along so well that this wouldn’t really affect it. It was probably a little easier because we know each other so well. It’s not too stressful playing someone like that.”
Welch (left) thought it was a mixed bag: “I wanted to beat him, but I also wanted him to win because he’s a teammate.”
Macdonald and Welch helped Valor Christian win the 4A state high school team title last fall. Over the last two years, the four players on that team have won three CGA junior championships (two for Macdonald and one for Jake Staiano, who captured the 2013 Junior Match Play) and have qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur twice (both Josh Seiple).
CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Indian Tree GC in Arvada
x-won sudden-death playoff
x-Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines 73-70-67–210
Coby Welch, The Links GC 70-68-72–210
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC 67-74-71–212
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC 70-70-73–213
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC 68-69-76–213
Todd Millard, Twin Peaks GC 71-72-71–214
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch GC 67-73-75–215
Jake Kelley, Pinehurst CC 77-69-69–215
Trevor Olkowski, Bookcliff CC 72-72-72–216
Evan Buchalski, Olde Course at Loveland 71-71-75–217
Alex Gorman, Broadlands GC 69-73-75–217
Alan Berry, Meadows GC 73-73-71–217
Garrett Jones, West Woods GC 75-71-71–217
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 73-73-72–218
Gregory Shelton, Raccoon Creek GC 71-70-77–218
Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera 80-72-67–219
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC 77-71-71–219
Erik Young, CommonGround GC 71-74-74–219
Andrew Cooper, Glenmoor CC 75-75-69–219
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado GC 72-73-74–219
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC 71-73-75–219
Bretton Krantz, Ptarmigan CC 71-73-76–220
Jackson Solem, Fox Hill CC 75-74-71–220
Keegan Sheard, Applewood GC 75-76-70–221
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC 75-76-70–221
Behrod Keshtavar, Indian Peaks GC 71-74-76–221
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor 73-74-75–222
Roy Carlsen, Heritage at Westmoor 72-76-75–223
Andrew Howe, Fox Hill CC 78-72-74–224
Cole Folwell, Boulder CC 70-75-79–224
Justin Allenback, Elmwood GC 73-76-75–224
Jackson Vacek, Harmony Club 78-69-78–225
Andrew McCormick, Denver CC 73-77-75–225
Reese Leiker, South Suburban GC 76-74-75–225
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park GC 72-77-77–226
Bridger Ryan, Broadlands GC 75-73-78–226
Clayton Crawford, Maroon CC 72-78-78–228
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons GC 81-71-76–228
Zach Gomez, Indian Tree GC 74-75-80–229
Samuel Taylor, Indian Peaks GC 73-79-77–229
Kyle Pearson, Meridian GC 77-74-78–229
Taylor Rodriguez, Walking Stick GC 76-75-79–230
Ryan James Zetwick, CC at Castle Pines 74-78-81–233
Charlie Schneider, The Links GC 77-75-82–234
FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR ROUND 3
Oliver Jack, Glenmoor CC 77-76–153
Alec Poorman, Flatirons GC 77-76–153
Nick Leibold, Columbine CC 80-73–153
Bradley Scalia, Green Valley Ranch GC 79-74–153
Justin Markel, CC at Castle Pines 74-79–153
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC 79-74–153
Coleson Krantz, Ptarmigan CC 81-73–154
Alex Liss, Olde Course at Loveland 77-77–154
Kyle Peterson, Hiwan GC 76-79–155
Jack Lazzeri, Columbine CC 75-80–155
Daniel Mastrobuono, Canongate Colorado 80-75–155
Griffin Barela, Fox Hollow GC 73-82–155
Chase Federico, Elmwood GC 73-83–156
Ji Woo Jang, Family Sports GC 80-76–156
Grant McGinty, South Suburban GC 73-83–156
Kevin Shafer, Meridian GC 79-78–157
Braden Bentley, Pueblo CC 78-79–157
Matthew Atkins, Harmony Club 71-86–157
Cole Edwards, Cherry Creek CC 80-78–158
Jackson Crist, Lone Tree GC 79-79–158
Ryan Pearson, Meridian GC 81-77–158
Cameron Berndt, Spring Valley GC 81-77–158
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch GC 79-80–159
Jack Cavanagh, Broadlands GC 81-78–159
Mitchell Nevin, Eagle Ranch GC 82-78–160
Josh Pusar, Inverness GC 78-82–160
Anthony Pedersen, Red Rocks CC 78-84–162
Tony Clark, Eagle Ranch GC 84-79–163
Ryan Boitz, Desert Hawk GC 77-87–164
Mark Hillary, Cherry Hills CC 84-82–166
Derek Leydecker, Roaring Fork Club 83-83–166
Roger Nakagawa, CommonGround GC 83-84–167
Cody Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse 84-84–168
Harrison Wagnaar, Legacy Ridge GC 88-81–169
Timothy Scherman, Colorado GC 86-84–170
Hunter Tuite, Glenmoor CC 78-93–171
Luke Toillion, Ute Creek GC 88-84–172
Jimmy Ringsby, Castle Pines GC 90-84–174
David Roney, Red Hawk Ridge GC 93-87–180
And, appropriately enough, the byproduct was a prestigious victory Wednesday at CommonGround Golf Course, home of the Elite Player Program.
Macdonald plays out of the Country Club at Castle Pines, but he considers CommonGround his second golf home due to his Irwin Elite Player membership. Because of that, he was a little more familiar with CommonGround than your average competitor in this week’s CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.
And the 16-year-old from Castle Rock used that knowledge to his advantage in winning the tournament on Wednesday.
“Whenever I’m not at a tournament — or at my other home course — I try to come out here,” Macdonald said of CommonGround. “It’s tough to get out here a lot, but I try my best because I love the course and (the Irwin Program) is great honor.
“I would say I’ve played about 15 rounds out here, and it helped me out because I knew where to put the ball and I was more familiar with the greens. I felt like my putting was a lot better because of that.”
Macdonald (pictured above and at left) birdied the 16th and 17th holes and got up and down for par on No. 18 Wednesday to pull away for a four-shot victory in the Junior Stroke Play.Macdonald fired an even-par 71 and posted a 6-under 207 total for three days.
Claiming the title “means a lot because I know the names who have won it before are huge and they’ve gone on to have a lot of success in college and professional golf,” said Macdonald, referring to former champions such as Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe, along with Scott Petersen, Leif Olson and Wyndham Clark. “I’m really happy and I think it’s really good for me to win this tournament.”
Ethan Freeman of Glenmoor Country Club, a two-time 3A state high school champion, made a run at Macdonald on Wednesday despite starting the round nine out of the lead. With a birdie-eagle-birdie start to the back nine — he hit an 8-iron second shot to 15 feet on the par-5 11th — the University of Colorado-bound Freeman matched his best tournament score ever with a 5-under-par 66. But he played his final six holes in 1 over to end his hopes for the win.
“I was hitting my irons pretty good today,” said Freeman (pictured at left). “I like playing in the wind. I was hitting (approach shots) 5, 10, 15 feet and the putter was was on today which was nice because I hadn’t putted well the last two days.”Freeman estimated he needed only 26 or 27 putts on Wednesday.
“The course was playing hard today, but I felt like the game kind of came together,” said the Kent Denver High School graduate. “It was probably one of my better rounds. … It was a lot easier today knowing I had to keep going low.”
Freeman tied for second place with Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, who recently qualified for the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships. Korte (pictured below) came back from three consecutive bogeys in the middle of the back nine to birdie the 
17th hole and shoot a 72 on Wednesday.
Glenn Workman of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, the 2012 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner, placed fourth on Wednesday with a 213 total. Defending champion Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club finished fifth at 215 after closing with a 69.
Macdonald, a junior-to-be at Valor Christian High School, finished second in this event last year — ending up a stroke behind Makloski — but the experience served him well.
“It made me want it more than ever,” he said. “Coming in here and having a little experience with that gave me a better opportunity.”
Macdonald didn’t know exactly how he stood after needing to sink a 7-foot putt for a bogey on the 15th hole, so he asked rules official Rich Langston for an update.
“He said, ‘Do you really want to know?’ and I said yes,” said Macdonald, who was then told about Freeman’s stellar round a few groups ahead.
That lit a fire under Macdonald, who responded by sinking a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 16 and a 25-footer on No. 17.
“I was thinking, ‘I need to step it up and do something pretty good,'” Macdonald said. “‘You’re not going to get away with this one with some erratic shots.
“The birdies kind of took a little pressure off me and took some weight off my shoulders so I could kind of relax and enjoy the last hole.”
And in the end, Macdonald won going away for what he called his “biggest accomplishment in golf. It’s a great honor.”
CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-71 CommonGround GC in Aurora
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines 68-68-71–207
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC 75-70-66–211
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC 68-71-72–211
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 69-73-71–213
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC 76-70-69–215
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera 72-70-74–216
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC 70-76-70–216
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 73-72-71–216
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC 75-72-70–217
Jack Pedersen, Omni Interlocken 69-73-76–218
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch GC 71-71-76–218
Jacob Allenback, Elmwood GC 68-74-78–220
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons Golf Course 76-73-71–220
Chase Federico, Elmwood GC 71-75-75–221
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill CC 76-75-71–222
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken Resort GC 74-74-74–222
Andrew Howe, Fox Hill Country Club 66-76-80–222
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 78-75-69–222
Kyle Peterson, Hiwan GC 74-72-76–222
Coby Welch, Links Golf Club 70-71-81–222
Eli Schoenbeck, Desert Hawk GC 72-79-72–223
Todd Millard, Twin Peaks Golf Course 74-73-77–224
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC 69-75-80–224
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC 75-78-72–225
Tyler Bricker, Collindale Golf Club 79-70-76–225
Taylor Rodriguez, Walking Stick Golf Course 70-80-75–225
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park Golf Course 80-69-77–226
Jake Kelley, Pinehurst CC 72-73-81–226
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club 76-75-76–227
Jack Lazzeri, Columbine Country Club 72-80-75–227
Max Urman, Meridian Golf Club 78-75-76–229
Randy Urso, CommonGround GC 75-78-77–230
Keegan Sheard, Applewood Golf Club 77-74-79–230
Matt Bell, Harmony Club 72-77-81–230
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree Mens Golf Club 79-74-77–230
Quade Mitchell, Highlands Ranch GC 74-75-82–231
Alex Liss, The Olde Course at Loveland 76-76-79–231
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban GC 76-77-80–233
Kobe Padilla, Commonground Golf Course 75-78-80–233
Erik Young, Commonground Golf Course 74-78-82–234
FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR FINAL ROUND
Benjamin Moore, Glenmoor CC 78-76–154
Jesse Beetham, Aspen G & TC 73-81–154
Evan Buchalski, Olde Course at Loveland 79-75–154
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken 70-84–154
Cameron Connor, Boulder CC 75-79–154
Cole Edwards, Cherry Creek Country Club 77-78–155
Trevor Glen, Thorncreek Golf Club 76-79–155
Justin Goldsberry, South Suburban Golf Course 77-78–155
Jackson Solem, Fox Hill Country Club 77-79–156
Josh McLaughlin, The Olde Course at Loveland 79-78–157
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks Golf Club 75-82–157
Cole Folwell, Boulder Country Club 75-82–157
Neil Tillman, West Woods GC 77-80–157
Trey Lambrecht, Northeastern 18 78-80–158
Mark Hillary, Cherry Hills Country Club 80-78–158
Sam Marley, South Suburban Golf Course 80-79–159
Alec Poorman, Flatirons Golf Course 77-83–160
Jack Cavanagh, Broadlands Golf Club 83-77–160
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado Golf Course 83-77–160
Maxwell Pederson, Country Club at Castle Pines 82-79–161
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort 75-86–161
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch GC 82-79–161
Cole Bundy, Ptarmigan Country Club 82-79–161
Jackson Crist, Lone Tree Mens Golf Club 75-86–161
Austin Rowe, Columbine Country Club 86-76–162
Samuel Toillion, Ute Creek Golf Course 83-79–162
Nick Leibold, Columbine Country Club 75-87–162
Bretton Krantz, Ptarmigan Country Club 85-78–163
Jackson Vacek, Harmony Club 81-83–164
Gary Schlatter Jr., Glenmoor Country Club 79-85–164
Kevin Wohlfarth, Heritage at Westmoor 82-83–165
Kevin Shafer, Meridian Golf Club 82-83–165
Ian Coberly, Riverview Golf Course 83-82–165
Charlie Schneider, Links Golf Club 81-84–165
Jeremiah Driggers, Country Club at Castle Pines 82-84–166
Behrod Keshtavar, Indian Peaks Golf Club 84-83–167
Davis Handler, Glenmoor Country Club 83-85–168
Braden Bentley, Pueblo Country Club 81-89–170
Cole Anderson, Garden of the Gods 87-85–172
Dalton Anderson, Bella Rosa Golf Course 90-85–175
Timothy Scherman, Colorado Golf Club 94-94–188
Thomas Stevens, Lake Arbor Golf Club 89-103–192
Pierce Aichinger, Bear Creek GC 68-DQ
Now it’s the CJGA’s turn.
Starting this year, 14-18-year-old golfers will be permitted to use distance-only measuring devices in CJGA tournaments, as well as in the CGA and CWGA Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play Championships.
In other words, many of the state’s top events for junior players will feature a lot more golfers lasering the distances of their shots, and a lot fewer pacing off the yardages from sprinkler heads and the like.
“We traditionally follow the AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) lead on policy changes, and they’re allowing (distance-only range-finders) in all their events in 2013,” said Eric Wilkinson, the CGA’s director of junior competitions. “We want to stay consistent with national junior tours and other (golf organizations) around us. A lot of other state and regional junior golf associations are allowing them, and we didn’t want to be in a position where players in our events weren’t allowed to use them.”
Added Kelley Mawhinney, tournament and junior golf operations manager for the CWGA: “We wanted to be on the same page (as the AJGA). We don’t want to confuse players” with varying rules.
The AJGA allowed range-finders on a trial basis in four tournaments in 2012. Distance-measure devices are already permitted in college events, but the USGA doesn’t allow them in its national championships or its qualifiers.
Wilkinson was quick to note that the CJGA allowance applies only to 14-18-year-olds in the association’s tournaments, and not to younger players. Also, devices measuring only distance will be permitted; those that gauge such things as slope, wind speed, elevation, temperature, etc., are forbidden, even if such functions are turned off or ignored. So are the use of smart phone apps.
“It’s up to fellow competitors to police it themselves, but we’re trying to educate players in advance,” Wilkinson said. “We know we’ll get a lot of questions at our first event, so we want to be proactive.”
The first tournament in which the distance measuring devices will be allowed is the CJGA Spring Series event this weekend (April 27-28) at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo.
While the increased affordability of the devices have made the Colorado associations amenable to permitting them for juniors, the organizations are still sensitive that some teenagers may not be able to afford range-finders. For that reason, distance information can be shared among players. For example, a competitor without a range-finder can get the distance to the pin from a fellow player, or can borrow such a device.
The approval of the use of such devices — which came from the CGA Junior Tournament Committee and the CWGA Rules and Tournament Committees — will affect many events, but most notably the CGA and CWGA junior state championships. Those tournaments are among the most prestigious in Colorado, with both the CGA and CWGA Junior Match Play dating back to the early 1950s, and the boys and girls Junior Stroke Play originating in the late 1970s.
Although CJGA officials discussed the possibility of the use of distance measuring devices speeding up play — especially among players with a higher handicap — Wilkinson said that wasn’t a major reason the association’s policy was changed.
Indeed, Pete Lis, who just left his job as CGA director of rules and competitions to become an LPGA Tour rules official, said he isn’t convinced that range-finders speed up play.
“At the end of the day, I don’t think it makes any difference,” Lis said recently. “I’ve seen some players pace off the yardage and shoot it too, so I think an argument can be made that it worsens pace of play. But I don’t think it makes that much difference.”
Thanks to a case of “like father, like son,” Pueblo Country Club will have two prestigious golf bookends to display in its clubhouse.
It was nice when club member Ray Makloski won the CGA Senior Match Play Championship a month ago, but it was doubly a coup when son Jimmy claimed his own CGA title by winning the Junior Stroke Play Wednesday at Keystone Ranch Golf Course.
“It’s unbelievable,” said proud father Ray Makloski, who was a spectator in Keystone. “We’re going to have both of those trophies on display at the club.”
Jimmy (pictured above) rallied on the final day to earn his first CGA championship. The younger Makloski, a senior-to-be at Pueblo’s South High School, shot an even-par 72 in windy conditions on Wednesday to overtake the four players ahead of him going into the final round.
Asked about the Makloskis’ father-son feat, Jimmy said, “It feels good. I got some jokes from my friends about how my dad was better because I didn’t win any CGA championships, so it feels good to win one.
“This has been one of my goals ever since I was little. I always looked up to those kids who won it. To be one of them feels so good.”
Makloski finished with a 5-over-par 221 total, one stroke better than 2011 5A state high school champion Gus Lundquist of The Club at Pradera and Ross Macdonald of the Ridge at Castle Pines North.
The University of Louisville-bound Lundquist (pictured at left) double bogeyed the 17th hole — taking four shots to get down from just off the green about 70 feet from the cup — and he closed with a 76.
“I just didn’t hit it solid,” Lundquist said of the pivotal chip. “I just didn’t quite catch it right and it came up in a bad spot. Then the wind pushed my (first) putt down there a little further than it should have gone, then I missed that one.
“It’s disappointing. I definitely didn’t play my best today.”
Macdonald, a sophomore-to-be at Valor Christian High School, birdied his last two holes to shoot 74. Playing in the same group as Makloski, Macdonald and his late surge forced Makloski to make a downhill 3-foot par putt on the final hole to come out a stroke ahead.
“The is my first Junior Stroke Play ever, so I couldn’t be happier,” said the 15-year-old Macdonald (pictured at left). “I’m only a sophomore so I’ve got more time.”
Ethan Freeman of Glenmoor Country Club, a two-time 3A state high school champion, finished fourth at 225 after carding a 78 on Wednesday.
As for Makloski, he used some advice from his old man to eke out the victory. The greens at Keystone Ranch were challenging in several respects, so Ray Makloski stressed that a key would be concentrating on minimizing three-putts.
“He just wanted me to be smart,” Jimmy said. “If you’re smart and limit your three-putts on these greens you’re hanging in there good.”
For Makloski, Wednesday marked his third statewide victory of the young junior golf season. The 2011 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner came out on top in a qualifying tournament to earn a spot in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, and he also prevailed at the CJGA Haywhacker Championship.
“The last few years the only thing that’s held me back is putting,” the 17-year-old said. “I’ve been working on it a lot and it’s been coming around. I’m playing pretty good.”
CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Keystone Ranch GC
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC 77-72-72–221
Gus Lundquist, The Club at Pradera 75-71-76–222
Ross Macdonald, Ridge at Castle Pines North 71-77-74–222
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC 70-77-78–225
Braden Baer, Ranch CC 74-76-77–227
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC 82-75-72–229
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC 81-74-74–229
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC 74-72-83–229
Jesse Beetham, Aspen GC 78-75-77–230
Benjamin Moore, Glenmoor CC 78-78-75–231
Chris Korte, The Links GC 75-78-79–232
Josh Gardella, Ridge at Castle Pines North 78-75-80–233
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill CC 81-73-80–234
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera 77-78-79–234
Josh Mclaughlin, Loveland GC 79-78-77–234
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 74-78-82–234
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban Family Sports 77-77-81–235
Jack Stimple, Broadmoor GC 83-75-77–235
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort 80-74-81–235
Adam Douglas Griffith, Thorncreek GC 71-80-84–235
Kyle Peterson, Hiwan GC 84-75-77–236
Nicholas Reisch, Thorncreek GC 79-77-81–237
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park GC 84-76-77–237
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC 78-76-84–238
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken Resort 76-78-84–238
Peter Hassan, Lake Valley GC 76-81-81–238
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC 84-77-78–239
Kevin Klatman, Boulder CC 77-80-82–239
Andrew Vance, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 80-79-81–240
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC 81-75-85–241
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 83-79-79–241
Will Fowler, Bear Creek GC 77-81-85–243
Pierce Aichinger, Bear Creek GC 81-82-81–244
Austin Johnson, Park Hill GC 83-80-81–244
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC 81-80-83–244
Quade Mitchell, Highlands Ranch GC 85-75-85–245
Dylan Swanson, Pueblo CC 80-79-86–245
Jack Pedersen, Omni Interlocken Resort 81-83-87–251
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks GC 80-84-88–252
Chris Beabout, South Suburban GC 79-82-WD