The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program is just a little more than three years old, but in that short period, it’s certainly lived up to its name.

The first three classes of Irwin Elite Players featured seven golfers who are now playing or have signed with NCAA Division I golf programs: Hannah Wood (Oklahoma), Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest), Spencer Painton (Kansas), Jake Staiano (Colorado State), Ross Macdonald (Colorado), Calli Ringsby (Stanford) and Coby Welch (just signed with Northern Colorado).

And two of those players — Kupcho and Wood — currently stand among the top 75 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

With that as a backdrop, the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program announced its fourth — and largest — class on Thursday. Fourteen junior golfers will comprise the 2016 Elite Player class, including seven returnees from 2015. The group features nine boys and five girls, with two sets of siblings among them.

The program, designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptionally promising boys and girls golfers in the state, is named for the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. Irwin, a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, has won three U.S. Opens, 20 PGA Tour events overall, and a record 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

In Colorado, Irwin claimed the 1962 CGA Junior Match Play title, the 1963 state high school championship, three straight CGA Stroke Plays (1963, ’64 and ’65) and the CGA Match Play in 1966. He won the NCAA individual title in 1967 while competing for CU.

The players chosen for the Irwin Elite Player Program receive free unlimited use of the practice range and Kids Course at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora — and of the championship course on a space-available basis — in 2016. CommonGround, which opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA, which established and administers the Irwin Elite Player Program. The group will meet once a month beginning in January, and will work periodically at CommonGround with Elena King, who recently was named one of the top 10 instructors in Colorado by Golf Digest. Additionally, participants volunteer with CGA Community and Wellness Programs.

Steve Irwin, Hale’s son, serves on the CGA board of governors and was instrumental in the establishment of the Elite Player Program. The visionary behind the program was another CGA governor, former Cherry Hills Country Club head professional Clayton Cole.

The 2016 Irwin Elite Players include two juniors who will be in their fourth year with the program, dating back to its inception: Christian Agelopoulos and Roger Nakagawa, both of Denver. Another program participant, Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, will be starting his third year.

Also among those in the 2016 class are some of the best junior players in the state.

Mary Weinstein (pictured above) of Highlands Ranch, who just signed to play college golf with Regis University, won the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship, and finished runner-up in the CWGA Stroke Play and the CJGA Tournament of Champions. On a larger stage, she placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there. Weinstein also represented Colorado at the USGA Women’s State Team Championship and at the Girls Junior Americas Cup.

Oliver Jack (left) of Cherry Hills Village finished second in the 3A state high school tournament (playing for Kent Denver). He placed fifth in the CGA Junior Stroke Play and went to the quarterfinals of the CGA Junior Match Play.

Here’s a rundown of all 14 junior players who have been selected to partcipate in the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program for 2016:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, an eighth-grader at Colorado Academy — 2016 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Posted two CJGA victories in 2015. … Competed in the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.

Traejan Andrews of Windsor, a sixth-grader at Winograd K-8 — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Finished 35th in Optimist International Junior Golf Championships’ boys 10-11 division. … Went undefeated at the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Posted six top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Chunya Bead Boonta of Centennial, a fifth-grader at Canyon Creek Elementary — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Won two CJGA events and finished second in the CJGA girls 10-and-under Junior Series Championship. … Was named a CJGA All-Star in 2015.

Supawich Beam Boonta of Centennial, an eighth-grader at ThunderRidge Middle School — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Posted seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Competed in the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches.

Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, a sophomore at Lakewood High School — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Finished 38th in the boys 13-14 division of the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships. … Placed 28th in the 5A state high school tournament. … Posted eight top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Kacey Godwin of Denver, a senior at Colorado Academy — 2016 will mark her second year in the program. … Placed third in the girls division of Colorado PGA Junior Championship. … Finished eighth in 4A girls state high school tournament. … Posted seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Oliver Jack of Cherry Hills Village, a sophomore at Kent Denver — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Tied for second place at the 3A state high school tournament. … Placed fifth in CGA Junior Stroke Play and went to quarterfinals in CGA Junior Match Play. … Recorded seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Cade Kilkenny of Centennial, a freshman at Cherry Creek High School — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Made it to round of 64 at CGA Junior Match Play. … Qualified for Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. … Posted four top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland, a sixth-grader at Bill Reed Middle School — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Finished 27th in IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (girls 10-12 age division). … Won one CJGA tournament and recorded a dozen top-10 finishes in CJGA events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, a freshman at Loveland High School — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Qualified, with Alli Bundy, for the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. … Qualified for both the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (finishing 66th in girls 13-14 division) and the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (placing 38th). … Recorded a remarkable 17 top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Roger Nakagawa of Denver, a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School — 2016 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Made it to the round of 64 at the CGA Junior Match Play. … Recorded one top-10 finish at a CJGA points event in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Kailer Rundiks of Denver, a sophomore at (Denver) East High School — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Won Western Chapter Daily Sentinel Junior Championship. … Posted six top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, a seventh-grader at Denver School of the Arts — 2016 will mark his third year in the program. … Won two CJGA events and posted 14 top-10 finishes in points tournaments in 2015. … Went undefeated in CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.

Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch, a senior at Regis Jesuit High School — 2016 will mark her first year in the program. … Has signed to play college golf at Regis University. … Won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship in 2015. … Also was runner-up in CWGA Stroke Play and the CJGA Tournament of Champions. … Went to quarterfinals of CWGA Match Play. … Placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there. … Represented Colorado at the USGA Women’s State Team Championship and at the Girls Junior Americas Cup. … Won four CJGA tournaments in 2015. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.
 

Perhaps it’s a very good omen.

The only 8-year-old to win the girls title in the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship had been Elizabeth Wang of Parker, who accomplished the feat in the tournament’s inaugural year, 2008.

Wang, you may have heard, has had a meteoric career as a junior golfer. Now a Californian, she just last week won the national Junior PGA Championship. And on Wednesday, the now-15-year-old beat All-Pac-12 player Mariah Stackhouse of Stanford to advance to the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur. (Wang ended up making the round of 16 before being eliminated.)

But as of this week, Ashleigh Wilson (above) of Highlands Ranch can dream of a similar junior career in golf. Wilson on Wednesday matched Wang’s feat by winning the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship as an 8-year-old.

When apprised of what Wang has done after winning the 2008 CJGA title, Wilson said, “Seriously? That’s cool.”

Wilson, a third grader-to-be at Skyview Academy in Highlands Ranch, rallied from a three-stroke deficit going into the second nine holes to shoot a 76 overall and post a one-stroke victory Wednesday at the Les Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder Country Club.

“This is really special because I’m 8 — not 9 or 10” like most of the other competitors, Wilson said.

Boulder’s own Liam Wood (left) prevailed in a three-person playoff to claim the boys crown. Wood, 10, two-putted for par from 10 feet on the first extra hole to overcome Nic Pevny of Aspen and Blake Sullivan of Castle Pines, who both missed the green and made bogey on the 19th hole of the day.

Wood, a fifth grader at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic School, shot a 13-over-par 67 for two trips around the Fowler Course, with Pevny and Sullivan matching that number. The left-hander overcame five double bogeys to claim the championship, including one on the last hole of regulation. But he also recorded two “sandys” — both on the front nine.

“I was a little bit nervous (going into the playoff), but I was happy at the same time,” said Wood, who scored his second CJGA victory of the season. Then when he prevailed on the first sudden death hole, “it was really awesome,” he noted.

Like the boys tournament, the girls went right down to the wire as three other players joined Wilson in breaking 80.

Chunya Bead Boonta of Centennial fired a 77 for second place. Timbre Shehee of Mead, daughter of two Colorado PGA professionals, including head professional Terra Shehee at Boulder Country Club, placed third at 78. Defending champion Anna Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village was fourth at 79.

Wilson (left, celebrating making a long putt) said she wanted to know how she stood coming down the stretch — two girls groups had already finished — but her parents told her to focus on her own business.

“I think they wanted me to just do my thing and just not worry about it,” Wilson said after notching her second CJGA win of the year.

Among those in attendance Wednesday was a former Junior Series Champion, Jake Staiano, a Hale Irwin Elite Player who was helping to score at the event. Staiano, who will begin his college golf career at Colorado State next month, departs on Friday for next week’s U.S. Amateur in Olympia Fields, Ill.

The 10 & Under tournament marked the last of three CJGA Junior Series Championships. Last week at The Ranch Country Club, Coby Welch and Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch won the titles in the 14-18 age group. And Tuesday, Jordan Jennings of Montrose and Katie Berrian of Castle Rock prevailed in the 11-13 championship.

CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship
At Par-54 Les Fowler Course at Boulder CC

Boys
(x-won sudden-death playoff)
x-Liam Wood, Boulder, Colo. 32-35–67
Blake Sullivan, Castle Pines, Colo. 35-32–67
Nic Pevny, Aspen, Colo. 32-35–67
Yusuke Ogi, Arvada, Colo. 37-33–70
Benjamin Chin Jr., Greenwood, Colo. 34-38–72
Bielly Phasay, Commerce City, Colo. 40-35–75
Eshaan Reddy Paianati, Aurora, Colo. 35-40–75
Camden Braidech 40-37–77
Ryan Woodley, Fort Collins, Colo. 45-35–80
Ian Hunn, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-40–82
Will Balliet, Thornton, Colo. 44-41–85
Grant Taylor, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-44–86
Lucas Peavler, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 48-42–90
Luke Kusserow, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 49-41–90
Scott Thompson, Greeley, Colo. 41-50–91
Dylan Frechette, Denver, Colorado 50-48–98
 
Girls
Ashleigh Wilson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-36–76
Chunya Bead Boonta, Centennial, Colo. 39-38–77
Timbre Shehee, Mead, Colorado 37-41–78
Anna Jordaan, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 41-38–79
Jasmine Kahler, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 43-40–83
Caitlyn Chin, Greenwood, Colo. 48-43–91
Reece Bandemer, Loveland, Colo. 54-56–110
Isabella Meraz, Thornton, Colo. 70-72–142