The CJGA Junior Series Championship hasn’t been around a long time — since 2008, to be exact — but a quick glance at the names on the trophy shows that success in the tournament is often a precursor to much bigger things.

Just in the 11-13 Junior Series Championship, the 2014 version of which wrapped up on Tuesday, the winners include Ethan Freeman, who just qualified for the U.S. Amateur, and Jake Staiano and AJ Ott, who recently returned from the U.S. Junior Amateur. And on the girls side, 2010 champ Jennifer Kupcho this year alone has won the CWGA Match Play and Junior Stroke Play, along with the 4A state high school title.

So maybe Jack Castiglia (above) of Fossil Trace Golf Club and Amy Chitkoksoong of Murphy Creek Golf Course could be headed for significant success in golf.

Castiglia and Chitkoksoong won the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series titles on Tuesday at The Homestead in Lakewood, albeit in very different ways.

Castiglia shot a sub-par round and claimed the boys title by 13 strokes, while Chitkoksoong (left) needed a late rally and a one-hole playoff to prevail in the girls division.

Castiglia, 13, made four birdies and shot a 1-under-par 64 in Tuesday’s final round, finishing the tournament with a 3-over 133 total. Next best in the 18-player field were Jake Welch of The Links Golf Course and Canon Olkowski of Bookcliff Country Club, who shared second place at 146. Welch closed with a 69 and Olkowski with a 74.

Castiglia lives just five minutes away from The Homestead and used to call it his home course. He estimates he’s played the layout 25 times in his life, and it showed on Tuesday, when he drained three birdie putts of at least 25 feet and ran away from the field in the process.

All his experience at The Homestead “made me feel more comfortable, knowing what I’m doing,” said the freshman-to-be at Lakewood High School.

Tuesday marked the third sub-par round in a tournament for Castiglia (left). More importantly, it was his fourth consecutive victory in CJGA events in July.

“This means a lot just because I know I came really close a couple of years ago (in the 10-and-under division in 2011),” Castiglia said. “So to come back and win it this year is a big deal.”

As for Chitkoksoong, who was runner-up in this event last year, she forced a playoff by making a par and picking up two shots on the final hole of regulation. Then she defeated Caroline Jordaan on the first hole of sudden death with a par to claim the title.

“I felt like it was a hard challenge, but in the end I came through,” said Chitkoksoong, an 8th-grader-to-be at Falcon Creek Middle School in Aurora. “I was confident going into the playoff because I like to be under pressure. My competitor, Caroline, did her best, and it just ended up with one putt (being the difference).”

The 18th hole proved to be a nice bounce-back for Chitkoksoong, who had posted a triple bogey on the par-3 17th, where she hit her tee shot over the green, pitched into a bunker and three-putted.

Chitkoksoong (left), 13, fired a 9-over-par 74 Tuesday for a 16-over 146 total. Jordaan led by two strokes after 17 holes on Tuesday, but took a double bogey on No. 18 after needing two to get out of a tough situation in a bunker left of the green. She closed with a 72 and settled for second place when she made a bogey in the playoff after her approach shot went over the green.

“I messed up on 17, getting a triple,” Chitkoksoong said. “I was already rooting for Caroline to make a par or bogey (on 18) just to win the whole thing. But I found myself getting a chip really close.”

Amisha Singh of South Suburban Family Sports, who had beaten both Chitkoksoong and Jordaan for the 10-and-under Junior Series Championship in 2011, claimed third place at 152 after a 79 Tuesday.

“This is a big deal for me because I tried my best when I was 10 and under and couldn’t (win the Junior Series title),” Chitkoksoong said. “Winning this is so emotional. I have to thank my competitors for putting up such a good score for me to beat.”

The Junior Series Championship for 14-18 year-olds will be held Aug. 4-5 at Black Bear Golf Course in Parker, while the tournament for golfers 10-and-under will be Aug. 6 at the Les Fowler par-3 course at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship

At Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood

BOYS
Jack Castiglia, Fossil Trace GC, 69-64–133
Canon Olkowski, Bookcliff CC, 72-74–146
Jake Welch, Links GC, 77-69–146
Jordan Jennings, The Bridges GC, 73-75–148
Benjamin Zimmerman, Denver CC, 74-75–149
Christopher Kennedy, Meadow Hills GC, 73-79–152
Evan Kalac, Meridian GC, 82-71–153
Ryan Liao, Family Sports GC, 78-76–154
Ty Findlow, Colorado GC, 76-79–155
Tj Shehee, Boulder CC, 77-80–157
Ryan Sangchompuphen, CommonGround GC, 83-77–160
Christian Agelopoulos, CommonGround GC, 86-77–163
Trey Whitehead, Southglenn CC, 84-81–165
Grant Hoos, Broadlands GC, 86-80–166
Colt DiGiovanni, Hyland Hills GC, 87-81–168
Supawich Beam Boonta, CommonGround GC, 87-82–169
Thomas Hicks, CJGA Club, 93-78–171
Jessen Steel, The Club at Pradera, 94-83–177

GIRLS
x-won sudden-death playoff
x-Amy Chitkoksoong, Murphy Creek GC, 72-74–146
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC, 74-72–146
Amisha Singh, Family Sports GC, 73-79–152
Katie Berrian, CC of Castle Pines, 81-77–158
Lauren Lehigh, Harmony GC, 82-76–158
Marie Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC, 79-79–158
Gracie Olkowski, Bookcliff CC, 81-84–165
Brittlynn O’Dell, Bookcliff CC, 91-84–175
Anju Ogi, Fox Hollow GC, 104-96–200
 

Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch is on track for the first trifecta in CJGA Junior Series Championship history.

On Tuesday, the young man from The Links Golf Course won the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship four years after claiming the boys title in the 10 & Under tournament. So having earned victories in the two younger age groups, he now has the next several years to try to win the 14-18 title, which would make him the first player to prevail at every age level.

“It feels great to win the end-of-the-year tournament,” Welch said. “It’s good to win something before I go on to the older division, but being the youngest (there next year), you never know.”

Welch recorded the only sub-par round of the 11-13 tournament on Tuesday to win the title by two strokes at The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood.

In the girls division, Zarena Brown (pictured above) of Arvada, the sister of HealthOne Colorado Open runner-up Zahkai Brown, claimed the championship, also by two.

Welch (pictured at left) became just the fourth player to win a CJGA Junior Series Championship more than once, joining Somin Lee (three 14-18 titles from 2008 through 2010), Jennifer Kupcho (11-13 in 2010 and 14-18 this year) and Ethan Freeman (11-13 in 2008 and 14-18 last year).

Welch shot a 1-under-par 64 in the final round, which gave the Valor Christian High School freshman-to-be a two-day total of 4-over-par 134. That was two strokes better than first-round co-leader Jackson Solem of The Fox Hill Club.

Solem closed with a 67 but played his final six holes in 3 over par. Daniel Pearson of Twin Peaks Golf Course (70-68–138) claimed third place.

Welch actually turned 14 years old on June 29, but since he competed most of the year in the 11-13 age group, he was allowed to play in the 11-13 Series Championship, as has been the practice in the past. And suffice it to say he took advantage by shooting just the third sub-par tournament round of his life.

“Not being able to play (part of) the year because I was too old, it’s good to come back and win,” said Welch, who claimed six or seven junior tournament victories this year. “I don’t think I won any of these tournaments last year, so it’s a big accomplishment for me to come out and win a bunch of them.”

On Tuesday, Welch’s highlight of the day was hitting a 9-iron on the 155-yard sixth hole and leaving his ball on the lip of the cup, just missing a hole-in-one.

“I don’t know how it didn’t go in,” he said.

As for the girls division, first-round leader Brown (pictured at left) started day 2 with a triple bogey, but the Pomona High School freshman-to-be held on for a two-stroke victory with a 159 total. Jaclyn Murray of Bookcliff Country Club took second place after an 82 Tuesday, while Hannah More of Pinehurst Country Club placed third at 162, likewise after shooting 82.

“I was just playing so bad this season, then all of a sudden (this) just happened,” Brown said, noting it was her first tournament win of the year. “This is definitely very big, but it still hasn’t hit me.”

Brown, who turns 14 years old in five days, thought a victory wasn’t in the cards given the way she started Tuesday’s round.

“Off the first tee I totally duffed my first shot because I was so nervous,” she said of the tee shot that led to the triple bogey. “I was like, ‘I’m totally out of this. I’m not going to win it.’ But I just kept going.”

And draining a 25-foot putt on the 15th hole — for her only par on the back nine — seemed to all but seal the deal for Brown.

Brown’s two siblings, Zen and Zahkai, both are playing professional golf now after college careers at Colorado State. Zarena may or may not follow their lead.

“My brother Zahkai used to swim,” Zarena said. “I said, ‘All right, I’m going to take that up.’ Then they played golf. I said, ‘I guess I should keep the tradition going.’ But I didn’t like it until this year and I really didn’t take it serious until this year.

“But I also like swimming, so it will depend which I want more for college (in four years).”

The Junior Series Championship for 14-18 year-olds took place last week, with Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club and Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course claiming the titles. The 10 & Under championship is scheduled for Wednesday at Boulder Country Club.
 

CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship
At Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood

BOYS
Coby Welch, The Links GC – 70-64–134
Jackson Solem, The Fox Hill Club – 69-67–136
Daniel Pearson, Twin Peaks GC – 70-68–138
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC – 73-66–139
Jeremy Mosser, Applewood GC – 71-68–139
Mathew Casias, Elmwood GC – 69-71–140
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch GC – 73-71–144
Liam Short, Hiwan GC – 75-72–147
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC – 74-74–148
Johnny Schlager, Riverdale GC – 77-73–150
Darren Edwards, Loveland Mens Golf Assoc – 76-75–151
Luke Travins, Broadmoor GC – 75-77–152
Jack Castiglia, Fossil Trace GC – 77-75–152
Aiden Detlof, Fort Carson GC – 72-80–152
Zach Gomez, Indian Tree GC – 80-77–157
Jackson Crist, The Links GC – 77-80–157
Griffin Lawrence Barela, Fox Hollow at Lakewood – 80-81–161
Dillon Baker, Red Hawk Ridge GC – 84-78–162
Cade Kilkenny, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 87-89–176
Raymond Simanjuntak, South Suburban Family Sports – 85-WD

GIRLS
Zarena Brown, Lake Arbor Lga – 78-81–159
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC Wga – 79-82–161
Hannah More, Pinehurst CC – 80-82–162
Empress Hawkins-Kimmel, Fox Hill CC Wga – 83-80–163
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC – 87-82–169
Delaney Benson, South Suburban Family Sports – 92-79–171
Amy Chitkoksoong, Springhill GC – 89-86–175
Lauren Murphy, River Valley Ranch Wga – 92-84–176
Kacey Godwin, Family Sports Center – 88-90–178
Amisha Singh, Family Sports – 95-92–187
 

Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch is on track for the first trifecta in CJGA Junior Series Championship history.

On Tuesday, the young man from The Links Golf Course won the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship four years after claiming the boys title in the 10 & Under tournament. So having earned victories in the two younger age groups, he now has the next several years to try to win the 14-18 title, which would make him the first player to prevail at every age level.

“It feels great to win the end-of-the-year tournament,” Welch said. “It’s good to win something before I go on to the older division, but being the youngest (there next year), you never know.”

Welch (pictured above) recorded the only sub-par round of the 11-13 tournament on Tuesday to win the title by two strokes at The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood.

In the girls division, Zarena Brown (pictured at left) of Arvada, the sister of HealthOne Colorado Open runner-up Zahkai Brown, claimed the championship, also by two.

Welch became just the fourth player to win a CJGA Junior Series Championship more than once, joining Somin Lee (three 14-18 titles from 2008 through 2010), Jennifer Kupcho (11-13 in 2010 and 14-18 this year) and Ethan Freeman (11-13 in 2008 and 14-18 last year).

Welch shot a 1-under-par 64 in the final round, which gave the Valor Christian High School freshman-to-be a two-day total of 4-over-par 134. That was two strokes better than first-round co-leader Jackson Solem of The Fox Hill Club.

Solem closed with a 67 but played his final six holes in 3 over par. Daniel Pearson of Twin Peaks Golf Course (70-68–138) claimed third place.

Welch actually turned 14 years old on June 29, but since he competed most of the year in the 11-13 age group, he was allowed to play in the 11-13 Series Championship, as has been the practice in the past. And suffice it to say he took advantage by shooting just the third sub-par tournament round of his life.

“Not being able to play (part of) the year because I was too old, it’s good to come back and win,” said Welch, who claimed six or seven junior tournament victories this year. “I don’t think I won any of these tournaments last year, so it’s a big accomplishment for me to come out and win a bunch of them.”

On Tuesday, Welch’s highlight of the day was hitting a 9-iron on the 155-yard sixth hole and leaving his ball on the lip of the cup, just missing a hole-in-one.

“I don’t know how it didn’t go in,” he said.

As for the girls division, first-round leader Brown started day 2 with a triple bogey, but the Pomona High School freshman-to-be held on for a two-stroke victory with a 159 total. Jaclyn Murray of Bookcliff Country Club took second place after an 82 Tuesday, while Hannah More of Pinehurst Country Club placed third at 162, likewise after shooting 82.

“I was just playing so bad this season, then all of a sudden (this) just happened,” Brown said, noting it was her first tournament win of the year. “This is definitely very big, but it still hasn’t hit me.”

Brown (pictured at left), who turns 14 years old in five days, thought a victory wasn’t in the cards the way she started Tuesday’s round.

“Off the first tee I totally duffed my first shot because I was so nervous,” she said of the tee shot that led to the triple bogey. “I was like, ‘I’m totally out of this. I’m not going to win it.’ But I just kept going.”

And draining a 25-foot putt on the 15th hole — for her only par on the back nine — seemed to all but seal the deal for Brown.

Brown’s two siblings, Zen and Zahkai, both are playing professional golf now after college careers at Colorado State. Zarena may or may not follow their lead.

“My brother Zahkai used to swim,” Zarena said. “I said, ‘All right, I’m going to take that up.’ Then they played golf. I said, ‘I guess I should keep the tradition going.’ But I didn’t like it until this year and I really didn’t take it serious until this year.

“But I also like swimming, so it will depend which I want more for college (in four years).”

The Junior Series Championship for 14-18 year-olds took place last week, with Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club and Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course claiming the titles. The 10 & Under championship is scheduled for Wednesday at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship
At Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood

BOYS
Coby Welch, The Links GC – 70-64–134
Jackson Solem, The Fox Hill Club – 69-67–136
Daniel Pearson, Twin Peaks GC – 70-68–138
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC – 73-66–139
Jeremy Mosser, Applewood GC – 71-68–139
Mathew Casias, Elmwood GC – 69-71–140
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch GC – 73-71–144
Liam Short, Hiwan GC – 75-72–147
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC – 74-74–148
Johnny Schlager, Riverdale GC – 77-73–150
Darren Edwards, Loveland Mens Golf Assoc – 76-75–151
Luke Travins, Broadmoor GC – 75-77–152
Jack Castiglia, Fossil Trace GC – 77-75–152
Aiden Detlof, Fort Carson GC – 72-80–152
Zach Gomez, Indian Tree GC – 80-77–157
Jackson Crist, The Links GC – 77-80–157
Griffin Lawrence Barela, Fox Hollow at Lakewood – 80-81–161
Dillon Baker, Red Hawk Ridge GC – 84-78–162
Cade Kilkenny, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 87-89–176
Raymond Simanjuntak, South Suburban Family Sports – 85-WD

GIRLS
Zarena Brown, Lake Arbor Lga – 78-81–159
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC Wga – 79-82–161
Hannah More, Pinehurst CC – 80-82–162
Empress Hawkins-Kimmel, Fox Hill CC Wga – 83-80–163
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC – 87-82–169
Delaney Benson, South Suburban Family Sports – 92-79–171
Amy Chitkoksoong, Springhill GC – 89-86–175
Lauren Murphy, River Valley Ranch Wga – 92-84–176
Kacey Godwin, Family Sports Center – 88-90–178
Amisha Singh, Family Sports – 95-92–187
 

The last year has been very good to left-handers in Colorado golf. Among the southpaws who have won significant championships are Ben Portie (2011 HealthOne Colorado Open and 2010 Enstrom’s Rocky Mountain Open), Keith Humerickhouse (2010 CGA Mid-Amateur and 2011 CGA Western Chapter) and John Ahern (2011 CGA Junior Match Play and 2010 4A state high school and CJGA Tournament of Champions).

And on Tuesday, AJ Ott (pictured above) did his part in extending the trend. The youngster from Ptarmigan Country Club overcame first-day leader Tyler Zhang of Valley Country Club to win the boys division of the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship at The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood.

It was sweet turnabout a year after Ott took a five-stroke lead into the final round of this event and ended up losing to Jake Staiano in a playoff.

“It feels good,” said the 13-year-old from Fort Collins. “The last few years I’ve come close here, and this is always one I like to try to win. So this (victory) is pretty high up there for me.”

While Ott rallied to win the boys title, fellow 13-year-old Sydney Merchant of Red Rocks Country Club went wire-to-wire in claiming the girls championship.

Ott pulled ahead when Zhang carded a quintuple-bogey 9 on the fourth hole, and the lead never changed hands again as Ott held on for a two-stroke victory. The eighth-grader-to-be shot a 3-over-par 68 in the final round for a two-day total of 7-over 137.

Zhang finished second following a final-round 71. Christopher Raap of Highlands Ranch Golf Club (67-141) placed third.

Zhang went into the final round a stroke ahead of Ott, and extended his lead to three strokes after the first three holes on Tuesday. But Zhang’s disastrous 9 on No. 4 gave Ott a two-stroke edge, and he never gave up the advantage.

“I was able to play good in the wind and stay steady,” said Ott, who had two birdies and five bogeys on Tuesday. “I think it was one of my best rounds considering the wind. I hit it good and scrambled a little bit. I just wanted to stay steady and not let the bad holes get to me.”

In the girls division, Merchant (pictured at left) cruised to a nine-stroke victory as a 7-over-par 72 on Tuesday left her at 10-over 140 overall. Morgan Sahm of Blackstone Country Club (76-149) ended up a distant second, while Delaney Elliott of Coal Creek Golf Course (73-154) and Gillian Vance of Green Gables Country Club (73-154) tied for third.

“This is the big championship, so it’s good to win the big championship,” Merchant said.

But despite the easy victory, the Morrison resident was less than thrilled with her play on Tuesday. She posted two double bogeys and three bogeys on the day and failed to card a birdie.

“I didn’t play my best; that’s for sure,” said Merchant, who placed third in this tournament last year. “I just blew up on a few holes and that brought me down.”

Nevertheless, the eighth-grader-to-be still posted the best girls division score of the day, so she never was in danger of being overtaken.

The 14-18 division of the Junior Series Championship was played last week, with Ethan Freeman and Taylor Dorans winning the titles. The 10-and-under tournament will be held Wednesday at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship
At the Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood

BOYS
AJ Ott, Ptarmigan Country Club, 69-68–137
Tyler Zhang, Valley Country Club, 68-71–139
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 74-67–141
Coby Welch, The Links Golf Club, 72-70–142
Alec Poorman, Flatirons Golf Course, 74-71–145
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 79-68–147
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado Golf Course, 74-77–151
Andrew McCormick, Denver Country Club, 76-77–153
Chase Federico, Elmwood Golf Course, 81-73–154
Henry Schaefer, Columbine Country Club, 77-77–154
Braden Bentley, Pueblo Country Club, 82-75–157
Nicholas Leibold, Columbine Country Club, 85-82–167
Raymond Simanjuntak, South Suburban Family Sports, 91-77–168
A Detlof-Maldonado, Fort Carson Golf Club, 80-91–171
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins Country Club, 89-87–176
Cameron Allan, Lakewood Country Club, 85-93–178
Jackson Crist, The Links Golf Club, 95-91–186

GIRLS
Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC Lga, 68-72–140
Morgan Sahm, Blackstone CC Wga, 73-76–149
Delaney Elliott, Coal Creek Wga, 81-73–154
Gillian Vance, Green Gables CC Wga, 81-73–154
Mary Weinstein, Valley CC Wga, 81-76–157
Adara Pauluhn, Flatirons Wga, 84-78–162
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree Lga, 86-77–163
Delaney Benson, Valley CC Wga, 85-79–164
Hannah More, Pinehurst Country Club, 90-87–177
Kacey Godwin, Valley CC Wga, 95-93–188