There was much to admire Tuesday as the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship concluded at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster.

The boys champion, Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch, became the first person in history to win all three age divisions of the Junior Series Championships.

And the girls winner, Mary Weinstein, also of Highlands Ranch, prevailed despite calling a two-stroke penalty on herself Monday for an infraction which her playing partners didn’t notice.

Talent and integrity. That’s quite a 1-2 punch, especially when possessed by junior players.

Welch (pictured above and below), who last week finished seventh individually in the prestigious Junior America’s Cup, won the 10-and-under Junior Series title in 2008 and the 11-13 championship in 2012.

“It means a lot,” the 17-year-old said of completing the Junior Series sweep. “It shows that my golf game has improved, I guess, which is good to know. Hopefully going into college (in 2016) it’ll improve even more, and more past that.
But that’s a big accomplishment. It was something I wanted to do — a goal of mine. I accomplished it, so that’s good.”

In the 14-18 tournament, the Valor Christian High School senior-to-be shot consecutive sub-par rounds at The Ranch — 68 and 70 — for a 4-under 138 total. This, mind you, after closing with a 67 Friday at the Junior America’s Cup in Flagstaff, Ariz., meaning Welch is a cumulative 9 under par for his last three competitive rounds. On Tuesday, after being tied with Davis Bryant of Aurora after 27 holes, Welch shot a bogey-free 33 on the back nine Tuesday to pull away.

Daniel Pearson (left) of Longmont made five birdies on Tuesday in a round of 68 to finish second at 140. Bryant, like Welch a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and a CGA team representative at the Junior America’s Cup, placed third at 141 after closing with a 71. Timothy Amundson of Littleton posted consecutive 71s for a 142 total and fourth place.

Welch has played some of his best golf of the summer since recently verbally committing to play college golf at the University of Northern Colorado beginning a year from now.

“I think it helps a little bit (to have the pressure off),” said Welch, winner of the 2014 CJGA Tournament of Champions. “It isn’t as intense anymore.

“I’ve been playing good. I started out the summer a little rough, but I definitely got better and I’m playing some good golf now, so that’s exciting.”

On Tuesday, while Welch said he wasn’t in peak form, he was steady as a rock, carding two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars. Once Bryant bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes, Welch led for good.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball great today, but I just kept chugging and chugging and hoping it would come around,” Welch said. “A couple birdies came, and that was it.”

Weinstein (left and below), the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champion, shot rounds of 73-73, but Monday’s score included a two-stroke penalty on the par-3 15th hole, where the 17-year-old realized after the fact that she had teed off slightly in front of the tee markers. And though her playing partners didn’t see anything amiss, Weinstein called the infraction on herself and went on to take a double bogey on the hole.

“I don’t think it’s ever worth cheating,” said Weinstein, a senior-to-be at Regis Jesuit High School. “The way I played this tournament, it was good enough. I asked my playing mates, Morgan (Sahm) and Jaclyn (Murray), and they weren’t watching, so I called it. A rules official came over and did a string from my divot, but I knew I was out so I called the penalty and hit again.”

Penalty or not, Weinstein set the standard at The Ranch. Her 2-over 146 total was four shots better than runners-up Sahm, of Centennial, and Murray, of Grand Junction. Sahm, a 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier, closed with a 72 as she eagled the seventh hole and birdied two of the last three on Tuesday. Murray (pictured below), runner-up in the 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play, had a 77 in a round that included a triple-bogey 8 on the third hole and an eagle 3 on the 16th.

Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora, the CWGA Junior Match Play champion, placed fourth at 154 after a final-round 71 in which she played her final nine in 4-under 32.

For Weinstein, it’s been quite the summer. She won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, finished 15th at the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (the best showing ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group), placed second in the CWGA Stroke Play, and now wins the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

“I worked really hard and worked on my swing a lot, practiced hard and played a lot more tournaments,” she said, also crediting her swing coach, Terry Stearman. “All of that added up to playing better.”

Weinstein hasn’t yet settled on where she’ll play college golf, but she figures a verbal commitment will be forthcoming in the next week or so.

The CJGA Junior Series Championships for younger golfers will take place next week, with the 11-13 age group competing Aug. 10-11 at Deer Creek Golf Club in Littleton, and the 10-and-unders playing Aug. 12 at the Les Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder Country Club.
 

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At The Ranch CC in Westminster

Boys (Par-71)
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 68-70–138
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 72-68–140
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 70-71–141
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 71-71–142
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-69–143
Glen-Michael Mihavetz, Montrose, Colo. 73-71–144
Philip Lee, Denver, Colo. 72-73–145
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 75-71–146
Evan Buchalski, Loveland, Colo. 75-72–147
Samuel Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 73-74–147
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-77–148
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 71-77–148
Zach Gomez, Westminster, Colo. 74-74–148
Wes Moran, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-78–149
Alec Poorman, Boulder, Colo. 77-73–150
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 73-77–150
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, Colo. 73-77–150
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-76–150
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 77-74–151
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 76-75–151
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 80-72–152
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 75-79–154
Jake Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-77–154
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo. 79-75–154
Micah Stangebye, Montrose, Colo. 79-77–156
Dillon Baker, Castle Rock, Colorado 81-78–159
Isaac Calden, Estes Park, Colorado 77-82–159
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 78-82–160
Christopher Kennedy, Aurora, Colo. 76-86–162
Cameron Chapman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 79-92–171
Linc Kleager, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 93-81–174
Michael Perea, Golden, Colo. 81-WD
 
Girls (Par-72)
Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 73-73–146
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 78-72–150
Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, Colo. 73-77–150
Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, Colo. 83-71–154
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, Colo. 78-77–155
Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 75-81–156
Erin Sargent, Longmont, Colo. 82-74–156
Alexis Chan, Castle Pines, Colo. 76-82–158
Kacey Godwin, Denver, Colo. 83-82–165
Andrea Hoos, Thornton, Colo. 79-87–166
Jordan Remley, Lakewood, Colo. 80-86–166
Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colo. 88-85–173
 

Some patterns seem to be developing in Colorado’s junior golf ranks this summer.

Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines won the CGA Junior Stroke Play in June, and Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course claimed the CWGA Junior Stroke Play title.

Both are members of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround and both are committed to Division I college programs starting in the fall of 2015 — the University of Colorado for Macdonald and Wake Forest for Kupcho.

And Macdonald, 18, and Kupcho, 17, each earned a victory Tuesday in another one of the state’s top junior stroke-play events, this time at the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

And, for good measure, in both the CGA Junior Stroke Play and the boys Junior Series event, Macdonald and one of his high school teammates at Valor Christian, Coby Welch, finished 1-2.

Macdonald (above) birdied his final two holes Tuesday to win the boys Junior Series title by two strokes at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, while Kupcho posted the only subpar round of the girls tournament and prevailed by eight shots.

“This means a whole lot,” said Macdonald, winner of the last two CGA Junior Stroke Plays. “I’ve never won a Junior Series Championship. I’ve been playing in them since I was 11, so it’s nice to finally crack that streak and win one.”

Meanwhile, Kupcho, 17, won a CJGA Junior Series title for the third time, having claimed the 11-13 age championship in 2010 and the 14-18 championship for the first time two years ago. But in a year full of accomplishments — including winning the CWGA Match Play and Junior Stroke Play, plus the 4A girls state high school title — Kupcho (left) seemed relieved as much as anything after her victory Tuesday.

It’s easy to understand why. In the past three weeks, she’s competed in San Diego at the Callaway Junior Worlds (finishing 29th); in Flagstaff, Ariz., at the U.S. Girls’ Junior (tying for eighth in stroke play before losing in the round of 64); and in Walla Walla, Wash., for the Girls Junior America’s Cup (finishing eighth individually). Then came the Junior Series Championship in Parker.

“It was exciting to do that well in all the national tournaments and represent Colorado like that,” she said. “But I’m definitely worn out. After traveling for three weeks in a row, then coming to this, I’m dead tired now. I need to take a break and start school (at Jefferson Academy on Aug. 13). I’m actually excited for it. I’ll still be practicing obviously but not four hours a day all the time.”

Kupcho (left) fired a 1-under-par 71 Tuesday, leaving her at 1-over 145 for two days. First-day leader Morgan Sahm of Saddle Rock Golf Course took second place at 153, while Gillian Vance of the CJGA Club finished third at 155. Both Sahm and Vance closed with rounds of 80.

“Coming into this, my goal was to shoot under par for the two days,” Kupcho said. “Obviously that didn’t happen. But I came out with a win, so it was exciting.”

In the boys tournament, Macdonald played his final six holes in 3 under par, making birdie putts of 15, 12 and 20 feet on Nos. 13, 17 and 18, respectively. That was good for a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday and a 3-under 141 total.

His Valor Christian teammate Welch finished second to Macdonald, just as he did in the CGA Junior Stroke Play in June. Welch shot a 71 Tuesday for 143 overall. Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree Golf Club carded the only round in the 60s for the tournament, a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday, to place third at 144, a stroke ahead of first-day leader Oliver Jack of Glenmoor Country Club.

Both Macdonald (left) and Kupcho had to wait out a 90-minute weather delay on the back nine before closing out their victories. In Macdonald’s case, he had a very good idea of how he stood on the leaderboard after chatting with fellow competitors during the delay.

“I knew 1 under wasn’t safe,” he said. “I knew where everybody was at, and I had a good idea of what I needed to do. I was right in there and I stayed relaxed and enjoyed it. I was hitting good shots, but the putts weren’t going in. The last two (holes) I finally put good strokes on it and they both went in.”

It was a very satisfying feeling after Macdonald struggled with his game in July.

“I wasn’t playing my best golf, but it finally came around this week,” he said. “I kind of found my game. I was playing the golf I played in June and making more birdies and not as many mistakes.”

The 14-18 competition marked the second of three Junior Series Championship tournaments behind held this summer. Last week, Jack Castiglia of Fossil Trace Golf Club and Amy Chitkoksoong of Murphy Creek Golf Course won the 11-13 titles. The tournament for golfers 10-and-under will be Wednesday at the Les Fowler par-3 course at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At Par-72 Black Bear GC in Parker

BOYS
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines – 71-70–141
Coby Welch, The Links GC – 72-71–143
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC – 75-69–144
Oliver Jack, Glenmoor Country Club – 70-75–145
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC – 74-72–146
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC – 72-74–146
Philip Lee, Cherry Hills CC – 76-72–148
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC – 72-79–151
Braden Bentley, Pueblo CC – 75-76–151
Trevor Glen, Riverdale GC – 78-74–152
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC – 78-75–153
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC – 75-78–153
Cole Folwell, Boulder CC – 82-77–159
Kyle Pearson, Meridian GC – 82-80–162
Taylor Rodriguez, Walking Stick GC – 82-80–162
Logan Gorman, Fort Carson GC – 88-80–168
Arthur Zabronsky, Family Sports GC – 90-83–173
Jakob Bucher, Club at Flying Horse – 93-86–179

GIRLS
Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC – 74-71–145
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock GC – 73-80–153
Gillian Vance, Cjga Club – 75-80–155
Mary Weinstein, Cjga Club – 75-81–156
Samantha Barker, Perry Park CC – 82-77–159
Delaney Elliott, Omni Interlocken GC – 88-76–164
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree GC – 86-80–166
Mariah Ehrman, Omni Interlocken GC – 82-85–167
Kacey Godwin, Family Sports GC – 79-89–168
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC – 84-85–169
Jennifer Hankins, Thorncreek GC – 81-88–169
Andrea Hoos, Broadlands GC – 77-93–170
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc – 87-83–170
Kylee Sullivan, Cjga Club – 88-82–170
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC – 82-89–171
Erin Sargent, Twin Peaks GC – 89-85–174
Lauren Murphy, Aspen Glen GC – 90-84–174
Kelsey McKenna, CJGA Club – 89-86–175
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek GC  – 76-WD
 
 

Some patterns seem to be developing in Colorado’s junior golf ranks this summer.

Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines won the CGA Junior Stroke Play in June, and Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course claimed the CWGA Junior Stroke Play title.

Both are members of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround and both are committed to Division I college programs starting in the fall of 2015 — the University of Colorado for Macdonald and Wake Forest for Kupcho (left).

And Macdonald, 18, and Kupcho, 17, each earned a victory Tuesday in another one of the state’s top junior stroke-play events, this time at the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

And, for good measure, in both the CGA Junior Stroke Play and the boys Junior Series event, Macdonald and one of his high school teammates at Valor Christian, Coby Welch, finished 1-2.

Macdonald (left) birdied his final two holes Tuesday to win the boys Junior Series title by two strokes at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, while Kupcho posted the only subpar round of the girls tournament and prevailed by eight shots.

“This means a whole lot,” said Macdonald, winner of the last two CGA Junior Stroke Plays. “I’ve never won a Junior Series Championship. I’ve been playing in them since I was 11, so it’s nice to finally crack that streak and win one.”

Meanwhile, Kupcho, 17, won a CJGA Junior Series title for the third time, having claimed the 11-13 age championship in 2010 and the 14-18 championship for the first time two years ago. But in a year full of accomplishments — including winning the CWGA Match Play and Junior Stroke Play, plus the 4A girls state high school title — Kupcho (left) seemed relieved as much as anything after her victory Tuesday.

It’s easy to understand why. In the past three weeks, she’s competed in San Diego at the Callaway Junior Worlds (finishing 29th); in Flagstaff, Ariz., at the U.S. Girls’ Junior (tying for eighth in stroke play before losing in the round of 64); and in Walla Walla, Wash., for the Girls Junior America’s Cup (finishing eighth individually). Then came the Junior Series Championship in Parker.

“It was exciting to do that well in all the national tournaments and represent Colorado like that,” she said. “But I’m definitely worn out. After traveling for three weeks in a row, then coming to this, I’m dead tired now. I need to take a break and start school (at Jefferson Academy on Aug. 13). I’m actually excited for it. I’ll still be practicing obviously but not four hours a day all the time.”

Kupcho (left) fired a 1-under-par 71 Tuesday, leaving her at 1-over 145 for two days. First-day leader Morgan Sahm of Saddle Rock Golf Course took second place at 153, while Gillian Vance of the CJGA Club finished third at 155. Both Sahm and Vance closed with rounds of 80.

“Coming into this, my goal was to shoot under par for the two days,” Kupcho said. “Obviously that didn’t happen. But I came out with a win, so it was exciting.”

In the boys tournament, Macdonald played his final six holes in 3 under par, making birdie putts of 15, 12 and 20 feet on Nos. 13, 17 and 18, respectively. That was good for a 2-under-par 70 on Tuesday and a 3-under 141 total.

His Valor Christian teammate Welch finished second to Macdonald, just as he did in the CGA Junior Stroke Play in June. Welch shot a 71 Tuesday for 143 overall. Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree Golf Club carded the only round in the 60s for the tournament, a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday, to place third at 144, a stroke ahead of first-day leader Oliver Jack of Glenmoor Country Club.

Both Macdonald (left) and Kupcho had to wait out a 90-minute weather delay on the back nine before closing out their victories. In Macdonald’s case, he had a very good idea of how he stood on the leaderboard after chatting with fellow competitors during the delay.

“I knew 1 under wasn’t safe,” he said. “I knew where everybody was at, and I had a good idea of what I needed to do. I was right in there and I stayed relaxed and enjoyed it. I was hitting good shots, but the putts weren’t going in. The last two (holes) I finally put good strokes on it and they both went in.”

It was a very satisfying feeling after Macdonald struggled with his game in July.

“I wasn’t playing my best golf, but it finally came around this week,” he said. “I kind of found my game. I was playing the golf I played in June and making more birdies and not as many mistakes.”

The 14-18 competition marked the second of three Junior Series Championship tournaments behind held this summer. Last week, Jack Castiglia of Fossil Trace Golf Club and Amy Chitkoksoong of Murphy Creek Golf Course won the 11-13 titles. The tournament for golfers 10-and-under will be Wednesday at the Les Fowler par-3 course at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At Par-72 Black Bear GC in Parker

BOYS
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines – 71-70–141
Coby Welch, The Links GC – 72-71–143
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC – 75-69–144
Oliver Jack, Glenmoor Country Club – 70-75–145
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC – 74-72–146
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC – 72-74–146
Philip Lee, Cherry Hills CC – 76-72–148
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC – 72-79–151
Braden Bentley, Pueblo CC – 75-76–151
Trevor Glen, Riverdale GC – 78-74–152
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC – 78-75–153
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC – 75-78–153
Cole Folwell, Boulder CC – 82-77–159
Kyle Pearson, Meridian GC – 82-80–162
Taylor Rodriguez, Walking Stick GC – 82-80–162
Logan Gorman, Fort Carson GC – 88-80–168
Arthur Zabronsky, Family Sports GC – 90-83–173
Jakob Bucher, Club at Flying Horse – 93-86–179

GIRLS
Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC – 74-71–145
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock GC – 73-80–153
Gillian Vance, Cjga Club – 75-80–155
Mary Weinstein, Cjga Club – 75-81–156
Samantha Barker, Perry Park CC – 82-77–159
Delaney Elliott, Omni Interlocken GC – 88-76–164
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree GC – 86-80–166
Mariah Ehrman, Omni Interlocken GC – 82-85–167
Kacey Godwin, Family Sports GC – 79-89–168
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC – 84-85–169
Jennifer Hankins, Thorncreek GC – 81-88–169
Andrea Hoos, Broadlands GC – 77-93–170
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc – 87-83–170
Kylee Sullivan, Cjga Club – 88-82–170
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC – 82-89–171
Erin Sargent, Twin Peaks GC – 89-85–174
Lauren Murphy, Aspen Glen GC – 90-84–174
Kelsey McKenna, CJGA Club – 89-86–175
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek GC – 76-WD

The Makloski Express keeps on rolling through Colorado golf’s junior ranks.

Since the second week of October last year, Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club has certainly been the guy to beat in significant junior championships in Colorado.

After winning the CJGA Tournament of Champions in the fall, and the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in June, the 17-year-old collected more hardware on Tuesday when he captured the boys division title in the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

The senior-to-be at Pueblo’s South High School shot a 3-under-par 68 on Tuesday — the lowest round of the tournament — and cruised to a six-stroke victory at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster.

“At the big tournaments where there’s good competition, I’ve played some of my best golf,” Makloski said. “It’s a good time to do it, I guess.”

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Jennifer Kupcho (pictured above) of Westminster carded the best round of the girls competition — by five shots — to rally for the title. Kupcho came into the day two strokes out of the lead, but a 3-under-par 69 turned things around in a hurry.

“I’m excited,” said the Jefferson Academy sophomore-to-be, “It was tough, but I did it.”

In the boys tournament, Makloski (pictured at left) made six birdies Tuesday in posting his second straight sub-par round. His 4-under-par 138 total was a half-dozen shots better than runner-up Jack Adolfson of The Fox Hill Club, who closed with a 70 on Tuesday.

Colin Prater of the Broadmoor Golf Club carded a 74 Tuesday for a 145 total, good for third place.

“Under par on this course is pretty good,” said Makloski, who finished 34th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships earlier this summer. “Those greens are awfully quick.

“Yesterday I didn’t hit it so great, but I always left it under the hole, so I made quite a few putts. Today I hit it a little better and made a bunch of good putts again (including an 8-footer for par that backed into the hole).

“Whenever you win it’s good, especially on a tough course like this against good players. It always feels good.”

As for Kupcho, she won a CJGA Junior Series Championship for the second time, having captured the 11-13 title in 2010. On Tuesday, she made six birdies en route to her 69, which gave her a 1-over-par 145 total for the tournament.

Defending champion Taylor Dorans of Eagle Trace Golf Club was the only player anywhere close to Kupcho as her final-round 74 left her four behind at 149. Hannah Wood of South Suburban Family Sports placed third at 154 after a closing 76.

Kupcho’s victory came just two days after her brother, Steven, captured low-amateur honors at the HealthOne Colorado Open, a tournament he led outright after two rounds.

On Tuesday, it was Jennifer’s time to shine. Only once before had she shot under 70, and that was at a much shorter course, so she considered what she did at The Ranch as his career-best round to date.

“I was excited,” said Kupcho, who noted she practiced on The Ranch’s greens during a session Monday evening. “I knew I was playing great and I didn’t let anything bother me. If I had a bogey I just kept playing. It was fun.

“I figured no one would shoot under par, so I thought if I could get a couple under par that would be good.”

Kupcho, who finished third in the 4A state high school tournament as a freshman, said Tuesday’s victory was her biggest accomplishment in golf.

Junior Series Championships for younger age groups will take place next week, with the tournament for 11-13 year olds set for The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood Aug. 6-7, and the 10 & under event scheduled for Aug. 8 at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At Ranch CC in Westminster

BOYS (Par-71)

Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC – 70-68–138
Jack Adolfson, The Fox Hill Club – 74-70–144
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC – 71-74–145
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken GC – 74-72–146
Andrew Romano, Colorado Golf Club – 74-73–147
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC – 74-73–147
Andrew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC – 71-76–147
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Club, The – 77-71–148
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort GC – 75-73–148
Sean Kato, Highland Hills Golf Course – 74-74–148
Ross Macdonald, Ridge at Castle Pines North – 74-75–149
Chris Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch GC – 75-75–150
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch Golf Club – 72-79–151
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera – 77-74–151
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC – 76-75–151
Chris Korte, The Links Golf Club – 74-77–151
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk Golf Course – 73-79–152
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor Country Club – 76-77–153
Jackson Burke, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 75-78–153
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC – 81-75–156
Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan Country Club – 78-78–156
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks Golf Club – 76-81–157
Matt Donohoe, South Suburban Golf Course – 82-76–158
Taylor Rodriguez, Elmwood Golf Course – 82-78–160
Kobe Padilla, Commonground Golf Course – 81-79–160
Josh Mclaughlin, Loveland – 80-80–160
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado Golf Course – 79-83–162
Dylan Hall, Cherokee Ridge GC – 86-78–164
Collin Tedesco, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. – 80-87–167
Erik Young, Commonground Golf Course – 85-84–169
Kevin Wohlfarth, Green Valley Ranch G – 81-92–173

GIRLS (Par-72)
Jennifer Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course – 76-69–145
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga – 75-74–149
Hannah Wood, South Suburban Family Sports – 78-76–154
Gillian Vance, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club – 78-78–156
Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC Lga – 78-80–158
Dani Urman, Meridian Golf Club – 80-78–158
Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga – 75-85–160
Mary Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch Wga – 83-78–161
Kelly Moran, Boulder CC Wga – 74-88–162
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock Golf Course – 80-87–167
Alexandria Trask, Colorado National Wga – 77-93–170
Adara Pauluhn, Haystack Mountain GC – 82-88–170
Delaney Elliott, Coal Creek Wga – 89-82–171
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek – 88-86–174
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree Lga – 89-86–175
Nayoun Kim, South Suburban Family Sports – 96-91–187
Sydney Gillespie, Valley CC Wga – 79-WD
 

The Makloski Express keeps on rolling through Colorado golf’s junior ranks.

Since the second week of October last year, Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club has certainly been the guy to beat in significant junior championships in Colorado.

After winning the CJGA Tournament of Champions in the fall, and the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in June, the 17-year-old collected more hardware on Tuesday when he captured the boys division title in the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

The senior-to-be at Pueblo’s South High School shot a 3-under-par 68 on Tuesday — the lowest round of the tournament — and cruised to a six-stroke victory at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster.

“At the big tournaments where there’s good competition, I’ve played some of my best golf,” said Makloski (pictured above). “It’s a good time to do it, I guess.”

Meanwhile, 15-year-old Jennifer Kupcho (pictured at left) of Westminster carded the best round of the girls competition — by five shots — to rally for the title. Kupcho came into the day two strokes out of the lead, but a 3-under-par 69 turned things around in a hurry.

“I’m excited,” said the Jefferson Academy sophomore-to-be, “It was tough, but I did it.”

In the boys tournament, Makloski made six birdies Tuesday in posting his second straight sub-par round. His 4-under-par 138 total was a half-dozen shots better than runner-up Jack Adolfson of The Fox Hill Club, who closed with a 70 on Tuesday.

Colin Prater of the Broadmoor Golf Club carded a 74 Tuesday for a 145 total, good for third place.

“Under par on this course is pretty good,” said Makloski (pictured at left), who finished 34th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships earlier this summer. “Those greens are awfully quick.

“Yesterday I didn’t hit it so great, but I always left it under the hole, so I made quite a few putts. Today I hit it a little better and made a bunch of good putts again (including an 8-footer for par that backed into the hole).

“Whenever you win it’s good, especially on a tough course like this against good players. It always feels good.”

As for Kupcho, she won a CJGA Junior Series Championship for the second time, having captured the 11-13 title in 2010. On Tuesday, she made six birdies en route to her 69, which gave her a 1-over-par 145 total for the tournament.

Defending champion Taylor Dorans of Eagle Trace Golf Club was the only player anywhere close to Kupcho as her final-round 74 left her four behind at 149. Hannah Wood of South Suburban Family Sports placed third at 154 after a closing 76.

Kupcho’s victory came just two days after her brother, Steven, captured low-amateur honors at the HealthOne Colorado Open, a tournament he led outright after two rounds.

On Tuesday, it was Jennifer’s time to shine. Only once before had she shot under 70, and that was at a much shorter course, so she considered what she did at The Ranch as his career-best round to date.

“I was excited,” said Kupcho, who noted she practiced on The Ranch’s greens during a session Monday evening. “I knew I was playing great and I didn’t let anything bother me. If I had a bogey I just kept playing. It was fun.

“I figured no one would shoot under par, so I thought if I could get a couple under par that would be good.”

Kupcho, who finished third in the 4A state high school tournament as a freshman, said Tuesday’s victory was her biggest accomplishment in golf.

Junior Series Championships for younger age groups will take place next week, with the tournament for 11-13 year olds set for The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood Aug. 6-7, and the 10 & under event scheduled for Aug. 8 at Boulder Country Club.
 

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At Ranch CC in Westminster

BOYS (Par-71)

Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC – 70-68–138
Jack Adolfson, The Fox Hill Club – 74-70–144
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC – 71-74–145
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken GC – 74-72–146
Andrew Romano, Colorado Golf Club – 74-73–147
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC – 74-73–147
Andrew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC – 71-76–147
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Club, The – 77-71–148
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort GC – 75-73–148
Sean Kato, Highland Hills Golf Course – 74-74–148
Ross Macdonald, Ridge at Castle Pines North – 74-75–149
Chris Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch GC – 75-75–150
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch Golf Club – 72-79–151
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera – 77-74–151
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC – 76-75–151
Chris Korte, The Links Golf Club – 74-77–151
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk Golf Course – 73-79–152
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor Country Club – 76-77–153
Jackson Burke, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 75-78–153
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC – 81-75–156
Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan Country Club – 78-78–156
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks Golf Club – 76-81–157
Matt Donohoe, South Suburban Golf Course – 82-76–158
Taylor Rodriguez, Elmwood Golf Course – 82-78–160
Kobe Padilla, Commonground Golf Course – 81-79–160
Josh Mclaughlin, Loveland – 80-80–160
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado Golf Course – 79-83–162
Dylan Hall, Cherokee Ridge GC – 86-78–164
Collin Tedesco, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. – 80-87–167
Erik Young, Commonground Golf Course – 85-84–169
Kevin Wohlfarth, Green Valley Ranch G – 81-92–173

GIRLS (Par-72)
Jennifer Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course – 76-69–145
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga – 75-74–149
Hannah Wood, South Suburban Family Sports – 78-76–154
Gillian Vance, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club – 78-78–156
Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC Lga – 78-80–158
Dani Urman, Meridian Golf Club – 80-78–158
Megan McCambridge, Boulder CC Wga – 75-85–160
Mary Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch Wga – 83-78–161
Kelly Moran, Boulder CC Wga – 74-88–162
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock Golf Course – 80-87–167
Alexandria Trask, Colorado National Wga – 77-93–170
Adara Pauluhn, Haystack Mountain GC – 82-88–170
Delaney Elliott, Coal Creek Wga – 89-82–171
Jaylee Tait, Raccoon Creek – 88-86–174
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree Lga – 89-86–175
Nayoun Kim, South Suburban Family Sports – 96-91–187
Sydney Gillespie, Valley CC Wga – 79-WD
 

Ethan Freeman had a couple of reasons to be glad he made it into the field for the CJGA’s 14-18 Junior Series Championship after originally being an alternate.

The first was that the tournament delayed the removal of his wisdom teeth, albeit only for three days.

The second was the really important one as getting into the event allowed Freeman to claim one of the biggest victories of his golf career.

The Glenmoor Country Club golfer and fellow 16-year-old Taylor Dorans of Eagle Trace Golf Club earned their respective championships in decidedly different fashion Tuesday at Columbine Country Club.

Freeman (pictured above) went wire-to-wire in winning the boys division, while Dorans rallied from a six-stroke deficit with 10 holes remaining to claim the girls title.

For his part, Freeman becomes the first winner of two different age divisions of the Junior Series Championship. He earned the championship in the 11-13 tournament in 2008. “It’s fun to see that you played well when you were young and you keep getting better and keep playing well as you continue to grow,” he said.

Freeman, who won the Class 3A state high school title as a sophomore for Kent Denver last fall, birdied his second, third and fourth holes Tuesday en route to his second consecutive 1-under-par 71, which gave him a three-stroke victory.

Steve Connell of Riverdale Golf Club started birdie-eagle in the second round and shot 69, leaving him with a 1-over-par 145 total, good for second place. Chris Beabout of South Suburban Golf Course (76-72–148) placed third.

After going the first half of the year without a victory, Freeman (pictured at left) has now won his last two events.

“It felt good to win that last tournament, and it feels really good to win here and keep it going,” he said. The 3A state high school championship “is my biggest win and also my most prominent win. That’s what really got my name out there. But this is a really good win also. I’m really happy with it.

“At the beginning of the summer I was struggling a little bit. I met with my coach and I started hitting it better and then I started putting it better and it all came together these last two rounds.”

While Freeman had a relatively easy go of it in claiming the boys title Tuesday, the girls competition was another matter.

Dorans (pictured at left) made up eight strokes in the last 10 holes on Kathleen Kershisnik of Columbine to win by two. A 30-foot eagle on No. 17 proved the difference for Dorans, who carded a 2-over-par 75 for a two-day total of 7-over 153.

While Dorans played her last eight holes in 2 under par, Kershisnik went 7 over in her last 10 on her home course. Kershisnik’s 81 Tuesday left her in second place at 155. Shinwoo Lee of Kennedy Golf Course (80-78–158) finished third.

“I didn’t really think about winning or losing today,” said Dorans, a junior-to-be at Broomfield High School. “I just thought about playing golf and having a good time. I’ve been playing good, so I just kind of attacked the course as best as I could. I played well today, so I was real happy with it.”

Dorans sank long putts on each of the last three holes — 10 feet on 16, 30 feet on 17 and 8 feet on 18 — to nail down the title. After joining Kershisnik in the lead with the par putt on No. 16, Dorans pulled ahead on the next hole.

On that par-5, the Erie resident hit a hybrid from 200 yards that stopped 30 feet from the cup, then she sank the putt for eagle. After Kershisnik made par, Dorans was up by two shots.

“Eagles are kind of unexpected,” said Dorans (pictured at left). “I was just trying to get it close and make birdie, but it dropped so …”

But on No. 18, Dorans had to work for a par. After leaving her approach in a bunker short and left of the green, she blasted to 8 feet and let her putter work its magic again. Kershisnik also managed a par, but the win was Dorans’.

Down the stretch, despite how tight things were, Dorans didn’t know exactly how things stood with Kershisnik.

“I had no idea,” said Dorans, who called Tuesday’s victory one of her biggest. “I knew it was close, but I didn’t know if we were even or if she was beating me or I was beating her. It wasn’t really what I was thinking about. I don’t like to keep numbers and stuff like that because I get too far ahead of myself and I get too nervous.”

CJGA Junior Series Championships for other age groups will be held next week, with the 11-13 year olds competing Aug. 8-9 at the Homestead Golf Course, and the 10-and-unders playing Aug. 10 at Boulder Country Club.

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At Columbine CC in Littleton

BOYS (PAR-72)
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor Country Club, 71-71–142
Steve Connell, Riverdale Golf Club, 76-69–145
Chris Beabout, South Suburban Golf Course, 76-72–148
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor Country Club, 74-75–149
Matthew Weiss, Meridian Golf Club, 76-74–150
Caleb Barker, Perry Park Country Club, 75-76–151
Adair Warren, Indian Peaks Golf Club, 76-76–152
Blake Basham, Lone Tree Mens Golf Club, 78-75–153
Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek Golf Club, 77-76–153
Colin Prater, Broadmoor Golf Club, 79-74–153
Randy Urso, Commonground Golf Course, 75-78–153
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood Country Club, 73-81–154
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo Country Club, 76-78–154
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado Golf Club, 76-79–155
Benjamin Moore, Glenmoor Country Club, 77-79–156
Josh Gardella, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 79-77–156
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken Resort, 81-76–157
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks Golf Club, 75-82–157
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Country Club, 80-78–158
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill Country Club, 80-78–158
Max Urman, Meridian Golf Club, 81-77–158
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, 84-74–158
Connor Klein, Lone Tree Mens Golf Club, 78-81–159
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera, 85-74–159
Sam Rock, Coal Creek Mens Golf Club, 81-78–159
Austin Nonte, Springs Ranch Golf Club, 79-81–160
John Hadfield, South Suburban Golf Course, 84-77–161
Kolton Kyne, Divide Ranch and Club, 82-79–161
Ben Schaefer, Columbine Country Club, 81-81–162
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban Family Sports, 82-82–164
Austin Rowe, Columbine Country Club, 85-81–166
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan Country Club, 79-87–166
Jack Lazzeri, Columbine Country Club, 83-84–167
William Hoff, Oak Brook Golf Course, 88-82–170
August So, Aspen Junior Golf Foundation, 84-87–171
Kyle Tobin, Colorado Golf Club, 83-90–173
Jackson Vacek, Harmony Club, 92-82–174
Austin Raap, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 93-83–176
Erik Young, Commonground Golf Course, 85-91–176
Austin Lienemann, South Suburban Family Sports, 101-94–195
Connor Alexander, Castle Pines Golf Club, 101-98–199

GIRLS (PAR-73)
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace Lga, 78-75–153
Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC Lga, 74-81–155
Shinwoo Lee, Kennedy Lga, 80-78–158
Jennifer Kempton, Lone Tree Lga, 85-81–166
Rachel Reiling, Meadows Wga, 82-86–168
Alexandra Briggs, Hyland Hills Wga, 92-81–173
Samantha Barker, Perry Park CC Wga, 87-89–176
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek Wga, 89-87–176
Holly Schaefer, Columbine CC Lga, 91-87–178
Dani Urman, Meridian Golf Club, 96-83–179
Margot Leibold, Wellshire Women, 96-85–181
Sydney Gillespie, Valley CC Wga, 91-93–184
Jenni j Chun, Lone Tree Lga, 97-94–191
Sonny Ann Scheer, Red Hawk Ridge Wga, 96-95–191