A group of about 220 gathered on Sunday at Pinehurst Country Club to celebrate a rather remarkable year in Colorado golf.

Among those in attendance at the Colorado Golf Awards Brunch were seven Colorado Golf Hall of Famers — along with another person who will be inducted next year — and an eclectic group of award winners ranging from young kids to retirees.

Among the honorees were:

— Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course, who was named the CWGA Player of the Year two years after her brother, Steven, received the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year award. At 17, Kupcho is the youngest CWGA POY since 1999. And for good measure, she earned the CWGA Junior Player of the Year honor for the third straight year. That matches a record and thus Kupcho becomes the first winner of the CWGA Player of the Year and Junior POY in the same season.

— Michael Harrington of Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods Club became, at age 42, the second-oldest CGA Player of the Year since the award was first given out in 1978, with only Rick DeWitt (age 50 in 2006) being older. Like Kupcho, Harrington also won another major award on Sunday as the CGA’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year.

“I take a look at the people who are on this Player of the Year award — the Steve Joneses (twice), the Derek Tolans and the Kevin Stadlers — and I’m honored that my name is going to be etched on the same trophy,” Harrington said.

— Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Country Club received the CWGA Senior Player of the Year honor roughly six months before she’ll be inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame along with PGA life member Ron Vlosich.

“I hope you appreciate the great game that we all play,” Austin said on Sunday. “I didn’t start golf until I was 26. It has brought me incredible joy, dear friendships and life-changing experiences that I never could have even imagined.”

— Organizers of the BMW Championship, held in September at Cherry Hills, earned special recognition after the record-setting and award-winning PGA Tour playoff event they put on.

— The CWGA’s Most Improved Junior Player of the Year, Anna Kennedy of Denver Country Club, lowered her USGA Handicap Index from 7.4 to 0.7 in less than six months, thus earning a spot on the roster for the Brigham Young University women’s golf team next year. Kennedy was among a half-dozen players honored on Sunday who will play NCAA Division I golf starting next year. That includes Kupcho (Wake Forest) and CGA Junior Player of the Year Ross Macdonald (University of Colorado).


Here’s a rundown of the various awards that were given out on Sunday:

CWGA Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho (left) of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, a senior at Jefferson Academy who recently signed to play college golf at Wake Forest, had a year to remember, particularly considering she accomplished what she did as a 17-year-old.

 A member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player program at CommonGround, Kupcho won three CWGA championships, a couple of major CJGA titles and a state high school crown. She also qualified for two USGA national championships and finished second in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.



Here are some of the specifics:



Kupcho not only won numerous tournaments, but she posted huge margins of victory. She prevailed in the 4A state high school meet by 14; the CWGA Junior Stroke Play by nine, the CJGA Tournament of Champions by 12; the CJGA Junior Series Championship by eight; the 99th CWGA Match Play by 6 and 5 in the final, and she took low-amateur honors in the Colorado Women’s Open by 12.


“Winning three CWGA championships this year (was memorable), especially the 99th Match Play,” Kupcho said on Sunday. “To have my name on that trophy with women’s names all the way back to 1916 is pretty awesome.”


Kupcho also posted a victory in the CWGA Chapman (with Jaclyn Murray) and qualified for the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (with Gillian Vance). At the U.S. Girls’ Junior, Kupcho finished eighth in the stroke-play portion of the event before falling in the round of 64 of match play.



Kupcho’s runner-up showing in the Colorado Women’s Open marked the best finish by an amateur in that event since 2008. She also placed eighth in the Girls Junior America’s Cup and 29th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 girls age division.

CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year — Michael Harrington (left) of Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington’s most eye-catching feat of this year was advancing to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. It was his best showing in nine USGA championship appearances. Harrington lost in the quarterfinals to Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood, Mich., who won the 2013 Michigan Open title as an amateur and subsequently was elected into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. By making it to the final eight, Harrington will be exempt into next year’s national Mid-Am.



Harrington also qualified for his third U.S. Amateur since 2009. And at age 42, he was the top Colorado finisher in the championship, at 134th place.



The Colorado Springs resident also won another CGA championship, capturing the title in the Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational. He placed fifth in the CGA Mid-Amateur and represented Colorado at the Pacific Coast Amateur.

CWGA Senior Player of the Year — Christie Austin (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. Austin also captured this honor in 2007, when she was a senior “rookie”. This time ended a five-year run of winning this award by Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, who “retired” from CWGA championships at the end of the 2013 season. Austin will join Eaton in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on May 31 after recently being voted in.



The former USGA Executive Committee member won two CWGA championships and qualified for two USGA national tournaments.



Austin won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play for the second time, this one in a playoff with Lynn Larson. And she placed second in the senior division of the CWGA Match Play, losing 1 down to champion Deb Hughes. In a team event, Austin and Tori Glenn earned the trophy in the CWGA Brassie.



In qualifiers, Austin landed spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, advancing to match play in the latter.

CGA Senior Player of the Year — Kent Moore (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. It’s been eight years since Moore last won this award, as a senior “rookie”, but an impressive season as a 58-year-old made him a two-time honoree in this category (he also was named the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 1989).



The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer won the CGA Senior Stroke Play by six shots, matching the largest margin in the event since 2007. With that victory, he’s accomplished the remarkable feat of winning CGA championships in five consecutive decades. He captured the Junior Match Play in 1973, the Stroke Play in ’86, the Match Play in ’89, the Mid-Amateur in ’95, the Senior Match Play in ’06 and the Senior Stroke Play in ’14.



Moore earned low-amateur honors in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for the second time (he first managed the feat in 2006). This time, Moore placed sixth overall in the Senior Open.

CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year — Michael Harrington of Kissing Camels at Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington captured this award for the second time in the last six seasons. See the CGA Player of the Year entry for Harrington above.

CGA Junior Player of the Year — Ross Macdonald (left) of the Country Club at Castle Pines. Macdonald, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, won the CGA Junior Stroke Play for the second straight year, becoming the first competitor since Scott Petersen in the 1980s to capture consecutive Junior Stroke titles.
 


The Valor Christian senior, who has signed to play college golf at the University of Colorado, also won the CJGA Junior Series Championship this year. And he placed third in the 2014 4A state high school tournament.

CWGA Junior Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho becomes just the second player to win this award for three consecutive years, joining Becca Huffer (2005-07). See the CWGA Player of the Year entry for Kupcho above.
 

CGA Jim Topliff On-Course Official of the Year — Cope and Judy Bradford (left) of Colorado National Golf Club. This marks the first time a joint award in this category has been given out.

Program Partner of the Year — Big Brothers Big Sisters of Colorado.

CWGA Volunteer Award — Karla Harding (left) of Collindale Golf Course.

CJGA Junior All-Stars (pictured at bottom) — Christian Agelopoulos, Pierce Aichinger, Traejan Andrews, Katie Berrian, Chunya Bead Boonta, Jack Castiglia, Jake Chesler, Alex Chitkoksoong, Amy Chitkoksoong, Sofia Choi, Andrew Jang, Jordan Jennings, Anna Jordaan, Caroline Jordaan, Marie Jordaan, Christopher Kennedy, Cade Kilkenny, Elijah Knudsen, Jennifer Kupcho, Maxwell Lange, Katelyn Lehigh, Lauren Lehigh, Ross Macdonald, Gage Messingham, Sarah Murphy, Jaclyn Murray, Brittlynn O’Dell, Canon Olkowski, AJ Ott, Morgan Sahm, Amisha Singh, Jackson Solem, Gillian Vance, Mary Weinstein, Coby Welch, Jake Welch, Ashleigh Wilson, Liam Wood.

CJGA Academic All-Stars (honorees must carry at least 3.0 grade-point average) — Christian Agelopoulos, Drew Anderson, Dietrich Berning, Katie Berrian, Aili Bundy, Cole Bundy, Caden Campbell, Jack Castiglia, Cole Chalmers, Sofia Choi, Mariah Ehrman, Delaney Elliott, Ty Findlow, Carly Gallant, Daniel Gallant, Sydney Gillespie, Freddie Gluck III, Kacey Godwin, TJ Hicks, Mark Hillary, Nicholas Hughes, Jordan Jennings, Clara Jeon, Jake Johnson, Max Johnson, Trey Jones, Caroline Jordaan, Marie Jordaan, Anna Jordaan, Cade Kilkenny, Brett Krants, Cole Krantz, Jennifer Kupcho, David Leede, Lauren Lehigh, Katelyn Lehigh, Nick Leibold, Charles Markel, Madison McCambridge, Trevor McCord, Peyton Mogavero, Hannah More, Tyler Mulligan, Lauren Murphy, Roger Nakagawa, Brittlynn O’Dell, Trevor Olkowski, Andrew Reppe, McKenna Reppe, Ashlee Sample, Ryan Sangchompuphen, Erin Sargent, Hailey Schalk, Tim Scherman, Gary Schlatter Jr., TJ Shehee, Parker Skiles, Jackson Solem, Jake Staiano, Amisha Singh, Emilee Strausburg, Sam Taylor, Brady Wilson, Ryan Zetwick, Ben Zimmerman.

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster struck a blow for the young.

Michael Harrington (left) of Colorado Springs struck one for the not-quite-so young.

When the CGA and CWGA hold their Colorado Golf Awards Brunch on Nov. 23 at Pinehurst Country Club, Kupcho and Harrington will go where no one before them has gone.

Kupcho will be the first golfer to be named both the CWGA Player of the Year and Junior Player of the Year in the same season. And Harrington will pull off a similar feat, becoming the first golfer to earn both the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year award and the Mid-Amateur Player of the Year honor in a single season.

Moreover, at 17 years old, Kupcho will be the youngest CWGA Player of the Year in the new millennium. Former Fort Collins High School golfer Nancy Abiecunas was slightly younger when she gained the honor in 1999.

In the same vein, the 42-year-old Harrington will be the oldest CGA Player of the Year since 2006, when a 50-year-old, Rick DeWitt, earned the award. In fact, Harrington is believed to be the second-oldest CGA Player of the Year since the award was first given out in 1978. Typically, college-age golfers have landed the CGA Player of the Year honor.

Below is the rundown of the various player of the year awards that will be given out on Nov. 23:

CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year — Michael Harrington of Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington’s most eye-catching feat of this year was advancing to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. It was his best showing in nine USGA championship appearances. Harrington lost in the quarterfinals to Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood, Mich., who won the 2013 Michigan Open title as an amateur and subsequently was elected into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. By making it to the final eight, Harrington will be exempt into next year’s national Mid-Am.

Harrington also qualified for his third U.S. Amateur since 2009. And at age 42, he was the top Colorado finisher in the championship, at 134th place.

The Colorado Springs resident also won another CGA championship, capturing the title in the Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational. He also placed fifth in the CGA Mid-Amateur and represented Colorado at the Pacific Coast Amateur.

CWGA Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho (left) of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, a senior at Jefferson Academy who will play in college at Wake Forest, had a year to remember, particularly considering she accomplished what she did as a 17-year-old.

A member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player program at CommonGround, Kupcho won three CWGA championships, a couple of major CJGA titles and a state high school crown. She also qualified for two USGA national championships and finished second in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.

Here are some of the specifics:

Kupcho not only won numerous tournaments, but she posted huge margins of victory. She prevailed in the 4A state high school meet by 14; the CWGA Junior Stroke Play by nine, the CJGA Tournament of Champions by 12; the CJGA Junior Series Championship by eight; the 99th CWGA Match Play by 6 and 5 in the final, and took low-amateur honors in the Colorado Women’s Open by 12.

Kupcho also posted victories in the CWGA Chapman (with Jaclyn Murray) and qualified for the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (with Gillian Vance). At the U.S. Girls’ Junior, Kupcho finished eighth in the stroke-play portion of the event before falling in the round of 64 of match play.

Kupcho’s runner-up showing in the Colorado Women’s Open marked the best finish by an amateur in that event since 2008. She also placed eighth in the Girls Junior America’s Cup and 29th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 girls age division.

CGA Senior Player of the Year — Kent Moore (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. It’s been eight years since Moore last won this award, as a senior “rookie”, but an impressive season as a 58-year-old made him a two-time honoree in this category (he also was named the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 1989).

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer won the CGA Senior Stroke Play by six shots, matching the largest margin in the event since 2007. With that victory, he’s accomplished the remarkable feat of winning CGA championships in five consecutive decades. He captured the Junior Match Play in 1973, the Stroke Play in ’86, the Match Play in ’89, the Mid-Amateur in ’95, the Senior Match Play in ’06 and the Senior Stroke Play in ’14.

Moore earned low-amateur honors in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for the second time (he first managed the feat in 2006). This time, Moore placed sixth overall in the Senior Open.

CWGA Senior Player of the Year — Christie Austin (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. Austin also captured this honor in 2007, when she was a senior “rookie”. This time ended a five-year run of winning this award by Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, who “retired” from CWGA championships at the end of the 2013 season. Austin will join Eaton in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on May 31 after recently being voted in.

The former USGA Executive Committee member won two CWGA championships and qualified for two USGA national tournaments.

Austin won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play for the second time, this one in a playoff with Lynn Larson. And she placed second in the senior division of the CWGA Match Play, losing 1 down to champion Deb Hughes. In a team event, Austin and Tori Glenn earned the trophy in the CWGA Brassie.

In qualifiers, Austin landed spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, advancing to match play in the latter.

CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year — Michael Harrington of Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington captures this award for the second time in the last six seasons. See the CGA Player of the Year entry for Harrington above.

CGA Junior Player of the Year — Ross Macdonald (left) of the Country Club at Castle Pines. Macdonald, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, won the CGA Junior Stroke Play for the second straight year, becoming the first competitor since Scott Petersen in the 1980s to capture consecutive Junior Stroke titles.

The Valor Christian senior, who has committed to play college golf at the University of Colorado, also won the CJGA Junior Series Championship this year. And he placed third in the 2014 4A state high school tournament.

CWGA Junior Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho becomes just the second player to win this award for three consecutive years, joining Becca Huffer (2005-07). See the CWGA Player of the Year entry for Kupcho above.

CWGA Most Improved Junior of the Year — Anna Kennedy of Denver Country Club. Kennedy’s USGA handicap index dropped from 7.4 at the beginning of the season to 0.7 as of the Nov. 1 revision.

While the CGA and CWGA will hold their awards brunch on Nov. 23, the Colorado PGA’s Awards Gala is set for Friday at Colorado Golf Club. Here’s an earlier rundown on the award winners: CLICK HERE. 
 

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster struck a blow for the young.

Michael Harrington of Colorado Springs struck one for the not-quite-so young.

When the CWGA and CGA hold their Colorado Golf Awards Brunch on Nov. 23 at Pinehurst Country Club, Kupcho and Harrington will go where no one before them has gone.

Kupcho (left) will be the first golfer to be named both the CWGA Player of the Year and Junior Player of the Year in the same season. And Harrington will pull off a similar feat, becoming the first golfer to earn both the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year award and the Mid-Amateur Player of the Year honor in a single season.

Moreover, at 17 years old, Kupcho will be the youngest CWGA Player of the Year in the new millennium. Former Fort Collins High School golfer Nancy Abiecunas was slightly younger when she gained the honor in 1999.

In the same vein, the 42-year-old Harrington will be the oldest CGA Player of the Year since 2006, when a 50-year-old, Rick DeWitt, earned the award. In fact, Harrington is believed to be the second-oldest CGA Player of the Year since the award was first given out in 1978. Typically, college-age golfers have landed the CGA Player of the Year honor.

Below is the rundown of the various player of the year awards that will be given out on Nov. 23:

CWGA Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, a senior at Jefferson Academy who will play in college at Wake Forest, had a year to remember, particularly considering she accomplished what she did as a 17-year-old.

A member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player program at CommonGround, Kupcho won three CWGA championships, a couple of major CJGA titles and a state high school crown. She also qualified for two USGA national championships and finished second in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.

Here are some of the specifics:

Kupcho not only won numerous tournaments, but she posted huge margins of victory. She prevailed in the 4A state high school meet by 14; the CWGA Junior Stroke Play by nine, the CJGA Tournament of Champions by 12; the CJGA Junior Series Championship by eight; the 99th CWGA Match Play by 6 and 5 in the final, and took low-amateur honors in the Colorado Women’s Open by 12.

Kupcho also posted victories in the CWGA Chapman (with Jaclyn Murray) and qualified for the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball (with Gillian Vance). At the U.S. Girls’ Junior, Kupcho finished eighth in the stroke-play portion of the event before falling in the round of 64 of match play.

Kupcho’s runner-up showing in the Colorado Women’s Open marked the best finish by an amateur in that event since 2008. She also placed eighth in the Girls Junior America’s Cup and 29th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 girls age division.

CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year — Michael Harrington (left) of Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington’s most eye-catching feat of this year was advancing to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur. It was his best showing in nine USGA championship appearances. Harrington lost in the quarterfinals to Tom Werkmeister of Kentwood, Mich., who won the 2013 Michigan Open title as an amateur and subsequently was elected into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame. By making it to the final eight, Harrington will be exempt into next year’s national Mid-Am.

Harrington also qualified for his third U.S. Amateur since 2009. And at age 42, he was the top Colorado finisher in the championship, at 134th place.

The Colorado Springs resident also won another CGA championship, capturing the title in the Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational. He also placed fifth in the CGA Mid-Amateur and represented Colorado at the Pacific Coast Amateur.

CWGA Senior Player of the Year — Christie Austin (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. Austin also captured this honor in 2007, when she was a senior “rookie”. This time ended a five-year run of winning this award by Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton, who “retired” from CWGA championships at the end of the 2013 season. Austin will join Eaton in the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame on May 31 after recently being voted in.

The former USGA Executive Committee member won two CWGA championships and qualified for two USGA national tournaments.

Austin won the CWGA Senior Stroke Play for the second time, this one in a playoff with Lynn Larson. And she placed second in the senior division of the CWGA Match Play, losing 1 down to champion Deb Hughes. In a team event, Austin and Tori Glenn earned the trophy in the CWGA Brassie.

In qualifiers, Austin landed spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur and the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, advancing to match play in the latter.

CGA Senior Player of the Year — Kent Moore (left) of Cherry Hills Country Club. It’s been eight years since Moore last won this award, as a senior “rookie”, but an impressive season as a 58-year-old made him a two-time honoree in this category (he also was named the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 1989).

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer won the CGA Senior Stroke Play by six shots, matching the largest margin in the event since 2007. With that victory, he’s accomplished the remarkable feat of winning CGA championships in five consecutive decades. He captured the Junior Match Play in 1973, the Stroke Play in ’86, the Match Play in ’89, the Mid-Amateur in ’95, the Senior Match Play in ’06 and the Senior Stroke Play in ’14.

Moore earned low-amateur honors in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for the second time (he first managed the feat in 2006). This time, Moore placed sixth overall in the Senior Open.

CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year — Michael Harrington of Garden of the Gods Club. Harrington captures this award for the second time in the last six seasons. See the CGA Player of the Year entry for Harrington above.

CWGA Junior Player of the Year — Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho becomes just the second player to win this award for three consecutive years, joining Becca Huffer (2005-07). See the CWGA Player of the Year entry for Kupcho above.

CGA Junior Player of the Year — Ross Macdonald (left) of the Country Club at Castle Pines. Macdonald, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, won the CGA Junior Stroke Play for the second straight year, becoming the first competitor since Scott Petersen in the 1980s to capture consecutive Junior Stroke titles.

The Valor Christian senior, who has committed to play college golf at the University of Colorado, also won the CJGA Junior Series Championship this year. And he placed third in the 2014 4A state high school tournament.

CWGA Most Improved Junior of the Year — Anna Kennedy of Denver Country Club. Kennedy’s USGA handicap index dropped from 7.4 at the beginning of the season to 0.7 as of the Nov. 1 revision.

While the CGA and CWGA will hold their awards brunch on Nov. 23, the Colorado PGA’s Awards Gala is set for Friday at Colorado Golf Club. Here’s an earlier rundown on the award winners: CLICK HERE. 

About 220 people attended Sunday’s 2013 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch at Pinehurst Country Club, where the CGA and CWGA honored many of their best.

Among those recognized were former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs of Colorado National Golf Club, and Colorado State golfer Christina Spinzig of Hiwan Golf Club, the players of the year for the CGA and CWGA, respectively.

Fribbs won the final CGA Public Links Championship and advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links.

Spinzig claimed the CWGA Match Play title after one of the most lopsided finals in the 98-year history of the championship.

Several of the honorees were no strangers to earning player-of-the-year awards at the annual brunch. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton was recognized as CWGA Senior Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive time, and two of those years she was also overall CWGA Player of the Year. All told, this was Eaton’s ninth time being honored as CWGA Player of the Year or Senior Player of the Year.

During her acceptance speech on Sunday, Eaton announced that she’s retiring from CWGA championship competition, though she’ll continue to play tournament golf nationally and in her new home state of Arizona.

Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club was the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year for the second consecutive season and for the third time in the last four.

At age 16, Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course earned the CWGA Junior Player of the Year award for the second straight season.

And Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, who recently turned 64, was the CGA Senior Player of the Year for the second time in the last three years.

Here’s a rundown of the 2013 honorees that were recognized on Sunday:

— CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year: Derek Fribbs (left) of Colorado National Golf Club. This marks the eighth time since 2000 that a CU golfer — or former Buff golfer — has earned the CGA Player of the Year honor, which is named for former CU coach Les Fowler. On that list, Fribbs joins Matt Call, Ben Portie, Kane Webber, Steve Irwin, Derek Tolan and Pat Grady (twice).

Fribbs put on quite a show in winning the final CGA Public Links Championship, shooting rounds of 65-66-62 for a 17-under-par 193 total, good for a six-stroke victory. He was also medalist in U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifying, going on to the round of 32 at that national championship.

Fribbs finished third in the CGA Stroke Play and went to the semifinals of the CGA Match Play, losing in 21 holes to former CU teammate David Oraee, the eventual champion.

— CWGA Player of the Year: Christina Spinzig (left) of Hiwan Golf Club. Spinzig, now a senior on the CSU golf team, left no doubt in winning the CWGA Match Play title this year, beating Michaela Breit 10 and 9 in the 36-hole final. The margin of victory was the largest in a CWGA Match Play final since at least 2005, before which record-keeping is incomplete.

Spinzig also had a strong showing in the CWGA Stroke Play, placing fourth.

— CGA Senior Player of the Year: Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course. Johnson also claimed this honor in 2011. This year, he became just the fifth person to win the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in the same calendar year. And in both cases, he’s one of the oldest champions in the history of the events. Johnson also won the Colorado-based qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. And he made it to the round of 32 at the CGA Match Play.

— CWGA Senior Player of the Year: Kim Eaton of Riverdale Golf Courses. In claiming this honor for the fifth consecutive year, Eaton swept the CWGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play titles. In both cases, she won going away — 6 and 5 in the Match final, and by 10 shots in the Stroke Play.

The two wins give Eaton 21 CWGA championship titles in her career.

But Eaton, now a full-time resident of Arizona, also had plenty of success outside of Colorado. In all, she won six state championships in 2013 — two state senior titles each in Colorado and Arizona, plus one in California. She also captured the open-division Arizona State Amateur Stroke Play championship.

In addition, Eaton advanced to the round of 64 of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

— CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year: Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Humerickhouse accomplished quite a feat in 2013, tying an all-time CGA championship record by winning a specific title for four consecutive years — in his case, the CGA Mid-Amateur.

Beyond that, Humerickhouse advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, beating two-time national Mid-Am champion Tim Jackson in the process.

— CGA Junior Player of the Year: Spencer Painton of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Painton had a stellar fall, winning three significant titles — the 5A state high school championship, the CJGA Tournament of Champions and the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational.

Beyond that, Painton made it to the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, where he fell to the eventual national champion, Scottie Scheffler of Dallas. This fall, Painton signed a national letter of intent with the University of Kansas.

— CWGA Junior Player of the Year: Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, who had never played in a USGA championship before this year, competed in four USGA national tournaments in 2013: the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team. Individually, she advanced to the round of 32 at the Girls’ Junior. And, along with Hannah Wood and Melissa Martin, she helped Colorado finish sixth in the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, tying the state’s best showing ever in the event.

Also team-wise, Kupcho joined with Calli Ringsby, Wood and Sydney Merchant in leading the CWGA team to a third-place finish in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, tying the state’s second-best performance ever in that event.

Kupcho won titles in the Colorado Junior PGA and the Big I Junior Classic state tournament, and she was runner-up in the 4A state high school meet and in the girls division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions.

— CGA Jim Topliff On-Course Rules Official of the Year: Tim Daniel of Eaton Country Club.

— CWGA Volunteer Award: Jan Fincher of Lake Valley Golf Club.

— CGA Master Rules Official: Jon Burnett of River Valley Ranch Golf Club.

— CWGA Most Improved Junior of the Year: Kellsey Sample of King’s Deer Golf Club, who lowered her handicap index from 36.8 to 19.1 in 2013.

— CGA/CWGA Development Program Partner of the Year: Aurora Academy.

— Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy Caddie of the Year: Melyzjah Smith.

— CJGA Junior All-Stars (pictured below): Traejan Andrews, Dillon Baker, Katie Berrian, Mia Blackard, Brayden Bozak, Davis Bryant, Emma Bryant, Jack Castiglia, Alyssa Chin, Amy Chitkoksoong, Alex Chitkoksoong, Sofia Choi, Darren Edwards, Sydney Gillespie, TJ Hicks, Oliver Jack, Jordan Jennings, Caroline Jordaan, Marie Jordaan, Anna Jordaan, Cade Kilkenny, Chris Korte, Jennifer Kupcho, Lauren Lehigh, Ross Macdonald, Natasha McClain, Sydney Merchant, Lauren Murphy, Anju Ogi, Gracie Olkowski, Spencer Painton, Calli Ringsby, Ryan Sangchompuphen, Josh Seiple, Amisha Singh, Jake Staiano, Kylee Sullivan, Lauren Sullivan, Brady Wilson, Hannah Wood, Glenn Workman.

— CJGA Academic All-Stars: Pierce Aichinger, Drew Anderson, Dillon Baker, Katie Berrian, Mia Blackard, Tanya Boderck, Brayden Bozak, Davis Bryant, Emma Bryant, Evan Buchalski, Colby Bundy, Mathew Casias, Jack Cavanaugh, Gavin Chamberlain, Alyssa Chin, Ian Coberly, Colt DiGiovanni, Aldan Duval, Mariah Ehrman, Delaney Elliott, Jackson Elliot, Margaret Geolat, Gregory Gibson, Sydney Gillespie, Frederick Gluck, James Guthrie, Empress Hawkins-Kimmel, TJ Hicks, Andrew Hinners, Andrew Howe, Jake Johnson, Max Johnson, Jax Jones, Caroline Jordaan, Cade Kilkenny, Cassie Kneen, Savni Kulkarni, Jennifer Kupcho, Joseph Lee, Hunter Lee, Lauren Lehigh, Nicholas Leibold, Alexander Liss, Ross Macdonald, Matt McCartney, Brandy McClain, Peggy Merrill, Todd Millard, Kelly Moran, Hannah More, Lauren Murphy, Jaclyn Murray, Roger Nakagawa, Spencer Painton, Adara Pauluhn, Daniel Pearson, Kyle Pearson, Ryan Pearson, Oliver Pesso, Henry Rock, Grant Rogers, Bridger Ryan, Morgan Sahm, Raymond Simanjuntak, Amisha Singh, Jared Sloan, Jake Staiano, Jackson Solem, Emilee Strausburg, Kylee Sullivan, Chaad Tam, Luke Travins, Nicholas Villano, Kevin Wohlfarth, Luke Wright, Alex Yano, Jay Yano, Erik Young, Ryan Zetwick, Tyler Zhang.
 

They range in age from 16 to 64, but what they all have in common is an exceptional year on the golf course in 2013.

All have shined in Colorado’s biggest amateur tournaments, and some on the national stage. And they’ll all come together on Nov. 24 at Pinehurst Country Club, where the CGA and CWGA will honor their players of the year and many others during the 2013 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch.

Several of the honorees are no strangers to earning player-of-the-year awards at the annual brunch. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton will be recognized as CWGA Senior Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive time, and two of those years she was also overall CWGA Player of the Year. All told, this will be Eaton’s ninth time being honored as CWGA Player of the Year or Senior Player of the Year.

Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club will be the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four. At age 16, Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course will earn the CWGA Junior Player of the Year award for the second straight season. And Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, who recently turned 64, will be the CGA Senior Player of the Year for the second time in the last three years.

But the top player honors go to former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs of Colorado National Golf Club, and Colorado State player Christina Spinzig (pictured above) of Hiwan Golf Club, the CGA and CWGA Players of the Year, respectively.

Here’s a rundown on the 2013 highlights for all of the players of the years who will be recognized on Nov. 24:

— CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year: Derek Fribbs (pictured at left) of Colorado National Golf Club. This marks the eighth time since 2000 that a CU golfer — or former Buff golfer — has earned the CGA Player of the Year honor. On that list, Fribbs joins Matt Call, Ben Portie, Kane Webber, Steve Irwin, Derek Tolan and Pat Grady (twice).

Fribbs put on quite a show in winning the final CGA Public Links Championship, shooting rounds of 65-66-62 for a 17-under-par 193 total, good for a six-stroke victory. He was also medalist in U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifying, going on to the round of 32 at that national championship.

Fribbs finished third in the CGA Stroke Play and went to the semifinals of the CGA Match Play, losing in 21 holes to former CU teammate David Oraee, the eventual champion.

— CWGA Player of the Year: Christina Spinzig of Hiwan Golf Club. Spinzig, now a senior on the CSU golf team, left no doubt in winning the CWGA Match Play title this year, beating Michaela Breit 10 and 9 in the 36-hole final. The margin of victory was the largest in a CWGA Match Play final since at least 2005, before which record-keeping is incomplete.

Spinzig also had a strong showing in the CWGA Stroke Play, placing fourth.

— CGA Senior Player of the Year: Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course. Johnson also claimed this honor in 2011. This year, he became just the fifth person to win the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in the same calendar year. And in both cases, he’s one of the oldest champions in the history of the events. Johnson also won the Colorado-based qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. And he made it to the round of 32 at the CGA Match Play.

— CWGA Senior Player of the Year: Kim Eaton of Riverdale Golf Courses. In claiming this honor for the fifth consecutive year, Eaton swept the CWGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play titles. In both cases, she won going away — 6 and 5 in the Match final, and by 10 shots in the Stroke Play.

The two wins give Eaton 21 CWGA championship titles in her career.

But Eaton, now a full-time resident of Arizona, also had plenty of success outside of Colorado. In all, she won six state championships in 2013 — two state senior titles each in Colorado and Arizona, plus one in California. She also captured the open-division Arizona State Amateur Stroke Play championship.

In addition, Eaton advanced to the round of 64 of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

— CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year: Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Humerickhouse accomplished quite a feat in 2013, tying an all-time CGA championship record by winning a specific title for four consecutive years — in his case, the CGA Mid-Amateur.

Beyond that, Humerickhouse advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, beating two-time national Mid-Am champion Tim Jackson in the process.

— CGA Junior Player of the Year: Spencer Painton of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Painton had a stellar fall, winning three significant titles — the 5A state high school championship, the CJGA Tournament of Champions and the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational.

Beyond that, Painton made it to the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, where he fell to the eventual national champion, Scottie Scheffler of Dallas.

— CWGA Junior Player of the Year: Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, who had never played in a USGA championship before this year, competed in four USGA national tournaments in 2013: the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team. Individually, she advanced to the round of 32 at the Girls’ Junior. And, along with Hannah Wood and Melissa Martin, she helped Colorado finish sixth in the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, tying the state’s best showing ever in the event.

Also team-wise, Kupcho joined with Calli Ringsby, Wood and Sydney Merchant in leading the CWGA team to a third-place finish in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, tying the state’s second-best performance ever in that event.

Kupcho won titles in the Colorado Junior PGA and the Big I Junior Classic state tournament, and she was runner-up in the 4A state high school meet and in the girls division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
 

They range in age from 16 to 64, but what they all have in common is an exceptional year on the golf course in 2013.

All have shined in Colorado’s biggest amateur tournaments, and some on the national stage. And they’ll all come together on Nov. 24 at Pinehurst Country Club, where the CGA and CWGA will honor their players of the year and many others during the 2013 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch.

Several of the honorees are no strangers to earning player-of-the-year awards at the annual brunch. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton will be recognized as CWGA Senior Player of the Year for the fifth consecutive time, and two of those years she was also overall CWGA Player of the Year. All told, this will be Eaton’s ninth time being honored as CWGA Player of the Year or Senior Player of the Year.

Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club will be the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year for the second consecutive year and for the third time in the last four. At age 16, Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course will earn the CWGA Junior Player of the Year award for the second straight season. And Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, who recently turned 64, will be the CGA Senior Player of the Year for the second time in the last three years.

But the top player honors go to former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs of Colorado National Golf Club, and Colorado State player Christina Spinzig of Hiwan Golf Club, the CGA and CWGA Players of the Year, respectively.

Here’s a rundown on the 2013 highlights for all of the players of the years who will be recognized on Nov. 24:

— CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year: Derek Fribbs (pictured above) of Colorado National Golf Club. This marks the eighth time since 2000 that a CU golfer — or former Buff golfer — has earned the CGA Player of the Year honor. On that list, Fribbs joins Matt Call, Ben Portie, Kane Webber, Steve Irwin, Derek Tolan and Pat Grady (twice).

Fribbs put on quite a show in winning the final CGA Public Links Championship, shooting rounds of 65-66-62 for a 17-under-par 193 total, good for a six-stroke victory. He was also medalist in U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifying, going on to the round of 32 at that national championship.

Fribbs finished third in the CGA Stroke Play and went to the semifinals of the CGA Match Play, losing in 21 holes to former CU teammate David Oraee, the eventual champion.

— CWGA Player of the Year: Christina Spinzig (pictured at left) of Hiwan Golf Club. Spinzig, now a senior on the CSU golf team, left no doubt in winning the CWGA Match Play title this year, beating Michaela Breit 10 and 9 in the 36-hole final. The margin of victory was the largest in a CWGA Match Play final since at least 2005, before which record-keeping is incomplete.

Spinzig also had a strong showing in the CWGA Stroke Play, placing fourth.

— CGA Senior Player of the Year: Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course. Johnson also claimed this honor in 2011. This year, he became just the fifth person to win the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in the same calendar year. And in both cases, he’s one of the oldest champions in the history of the events. Johnson also won the Colorado-based qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. And he made it to the round of 32 at the CGA Match Play.

— CWGA Senior Player of the Year: Kim Eaton of Riverdale Golf Courses. In claiming this honor for the fifth consecutive year, Eaton swept the CWGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play titles. In both cases, she won going away — 6 and 5 in the Match final, and by 10 shots in the Stroke Play.

The two wins give Eaton 21 CWGA championship titles in her career.

But Eaton, now a full-time resident of Arizona, also had plenty of success outside of Colorado. In all, she won six state championships in 2013 — two state senior titles each in Colorado and Arizona, plus one in California. She also captured the open-division Arizona State Amateur Stroke Play championship.

In addition, Eaton advanced to the round of 64 of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur.

— CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year: Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club. Humerickhouse accomplished quite a feat in 2013, tying an all-time CGA championship record by winning a specific title for four consecutive years — in his case, the CGA Mid-Amateur.

Beyond that, Humerickhouse advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur, beating two-time national Mid-Am champion Tim Jackson in the process.

— CGA Junior Player of the Year: Spencer Painton of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Painton had a stellar fall, winning three significant titles — the 5A state high school championship, the CJGA Tournament of Champions and the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational.

Beyond that, Painton made it to the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, where he fell to the eventual national champion, Scottie Scheffler of Dallas.

— CWGA Junior Player of the Year: Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course. Kupcho, who had never played in a USGA championship before this year, competed in four USGA national tournaments in 2013: the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team. Individually, she advanced to the round of 32 at the Girls’ Junior. And, along with Hannah Wood and Melissa Martin, she helped Colorado finish sixth in the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, tying the state’s best showing ever in the event.

Also team-wise, Kupcho joined with Calli Ringsby, Wood and Sydney Merchant in leading the CWGA team to a third-place finish in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, tying the state’s second-best performance ever in that event.

Kupcho won titles in the Colorado Junior PGA and the Big I Junior Classic state tournament, and she was runner-up in the 4A state high school meet and in the girls division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
 

In the midst of his speech accepting the Mid-Am player honor Sunday at Pinehurst Country Club, Keith Humerickhouse of Gypsum Creek Golf Course walked off the stage to propose to his girlfriend, Mindy Shreeve.

It was the most memorable moment of a day when the CGA and CWGA highlighted the 2012 golf season at the Colorado Golf Awards Brunch.

The event recognized the players of the year, gave out volunteer of the year awards, and honored other worthy people, organizations and events that help make Colorado golf what it is.

The top player awards were earned by Steven Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course (CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year) and Somin Lee of the Golf Club at Heather Ridge (CWGA Player of the Year for the second straight season).

CLICK HERE for a roundup of Sunday’s award-winners.

You might say that Zahkai Brown and Somin Lee took a “Common” route to their 2011 Player of the Year awards.

Appropriately, both golfers posted their biggest victory of the year at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and the CWGA, from which Brown and Lee will be receiving their awards next weekend.

Brown will be the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year after winning the CGA Stroke Play Championship at CommonGround, while Lee (pictured at left) earned CWGA Player of the Year honors after claiming the CWGA Match Play title, also at CommonGround.

Brown and Lee will be the top players recognized on Nov. 20 when the CGA, CWGA and CJGA hold their 2011 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch at Pinehurst Country Club in south Denver. Various other player awards also will be given out, along with a few special honors. CJGA all-stars on the course and in the classroom likewise will be recognized.

Here’s a brief rundown on the Player of the Year honorees:

— CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year: The CGA Stroke Play Championship dates back to 1937, but seldom has a champion rallied from the size of deficit Brown faced going into the final round this year. The Colorado State University golfer (pictured at left) trailed by six with 18 holes remaining, but a front-nine 30 and a 66 overall, combined with a 75 by 54-hole leader David Schroeder gave Brown a three-stroke victory.

The Arvada golfer also was medalist in U.S. Amateur qualifying, then finished 13th in the stroke play portion of the Amateur itself before losing in the first round of match play.

In addition, Brown placed third in the CGA Public Links Championship and was a semifinalist in the CGA Match Play.

— CWGA Player of the Year: After two straight years of being CWGA Junior Player of the Year, Lee graduated to the CWGA’s top player honor regardless of age. In winning the CWGA Match Play, the Denver-based golfer defeated Brooke Collins — winner of the 2011 CWGA Stroke Play — in the finals at CommonGround.

Lee also was the low amateur finisher in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, sharing sixth place overall. And the current Pepperdine golfer was medalist in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifying and made it to the round of 32 at the national tournament.

— CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year: Former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin earned the 25-and-older honor this time around. The former University of Colorado golfer posted top-10 finishes in the CGA Stroke Play and Mid-Amateur and was a quarterfinalist in the CGA Match Play. But by far the highlight of his year was qualifying for the U.S. Open, a tournament his father, Hale, won three times.

Qualifying for the U.S. Open — where Steve missed the cut — earned him spots in the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

— CWGA Senior Player of the Year: See last year, and the year before. Ever since she turned 50, Kim Eaton has won this award, now making it three straight. The only difference this time around is that she won’t also be the CWGA Player of the Year.

Eaton posted a top-10 finish in the CWGA Stroke Play, but where she really made her mark was in USGA championships. She made it to the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur and to the round of 32 the next week at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

In the CWGA Brassie Championship, Eaton teamed with Tami Holt to win the title by 10 shots.

— CGA Senior Player of the Year: Harry Johnson nearly made some history in late September. Just shy of his 62nd birthday, Johnson led the CGA Mid-Amateur — a tournament for players 25 and older — on the final nine holes. Alas, a 5-foot par putt that horseshoed out of the cup on the 17th hole proved the difference as he finished a stroke behind champion Keith Humerickhouse.

Johnson was also second-low amateur at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open and made it to the quarterfinals of the CGA Senior Match Play. He earned the senior title at the CGA Western Chapter Championship.

— CWGA Junior Player of the Year: This was a breakout year for Allie Johnston of Castle Rock, who will be playing her college golf at Texas-San Antonio in 2012. Johnston dominated the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, winning by eight strokes the week after claiming an American Junior Golf Association tournament title.

Johnston also placed second individually at the prestigious Mary Cave Cup and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Publinks and the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

— CGA Junior Player of the Year: Steven Kupcho of Greeley finished his junior career on a high note. Shortly after winning his second consecutive Colorado Junior PGA Championship, Kupcho cruised to a six-shot victory in the CGA Junior Stroke Play. In addition, the current University of Northern Colorado golfer placed seventh in the CGA Stroke Play and tied for second in the CJGA Tournament of Champions.

— CWGA Most Improved Junior Player: Taylor Buck of CommonGround Golf Course took her handicap from a 2.0 in mid-March to a plus-1.9 in mid-September to claim this CWGA honor.
 

You might say that Zahkai Brown and Somin Lee took a “Common” route to their 2011 Player of the Year awards.

Appropriately, both golfers posted their biggest victory of the year at CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and the CWGA, from which Brown and Lee will be receiving their awards next weekend.

Brown (pictured at left) will be the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year after winning the CGA Stroke Play Championship at CommonGround, while Lee earned CWGA Player of the Year honors after claiming the CWGA Match Play title, also at CommonGround.

Brown and Lee will be the top players recognized on Nov. 20 when the CGA, CWGA and CJGA hold their 2011 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch at Pinehurst Country Club in south Denver. Various other player awards also will be given out, along with a few special honors. CJGA all-stars on the course and in the classroom likewise will be recognized.

Here’s a brief rundown on the Player of the Year honorees:

— CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year: The CGA Stroke Play Championship dates back to 1937, but seldom has a champion rallied from the size of deficit Brown faced going into the final round this year. The Colorado State University golfer trailed by six with 18 holes remaining, but a front-nine 30 and a 66 overall, combined with a 75 by 54-hole leader David Schroeder gave Brown a three-stroke victory.

The Arvada golfer also was medalist in U.S. Amateur qualifying, then finished 13th in the stroke play portion of the Amateur itself before losing in the first round of match play.

In addition, Brown placed third in the CGA Public Links Championship and was a semifinalist in the CGA Match Play.

— CWGA Player of the Year: After two straight years of being CWGA Junior Player of the Year, Lee graduated to the CWGA’s top player honor regardless of age. In winning the CWGA Match Play, the Denver-based golfer defeated Brooke Collins — winner of the 2011 CWGA Stroke Play — in the finals at CommonGround.

Lee (pictured at left) also was the low amateur finisher in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, sharing sixth place overall. And the current Pepperdine golfer was medalist in U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifying and made it to the round of 32 at the national tournament.

— CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year: Former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin earned the 25-and-older honor this time around. The former University of Colorado golfer posted top-10 finishes in the CGA Stroke Play and Mid-Amateur and was a quarterfinalist in the CGA Match Play. But by far the highlight of his year was qualifying for the U.S. Open, a tournament his father, Hale, won three times.

Qualifying for the U.S. Open — where Steve missed the cut — earned him spots in the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

— CWGA Senior Player of the Year: See last year, and the year before. Ever since she turned 50, Kim Eaton has won this award, now making it three straight. The only difference this time around is that she won’t also be the CWGA Player of the Year.

Eaton posted a top-10 finish in the CWGA Stroke Play, but where she really made her mark was in USGA championships. She made it to the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur and to the round of 32 the next week at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur.

In the CWGA Brassie Championship, Eaton teamed with Tami Holt to win the title by 10 shots.

— CGA Senior Player of the Year: Harry Johnson nearly made some history in late September. Just shy of his 62nd birthday, Johnson led the CGA Mid-Amateur — a tournament for players 25 and older — on the final nine holes. Alas, a 5-foot par putt that horseshoed out of the cup on the 17th hole proved the difference as he finished a stroke behind champion Keith Humerickhouse.

Johnson was also second-low amateur at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open and made it to the quarterfinals of the CGA Senior Match Play. He earned the senior title at the CGA Western Chapter Championship.

— CWGA Junior Player of the Year: This was a breakout year for Allie Johnston of Castle Rock, who will be playing her college golf at Texas-San Antonio in 2012. Johnston dominated the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, winning by eight strokes the week after claiming an American Junior Golf Association tournament title.

Johnston also placed second individually at the prestigious Mary Cave Cup and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Publinks and the U.S. Girls’ Junior.

— CGA Junior Player of the Year: Steven Kupcho of Greeley finished his junior career on a high note. Shortly after winning his second consecutive Colorado Junior PGA Championship, Kupcho cruised to a six-shot victory in the CGA Junior Stroke Play. In addition, the current University of Northern Colorado golfer placed seventh in the CGA Stroke Play and tied for second in the CJGA Tournament of Champions.

— CWGA Most Improved Junior Player: Taylor Buck of CommonGround Golf Course took her handicap from a 2.0 in mid-March to a plus-1.9 in mid-September to claim this CWGA honor.