Since then, it had been close but no cigar for the Buffs, who finished second twice and third three times at Eisenhower Golf Club. But on Sunday, they weren’t to be denied.

After trailing by one stroke after each of the first two rounds, CU overcame 2017 champion Wyoming to win by five at the 50th annual Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational. (The victorious team is pictured in a CU photo.)

It was the first outright team title for the Buffs in almost two years. CU technically tied for a championship last year at its own Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational, though Utah won a team playoff.

The Buffs also took home the individual title on Sunday as Daniel O’Loughlin, a junior from England, earned the top spot for his first individual college championship. 

CU, the Pac-12 runner-up last year, shot a 1-under-par 287 in Sunday’s final round at the Blue Course, posting a three-day total of 9-under 855, which was five better than Wyoming.

The Buffs dedicated the victory to recruit Oliver Jack, the 2016 3A state high school champion from Kent Denver, who is recovering after being involved in an auto accident in July. He’s deferred his enrollment at CU until the spring semester.

Host Air Force placed fourth on Sunday at 862, while Northern Colorado was sixth at 867.

CU put three players in the top five individually — O’Loughlin; and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction and Cole Krantz of Windsor, who tied for fifth place at 212. Krantz was competing only as an individual at Eisenhower.

Joining O’Loughlin and Olkowski on the Buffs’ victorious team were Ross Macdonald (216), Victor Bjorlow (220) and John Paterson (221).

O’Loughlin landed CU’s first outright individual title in a full-field Division I tournament since Philip Juel-Berg won this same event in 2015. In the interim, CU players have shared DI titles twice, won the three-team Ballyneal Challenge, and finished first in a Division II tournament. But this time O’Loughlin was alone atop the scoreboard in a 16-team DI event.

At the Falcon Invite, O’Loughlin was remarkably steady throughout the season-opening tournament, going 70-70-69 for a 7-under 209 total, which was one better than New Mexico State’s Tadhg Campbell. O’Loughlin, who birdied his final hole from 10 feet, finished the 54-hole event with 12 birdies and five bogeys.

“It feels good to finally win; being the first one is really special,” O’Loughlin told CUBuffs.com. “It’s such a big relief, and the team winning as well made it that much more special.”

Joining Olkowski and Krantz as Colorado residents who recorded top-five finishes on Sunday was UNC’s Coby Welch, who placed third at 211 after racking up 18 birdies for the week. In other words, he birdied 33 percent of his holes for the tournament.

Leading the way for Air Force was Joseph Crisostomo, who tied for fifth at 212 after closing with a 67, Sunday’s low round.

Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational
Sept. 7-9, 2018 (final) at Eisenhower GC at Air Force Academy

1. (out of 16 teams) Colorado 285-283-287–855
1. Daniel O’Loughlin 70-70-69–209
5. Trevor Olkowski 71-67-74–212
17. Ross Macdonald 74-71-71–216
36. Victor Bjorlow 71-75-74–220
41. John Paterson 73-75-73–221
Competing Only as Individuals
5. Cole Krantz 71-71-70–212
30. Wilson Belk 73-73-73–219
56. Anson Kuznik 76-74-74–224
76. Kristoffer Max 75-80-74–229

4. Air Force 288-288-286–862
5. Joseph Crisostomo 72-73-67–212
17. Andy Germann 74-67-75–216
17. Joshua Wu 69-74-73–216
36. Turner Howe 73-74-73–220
41. Tate Tatom 74-74-73–221
Competing Only as Individuals
23. Luke Trujillo 74-70-73–217
69. Colter Baca 74-78-75–227
82. Jonathan Farmer 73-82-78–233

6. Northern Colorado 292-283-292–867
3. Coby Welch 72-67-72–211
17. Li Chen 71-71-74–216
36. Joshua Matz 75-73-72–220
50. Marcus Tait 77-72-74–223
63. Jack Castiglia 74-77-74–221
Competing Only as Individual
76. Nick Sharp 77-74-78–229

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

For all the local Division I golf results, CLICK HERE.

Three in-state players from the oldest age groups made the cut in Florida.

In the girls 15-18 division, Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood (77-79-78-75–309) finished 31st.
Cole Krantz of Windsor (75-75-78-78–306), a University of Colorado signee, placed 38th in the boys 16-18 division, while Marcus Tait of Littleton (80-77-72-78–307) was 42nd.

For an earlier story about how the younger Coloradans fared late last month in Florida, CLICK HERE.

Here’s a look at how all the Coloradans, plus other Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado members, fared at the Optimist tournaments:

JULY 30-AUG. 2

Boys 16-18
38. Cole Krantz of Windsor 75-75-78-78–306
42. Marcus Tait of Littleton 80-77-72-78–307
(Missed 54-Hole Cut)
57. Josh Caridi of Fort Collins 80-82-72–234
82. Billy Howenstein of Boulder 73-83-82–238
90. TJ Shehee of Mead 81-83-76–240
118. Dawson Holmes of Aspen 83-83-80–246
Noah Vrencur of Boulder 81-85-WD

Girls 15-18
31. Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood 77-79-78-75–309
(Missed 54-Hole Cut)
43. Julia Baroth of Denver 77-77-81–235
60. Katie Berrian of Castle Rock 82-79-79–240
62. Jenna Chun of Englewood 76-77-88-241
83. Kelsey Webster of Boulder 83-81-82–246
85. Payton Canon of Englewood 81-79-87–247
105. Morgan Ryan of Aurora 89-83-80–252
127. Marie Jordaan of Lakewood 81-93-86–260
127. Tabitha Diehl of Highlands Ranch 86-85-89–260
135. Caitlin O’Donnell of Centennial 96-91-83–270

JULY 25-27

Boys 14-15
6. Walker Franklin of Broomfield 76-68-74–218
12. Jordan Jennings of Montrose 71-74-78–223
20. Connor Jones of Westminster 77-71-78–226
44. Jack Hughes of Snowmass Village 77-76-80–233
44. Jack Pevny of Aspen 73-84-76–233
63. Brayden Weiss of Superior 75-82-83–240
73. Mario Dino of Denver 81-77-92–250
(Missed Cut)
100. Thomas Hicks of Greenwood Village 80-86–166
126. Tyler Tyson of Arvada 84-89–173
126. Dawson Hussong of Montrose 84-89–173

Girls 13-14
13. Sofia Choi of Littleton 75-80-75–230
17. Eva Pett of Denver 81-74-78–233
23. Emma Bryant of Aurora 78-80-77–235
27. Brittlynn O’Dell of Grand Junction 78-82-76–236
49. Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland 88-82-79–249
63. Anju Ogi of Arvada 90-92-81–263
71. Sydney Taylor of Fort Collins 97-109-105–311

JULY 20-23

Boys 12-13
“¨11. JGAC member Parker Paxton of Riverton, Wyo. 73-75-78–226
“¨30. Jake Chesler of Firestone 76-75-82–233
“¨56. Maxwell Lange of Golden 80-83-83–246
63. Traejan Andrews of Windsor 82-79-87–248
“¨74. Gage Messingham of Arvada 89-84-84–257

Girls 10-12
“¨23. Abigail Aeschleman of Highlands Ranch 82-87-89–258
“¨30. Bead Boonta of Centennial 99-88-88–275
“¨31. Timbre Shehee of Mead 96-87-95–278

Boys 10-11
“¨28. Austin Barry of Fort Collins 88-86-85–259
29. Kaden Devenport of Windsor 88-90-82–260
44. Jake Dost on Parker 105-99-97–301″¨ 

The Colorado Junior Amateur marks the second major championship of the 2017 season for the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.

Krantz, the 2015 Colorado Junior PGA Championship winner, shot a 3-under-par 69 to take a one-stroke lead in the boys competition. The 18-year-old made four birdies and one bogey on the day.

Oliver Jack of Denver, the reigning 3A state high school champion who has committed to play for CU beginning in 2018, holds second place at 70 after a four-birdie round. Barrett Jones of Eagle also broke par on Monday, posting a 1-under 71.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, who won the first JGAC major of 2017, shares sixth place after a 73 on Monday.

In the girls tourney, Jordaan, winner of the North American Junior Amateur in January, made two birdies in a round of 7-over-par 79 on Monday. Pett likewise made two birdies on the day — both deuces — but suffered a setback with a triple-bogey 8 on No. 18, her ninth hole of the day.

Tied for third place at 80 after round 1 are Arielle Keating of Colorado Springs and Kaylynn Xia.

Both the 54-hole boys and girls tournaments will continue through Wednesday.

For scores, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.

Included are at least eight Coloradans who will play NCAA Division I golf. Among them are 2015 4A state high school champion Jackson Solem of Longmont (headed to the University of Denver), 2016 JGAC Junior Tour Championship winner Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (University of Colorado), 2015 Colorado Junior PGA Championship winner Cole Krantz of Windsor (also CU), 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play champ Griffin Barela of Lakewood (University of Wisconsin), Daniel Pearson of Fairview High School, who placed fourth in the 5A state meet (University of Nebraska) and Glen-Michael Mihavetz of Montrose (Monmouth).

And on the women’s golf side, Jordan Remley of Lakewood, a fifth-place finisher in the 2016 5A state tournament, is headed to the University of Wyoming. Amelia Lee of Castle Rock has committed to Creighton.

(Updated Nov. 11) Here are some of the Class of 2017 players from Colorado who have signed, or are expected to sign, letters of intent this fall:

Boys
Griffin Barela of Lakewood (Lakewood HS) — Wisconsin
Jacob Hoekert of Woodland Park (Colorado Springs Christian School) — Taylor University in Updland, Ind.
Cole Krantz of Windsor (Windsor HS) — Colorado
Glen-Michael Mihavetz of Montrose (Montrose HS) ““ Monmouth University in West Long Branch, N.J.
Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (Grand Junction HS) — Colorado
Owen Pasvogel (Discovery Canyon HS) — Northern Colorado
Daniel Pearson of Longmont (Fairview HS) — Nebraska
Jackson Solem of Longmont (attends Longmont Christian HS, played for Silver Creek HS) — Denver
JT Snowden (Rock Canyon HS) — Cal Lutheran
Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree (Regis Jesuit HS) — Regis University
Zach Zurcher (Valor Christian HS) — Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala.

Girls
Julia Baroth of Denver (Denver East HS) — University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Alexis Chan (Rock Canyon HS) — Carleton College (Minn)
Tabitha Diehl (Mountain Vista HS) — Rhodes College
Amelia Lee of Castle Rock (Rock Canyon HS) — Creighton
Hannah More of Littleton (Mullen HS) — Colorado Mesa
Jordan Remley of Lakewood (Ralston Valley HS) — Wyoming
Kellsey Sample of Monument (Palmer Ridge HS) — CSU Pueblo

Also
JGAC member Easton Paxton of Riverton, Wyo. — North Carolina State

Out-of-State Players Signing with Colorado Colleges (Updated May 25, 2017)

Boys
Air Force Academy
Kyle Spencer of Mount Pleasant, S.C.

Colorado State University
Jack Ainscough of Hartlepool, England
Andrew Lafferty of Alpharetta, Ga.
Cullen Plousha of Carlsbad, Calif.
Parathakorn Suyasri of Chonburi, Thailand

University of Colorado
Daniel O’Loughlin of Nottingham, England (sophomore-to-be transferring from McNeese State University in Lake Charles, La.)

University of Denver
John Sand of Hoquiam, Wash.

University of Colorado-Colorado Springs
Isaac Spillum of Paradise Valley, Ariz.

Girls
University of Colorado
Alisha Lau of British Columbia, Canada
Katie Stribling of Tustin, Calif.

Colorado State University
Haley Greb of Pendleton, Ore.

University of Denver
Anni Heck of Eagen, Minn.
Caroline Klemp, Lansing, Kan.

Looking ahead to future years, 3A state high school champion Oliver Jack from Kent Denver has verbally committed to attend CU beginning in 2018. And Eaglecrest junior Davis Bryant, runner-up in the 5A state high school tournament this fall, has said he’ll play at Colorado State starting in 2018. Bryant qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2015.

If other Colorado junior golfers have signed to play college golf beginning in 2017, please email us at golfjournal@coloradogolf.org
 

The Colorado Junior Match Play, the new iteration of the CGA and CWGA Junior Match Play Championships, will run Monday through Wednesday (Aug. 1-3) at The Ridge. Title matches are scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

Weinstein, the CWGA Junior Player of the Year who will play golf at Regis University beginning in the fall, won the first two girls JGAC majors of 2016, the Colorado Junior Amateur and the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. But a scheduling conflict — she’s competing in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships next week in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. — will keep her from attempting to extend her junior major win streak in Colorado.

But in the boys tournament, AJ Ott of Fort Collins and Braden Bentley of Colorado Springs will take aim at junior major victory No. 2 of 2016. Ott, soon set to begin his Colorado State golf career, claimed a seven-stroke win in the Colorado Junior PGA earlier this month. And Bentley prevailed by two in June at the Colorado Junior Amateur.

Also in the boys field are U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Griffin Barela of Lakewood and Cole Krantz of Windsor, the top Colorado finisher at this week’s Junior America’s Cup.

In the girls event, Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora will try to claim her second straight Junior Match Play title as she won the CWGA event as a 14-year-old last year. Two of her teammates on the CWGA’s Girls Junior America’s Cup team this week — Hailey Schalk of Erie and Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village — also are in the field. Schalk led the Colorado contingent at the GJAC.

For the match-play brackets at The Ridge, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
 

The squad representing the CGA tied for sixth Thursday out of 18 teams in the JAC, which features representatives from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico. A year ago, the Coloradans matched their best showing ever by placing third.

With its top three individual scores counting toward the team total, Colorado posted a 7-over-par 223 total on Thursday at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico. That left the CGA squad at 6-over 654 overall, tied with Hawaii for the sixth spot. The four Colorado players went eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie on the final hole Thursday.

Washington (639) claimed the team title by one over San Diego.

Individually, Cole Krantz of Windsor led the Coloradans, making birdies on his last three holes and finishing 17th at 1-over-par 217. Davis Bryant of Aurora (218) closed with a birdie and was 21st, while Jackson Solem of Longmont (220) did likewise and was 30th. Daniel Pearson of Longmont (224) made eagle on the 18th Thurday and placed 45th. (Bryant is pictured above hitting a bunker shot under the watchful eyes of captain Dustin Jensen from the CGA.)

Here are the round-by-round scores for the Coloradans:

6. Colorado 218-213-223–654
17. Cole Krantz of Windsor 73-71-73–217
21. Davis Bryant of Aurora 72-71-75–218
30. Jackson Solem of Longmont 74-71-75–220
45. Daniel Pearson of Longmont 73-74-77–224

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.
 

The Coloradans jumped from ninth to fifth in the 18-team JAC standings thanks to a 3-under-par 213 round on Wednesday. With a 1-under 431 total, they’re five strokes behind leader San Diego and just one of a three-way tie for second place with one round remaining at Guadalajara Country Club in Mexico.

A CGA team has never finished better than third in its 31 previous appearances in the Junior America’s Cup, which features squads from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico. Each day, the three best scores from each team count toward its total.

In Wednesday’s case, that meant Colorado counted three scores of 1-under-par 71 — shot by Davis Bryant of Aurora, Jackson Solem of Longmont and Cole Krantz of Windsor. Bryant and Solem were on the Colorado team that placed third at last year’s JAC.

With the help of an eagle on Wednesday, Bryant leads the Coloradans individually this year as he stands at 1-under-par 143 and shares seventh place. Krantz, who birdied three of his last four holes, is a stroke back at 144 (11th place), while Solem stands at 145 (19th place) after concluding with a birdie. Rounding out the CGA team is Daniel Pearson of Longmont, who is 32nd at 147 after a 74 on Wednesday.

Ryan Maine of Washington leads the individual competition by three with a 7-under-par 137 total after carding a 67 on Wednesday.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the Coloradans:

5. Colorado 218-213–431
7. Davis Bryant of Aurora 72-71–143
11. Cole Krantz of Windsor 73-71–144
19. Jackson Solem of Longmont 74-71–145
32. Daniel Pearson of Longmont 73-74–147

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.
   

The four-player squad representing the CGA recorded a 2-over-par 218 total, leaving the Coloradans ninth in the 18-team field from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Colorado has played well in the JAC in recent years, placing in the top four three times since 2011, including finishing third last year.

With two rounds remaining this week, Southern California leads the way at 4-under 212, good for a three-stroke advantage. The top three scores for each squad count toward the team total.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, who along with Jackson Solem of Longmont is competing in his second straight JAC, fired an even-par 72 to lead the way for the Colorado contingent. After playing the par-3s in 3 under par, he shares 14th place overall.

Daniel Pearson of Longmont and Cole Krantz of Windsor shot 73s (21st place), while Solem carded a 74 (33rd place). Krantz closed with an eagle on Tuesday.

(The Colorado squad is pictured, from left: Bryant, Pearson, Solem and Krantz.)

Five players recorded 69s on Tuesday to share the individual lead.

The competition continues through Thursday.

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.
 

The 54-hole championship will run Wednesday through Friday (July 13-15).

As with last month’s Colorado Junior Amateur, a boys and girls championship will be held simultaneously at the same site.

Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch will attempt to win her second JGAC major of the year, while Cole Krantz of Windsor will be defending his boys title in the Junior PGA Championship.

Among the other 58 boys competing are AJ Ott of Fort Collins, runner-up in both the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and the national PGA Junior Series event at the Air Force Academy; 2015 CGA Junior Player of the Year Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch; 4A state high school champion Jackson Solem of Longmont; and Davis Bryant of Aurora and Daniel Pearson of Longmont, like Solem and Krantz members of the 2016 CGA Junior America’s Cup team.

Weinstein, the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year and winner of the 5A state high school title and the Colorado Junior Amateur this year, will be joined in the 29-player girls field by 4A state high school champion and 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur qualifier Erin Sargent of Longmont; 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play champ Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora; and Jaclyn Murray of Grand Junction, like Chitkoksoong a member of the CWGA Girls Junior America’s Cup team.

For Junior PGA Championship tee times, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS

Twice in their last five appearances at the event which features 18 teams from the western U.S., Mexico and Canada, the Coloradans have matched their best finishes ever by placing third. And overall, Colorado has posted three top-four finishes since 2011.

With that as background, the 2016 team will compete later this month, marking Colorado’s 32nd appearance in the JAC, which dates back to 1973. In the first JAC event held in Mexico since 1994, the tournament is scheduled for July 26-28 in Guadalajara.

Back on the CGA squad for the second straight year will be Jackson Solem of Longmont and Davis Bryant of Aurora. Rounding out the 2016 team will be Cole Krantz of Windsor and Daniel Pearson of Longmont.

Jackson won titles in both the 2015 4A state high school championship and this year’s Big I Junior Classic. He placed 38th individually at the 2015 JAC.

Bryant qualified for the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur and placed third recently in the national PGA Junior Series event at Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy. He also played in the pro-junior team portion of last year’s First Tee Open at Pebble Beach PGA Tour Champions event. Bryant was 49th individually at last year’s JAC.

Krantz won the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Championship and qualified for the PGA Junior Championship. He advanced to the semifinals of the 2015 CGA Junior Match Play and finished seventh recently in the U.S. Junior Amateur qualfier.

Pearson placed second last month at the Colorado Junior Amateur and was fourth last year in that event’s predecessor, the CGA Junior Stroke Play. He also won the high school portion of the 2015 Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational and has qualified for the 2016 Optimist International Junior tourney.

To read about the CWGA’s Girls JAC team, CLICK HERE.