Parker Klitzke of Sioux Falls, S.D., who recently wrapped up his golf career at Augustana University, shot a 9-under-par 62, despite bogeying his final hole, to earn medalist honors out of the field of 87. He made eight consecutive birdies, starting on No. 9, and 10 for the day, to post a course-record-tying score for the combined tees which competitors played on Thursday.

The Colorado Open, set for July 26-29 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, will feature a purse of $250,000, with $100,000 going to the winner.

The Coloradans who advanced to the Open include Ross McLean of Boulder (67), Derek Fribbs of Thornton (68), amateur Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch (68), Josh Gardella of Lone Tree (68), amateur Josh McLaughlin of Loveland (68) and amateur Griffin Barela of Lakewood (69). Barela and Joe Parkinson of Alpine, Utah, birdied the 10th hole to prevail in a nine-for-two playoff.

Fribbs, a former University of Colorado golfer and the 2013 CGA Player of the Year, competed in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying last month.

Also earning spots in the Colorado Open were former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne (68) and former Colorado State University player Colton Yates (68).

The remaining qualifying tournaments for the Colorado Open are scheduled for July 17 at Eagle Ranch in Eagle, and July 19 and 23 at Legacy Ridge in Westminster.

Here are the Colorado Open qualifiers from Highlands Ranch GC:

1. Parker Klitzke, Sioux Falls, SD 62
2. Samuel Love, Trussville, Ala. 64
T3. Ross McLean, Boulder 67
T3. Michael Whitehead, Houston 67
T5. Josh Gardella, Lone Tree 68
T5. Derek Fribbs of Thornton 68
T5. Cal McCoy (amateur), Highlands Ranch 68
T5. Josh McLaughlin (amateur), Loveland 68
T5. Colton Yates, Scottsdale, Ariz. 68
T5. Josh Creel, Cheyenne, Wyo. 68
T5. Hans Reimers, Scottsdale, Ariz. 68
T5. Ben Shur, Venura, Calif. 68
T5. Kelby Scharmann, Trabuco Canyon, Calif. 68
T14. Griffin Barela (amateur), Lakewood 69
T14. Joe Parkinson, Alpine, Utah 69

For complete scores from Thursday, CLICK HERE.
 

U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments are often dominated by golfers in their 20s or late teens. It’s definitely a young man’s game — at least in that event.

But Tuesday’s Local Qualifer at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins showed that there are definitely exceptions to the rule. Out of the five players who advanced to Sectionals — the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying — one is 52 years old and another is 35.

Former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs, a 27-year-old from Thornton, earned medalist honors with a 3-under-par 68 at Collindale, which puts more of a premium on accuracy than length, unlike many courses.

Joining him in advancing to Sectional Qualifying were 35-year-old Nick Mason of Parker (69), 52-year-old David Good of Colorado Springs (69), 27-year-old former Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens of Greeley (70), and 22-year-old former Colorado Mesa golfer Trevor McKune of Grand Junction (70). (Four of the Sectional qualifiers are pictured, from left: McKune, Good, Fribbs and Edens.)

“It’s great” to advance, said Good, who was a generation apart from many of Tuesday’s competitors. “Honestly the reason I was playing here is because I’m doing the Senior Open qualifier next week and that’s more on my radar. This was more of a warmup. It’s a bonus to get to go to Sectionals.”

Meanwhile, It’s the fifth straight year Edens (pictured at bottom) has advanced from the Local Qualifying at Collindale.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said Edens, who missed a Sectional playoff for the final U.S. Open berth by one stroke two years ago. “I’ll go back to Springfield Country Club in Ohio that I’ve played the last four years. I love the place. I’ve played well there at times. It’ll be exciting. The last month and a half I’ve felt I’ve played some of the best golf I’ve ever played.”

As for his secret to success at Collindale, Edens said, “When I first got to CSU I played it probably 10 times and I hated it. We had a six-round qualifier and the first three rounds were here and I was in last place after those three rounds. But after that I’ve played pretty good here. “

It will be the sixth Sectional for Mason, who competed in the 2014 U.S. Open, one of six PGA Tour events in which he’s played in his career.

“Just playing in Sectionals is a confidence-builder moving on,” said Mason (left), a three-time winner of the Hawaii State Open. “Even through today is just a Local Qualifier, every single shot you hit can be the shot that puts you out. And it’s not like a four-round tournament where you hit it in the trees, make double (bogey) and you’re fine. You’ve got to come back so fast from that. It’s a lot like match play. Every single shot matters. The guys who get through have done a really good job because even though there’s 80 guys for five spots doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s really hard. So it means a lot (to advance).”

Asked about his memories of playing — and missing the cut (78-75) — in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, N.C., Mason said, “I was in 15th (place) through six or eight holes and saw my name on the board and never saw it again,” he said with a smile. “I wasn’t playing great. I kind of putted my way in that year. Now I’m hitting it good and I feel like I’ll have a chance at Sectionals. (In 2014), I got to Pinehurst and I was kind of clanking it. I wasn’t seeing the fairway, but it was still a lot of fun. II think I’ll have a little less nerves if I get back.”

Fribbs, the 2013 CGA Player of the Year, will be going to his third Sectionals. The last time he competed there, he shot a smooth 69 in the first round in 2014, but fell out of contention with a 78 after the field switched courses for the second round of the day.

“I had a younger mind back then,” he said. “It’s not the game that’s in better shape (now). It’s the mind that’s in better shape. That’s the key.”

Good and McKune will be making their Sectional debuts, with McKune never having attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open before Tuesday.

“This is big being my first qualifier,” McKune said. “Going to Sectionals, this is huge. It’s probably one of the highlights of the last few years for me.”

Fribbs, who was 2 over par after his first three holes on Tuesday, made six birdies and three bogeys to set the standard at Collindale. Good also started slowly, standing 2 over after five holes before rallying.

“This is my first competitive round in Colorado ever,” said Good, a longtime club professional who moved back to Colorado Springs recently after residing in Florida. “I’m doing math every shot. I’m still playing my sea-level yardages and trying to (adjust to the altitude). It’s a little tricky. It worked out for the most part once I remembered to do it.

“This is the first U.S. Open qualifier I’ve played in that I didn’t feel I was at a disadvantage being older and not hitting it as far because length is not an advantage on this golf course, which is rare. If you move it around well, it’s a ball-striker’s course, and if you’re on a green you have a chance to make a putt. … Here I thought we had a good shot.”

The 36-hole Sectional Qualifying in the U.S. will be contested on June 4 at 10 sites in the U.S., plus one in England that day and one in Japan on May 21. From there, the top finishers will land berths in the Open itself, set for June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Wednesday marked the third of three Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers this year. Last week at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, those who punched their tickets to Sectionals were John Murdock of Laramie, Wyo.; Steven Kupcho of Westminster; Josh Seiple of Castle Rock; Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction; and Zahkai Brown of Golden. Then at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, advancing were Jonathan Kuzava of Littleton, Tom Gempel of Lone Tree, Glenn Workman of Pueblo West, Jack Castiglia of Lakewood and Davis Bryant of Aurora.

The U.S. Open is the only USGA championship that utilizes a two-stage qualifying process, with many entrants having to successfully negotiate Local and Sectional Qualifying in order to make it into the field for the second men’s major of the year.
 

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Derek Fribbs, Thornton 68
Nick Mason, Parker 69
David Good, Colorado Springs 69
Parker Edens, Greeley 70
Trevor McKune, Grand Junction 70

ALTERNATES (In Order)
George Markham, Phoenix 71
Riley Arp, Fort Collins 71

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, attempting to earn his first return trip to the U.S. Open 12 years after qualifying as a 16-year-old, took the first step on Wednesday by sharing medalist honors in U.S. Open Local Qualifying at the Broadmoor Golf Club’s West Course in Colorado Springs.

The two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion shot an even-par 70 and was one of five players at the site to advance to a 36-hole Sectional Qualifier on June 2.

Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, tied for the top spot Wednesday with David Schroeder II and Alex Kephart from Colorado Springs and Brandon Bingaman from Montrose. Also earning a Sectional berth was former CU golfer Derek Fribbs, from Castle Rock, who posted a 71.

After withdrawals and no-shows, 61 players competed for five spots into Sectionals at the Broadmoor.

Tolan, who played in the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black in New York at age 16, made three birdies and three bogeys on Wednesday. This marks the second consecutive year he’s advanced from a Local Qualifier at the Broadmoor’s West Course. Tolan (pictured above) has conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year.

Schroeder, playing at his home club, recorded five birdies on Wednesday. He was the runner-up in the 2011 CGA Stroke Play Championship. (Schroeder is pictured between Kephart, left, and Bingaman.) 

Bingaman, a former Colorado Mesa University golfer, chalked up four birdies — the same as Kephart, who qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur, and Fribbs, the 2013 CGA Player of the Year.

Wednesday marked the second of three U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments being held in Colorado this week. On Tuesday at Collindale in Fort Collins, amateurs Parker Edens of Greeley and Cameron Brown of Edwards, along with professionals Matt Rutledge of Fort Collins and Miles Philpy of Thornton earned spots in Sectionals.

Five more players will advance from Thursday’s tournament at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

A total of more than 210 players are involved in this week’s 18-hole U.S. Open Local Qualifiers in Colorado. The numbers were even larger, but quite a few players withdrew when two of the qualifying tournaments — at Heritage at Westmoor and the Broadmoor — were rescheduled twice due to the weather early in the week.

The players who advance this week will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers, with the 10 in the U.S. scheduled for June 2. The U.S. Open itself will be held June 12-15 at the Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-70 West Course at Broadmoor GC in Colo. Springs

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-34–70
David Schroeder II, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-35–70
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 35-35–70
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-35–70
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 35-36–71

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Devyn Solano, Aurora, Colo., 32-40–72
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 37-36–73 

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-38–73
Barry Milstead, Centennial, Colo., 37-36–73
Wilson Belk, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-38–73
Jeff Chapman, Englewood, Colo., 34-39–73
Jake Staiano, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Erik Billinger, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-40–75
Eric Hallberg, Parker, Colo., 40-36–76
Tommy Carpenter, Centennial, Colo., 38-39–77
Luke Hemelstrand, Tempe, Ariz., 38-39–77
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 37-40–77
William Beau Schoolcraft, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Marshall Clark, Denver, Colo., 34-44–78
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 41-37–78
Kaleb Nichols, Peyton, Colo., 37-41–78
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 39-40–79
David Jackson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-41–79
Mitchell Smith, Elizabeth, Colo., 41-38–79
Nicholas Vanetten, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-40–79
Matt Hart, Aurora, Colo., 40-40–80
Brett Housman, Pueblo, Colo., 39-41–80
Charles Rider, Centennial, Colo., 39-41–80
Jon Roth, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-42–80
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-42–81
Will Logsdon, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-40–81
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., 40-42–82
Neil Tillman, Arvada, Colo., 40-42–82
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo., 40-42–82
Chace Nathe, Timnath, Colo., 41-41–82
Alan Berry, Littleton, Colo., 39-44–83
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge, Colo., 39-44–83
Caleb Blass, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-41–83
Justin Palermo, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-42–83
Pierce Aichinger, Englewood, Colo., 41-43–84
Daniel Preston, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-45–84
Jason Kroese, Denver, Colo., 38-46–84
Michael Swan, Crested Butte, Colo., 39-45–84
Grant McLaughlin, Aurora, Colo., 39-46–85
Todd Kenyon, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-43–85
John Ward, Denver, Colo., 40-45–85
John Fowlds, Lone Tree, Colo., 43-42–85
Gilbert Garcia, Lawton, Okla., 42-44–86
Kyle Nottoli, Colorado Springs, Colo., 41-45–86
Andrew Silverman, Lone Tree, Colo., 42-44–86
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-44–87
Sam Marley, Centennial, Colo., 40-47–87
Andrew Cooper, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 47-42–89
Jay Livsey, Denver, Colo., 40-49–89
Derek Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-54–90
Jacob Kelley, Littleton, Colo., 49-43–92
Spencer Rogerson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 49-45–94
Jeff Elliott, Moore, Okla., 48-48–96
Jimmy Byars, Denver, Colo., 51-46–97
Brian Whitehouse, Garden City, Kan., 49-49–98
Richard Esper, Parker, Colo., 49-49–98
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., WD
Troy Berglund, Pittsburgh, Pa., NS
Samuel Toillion, Longmont, Colo., NS
Matt Call, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
Conrad Smith, Golden, Colo., NS
Shane Bertsch, Parker, Colo., NS
Mike Milewski, Parker, Colo., NS
Wes Strang, Bethesda, Md., WD

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.
 

Three years ago in the 4A state high school tournament, he beat Wyndham Clark head to head — when Clark was ranked among the top 10 junior players in the country — to win the title.

That same year, Ahern went five holes of sudden death to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions.

Then there was Sunday. Despite working full-time at an oil and gas company this summer, the 20-year-old from Bear Creek Golf Club rallied to not only overcome two reigning CGA state champions, but prevailed in a playoff despite seemingly being behind the 8-ball.

Minutes after missing almost the same putt on the 72nd hole of regulation, Ahern made the only birdie of the day on the 18th hole at Pinehurst Country Club — in the first hole of sudden death — to win the 77th CGA Stroke Play Championship.

Ahern, a junior-to-be on the Colorado School of Mines golf team, drained a 16-foot putt from the fringe (pictured above) to overcome Andrew Cornella of the Club at Flying Horse in the playoff.

“This is huge,” Ahern said. “I’ve never won anything this big at the men’s level. I’ve been working a lot so I didn’t really expect to come out and play that well. I haven’t played a lot of golf (recently), but sometimes that’s a good thing. It felt great.”

The victory was the second CGA championship for Ahern, who won the 2011 CGA Junior Match Play as well as the 2010 4A state high school title.

The left-hander trailed by four early in the final round, but rallied by playing his final seven holes in 3 under par, including the playoff. Ahern fired an even-par 70 on Sunday to finish at 5-under 275.

Cornella, a Colorado Springs resident who is transferring from Nevada to Texas-Arlington to continue his college golf career, went 67-67 on the weekend to force the playoff. Then he gained the upper hand on the extra hole by hitting a 400-yard drive — with the help of a cart path bounce — on the 419-yard, par-4 18th hole at Pinehurst.

That blast put Cornella (pictured at left) about 120 yards closer to the hole than Ahern. But the Mines golfer hit a 50-degree wedge from 138 yards to the fringe to the right and short of the hole, 16 feet away. Cornella had a tough chip shot from just in front of the green and ran it 15 feet past the cup. And after Ahern coaxed in his birdie, Cornella missed his, ending the tournament.

“I was about 2 inches (from where he putt in regulation on No. 18),” Ahern said. “It was really close. It was the same line, the same putt. I got a pretty good read from the first one. The first time, I thought it was breaking a ton. I probably missed it 6 or 7 inches out. Coming back the second time, I hit it a little lower and it stayed on line and caught the edge.”

Cornella, who has been playing golf with Ahern since the age of 7, did think his huge drive in the playoff gave him an edge, but he certainly didn’t take anything for granted.

“I felt I had the advantage,” Cornella said. “I actually didn’t feel I hit a bad chip. That was actually a straight putt and it was the easiest putt to make. (The chip) was a little too hard but I was trying to hit it 5 feet past the hole. I just hit one too many clubs for the run.”

Derek Fribbs (pictured at left) of Colorado National Golf Club, a former teammate of Ahern at the University of Colorado before Ahern transferred, finished third on Sunday, two behind Ahern and Cornella. Fribbs, who won the 2013 CGA Public Links Championship, closed with a 71.

“I didn’t make any putts and that’s what killed me,” said Fribbs, who made the final 32 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month. “I didn’t have the right reads or the right speed.”

Fribbs, a regular contender at CGA championships in recent years, said that the Stroke Play was “probably my last amateur tournament. We’ll see, though. But I’m excited to start something new. Hopefully I’ll be on a bigger stage soon.”

Another of Ahern’s Sunday playing partners, defending champion Steven Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course, had held at least a share of the lead after rounds 2 and 3. But the University of Northern Colorado golfer couldn’t find his form from the previous two days, shot 75 and settled for fourth place at 278.

“I just stopped hitting greens,” said Kupcho (pictured at left), who hit just six in regulation on Sunday. “And I had missed only one up-and-down until today. My chipping had been really good all week. The greens are firm and your game has to be on if you’re going to give yourself birdie opportunities, and I just wasn’t able to do that.”

Kupcho was attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the CGA Stroke Play since Kane Webber managed the feat in 2002 and ’03. But he was derailed on Sunday.

“That would have been cool,” he said. “Just having your name on that (Tub Morris Trophy) is an honor when you look back and see some of the names who have won it. To be able to go back-to-back would have been awesome, but hopefully it’s not my last time contending.”

Kupcho started Sunday with a 1-foot birdie and led by four early in the final round. But three straight birdies by Fribbs, including a 35-foot chip-in at No. 5, tied things up.

It wasn’t until a 35-foot birdie on No. 13 that Ahern (pictured at left) earned a share of the lead on Sunday. Both he and Cornella birdied the par-5 16th to get to 5 under and in line for a playoff.

“I’m happy I lost to a birdie and to one of my best friends in this game,” Cornella said. “I’ve known John for years. It stings to lose, but he’s a good guy. It was a good week for me. You can never complain when you shoot 67-67 on the weekend.”

It was the third time in the last eight years that the CGA Stroke Play champion has been decided in a playoff. The last time was when Clark defeated Jim Knous in 2010 following Knous’ course-record 60 in the final round at Boulder Country Club.

CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Pinehurst CC in Denver
x-won playoff

x-John Ahern, Bear Creek GC, 71-66-68-70–275
Andrew Cornella, Club at Flying Horse, 70-71-67-67–275
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC, 69-72-65-71–277
Steven Kupcho, CommonGround GC, 70-67-66-75–278
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 67-71-68-74–280
Minkyu Jeon, Meadows GC, 67-71-69-73–280
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club, 69-72-72-70–283
Parker Edens, Greeley CC, 67-74-70-74–285
Ben Krueger, Patty Jewett GC, 70-70-73-73–286
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC, 71-72-72-71–286
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 71-70-71-75–287
Michael Lee, Greeley CC, 73-73-70-71–287
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 72-73-71-72–288
Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC, 74-68-71-75–288
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC, 78-71-69-70–288
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 74-72-72-71–289
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 67-72-78-73–290
Matthew Weiss, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-76-73-68–291
Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 74-71-71-75–291
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon GC, 74-74-73-70–291
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC, 71-69-71-80–291
Nicholas Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 76-73-70-73–292
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC, 73-78-75-67–293
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 73-74-72-74–293
Jeffrey Gravina, Pinehurst CC, 76-74-70-73–293
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-75-74-71–294
Josh Gardella, The Ridge at Castle Pines North, 76-70-76-73–295
David Oraee, Highland Hills GC, 73-71-75-76–295
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 78-73-72-72–295
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC, 74-71-74-77–296
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC, 75-73-76-73–297
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC, 72-75-72-78–297
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC, 70-72-76-80–298
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 79-72-70-77–298
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 74-77-78-70–299
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 70-73-79-77–299
Cody Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 78-73-78-71–300
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC, 76-75-78-72–301
Lamar Carlile, City Park Associates Club, 74-74-83-71–302
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 80-69-75-80–304
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC, 78-71-77-78–304
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 72-74-79-79–304
Cameron Connor, Boulder CC, 76-75-74-81–306
Will Myer, Denver CC, 75-76-77-80–308
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 77-72-83-77–309

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill CC, 79-73–152
Scott Guetz, Pinehurst CC, 79-73–152
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC, 74-78–152
Brandon Barron, South Suburban Family Sports, 78-74–152
Nick Berry, Meadows GC, 78-74–152
Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC, 78-74–152
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-74–152
Ken Cosper, Ptarmigan CC, 77-76–153
Davis Kigin, Legacy Ridge GC, 79-74–153
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 77-77–154
Barry Erwin, CommonGround GC, 76-78–154
Will Logsdon, Patty Jewett GC, 78-76–154
Wes Martin, Hyland Hills GC, 78-77–155
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 78-77–155
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 77-78–155
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 79-76–155
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC, 78-77–155
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 76-79–155
Joey Haack, Aspen GC, 80-75–155
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 79-77–156
Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC, 78-79–157
Terry Lorenz, Pinehurst CC, 78-79–157
Kevin Koelbel, Pinehurst CC, 79-78–157
Jacob Allenback, Elmwood GC, 80-77–157
Trevor Mckune, Pinehurst CC, 81-77–158
Heath Andersen, Meadow Hills GC, 77-81–158
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 76-83–159
Adam Pladson, Aurora Hills GC, 80-79–159
Jakob Rudosky, Conquistador GC, 76-83–159
Nicolas Karavites, Glenmoor CC, 78-82–160
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC, 79-81–160
Andrew Howe, Fox Hill CC, 77-84–161
Darren Rowell, Canongate Colorado, 83-78–161
Justin Goldsberry, South Suburban GC, 80-83–163
Samuel Toillion, Ute Creek GC, 84-81–165
Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch GC, 82-87–169
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC, 82-88–170
Stephen King, Green Valley Ranch GC, 76-WD
Kyle Schulte, Highlands Ranch GC, 90-NS

 Go to full CGA Stroke Play Results

Go to CGA Stroke Play Results Archive

The year it was first held, William McKinley was president of the U.S., Butch Cassidy allegedly was in on a train robbery in Montana, and Queen Victoria passed away.

The 113th CGA Match Play will be held next week — July 8-12 — at Bear Creek Golf Club in west Denver.

The championship has been contested every year since 1901. That not only makes it the oldest continuously held statewide golf tournament in Colorado, but one of the oldest in the nation.

While the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, Masters and PGA Championship — along with the British Open — all weren’t held various years because of World War I and/or II, the CGA Match Play has never missed a beat. It’s been contested each year without fail since Frank Woodward defeated H.K.B. Davis Sr., 3 and 2 in the finals in 1901.

The Match Play actually predates the CGA by 14 years, but the association’s first official function when it was founded in 1915 was becoming the administrator of the event.

Over the first 112 years, the champions have included the very famous and the obscure.

Four members of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame have their names on the Richard C. Campbell CGA Match Play trophy — N.C. “Tub” Morris (1924 and ’27), Charles “Babe” Lind (1946), Hale Irwin (1966) and Steve Jones (1980). Between them, Irwin and Jones went on to win the U.S. Open four times.

“I look back at all those (Colorado amateur) events I was fortunate enough to play and have some success in as really the groundwork that got me started into the golf scene,” Irwin said last year. “Colorado golf is where it all started.”

Other current PGA Tour players who have won the CGA Match Play are Brandt Jobe (1984, ’85, ’88) and fellow Kent Denver High School alum Kevin Stadler (1999 and 2002).

The championship has seen everything from a couple of 12-and-11 routs in the 36-hole final match, to one finale that lasted more than 40 holes, as Sam Valuck needed 42 to overcome future state senator Les Fowler in the 1961 title match at Cherry Hills.

Dr. Larry Bromfield has been by far the most successful player in CGA Match Play history, having won an amazing eight times from 1912-28. Next best are Mark Crabtree, Larry McAtee and Walter Fairbanks, with four titles each.

This year’s Match Play will be contested at Bear Creek, which has hosted the championship 13 previous times since 1986.

Former Georgetown University golfer Brian Dorfman of Cherry Creek Country Club will defend his 2012 title, and last year’s runner-up, Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens, is also back. (Dorfman is pictured above in front of the Match Play trophy.)

Likewise in the field are former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs, who last month won the CGA Public Links Championship after shooting a final-round 62; 2012 CGA Stroke Play champion and 2013 Publinks runner-up Steven Kupcho; 2012 U.S. Amateur match play qualifier Mike Schoolcraft; and 2004 Match Play winner Steve Irwin.

As the defending champ, Dorfman will be the No. 1 seed, with a single round of stroke play on Monday setting up the rest of the 64-man match play bracket.
 

The point is, Derek Fribbs has found it.

Over the last four days, the former University of Colorado golfer has played in five competitive rounds, and his scoring average is a gaudy 64.8.

And the byproduct has been predictable: winning.

A day after running away with the CGA Public Links Championship, Fribbs parlayed his stellar play into earning medalist honors in Monday’s U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifying at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor.

The golfer from Castle Rock gained a spot in a USGA championship for the first time by shooting rounds of 66-65 for an 11-under-par 131 total.

Fribbs, 22, eagled the 572-yard par-5 fifth hole in both rounds (with putts of 10 and 20 feet), and he added nine birdies and two bogeys to set the standard on Monday. That comes after he shot 65-66-62 over the weekend at the CGA Public Links at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont.

“I’ve been hitting the driver well,” Fribbs said Monday. “I played the par-5s in 9 under today (two eagles and five birdies). It feels pretty good. I’m playing well, and it could have been even lower today.”

Joining Fribbs in qualifying for the U.S. Publinks — which is set for July 15-20 in Lorton, Va. — were Colorado State University golfer Cameron Harrell (68-65–133) and University of Denver golfer Christopher Good (68-66–134). Fribbs (Douglas County), Harrell (Air Academy) and Good (Regis Jesuit) are all Colorado high school products.

Like Fribbs, Harrell made two eagles on Monday, though both of his came in the morning round. The CSU junior-to-be went bogey-free in the afternoon. Good, a senior-to-be at DU, carded a dozen birdies overall on Monday.

Three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle prevailed in a playoff that lasted five holes to nail down the first alternate spot.

Sixty-five players were in the original field, competing for the three national spots at Monday’s qualifier.
 

U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying

At Par-71 Highland Meadows GC in Windsor

QUALIFIED FOR U.S. PUBLINKS
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 66-65–131
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 68-65–133
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 68-66–134

ALTERNATES (in order)
Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle, Colo., 68-67–135
Cole Ogden, West Point, Utah, 69-66–135

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Brandon Lee Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 71-64–135
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 67-69–136
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 69-68–137
Sean Thomas, Arvada, Colo., 70-68–138
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 71-69–140
Brodie Hullinger, Denver, Colo., 67-73–140
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 69-72–141
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 75-67–142
Christopher Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 69-73–142
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 74-68–142
Chris Korte, Littleton, Colo., 69-73–142
Nicholas Tarasiewicz, Colorado Springs, Colo., 74-68–142
Matt Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 71-72–143
Steve Connell, Denver, Colo., 71-72–143
Jordan Burgess, Windsor, Colo., 67-76–143
Matthew Sullivan, Denver, Colo., 69-74–143
J. T. Timmons, Holladay, Utah, 74-70–144
Adam Pladson, Aurora, Colo., 73-73–146
Wes Adkins, Fort Collins, Colo., 70-77–147
Conner Barr, Beaverton, Ore., 71-76–147
David Kurtenbach, Centennial, Colo., 75-73–148
James Kurtenbach, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 73-76–149
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo., 77-72–149
Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 72-77–149
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 74-75–149
Wes Martin, Denver, Colo., 77-73–150
Josh McLaughlin, Fort Collins, Colo., 82-68–150
Arnold Hoy, Castle Rock, Colo., 74-76–150
Daniel Kurtenbach, Centennial, Colo., 71-79–150
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 74-77–151
Brandon Barron, Centennial, Colo., 74-77–151
Andy Yang, Denver, Colo., 76-76–152
Jon Tempest, Boulder, Colo., 77-75–152
Anthony Thorpe, Evergreen, Colo., 74-78–152
Trey Fankhouser, Goodwell, Okla., 79-74–153
Sean Kato, Greeley, Colo., 81-74–155
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 73-82–155
Todd Millard, Longmont, Colo., 76-79–155
Zachary Coe, Gypsum, Colo., 83-72–155
Daniel Morgan, Aurora, Colo., 75-80–155
Jonathan Baldwin, Lone Tree, Colo., 79-77–156
Austin Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 79-79–158
Martin Prazak, Denver, Colo., 81-77–158
Nick Davis, Centennial, Colo., 78-80–158
Adam Gorjiyan, Denver, Colo., 79-79–158
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 81-78–159
David Bourcier, Englewood, Colo., 76-83–159
Jason Eagan, Castle Rock, Colo., 83-78–161
Jack Tynan, Denver, Colo., 84-84–168
Eric Powers, Colorado Springs, Colo., 87-86–173
Jeffrey Johnson, Parker, Colo., 89-90–179
Spencer Painton, Aurora, Colo., 76-WD
Brett Willis, Denver, Colo., 72-NS
Scott Wayne, Wheat Ridge, Colo., 85-WD