The Centennial State will host two 36-hole U.S. Amateur qualifying tournaments, Monday (July 18) at Fort Collins Country Club and July 25 at Columbine Country Club. Seventy-seven players are in the field in Fort Collins and 80 at Columbine. At each site, three spots into the 312-player national championship will be at state.
The 2016 U.S. Amateur will be contested Aug. 15-21 at Oakland Hills in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., a course that’s hosted six U.S. Opens, three PGA Championships and a Ryder Cup.
Among those in the field at Fort Collins CC are two 2015 U.S. Amateur qualifiers, Kyler Dunkle of Fort Collins and Steve Irwin of Arvada, who went to his second U.S. Am last summer. Also entered there are 2016 CGA Match Play winner Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins and runner-up Josh Seiple of Castle Pines; 2015 CGA Stroke Play champ Chris Korte of Littleton; and last year’s CGA Mid-Amateur winner Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield.
Meanwhile, on July 25 at Columbine, the competitors will include four-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Wyndham Clark of Lone Tree and Colorado State golfer Jake Staiano, who finished eighth in the stroke-play portion of the 2015 U.S. Am and advanced to the round of 64 in match play. Likewise set for Columbine are incoming University of Colorado golfer Spencer Painton, who also qualified for the U.S. Am last year; two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Gus Lundquist; and 2013 qualifier and 2014 alternate Chris Thayer.
For July 18 tee times from Fort Collins CC, CLICK HERE.
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The 36-hole tournament, which features both an open and senior division, will take place Saturday and Sunday (July 16-17) at Eagle Ranch Golf Club in Eagle.
Humerickhouse, who lives in the area, won the third of his four consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur titles (2010-13) at Eagle Ranch. Also the among 67 competitors in the open division is Rohrbaugh, the former 3A state high school champion and current Boise State golfer who won the Western Chapter title by two last year.
Also scheduled to play are Andrew Tapia, who has qualified for multiple USGA championships; Kyler Dunkle, a former 5A state high school champ who recently transferred from Colorado State to Utah; and former University of Louisville golfer and former 5A state champ Gus Lundquist.
Among the 37 players set to compete in the senior division are current or former CGA Senior Players of the Year David Delich, Robert Polk and Harry Johnson, along with 2014 CGA Senior Match Play champ Tom Musselman. Eagle Ranch is Johnson’s home course.
For Saturday pairings, CLICK HERE.
It will be four-ball galore over the next two weeks, both locally and nationally.
Between now and May 13, four big four-ball championships will be contested in Colorado or by the USGA, with Colorado competitors involved. First up are the separate CGA Four-Ball and Senior Four-Ball tournaments, the first CGA championships of 2015, set for Friday through Sunday (May 1-3). Then the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will be held May 2-6 in San Francisco. Last but not least, the first U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball will be played May 9-13 in Bandon, Ore.
(It should be noted that though the CWGA won’t have a four-ball event in the next couple of weeks, it holds three four-ball tournaments annually: the Mashie, Brassie and Niblick.
The men’s and women’s U.S. Four-Balls are the first additions to the USGA championship schedule since 1987.
Here’s a brief rundown of the four-ball events — which are essentially two-person better-balls, either in stroke play or match play — that are set for the next two weeks:
— CGA Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster and CGA Senior Four-Ball at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton, each 54-hole event running Friday through Sunday (May 1-3).
A total of 92 players (46 teams) are registered for the Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge. While 2014 champions Keith Humerickhouse and Jared Bickling won’t return as a team — Humerickhouse is in the field for the U.S. Four-Ball — Bickling will play at Legacy Ridge with new partner Stephen Baxter.
Other former champions in the field are Jon Lindstrom (2002 and ’12), Steve Irwin (2004 and ’09), Alex Buecking (2009), Dave Johnson (2006), Jim Doidge (2005) and Pat Diaz (2004). Irwin will team with Diaz again this year. Doidge will partner with Michael Harrington, the 2014 CGA Player of the Year.
In the Senior Four-Ball at Todd Creek, 102 competitors (51 teams) 50 and older are signed up. Included are defending champions David Delich and Bruce Hogg, who prevailed by three strokes last year. Also back are 2013 winners Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton, who also claimed the title in 2009.
Other former champs in the field are Daniel Dymerski (2012), John Applegate (2011), Sean Forey (2003 and ’08) and Scott Radcliffe (2003). Forey and Radcliffe will team up again this year.
To access scoring over the weekend, click on the following: OPEN DIVISION, SENIOR DIVISION.
— U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at the Olympic Club in San Francisco May 2-6.
A total of 4,468 golfers (2,234 teams) submitted entries, and qualifying was held at 51 sites from last August through March.
The field at the Olympic Club will feature 128 teams, which will play 36 holes of stroke play, with the top 32 teams advancing to match play beginning on May 4.
Five teams in the championship include at least one Coloradan:
Robert Polk of Parker and Bill Fowler of Lakewood
Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs and former Colorado Springs resident Nick Tarasiewicz
Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle and Tom Abell of Oregon, Wis.
Jeff Chapman of Denver and Andrew Tapia of Raton, N.M.
Gus Lundquist of Parker and Trevor Sluman of Rochester, N.Y.
Polk and Fowler, both 50-somethings, shared medalist honors in qualifying at Colorado Golf Club with Kephart and Tarasiewicz last September. (The four are pictured together above.) Polk, 59, will be the oldest player in the field at the Olympic Club.
Lundquist and Sluman are University of Louisville teammates, playing for coach Mark Crabtree, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer. Sluman is a nephew of Champions Tour player Jeff Sluman. They were medalists in an Oct. 8 qualifier in Mason, Ohio.
Humerickhouse and Abell were medalists in an Oct. 1 qualifier in Hartford, Wis.
— U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Bandon Dunes in Oregon May 9-13.
Qualifying for the inaugural Women’s Four-Ball took place at 28 sites from August through March.
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Gillian Vance of Lakewood (left) will take a break from the high school season to play in the national championship. They shared medalist honors last October in a qualifier at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.
Kupcho, the 2014 CWGA Player of the Year, will play college golf at Wake Forest in the fall, while Vance will be on the University of Colorado roster.
All told at Bandon, 64 teams will play two rounds of stroke play, with the low 32 teams advancing to match play, which begins May 11.
Thanks to a case of “like father, like son,” Pueblo Country Club will have two prestigious golf bookends to display in its clubhouse.
It was nice when club member Ray Makloski won the CGA Senior Match Play Championship a month ago, but it was doubly a coup when son Jimmy claimed his own CGA title by winning the Junior Stroke Play Wednesday at Keystone Ranch Golf Course.
“It’s unbelievable,” said proud father Ray Makloski, who was a spectator in Keystone. “We’re going to have both of those trophies on display at the club.”
Jimmy (pictured above) rallied on the final day to earn his first CGA championship. The younger Makloski, a senior-to-be at Pueblo’s South High School, shot an even-par 72 in windy conditions on Wednesday to overtake the four players ahead of him going into the final round.
Asked about the Makloskis’ father-son feat, Jimmy said, “It feels good. I got some jokes from my friends about how my dad was better because I didn’t win any CGA championships, so it feels good to win one.
“This has been one of my goals ever since I was little. I always looked up to those kids who won it. To be one of them feels so good.”
Makloski finished with a 5-over-par 221 total, one stroke better than 2011 5A state high school champion Gus Lundquist of The Club at Pradera and Ross Macdonald of the Ridge at Castle Pines North.
The University of Louisville-bound Lundquist (pictured at left) double bogeyed the 17th hole — taking four shots to get down from just off the green about 70 feet from the cup — and he closed with a 76.
“I just didn’t hit it solid,” Lundquist said of the pivotal chip. “I just didn’t quite catch it right and it came up in a bad spot. Then the wind pushed my (first) putt down there a little further than it should have gone, then I missed that one.
“It’s disappointing. I definitely didn’t play my best today.”
Macdonald, a sophomore-to-be at Valor Christian High School, birdied his last two holes to shoot 74. Playing in the same group as Makloski, Macdonald and his late surge forced Makloski to make a downhill 3-foot par putt on the final hole to come out a stroke ahead.
“The is my first Junior Stroke Play ever, so I couldn’t be happier,” said the 15-year-old Macdonald (pictured at left). “I’m only a sophomore so I’ve got more time.”
Ethan Freeman of Glenmoor Country Club, a two-time 3A state high school champion, finished fourth at 225 after carding a 78 on Wednesday.
As for Makloski, he used some advice from his old man to eke out the victory. The greens at Keystone Ranch were challenging in several respects, so Ray Makloski stressed that a key would be concentrating on minimizing three-putts.
“He just wanted me to be smart,” Jimmy said. “If you’re smart and limit your three-putts on these greens you’re hanging in there good.”
For Makloski, Wednesday marked his third statewide victory of the young junior golf season. The 2011 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner came out on top in a qualifying tournament to earn a spot in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, and he also prevailed at the CJGA Haywhacker Championship.
“The last few years the only thing that’s held me back is putting,” the 17-year-old said. “I’ve been working on it a lot and it’s been coming around. I’m playing pretty good.”
CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Keystone Ranch GC
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC 77-72-72–221
Gus Lundquist, The Club at Pradera 75-71-76–222
Ross Macdonald, Ridge at Castle Pines North 71-77-74–222
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC 70-77-78–225
Braden Baer, Ranch CC 74-76-77–227
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC 82-75-72–229
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC 81-74-74–229
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC 74-72-83–229
Jesse Beetham, Aspen GC 78-75-77–230
Benjamin Moore, Glenmoor CC 78-78-75–231
Chris Korte, The Links GC 75-78-79–232
Josh Gardella, Ridge at Castle Pines North 78-75-80–233
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill CC 81-73-80–234
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera 77-78-79–234
Josh Mclaughlin, Loveland GC 79-78-77–234
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 74-78-82–234
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban Family Sports 77-77-81–235
Jack Stimple, Broadmoor GC 83-75-77–235
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken Resort 80-74-81–235
Adam Douglas Griffith, Thorncreek GC 71-80-84–235
Kyle Peterson, Hiwan GC 84-75-77–236
Nicholas Reisch, Thorncreek GC 79-77-81–237
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park GC 84-76-77–237
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC 78-76-84–238
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken Resort 76-78-84–238
Peter Hassan, Lake Valley GC 76-81-81–238
Li Chen, Legacy Ridge GC 84-77-78–239
Kevin Klatman, Boulder CC 77-80-82–239
Andrew Vance, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 80-79-81–240
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC 81-75-85–241
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 83-79-79–241
Will Fowler, Bear Creek GC 77-81-85–243
Pierce Aichinger, Bear Creek GC 81-82-81–244
Austin Johnson, Park Hill GC 83-80-81–244
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC 81-80-83–244
Quade Mitchell, Highlands Ranch GC 85-75-85–245
Dylan Swanson, Pueblo CC 80-79-86–245
Jack Pedersen, Omni Interlocken Resort 81-83-87–251
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks GC 80-84-88–252
Chris Beabout, South Suburban GC 79-82-WD
After all, Lundquist (pictured) is trying to accomplish something this year that’s very similar to what Tolan did a decade ago this spring. And the Regis Jesuit High School senior took a big step in the right direction on Monday.
Lundquist, the 2011 5A state high school champion, shot a 3-under-par 69 and shared medalist honors at Westmoor, one of two U.S. Open Local Qualifiers held Monday in Colorado.
Of course, 10 years ago, Tolan was just 16 when he not only advanced through Local Qualifying, but made it through Sectionals also to earn a spot in the 2002 U.S. Open.
“That’s a great accomplishment,” Lundquist said after shooting four strokes better than Tolan on Monday. “It would be great (for Lundquist also to qualify for the U.S. Open as a teenager). It will be exciting and good experience to go play (in Sectionals).”
Lundquist was one of two teenage medalists in Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers on Monday. At a second site, Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins, 18-year-old Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs led the way by firing a 5-under-par 66.
Five players from each site advance to the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying, the 36-hole Sectionals. They’ll compete at one of 13 Sectional tournaments held worldwide, most of which will be contested June 4. The Open itself is set for The Olympic Club’s Lake Course in San Francisco June 14-17.
Joining Lundquist in advancing to Sectionals at Westmoor were co-medalist Chase Cooper of Goodwell, Okla. (69), 2011 HealthOne Colorado Open champion Ben Portie of Westminster (70), Greg Johnson of Lakewood (70) and Jonathan Park of Denver (70).
Moving on from Collindale with Harrell — a freshman on the Colorado State golf team — were Jonathon Krick of Peoria Heights, Ill. (67), University of Colorado teammates Derek Fribbs and David Oraee (69 and 70, respectively), and Danny Hahn of Denver (70).
A five-man playoff was needed to determine the final three golfers to advance from Westmoor. Park earned his spot in Sectionals with a 3-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, while Portie and Johnson advanced with a par and a bogey, respectively, on the second playoff hole. Kane Webber of Denver and Luke Symons from Aurora fell short in the playoff and will be the first and second alternates, respectively.
At Collindale, Mike Kitowski of Aurora was the first alternate and Alexander Gutesha of Greenwood Village the second after both carded 71s.
Lundquist, who will play college golf for Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Crabtree at the University of Louisville beginning in the fall, made five birdies on Monday to join Cooper in setting the standard at Westmoor.
While many teenagers would be overwhelmed at the prospects of having a serious chance to qualify for the U.S. Open, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Lundquist. Asked if it would be a dream come true to play in the Open as a 17-year-old, he said, “It’s more of a goal than a dream. Definitely it’s an accomplishment to make it to the U.S. Open, and I would love to do that this year, but I see it kind of as a step as far as where I want to be at in a few years.”
Meanwhile, Harrell is just a year older than Lundquist in earning medalist honors in the U.S. Open Locals. On Monday, Harrell posted a bogey-free 66 at Collindale. This weekend, Harrell will join his CSU teammates in competing at an NCAA regional tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.
And Lundquist and Harrell weren’t the only youngsters to advance to Sectionals on Monday. Also moving on was Park, a 20-year-old former Colorado State-Pueblo golfer who is considering turning pro later this year. Park won the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in 2010.
On Monday, Park birdied his first three holes and his last two in regulation to earn a spot in the playoff, which he won. He advanced to Sectionals for the first time — just like the 23-year-old Johnson.
“It’s a big step for me,” said Johnson, a former Regis University golfer. “It’s just another step closer to playing with the big boys.”
Portie, for one, has reached the promised land all of the contestants are seeking. He joined Tolan in playing in the 2002 U.S. Open. And on Monday Portie advanced to the Sectional Qualifying stage for the seventh time in his career. He also moved on last spring at Westmoor, which led to a career year for him. The former CU golfer not only won the Colorado Open and the South Dakota Open, but he finished second in a playoff to Webber at the Wyoming Open.
“That was my best summer by far,” said the 35-year-old left-hander, who splits time between competing, teaching golf, and being an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Northern Colorado. “If I could play like I did last summer, I’ll play more and find time to play more.”
One golfer who failed to advance Monday was Tolan, who shot a 73 at Westmoor.
Monday marked the final two of the three U.S. Open Local Qualifiers held in Colorado this year. Last week at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M., Denver residents Michael Baird, James Love and Nick Mason, and Bradley Besler of Blessing, Texas, earned spots in Sectional Qualifying.
U.S. Open Local Qualifying (2 Sites)
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster
ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 35-34–69
Chase Cooper, Goodwell, Okla., 35-34–69
Ben Portie, Westminster, Colo., 34-36–70
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 35-35–70
Jonathan S Park, Denver, Colo., 36-34–70
ALTERNATES (in order)
Kane Webber, Denver, Colo., 35-35–70
Luke Symons, Aurora, Colo., 35-35–70
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Seth Kaplan, Denver, Colo., 33-38–71
Dylan Mitchell, Breckenridge, Colo., 35-36–71
William Schoolcraft, Englewood, Colo., 35-36–71
Jason Burstyn, Miami, Fla., 36-36–72
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo., 36-36–72
Scott Petersen, Parker, Colo., 33-39–72
John Ahern, Morrison, Colo., 36-37–73
Derek Eley, Westminster, Colo., 35-38–73
Joe Carlton, Lakewood, Colo., 36-37–73
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 36-37–73
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 36-37–73
Darrin Hall, Lakewood, Colo., 35-38–73
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 33-40–73
John Passmore, Aurora, Colo., 36-37–73
David Holtgrewe, Englewood, Colo., 38-36–74
Patrick Arellano, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Nick Berry, Littleton, Colo., 40-35–75
Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 40-36–76
A. J. Morris, Dallas, Texas, 39-37–76
Drew Trujillo, Montrose, Colo., 37-39–76
Brendan Connolly, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-39–76
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 37-39–76
Chris Winter, Colo Springs, Colo., 36-40–76
Michael McNulty, Boulder, Colo., 37-39–76
Kevin Bolles, Louisville, Colo., 36-40–76
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 40-37–77
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 35-42–77
Robert Quaratino, Commerce City, Colo., 39-38–77
Grant Jackson, Aurora, Colo., 40-37–77
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Luke Hemelstrand, Tempe, Ariz., 36-41–77
Dustin Moser, Westminster, Colo., 36-42–78
Matt Roberts, Denver, Colo., 42-36–78
Rick Cole, Eaton, Colo., 35-43–78
Paul Lobato, Denver, Colo., 41-37–78
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 39-39–78
Jeremy Rogers, Brighton, Colo., 37-41–78
Grant Wozencroft, Littleton, Colo., 37-41–78
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., 35-43–78
Philip Nelson, Lakewood, Colo., 39-40–79
Tyler Engel, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-39–79
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo., 38-41–79
Pat Diaz, Parker, Colo., 38-42–80
Chad Bell, Parker, Colo., 41-39–80
Andy Clavin, Denver, Colo., 42-38–80
Russell Ortiz, Mesa, Ariz., 37-43–80
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 39-41–80
Nathan Gruda, Golden, Colo., 40-41–81
Kevin Klatman, Boulder, Colo., 40-41–81
Richard Lee, Aspen, Colo., 39-43–82
Ryan Petry, Denver, Colo., 40-42–82
Landon Johnson, South Pasadena, Calif., 39-43–82
Derek Osinski, Arvada, Colo., 40-42–82
John Hadfield, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 43-39–82
Thomas Walter, Franktown, Colo., 40-42–82
Chris Korte, Littleton, Colo., 41-41–82
Dustin Irby, Arvada, Colo., 38-45–83
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 36-47–83
Mark Knott, Littleton, Colo., 41-42–83
Eric Emmel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-44–84
Kolton Kyne, Ridgway, Colo., 41-43–84
Phillip Schneider, Lakewood, Colo., 41-44–85
Stephen Stuart, Thornton, Colo., 43-43–86
Caleb Barker, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 48-38–86
Vance Brown, Longmont, Colo., 44-43–87
Kevin O’Keeffe, Littleton, Colo., 41-47–88
Andrew Hebert, Longmont, Colo., 42-46–88
Greg Tate, Denver, Colo., 52-49–101
Ricky Rathjen, Durango, Colo., WD
Kyle McGee, Mountain View, Colo., WD
Joey Saad, Grand Junction, Colo., WD
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., NS
Kyle Nottoli, Colorado Springs, Colo., NS
—————————————————-
At Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-32–66
Jonathon Krick, Peoria Heights, Ill., 35-32–67
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 36-33–69
David Oraee, Greeley, Colo., 38-32–70
Danny Hahn, Denver, Colo., 33-37–70
ALTERNATES (in order)
Mike Kitowski, Aurora, Colo., 36-35–71
Alexander Gutesha, Greenwood Village, Colo., 36-35–71
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Tom Gempel, Parker, Colo., 36-35–71
Klinton Krieger, Cheyenne, Wyo., 38-33–71
Kevin Kring, Springfield, Mo., 39-32–71
Michael Wuertz, Fort Collins, Colo., 33-38–71
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-35–71
Blake Moore, Denver, Colo., 36-36–72
Michael Larson, Boulder, Colo., 36-36–72
Drew Stoltz, Scottsdale, Ariz., 37-35–72
Matt Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-35–72
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 37-35–72
Matt Rutledge, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-36–73
Wyndham Clark, Greenwood Village, Colo., 37-36–73
Peter Ivy, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-35–73
David Ogrin, New Braunfels, Texas, 36-37–73
Gabriel Alcala, Santa Fe, N.M., 39-35–74
Dillon Joslyn, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-36–74
Jackson Giro, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-37–74
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Riley Arp, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-37–74
Parker Edens, Greeley, Colo., 37-37–74
Bryan Hackenberg, Thornton, Colo., 38-36–74
John Ward, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Randy Francis, Greeley, Colo., 36-38–74
Kory Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-37–75
Ben Lyons, Centennial, Colo., 41-34–75
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 38-37–75
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 39-36–75
Tyler Bishop, Longmont, Colo., 40-35–75
Justin Spray, Gold Canyon, Ariz., 38-37–75
Cameron Freeman, Ft Collins, Colo., 40-35–75
Cameron Brown, Edwards, Colo., 39-36–75
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 38-37–75
Jon Levy, Boulder, Colo., 39-37–76
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 37-39–76
Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 39-37–76
Lamar Carlile, Denver, Colo., 38-38–76
Bryan Newman, La Quinta, Calif., 39-37–76
Jordan Wetsch, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-35–76
Billy Day, Pueblo, Colo., 38-38–76
C. J. Ebel, Niwot, Colo., 38-39–77
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-40–77
Thomas B Noonan Jr, Boulder, Colo., 36-41–77
Kung Chih Chang, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-40–78
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 43-35–78
Sergio Renteria, Phoenix, Ariz., 41-37–78
Brant Kummerfeld, Cheyenne, Wyo., 39-39–78
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo., 40-39–79
Scott Steger, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-41–79
Wes Adkins, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-39–80
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 40-40–80
Jeff Berthiaume, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-42–80
Sean Kato, Greeley, Colo., 42-39–81
Brandon Barron, Centennial, Colo., 42-39–81
Shaun Jan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 40-42–82
Andrew Hayes, Fort Collins, Colo., 42-40–82
Nicholas Reisch, Thornton, Colo., 40-43–83
Taylor Murtland, Wheatland, Wyo., 43-40–83
Nicholas Tarasiewicz, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-41–84
Ryan Bent, Evergreen, Colo., 42-42–84
Kyle Thurman, Broomfield, Colo., 40-45–85
Dean Sessions, Westminster, Colo., 43-42–85
Chris Lancerini, Oakland, Calif., 49-45–94
Ken Mattini, Wheeling, Ill., WD
Zach Tripp, Littleton, Colo., WD
Michael Sorenson, Hartland, Wis., WD
Colorado has produced many outstanding junior golfers over the years — players such as Hale Irwin, Bob Byman, Brandt Jobe, Brett Dean and Tom Glissmeyer, among others — but Wyndham Clark can rightfully make a case that he belongs among the best of the best.
Clark (pictured at left) added to his resume on Tuesday with a dominating performance in becoming one of just 10 players in Colorado history to win two boys state high school titles. Oh, and by the way, to claim the second Class 4A championship, all he did was shoot 64-64 for a 16-under-par 128 total at Pelican Lakes Golf Club in Windsor. In all likelihood, that’s the best score in Colorado state high school tournament history, and it resulted in an eight-stroke victory.
“The (championship in 2009) was really big for me because it was my first,” said Clark, a senior at Valor Christian who also finished runner-up in two state high school tournaments. “This one is probably bigger because I kind of made a statement and I played really good golf. It was really nice to go out with a bang.”
Clark wasn’t the only newcomer to the two-time state high school champion club on Tuesday as Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman won the Class 3A tournament in Gunnison.
The other two-time champs are Steve Ziegler of Legacy (2005 and 2006 in Class 5A); Glissmeyer of Cheyenne Mountain (2003 and 2004 in Class 4A); Jay Osmon of Alamosa (1992 and 1994); Dean of Evergreen (1984 and 1986); Jeff Armstrong of Pueblo Centennial (1974 and 1975); Bob Haldeen of Sterling (1960 and 1961); Ron Sevier of Denver South (1953 and 1954); and Frank Van Meter of Denver East (1947 and 1948).
No Colorado boys player has won three or more state high school titles.
So how does Clark stack up against the best junior players Colorado has produced, with his CGA Stroke Play Championship at age 16 last year, his two state high school titles, qualifying for two U.S. Amateurs, and a myriad of other accomplishments?
Coincidentally, one of the spectators at Pelican Lakes on Tuesday can give a little perspective, having coached Byman in high school at Fairview, and in the same town as Irwin. All told, George Hoos coached high school golf in Colorado from 1960 to 1990.
Asked the best junior players he’s seen in the state, Hoos gives the nod to Byman (Fairview), Irwin (Boulder) and Bill Loeffler (Cherry Creek). Each won one state high school title, but Byman claimed a U.S. Junior Amateur title in addition to three CGA Stroke Play Championships by age 18. Irwin also won three CGA Stroke Plays — albeit at a slightly older age — before he embarked on a professional career in which he’s earned three U.S. Open titles. And Loeffler was starting to make his mark in a career which now includes three Colorado Open victories, a U.S. Mid-Amateur title and two PGA of America national tournament wins.
But Hoos is certainly duly impressed with Clark.
“He’s a Byman type, and probably a better physical specimen,” Hoos said. “I think Bob maybe had a little more moxie. But this (Clark) kid is the real deal. He’s flat good.”
How good was Clark at the state tournament this week? The Oklahoma State-bound golfer went bogey-free over 36 holes — something he said he’s never done before in back-to-back tournament rounds. On Tuesday, Clark made an eagle and six birdies, one of which came when he holed a bunker shot on No. 9.
“How good is (64-64), and winning by eight,” said PGA instructor Erik Billinger, who has been working with Clark on his game since the spring. “It’s quite a statement. He deserves it. He puts a lot of work in, a lot of hours in, and sacrifices a lot. It’s his heart and soul. And now he’s getting rewarded for it.”
Silver Creek junior Jack Adolfson (pictured at left, 68-68–136) finished eight strokes behind Clark to place second on Tuesday. His teammate, Dylan Wonnacott, also a junior, posted rounds of 68-69–137 for third place.
“I played well and I really can’t complain,” Adolfson said. “Wyndham is just a great player. I’m not disappointed that I finished second.”
Though Clark shot 64-64, he had even bigger things in mind at Pelican Lakes.
“I really wanted to shoot 59,” said Clark, who’s ranked among the top 20 junior players in the U.S. according to the AJGA. “I know I was far away from it each day — five shots — but at the same time it was also really close because I turned at 5 and 6 under each day. I had so many (birdie) chances today.”
Silver Creek, located in Longmont, won its first boys golf state title, unseating two-time defending champion Valor Christian, which finished in second place, five shots behind. Silver Creek (pictured celebrating at left) posted a stellar 12-under-par 420 team total for two days.
“I’ve got tears welling up right now I’m so happy for the boys,” Raptors coach Mike Maydew said after Tuesday’s round. “They beat a great team and they played great to do it. It’s fantastic.”
Winning a state title has been a rallying point for Silver Creek all season.
“We’ve been playing good all year, and that was our whole goal — just dethrone Valor,” Adolfson said. “We were really motivated to beat them.”
Kent Denver’s Freeman Doubles Up in Class 3A: Kent Denver junior Ethan Freeman birdied the final three holes Tuesday to win his second consecutive Class 3A state tournament, this one at Dos Rios Golf Club in Gunnison.
Freeman came into the final hole one stroke behind Cole Nygren of Alexander Dawson, but Nygren closed with a bogey and Freeman with a birdie to account for a two-stroke swing. Freeman shot a 5-under-par 66 Tuesday for a 6-under 136 total, while Nygren carded a second-round 70 to end up at 137. Jake Ice of Eaton (70-71–141) was third.
Freeman became the 10th two-time Colorado boys state high school champion. Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian also claimed his second state title on Tuesday, marking the first time the feat has happened twice in the same day. (See above for all the two-time winners.)
Meanwhile, Freeman’s Kent Denver squad won its sixth consecutive state title, matching a Colorado record set by Thunder Ridge (2001-2006 in Class 5A). Kent Denver claimed 4A championships in 2006 and 2007, and has ruled in 3A every year since that classification was created in 2008.
This time around, Kent’s 428 total was 16 strokes better than second-place Aspen.
Lundquist, Regis Reign in Class 5A: Gus Lundquist of Regis parred his final 13 holes Tuesday to win the Class 5A state title by one stroke at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction.
With 18 players finishing within six strokes of Lundquist, his even-par 71 Tuesday was good for a 2-over 144 total and a one-shot victory a year after he finished second at state. Brandon Gayeski of Mountain Range (69-76–145) came in second after bogeying his last two holes Tuesday. Kyle Strain of Brighton (74-72–146) and Palmer Giro of Fort Collins (71-75–146) tied for third.
Regis won its second consecutive 5A state team title by prevailing in a one-hole playoff against Cherry Creek. Both teams finished with 19-over-par 445 team titles.
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