The 2018 major championship season for the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado started off a lot like how the 2017 year ended. And, for that matter, how the 2017 season began.
For the second straight year at the Air Force Academy’s Eisenhower Golf Club, the titles in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship went to Davis Bryant of Aurora in the boys ranks and to Hailey Schalk of Erie in the girls division.
Bryant became the first boys player to win consecutive Colorado Junior PGAs since Steven Kupcho in 2010 and ’11. And Schalk became the first girl to repeat since Steven’s sister, Jennifer Kupcho, did the honors in 2012 and ’13. Jennifer Kupcho, of course, recently won the women’s NCAA individual title.
Overall, Bryant is the fourth boy to win the Coloado Junior PGA twice in a row, while Schalk is the seventh girl. (The two champions are pictured at left.)
“To do this two years in a row is awesome and amazing. It’s a great feeling,” said Bryant, who was likely competing in his final JGAC major as he has conflicts with the remaining tournaments in 2018. “To play as consistently as I have and to win by four shots … I was real motivated after last week when I got second place to Dillon (Stewart) at the AJGA. That motivated me to come here and take care of business, which I was able to do.”
Said Schalk: “It’s really cool to win two years in a row because that doesn’t happen very often. For me to do what Jennifer Kupcho did is really special.”
Even more notably, both Bryant and Schalk have won the last four JGAC majors in which they’ve competed.
“That’s pretty cool,” said Bryant (left). “It’s like a grand slam in a way. To win four (straight) that I’ve played in … it hasn’t really sunk in yet. But I’m really happy I was able to get it done.”
Schalk likewise relishes that feat.
“I’m definitely proud of that accomplishment,” said the junior-to-be at Holy Family High School. “It’s cool to be able to win my last four because that just doesn’t really happen (often).”
Adding even more to the significance of Bryant and Schalk’s victories on Wednesday, their dads — Matt Bryant (Green Valley Ranch Golf Club) and Matt Schalk (Colorado National Golf Club) — are Colorado PGA general managers, making their kids repeating in the Colorado Junior PGA all the more appropriate.
On Wednesday, after taking an eight-stroke lead into the final round, Davis Bryant prevailed by four shots. And after leading by three after two rounds, Schalk emerged with a six-stroke victory.
In both cases, it continued an early-season trend of relative routs in the top junior championships in Colorado. Last week in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, the boys margin of victory was six and the girls seven. And at last month’s girls state high school tournaments, the margins were seven (5A), six (3A) and, in the lone exception, one (4A).
On a windy final day at Eisenhower GC, Bryant shot a 1-over-par 73 to post a 6-under 210 total. The 18-year-old, who will play his college golf at Colorado State University beginning in the fall, made two birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday.
“Today was the hardest round I’ve played in a while,” Bryant said. “Knowing you have an eight-shot lead, and the last thing you want to do is blow the lead. It crept in my head a little last night.
“But I love this golf course. I play real well here. I understand the greens and know where to miss it and where not to miss it. I did a really good job of that over the three days.”
Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, a University of Denver-bound golfer, crept within three strokes of Bryant with three holes left on Wednesday and checked in at 214 overall after closing with a 69.
“I wanted to catch Davis, but I knew it was going to be very hard to do, especially with how well he can play,” McCoy said. “I just wanted to put some pressure on him and make him think a little more over some short putts and some drives. If I caught up to him, great. If I didn’t, I knew second is, I guess, good enough. Even though you want to win, it’s tough when you’re eight back with one round left.”
Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, who recently advanced to the U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, placed third at 221 after a final-round 73.
In the girls division, the 16-year-old Schalk (left) shot her second consecutive 77 to finish at 228. The two-time 3A state high school champion made 13 pars and five bogeys on Wednesday.
Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, the 2015 Colorado Junior PGA Champion, was runner-up at 234 as she sank a 10-foot birdie putt on No. 18 to edge out 2017 4A state high school champ Lauren Lehigh of Loveland. Jordaan posted a final-round 80 for a 234 total, while Lehigh placed third at 235 after a 79.
“I definitely tried to come in first, but I struggled on the front nine a little bit,” said Jordaan, who will play golf at DU starting in 2019. “I tried to keep it together on the back to get in the top two.”
In addition to the Colorado Junior PGA Championship titles being on the line on Wednesday, the top two boys finishers and the top two girls landed spots in the national Junior PGA Championship that will be held in Kentucky. The national girls tournament is set for July 9-12 at Kearney Hill Golf Links in Lexington and the boys for July 31-Aug. 3 at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville. Valhalla has hosted three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.
Bryant and McCoy gained the boys berths and Schalk and Jordaan the girls. Bryant finished 14th in the 2017 national Junior PGA, while McCoy and Schalk missed the cut in their respecive tournaments. Jordaan missed the cut on her first trip to the national Junior PGA, in 2015.
“I’m really excited,” she said. “I’m happy I ended up getting a spot because I didn’t play my best golf. I’m happy it worked out in the end.”
Said McCoy: “It feels pretty good” to go to a national championship. “Whenever you’re playing for a bigger tournament, there’s always added pressure. This year I want to do a little better, but the first stage was to get into it, and I’m feeling pretty good.”
Another Coloradan who has landed a spot in the national Junior PGA is Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, who’s competing this week in the AJGA Rolex Girls Junior Championship in Park City, Utah.
For scores from the Colorado Junior PGA: BOYS, GIRLS
(Below is a photo of the new clubhouse at Eisenhower Golf Club.)
A year after Davis Bryant of Aurora and Hailey Schalk of Erie won the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, guess who’s on top in the boys and girls division of the 2018 tournament?
That would be Bryant and Schalk.
Bryant, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Boys Player of the Year in 2017, expanded his already-formidable lead in the first JGAC major of the year to eight strokes after Tuesday’s second round at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy.
And Schalk, the JGAC Girls Player of the Year in 2017, grabbed the lead on Tuesday from Bryant’s little sister, Emma. Schalk will take a three-stroke advantage into Wedneday’s final round.
Davis Bryant (pictured) backed up his first-round 68 with a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday to check in at 7-under 137 for two days. The Colorado State University-bound golfer made four birdies and one bogey on day 2.
University of Denver recruit Calvin McCoy of Highlands Ranch posted a 70 on Tuesday and holds second place at 145 after a five-birdie, three-bogey day. Kailer Rundiks of Denver and U.S. Open Sectional Qualifier Jack Castiglia of Lakewood share third place at 148, with Castiglia firing a 73 on Tuesday and Rundiks a 75.
In the girls division, Schalk shot a 5-over-par 77 on Tuesday, which left the two-time 3A girls state high school champion at 7-over 151. The 16-year-old made two birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey on Tuesday.
Emma Bryant, the 5A girls state high school champ who made a hole-in-one on Monday, posted an 81 on Tuesday to leave herself three behind Schalk. Also at that 154 figure and tied for second is Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, the 2015 Colorado Junior PGA girls champ, who carded a second-round 79. Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, the 2017 4A girls state high school winner, is in fourth place at 156 after a 77 on Tuesday.
The boys field was cut to the low 30 players and the girls to 16 heading into the final round.
In addition to the Colorado Junior PGA Championship titles being on the line, the top two boys finishers and the top two girls will earn spots in the national Junior PGA Championship that will be held in Kentucky. The national girls tournament is set for July 9-12 and the boys for July 31-Aug. 3.
]]>Siblings Davis and Emma Bryant of Aurora have made headlines for unique accomplishments on several occasions over the last year.
In 2017, it was for the two combining to capture the “Bryant Slam”, with Davis winning three Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors, and Emma earning the title in the one in which her brother didn’t compete.
Then last month, the two became the first siblings to sweep boys and girls Colorado state high school titles in the same season — in their case in the 5A classificiation.
And on Monday, the Bryants (left) struck again, albeit on a slightly lesser scale. With 60 boys and 30 girls competing at the Colorado Junior PGA Championship at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy, Davis leads the boys tournament and Emma the girls after round 1 of the 54-hole event.
And to add to the storyline, Emma Bryant made her first hole-in-one during Monday’s round, holing a 9-iron from 134 yards on the third hole.
Davis Bryant, the JGAC Boys Player of the Year in 2017, took a five-shot lead on Monday in his title defense. The Colorado State University-bound golfer shot a 4-under-par 68 to open the tournament. He was 2 over par after five holes, but went 6 under for his last 13 holes and shot a 5-under 31 on his final nine (the front side on the Blue Course). Bryant finished the day with eight birdies, two bogeys and a double bogey.
Notably, Davis birdied the third hole, the one sister Emma aced.
Kailer Rundicks of Denver opened with a 73 — highlighted by an eagle at the par-5 11th hole, immediately following a double bogey — and stands in second place. Lucas Howell of Colorado Springs and Barrett Jones of Eagle share third place at 74.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who won last week’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior in Westminster, started with a 77.
On the girls side, 15-year-old Emma Bryant (left) finished with a 1-over 73, good for a one-stroke lead. In addition to her ace, she carded two birdies and five bogeys.
Another reigning state high school champion, two-time 3A winner Hailey Schalk of Erie, is Emma Bryant’s closest pursuer, having posted a first-round 74. Schalk, the JGAC Girls Player of the Year in 2017 and the defending girls champion in this event, finished with three birdies and five bogeys in round 1. She was 1 under through 13 holes, but made four bogeys and one birdie during the stretch run.
The only other girls player who shot below 78 on Monday was Caroline Jordaan of Lakewood, who carded a 75 and holds third place. Jordaan, a Colorado Academy senior-to-be who has verbally committed to play her college golf at the University of Denver, made an eagle, a birdie, two bogeys and two double bogeys on Monday.
Both the boys and girls tournaments will continue through Wednesday.
In addition to the Colorado Junior PGA Championship titles being on the line, the top two boys finishers and the top two girls will earn spots in the national Junior PGA Championship that will be held in Kentucky. The national girls tournament is set for July 9-12 and the boys for July 31-Aug. 3.
]]>It worked out altogether fittingly.
Two teenage kids whose fathers are Colorado PGA general managers earned the titles Wednesday in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, the first major of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2017 season.
Davis Bryant of Aurora, son of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club GM Matt Bryant, prevailed by two strokes for the boys championship at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy.
And Hailey Schalk of Erie, daughter of Colorado National Golf Club GM Matt Schalk, rolled to an 11-stroke victory in the girls tournament.
It was the first win in a JGAC major for Bryant, a 17-year-old senior-to-be at Eaglecrest High School who has verbally committed to play his college golf at Colorado State University.
It was JGAC major victory No. 2 for Schalk, a 15-year-old who won the Colorado Junior Match Play last year. The Colorado Junior PGA continues a stellar 2017 season for the Holy Family High School student, who last month became the first freshman since 2002 to win a Colorado girls state high school title, then followed that up by becoming the first Coloradan to earn a championship at the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica.
“This is a really good accomplishment and it’s sponsored by the PGA and my dad is a PGA pro,” Schalk noted. “So it’s good for me to win this tournament and it’s special for me. And it’s really cool for me to win a major, especially early on this year even if I don’t win the other ones.”
Both Bryant and Schalk (pictured above) led wire-to-wire at Eisenhower.
Bryant (left), a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and a member of the Colorado Junior America’s Cup teams in both 2015 and ’16, won by two in the boys division despite a three-putt bogey on his final hole. He shot a 1-over-par 73 Wednesday to post a 1-under 215 total.
“It’s definitely the biggest event that I’ve won,” said Bryant, who claimed a JGAC Tour title last month at Todd Creek, where he shot 65-67 and prevailed by nine. “The course (at Eisenhower) is hard. It’s always a good test. Your game has to be on at every hole. Fortunately this week it was for me. That makes it so much bigger. You have to be spot-on for 54 holes. To shoot 1 under par over a span of 54 holes is pretty good.”
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins was the only serious challenger to Bryant on Wednesday. After starting the day three back, the 16-year-old cut the deficit to two on three occasions in the final round, but could get no closer. He carded a final-day 72 for a 217 total, placing second for the second straight year in a JGAC major at Eisenhower.
“I played pretty good,” Stewart said. “I got the most out of my game for sure because I wasn’t hitting it too great and wasn’t putting that great. There were a couple of holes I wish I could have done better and gotten a couple back on Davis. It’s just hard to catch him; he was playing so good today — and this whole week.”
By finishing 1-2, Bryant and Stewart qualified for the national Junior PGA Championship at the Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, set for July 31-Aug. 3.
The last surge by Stewart (left) came when he made a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 15 to trim Bryant’s lead to two again. But Bryant responded by two-putting from 60 feet for birdie on the par-5 16th to go back up by three. Then after Stewart got up and down from over the green on 17, sinking a 15-footer from the fringe for par, Bryant drained a 10-foot par putt on top of him after being in a greenside bunker.
“Those were huge,” Bryant said. “He made that great par putt and I was like, ‘I’ve got to bear down and make my par putt too to keep it a three-shot lead going into the last hole.”
Bryant has taken a liking to the Eisenhower Blue course after finishing third at 4-under 212 in a national PGA Junior Series event at the venue last July, then winning on Wednesday.
“I have a lot of confidence going back to last year on the course,” he said. “I like the golf course. The greens are tough, it’s a good test. It kind of finds the best players over three days and you have to play your best. Every part of your game has to be on, and this week it was. I hit the ball very well, I putted excellent.”
Placing a distant third on Wednesday — in a four-way tie at 227 — were Calvin McCoy of Highlands Ranch, Jack Hughes of Aspen, Jack Castiglia of Lakewood and Michael Perea of Arvada.
In the girls tournament, Schalk (left) entered the final round with a nine-stroke lead. Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village made a small run by going 2 under par on the front nine, cutting the deficit to five. But Schalk built the advantage to 11 with her 4-foot birdie on No. 18. She finished with a 3-over-par 75 on Wednesday, leaving her at 6-over 222 overall.
Suffice it to say Schalk has had a stellar spring, with the wins in the 3A state high school meet, the AJGA and the first major of the JGAC season.
“It makes me feel real good just because I’ve been working so hard,” she said. “All the practice that I do is actually working and everything is coming together. It’s really cool for me to be able to win all these big tournaments. It’s a little bit of a groove (I’ve been in). I’ve been more consistent lately.
“But this is a hard course. I was just trying to play the best I could. I didn’t make as many putts as I wanted to today, but I played solid all week.”
Jaclyn Murray of Grand Junction, a recent Regis Jesuit High School graduate who will play collegiately at the University of Colorado as a walk-on, placed second at 233 after a closing 74. By earning the runner-up spot, Murray joined Schalk in qualifying for the national Junior PGA Championship, which in the case of the girls will also be held at St. Albans, but on July 18-21.
“I thought (second) was reachable last night when I was looking at the scores,” said Murray, a two-time Colorado Girls Junior America’s Cup player who has been runner-up in the 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play and placed fourth in the Colorado Junior PGA last year. “I just had a goal of having fun and enjoying my round because I wanted to have a really good mental game. I think my mental game really helped me out, so I was happy with the way I played.”
Hillary (left), the JGAC Tour Championship winner in 2016, finished third for the second straight year in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. She posted a 234 total after three straight 78s.
For scores from the Colorado Junior PGA, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
]]>Bryant, a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday despite playing his last six holes in 3 over par at Eisernhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy. After a three-birdie, three-bogey day, the 17-year-old who has verbally committed to play his college golf at Colorado State University stands at 2-under 142 going into Wednesday’s final round. Bryant (pictured) is looking for his second win of the JGAC Tour season as he captured the title by nine strokes in the Todd Creek tournament last month.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, one of the runners-up at the JGAC major that was held at Eisenhower last year, is Bryant’s closest pursuer, at 145 after a 73 on Tuesday that included five birdies but also a triple bogey.
The next-best boys competitor is seven back of Bryant, with Barrett Jones of Eagle holding down third place at 149 after a second-round 75.
In the girls tournament, Schalk continued on her tear, having won the 3A girls state high school title as a freshman and then becoming the first Coloradan to capture a championship at the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica last week.
Despite a 4-over-par 76 on Tuesday, Schalk expanded her lead to nine, with a 3-over 147 total. She made three birdies, five bogeys and one double bogey on Tuesday.
Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, the runner-up to Schalk at both the 3A state tournament and the AJGA event, moved into a share of second place at 156 with 4A state high school champ Lauren Lehigh of Loveland. Hillary posted a 78 on Tuesday and Lehigh a 79, with each managing just one birdie in round 2.
The top 31 boys and 15 girls after 36 holes made the cut and will compete on Wednesday. The boys leaders will tee off for the final round at 9:45 a.m., with the girls starting at 9:36.
The top two finishers in both the boys and girls fields will qualify for the national Junior PGA Championships at the Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, set for July 18-21 (girls) and July 31-Aug. 3 (boys).
For scores from the Colorado Junior PGA, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
Schalk, the 3A girls state high school champion who won last week’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica, picked up where she left off by starting with a 1-under-par 71 in the first of four Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors for 2017. The 15-year-old made four birdies and three bogeys on Monday.
Amelia Lee of Castle Rock, who placed third in last month’s 5A state high school tournament, holds down second place in the girls competition at 73. Josie Baker of Sherman Oaks, Calif., is third at 75.
In the boys tournament, Bryant (pictured), a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier who won the JGAC Todd Creek tournament by nine strokes last month, fired a 2-under-par 70 on Monday after a five-birdie round.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins and Ian Thorpe of Superior share second place at 72, each highlighting his round with an eagle. Thorpe played his final seven holes in 4 under par. TJ Shehee of Mead holds fourth place at 73.
The 54-hole tournaments will continue through Wednesday.
The top two finishers in both the boys and girls fields will qualify for the national Junior PGA Championships at the Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, set for July 18-21 (girls) and July 31-Aug. 3 (boys).
For scores from the Colorado Junior PGA, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
And the run will continue next week as the first major of the 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado season takes place Monday through Wednesday (June 12-14) at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs.
About 90 players — boys and girls combined — are expected to compete in the 54-hole Colorado Junior PGA Championship, one of four JGAC majors.
Arguably the state’s hottest junior player this spring, 15-year-old Hailey Schalk of Erie, is entered. In the last three weeks, she’s won the 3A state high school title as a freshman, she qualified for the Junior Worlds, and she became the first Coloradan to win the AJGA Hale Irwin.
Also entered in the girls field at Eisenhower are Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, runner-up to Schalk in both the 3A tourney and the AJGA event, and winner of the 2016 JGAC Tour Championship; 4A champ Lauren Lehigh of Loveland; and Caroline Jordaan of Denver, winner of the North American Junior Amateur in January.
On the boys side, all three reigning state high school champions are in the field: Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch (5A), Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs (4A) and Oliver Jack of Denver (3A). Also entered are Davis Bryant of Aurora, a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and 2016 Colorado Junior America’s Cup team member; and Daniel Pearson of Longmont, who recently competed in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.
The top two finishers in both the boys and girls fields will qualify for the national Junior PGA Championships at the the Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, set for July 18-21 (girls) and July 31-Aug. 3 (boys).
For the not-yet-finalized pairings for Monday at Eisenhower, CLICK HERE.
After nearly a decade of playing junior golf tournaments in Colorado, Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch in all likelihood came to the end of the line on Friday.
But while there may be some mixed feelings about leaving the junior ranks, she certainly went out on a high note.
Weinstein, who almost always has found her way to the top of the leaderboard in major Colorado girls tournaments over the last 13 months, did it again at Indian Tree Golf Club.
The 18-year-old Regis Jesuit High School graduate clawed her way back from an opening-round 77 to win the girls title Friday in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, the second major in the inaugural season of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.
“I think this is my last Colorado junior tournament,” Weinstein said. “That’s really crazy because I’ve been playing in them for nine years — NINE YEARS. So it’s really special to end up champion, to go out with a bang. That’s super cool.”
Friday’s result means that Weinstein’s victories since June of last year have included the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play and CJGA Junior Series Championship, and the 2016 5A state high school tournament, the Colorado Junior Amateur and now the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. She also placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships last year, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there.
Weinstein (left and above) has won both of the girls JGAC major titles in 2016, though it’s unlikely the Regis University signee will play in the last two junior majors of the year.
“I’m just glad that all my hard work has finally paid off because I had a really rough time before (the state high school tournament) last year,” she said. “I worked really hard and got through it. Now I’m here. To have that year of success makes me really happy and really proud of how I worked hard.”
On Friday, Weinstein rallied from a two-stroke deficit by shooting a 4-under-par 31 on the front nine. And despite a double bogey on the final hole, she posted a 1-under-par 69 for the day, giving her an 8-over-par 218 total.
“My putting was on point today,” said Weinstein, who noted she put in several hours on the practice green during tournament week. “I didn’t miss a putt except for the last hole (a three-putt). Everything was just working for me.”
The victory Friday earned Weinstein an automatic berth in the national PGA Junior Championship, scheduled for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I.
Delaney Elliott (left) of Superior, a Montana State signee, played her final six holes in 1 under par on Friday to make a run at the title. The Monarch High School graduate closed with a 71 to check in at 219, one back of Weinstein.
“I’d rather be first,” Elliott said of her performance, one of the last of her junior career. “I played pretty well today, but I missed a few putts (including two 4-footers), which kind of hurts, knowing I had a couple of short ones I could have made.
“But I thought I gave it a good run. I played well down the stretch (getting up and down for pars on 15 and 18 and making a 4-foot birdie on 16). And (Mary and I) have been friends for a long time. We’ve been playing together since we were about 10.”
Fourteen-year-old Charlotte Hillary of Englewood finished third at 224 after carding a 75 on Friday.
For the interactive scores from the girls tournament, CLICK HERE.
To read about the boys tournament, CLICK HERE.
Colorado Junior PGA Championship
At Par-70 Indian Tree GC in Arvada
GIRLS
1. Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 77-72-69-218 +8
2. Delaney Elliott, Superior, CO, 2016, 73-75-71-219 +9
3. Charlotte Hillary, Englewood, CO, 2020, 78-71-75-224 +14
4. Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, CO, 2017, 73-74-78-225 +15
5. Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, CO, 2019, 73-79-74-226 +16
5. Sarah Hwang, Monument, CO, 2017, 79-72-75-226 +16
7. Erin Sargent, Longmont, CO, 2016, 77-78-72-227 +17
8. Julia Baroth, Denver, CO, 2017, 79-79-71-229 +19
9. Tabitha Diehl, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 79-79-74-232 +22
10. Amelia Lee, Castle Rock, CO, 2017, 77-77-79-233 +23
11. Payton Canon, Englewood, CO, 2018, 79-76-79-234 +24
12. Hannah More, Littleton, CO, 2016, 79-73-83-235 +25
13. Amisha Singh, Greenwood Village, CO, 2019, 81-77-78-236 +26
14. Reagan Robinson, Golden, CO, 2018, 80-77-82-239 +29
15. Sarah Hunt, Parker, CO, 2017, 77-79-84-240 +30
Missed Cut
Kacey Godwin, Denver, CO, 2016, +19
Kelsey Webster, Boulder, CO, 2018, +19
Shelby Poynter, Scottsbluff, NE, 2018, +20
Sydney Eye, Golden, CO, 2019, +22
Arielle Keating, Colorado Springs, CO, 2018, +24
Anju Ogi, Arvada, CO, 2021, +24
Riley McKibbon, Arvada, CO, 2017, +26
Katie Berrian, Castle Rock, CO, 2020, +26
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, CO, 2018, +26
Carly Gallant, Louisville, CO, 2017, +29
Jenna Chun, Englewood, CO, 2018, +32
Eva Pett, Denver, CO, 2022, +37
Jihyun Roh, Broomfield, CO, 2018, +40
Isabell Deak, Colorado Springs, CO, 2018, +41
Andrea Hoos, Thornton, CO, 2016, +18 WD
Just like a fellow lefty who’s doing quite well playing tournament golf this week, AJ Ott of Fort Collins rode rounds of 63-69 on Thursday and Friday to the top of the leaderboard.
For Phil Mickelson, that was good for the halfway lead in the British Open. For Ott, it meant the boys title in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, the second major in the inaugural season of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.
“Lefties are making a comeback, I’ll tell you what,” Ott said with a smile.
A day after he tied the course record at Indian Tree Golf Club by holing out from 138 yards for eagle on 18 en route to the 7-under-par 63, Ott maintained a big advantage all day on Friday and posted a seven-stroke victory.
It was a welcome win for the Colorado State University-bound golfer, who has finished runner-up in the 2015 CGA Junior Stroke Play, the 2015 5A state high school meet and this year’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and PGA Junior Series event at the Air Force Academy. During that stretch, Ott claimed the title in the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
“It felt good,” Ott (left and above) said of the breakthrough. “I was trying not to really think about it. I was trying to keep it one shot at a time. My coach at CSU helped me a lot with my pre-shot routine. I texted him last night and he had some good words that helped me out today. But it’s anyone’s game at the start of the week, so I was trying to keep it in play and hopefully get some putts to drop. Thankfully they dropped.”
At Indian Tree, the 18-year-old left nothing to chance with his three-day total of 12-under-par 198. For the week, he finished with one eagle, 13 birdies and three bogeys.
The victory Friday gave Ott an automatic berth in the national PGA Junior Championship, set for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I.
Jackson Solem (left) of Longmont, the reigning 4A state high school champion, finished a distant second on Friday at 5-under-par 205. Solem, who has committed to play his college golf at the University of Denver beginning next year, closed with a 67.
“I shot 67-71-67 and played well for three days,” Solem said. “Obviously I didn’t accomplish what I wanted to, but it’s hard to beat how AJ is playing right now so I’m pretty satisfied with how I did.
“I played with him yesterday (during Ott’s 63) and it was fun to watch. He’s a good friend of mine so it was really cool to see him succeed.”
Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch, the 2015 CGA Junior Player of the Year, placed third at 207 after a 69 on Friday. Welch will begin his University of Northern Colorado golf career this fall.
Ott, who tied his best score ever with Thursday’s 63, took a nine-stroke lead into Friday’s final round. But he was careful not to become complacent.
“I wanted to stay aggressive,” said Ott, whose three birdies Friday included a chip-in on No. 13. “That was my mindset the whole day. I knew I couldn’t go out there and shoot a couple over on the front because (Solem and Welch) were both going to shoot a couple under. I needed to stay aggressive and make some putts too. The putts hadn’t really dropped the last couple of tournaments, but they did this week, which was really nice.”
For the interactive scores from the boys tournament, CLICK HERE.
To read about the girls tournament, CLICK HERE.
Colorado Junior PGA Championship
At Par-70 Indian Tree GC in Arvada
BOYS
1. AJ Ott, Fort Collins, CO, 2016, 66-63-69-198 -12
2. Jackson Solem, Longmont, CO, 2017, 67-71-67-205 -5
3. Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 71-67-69-207 -3
4. Andrew McCormick, Denver, CO, 2016, 73-66-73-212 +2
5. Hunter Tuite, Englewood, CO, 2017, 72-71-71-214 +4
5. Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, CO, 2017, 69-70-75-214 +4
7. David Leede, Greenwood Village, CO, 2016, 69-70-76-215 +5
8. Dallas Millin, Wright, WY, 2017, 77-69-71-217 +7
8. Freddie Gluck, Boulder, CO, 2018, 72-70-75-217 +7
8. Reese Leiker, Littleton, CO, 2016, 69-73-75-217 +7
11. Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 73-74-71-218 +8
11. Alec Poorman, Boulder, CO, 2016, 75-70-73-218 +8
11. Davis Bryant, Aurora, CO, 2018, 72-71-75-218 +8
11. Coleson Krantz, Windsor, CO, 2017, 76-68-74-218 +8
15. Darren Edwards, Loveland, CO, 2018, 75-71-73-219 +9
15. Brittain Walton, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2016, 74-71-74-219 +9
15. Timothy Amundson, Littleton, CO, 2016, 76-70-73-219 +9
18. Ian Thorpe, Superior, CO, 2018, 75-74-71-220 +10
18. Ethan Alexander, Louisville, CO, 2017, 71-75-74-220 +10
18. Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton, CO, 2019, 72-71-77-220 +10
21. Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017, 75-75-72-222 +12
21. Marcus Tait, Littleton, CO, 2017, 75-74-73-222 +12
21. Arik Roberts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017, 74-73-75-222 +12
24. Tj Shehee, Longmont, CO, 2019, 76-73-74-223 +13
24. Jake Welch, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2019, 71-73-79-223 +13
26. Calvin McCoy, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2018, 72-72-80-224 +14
27. Tyler Severin, Johnstown, CO, 2018, 74-76-75-225 +15
27. Sam Taylor, Nederland, CO, 2017, 73-75-77-225 +15
27. Dillon Baker, Castle Rock, CO, 2018, 72-74-79-225 +15
30. Sam Blackwood, Littleton, CO, 2018, 78-72-77-227 +17
31. Jaxon Franklin, Broomfield, CO, 2018, 73-77-81-231 +21
Missed 36-Hole Cut
Ji Jang, Aurora, CO, 2016, 78-73-151 +11
Ethan Tartaglia, Lafayette, CO, 2018, 77-74-151 +11
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2018, 76-75-151 +11
Jack Tickle, Centennial, CO, 2019, 75-76-151 +11
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 75-76-151 +11
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 74-77-151 +11
Gabe Goodman, Lakewood, CO, 2018, 73-78-151 +11
Matthew Heesemann, Johnstown, CO, 2016, 80-72-152 +12
John McGinley, Casper, WY, 2018, 79-73-152 +12
Roger Nakagawa, Denver, CO, 2018, 81-72-153 +13
Evan Kalac, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2019, 80-74-154 +14
Nishant Datta, Broomfield, CO, 2018, 81-73-154 +14
Walker Franklin, Broomfield, CO, 2020, 79-75-154 +14
Brayden Lambrecht, Sterling, CO, 2018, 79-75-154 +14
Bridger Tenney, Evergreen, CO, 2018, 77-77-154 +14
Garret Phillips, Rock Springs, WY, 2017, 74-80-154 +14
Nolan Miller, Evergreen, CO, 2019, 77-78-155 +15
Cameron Kirke, Greenwood Village, CO, 2018, 78-78-156 +16
Christian Agelopoulos, Denver, CO, 2020, 84-75-159 +19
Cameron Nagel, Fort Collins, CO, 2017, 80-80-160 +20
Christopher Kennedy, Aurora, CO, 2019, 76-84-160 +20
Drew Anderson, Aurora, CO, 2018, 82-79-161 +21
Riley Rottschafer, Centennial, CO, 2019, 90-73-163 +23
Matthew LeFebre, Centennial, CO, 2017, 84-80-164 +24
Jackson Zinn, Westminster, CO, 2018, 83-84-167 +27
Chris Jonell, Centennial, CO, 2019, 84-90-174 +34
The Colorado State University signee holed out from 138 yards for eagle on his final shot of the day and tied a course record at Indian Tree Golf Club with a 7-under-par 63 Thursday during the second round of the Colorado Junior PGA Championship.
That stellar performance gave Ott (pictured) a nine-stroke lead heading into the final round of the second major in the inaugural season of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado.
Meanwhile, in a tightly packed girls tournament, Jaclyn Murray of Grand Junction, a member of the CWGA’s 2016 Junior Americas Cup team, grabbed a one-stroke lead heading into the final round. The 17-year-old from Regis Jesuit High School, who finished second in last year’s CWGA Junior Match Play, made two birdies Thursday and shot a 4-over-par 74, leaving her at 7-over 147 overall.
Ott, who recently finished second in both the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and the national PGA Junior Series event at the Air Force Academy, closed his bogey-free round with a 138-yard eagle on the 452-yard par-4 18th hole. That gave him five birdies and an eagle on the day.
Overall, Ott will go into Friday’s final round with an 11-under-par 129 total. That’s nine shots better than 2015 CGA Junior Player of the Year Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch (67 Thursday) and 2015 4A state high school champion Jackson Solem of Longmont (71). Three players share fourth place at 139: Andrew McCormick of Denver (66 Thursday), David Leede of Greenwood Village (70) and Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree (70).
The girls tournament is a far different affair, with six players trailing Murray by five strokes or fewer. Delaney Elliott of Superior, who has signed to play college golf at Montana State, is one out of the lead after a second-round 75. Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch, winner of both the 5A state high school tournament and the Colorado Junior Amateur this year, shares third place at 149 with Charlotte Hillary of Englewood. Weinstein carded a 72, while Hillary’s 71 was the best girls score on Friday.
Also within a handful of the lead are Sarah Hwang of Monument (151), Hannah More of Littleton (152) and 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play winner Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora (152).
After 36 holes, the girls’ field was cut down to 15 players and the boys’ to 31.
For interactive scores, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS
Colorado Junior PGA Championship
At Par-70 Indian Tree GC in Arvada
BOYS
1. AJ Ott, Fort Collins, CO, 2016, 66-63-129 -11
2. Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 71-67-138 -2
2. Jackson Solem, Longmont, CO, 2017, 67-71-138 -2
4. Andrew McCormick, Denver, CO, 2016, 73-66-139 -1
4. David Leede, Greenwood Village, CO, 2016, 69-70-139 -1
4. Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, CO, 2017, 69-70-139 -1
7. Freddie Gluck, Boulder, CO, 2018, 72-70-142 +2
7. Reese Leiker, Littleton, CO, 2016, 69-73-142 +2
9. Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton, CO, 2019, 72-71-143 +3
9. Hunter Tuite, Englewood, CO, 2017, 72-71-143 +3
9. Davis Bryant, Aurora, CO, 2018, 72-71-143 +3
12. Coleson Krantz, Windsor, CO, 2017, 76-68-144 +4
12. Calvin McCoy, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2018, 72-72-144 +4
12. Jake Welch, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2019, 71-73-144 +4
15. Alec Poorman, Boulder, CO, 2016, 75-70-145 +5
15. Brittain Walton, Steamboat Springs, CO, 2016, 74-71-145 +5
17. Dallas Millin, Wright, WY, 2017, 77-69-146 +6
17. Timothy Amundson, Littleton, CO, 2016, 76-70-146 +6
17. Darren Edwards, Loveland, CO, 2018, 75-71-146 +6
17. Dillon Baker, Castle Rock, CO, 2018, 72-74-146 +6
17. Ethan Alexander, Louisville, CO, 2017, 71-75-146 +6
22. Arik Roberts, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017, 74-73-147 +7
22. Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 73-74-147 +7
24. Sam Taylor, Nederland, CO, 2017, 73-75-148 +8
25. Tj Shehee, Longmont, CO, 2019, 76-73-149 +9
25. Marcus Tait, Littleton, CO, 2017, 75-74-149 +9
25. Ian Thorpe, Superior, CO, 2018, 75-74-149 +9
28. Sam Blackwood, Littleton, CO, 2018, 78-72-150 +10
28. Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, CO, 2017, 75-75-150 +10
28. Tyler Severin, Johnstown, CO, 2018, 74-76-150 +10
28. Jaxon Franklin, Broomfield, CO, 2018, 73-77-150 +10
Missed Cut
Ji Jang, Aurora, CO, 2016, 78-73-151 +11
Ethan Tartaglia, Lafayette, CO, 2018, 77-74-151 +11
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2018, 76-75-151 +11
Jack Tickle, Centennial, CO, 2019, 75-76-151 +11
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 75-76-151 +11
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 74-77-151 +11
Gabe Goodman, Lakewood, CO, 2018, 73-78-151 +11
Matthew Heesemann, Johnstown, CO, 2016, 80-72-152 +12
John McGinley, Casper, WY, 2018, 79-73-152 +12
Roger Nakagawa, Denver, CO, 2018, 81-72-153 +13
Evan Kalac, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2019, 80-74-154 +14
Nishant Datta, Broomfield, CO, 2018, 81-73-154 +14
Walker Franklin, Broomfield, CO, 2020, 79-75-154 +14
Brayden Lambrecht, Sterling, CO, 2018, 79-75-154 +14
Bridger Tenney, Evergreen, CO, 2018, 77-77-154 +14
Garret Phillips, Rock Springs, WY, 2017, 74-80-154 +14
Nolan Miller, Evergreen, CO, 2019, 77-78-155 +15
Cameron Kirke, Greenwood Village, CO, 2018, 78-78-156 +16
Christian Agelopoulos, Denver, CO, 2020, 84-75-159 +19
Cameron Nagel, Fort Collins, CO, 2017, 80-80-160 +20
Christopher Kennedy, Aurora, CO, 2019, 76-84-160 +20
Drew Anderson, Aurora, CO, 2018, 82-79-161 +21
Riley Rottschafer, Centennial, CO, 2019, 90-73-163 +23
Matthew LeFebre, Centennial, CO, 2017, 84-80-164 +24
Jackson Zinn, Westminster, CO, 2018, 83-84-167 +27
Chris Jonell, Centennial, CO, 2019, 84-90-174 +34
GIRLS
1. Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, CO, 2017, 73-74-147 +7
2. Delaney Elliott, Superior, CO, 2016, 73-75-148 +8
3. Charlotte Hillary, Englewood, CO, 2020, 78-71-149 +9
3. Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2016, 77-72-149 +9
5. Sarah Hwang, Monument, CO, 2017, 79-72-151 +11
6. Hannah More, Littleton, CO, 2016, 79-73-152 +12
6. Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, CO, 2019, 73-79-152 +12
8. Amelia Lee, Castle Rock, CO, 2017, 77-77-154 +14
9. Payton Canon, Englewood, CO, 2018, 79-76-155 +15
9. Erin Sargent, Longmont, CO, 2016, 77-78-155 +15
11. Sarah Hunt, Parker, CO, 2017, 77-79-156 +16
12. Reagan Robinson, Golden, CO, 2018, 80-77-157 +17
13. Amisha Singh, Greenwood Village, CO, 2019, 81-77-158 +18
13. Tabitha Diehl, Highlands Ranch, CO, 2017, 79-79-158 +18
13. Julia Baroth, Denver, CO, 2017, 79-79-158 +18
Missed Cut
Kacey Godwin, Denver, CO, 2016, +19
Kelsey Webster, Boulder, CO, 2018, +19
Shelby Poynter, Scottsbluff, NE, 2018, +20
Sydney Eye, Golden, CO, 2019, +22
Arielle Keating, Colorado Springs, CO, 2018, +24
Anju Ogi, Arvada, CO, 2021, +24
Riley McKibbon, Arvada, CO, 2017, +26
Katie Berrian, Castle Rock, CO, 2020, +26
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, CO, 2018, +26
Carly Gallant, Louisville, CO, 2017, +29
Jenna Chun, Englewood, CO, 2018, +32
Eva Pett, Denver, CO, 2022, +37
Jihyun Roh, Broomfield, CO, 2018, +40
Isabell Deak, Colorado Springs, CO, 2018, +41
Andrea Hoos, Thornton, CO, 2016, +18 WD