After a bit of bouncing around the Denver metro area its first two years of existence, the AJGA Transamerica / Hale Irwin Colorado Junior will set down some roots for the foreseeable future.

Following a year at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora and another at Highlands Ranch Golf Club, the AJGA tournament named for the three-time U.S. Open champion who grew up in Colorado will be held at least for the next three years at The Heritage at Westmoor course in Westminster.

The 2017 event, which is expected to draw the state’s top boys and girls players along with dozens of others from elsewhere in the U.S. and internationally, will be contested June 6-8, with a qualifying round planned for June 4 and the Junior-Am and practice rounds set for June 5.

The dates for 2018 and ’19 are tentatively set for the first full week of June.

Heritage at Westmoor is no stranger to hosting significant golf tournaments in the state. This year, for instance, qualifying for the U.S. Women’s Open and the U.S. Junior Amateur, and local qualifying for the U.S. Open, were all held at the City of Westminster course. Heritage at Westmoor also hosted the Colorado Senior Open three times early in the new millennium, along with the 2014 CGA Match Play.

“You have an excellent golf course that’s walkable, well-designed and championship-caliber,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA, which partners with the AJGA in conducting the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. “It’s always in great shape.”

Indeed, Mate considers Heritage at Westmoor more than just a host facility, but as a de facto presenting sponsor because the course is being offered for the tournament at a nominal fee.

CGA staff and CGA and CWGA volunteers play major roles at the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, which features separate tournaments for boys and girls. The Irwin event was named the AJGA’s “Newcomer of the Year” for the inaugural tournament held at CommonGround in 2015, when the event was preceded by Irwin himself conducting a clinic and Q&A for competitors and others at the site. The 2015 tournament itself was highlighted by the course-record 61 that boys champion Reese Ramsey from Texas shot in the final round — which also tied an all-time AJGA record — and by three holes-in-one on day 1.

The year 2 tournament at Highlands Ranch Golf Club had its fair share of fireworks as well as girls champion Clare Amelia Legaspi pitched in for eagle on the final hole to win by one, and two Coloradans (AJ Ott and Trevor Olkowski) tied for second place in the boys competition.

And now tournament officials, players, spectators etc., can look forward to course continuity in the coming years with Heritage at Westmoor hosting the event in 2017, ’18 and ’19.

“It’s always a challenge to move tournaments around,” Mate said. “The team that runs this tournament will get really good at it; they’ll learn all the idiosyncracies of the golf course. We’ve seen that benefit at the Colorado Open (Championships — including the Colorado Open, Women’s Open and Senior Open — all held at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club since 2004). You just get a lot better when you have the benefit of going back to the same venue. It’s nice to know we have that sewn up for the next three years.”

Transamerica has signed on as the Hale Irwin Colorado Junior’s title sponsor.
 

The top three finishers Monday, out of a field of 79, will advance to the U.S. Junior Amateur, which this year is scheduled for July 18-23 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. The Honors Course is ranked No. 31 on Golf Digest’s most recent list of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses”.

Among those in the field Monday is Davis Bryant (pictured) of Aurora, who qualified for the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur as a 15-year-old.

Also entered are 4A state high school champion Jackson Solem of Longmont, the first alternate in qualifying last year; Cole Krantz of Windsor, winner of the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Champioship; Daniel Pearson of Longmont, runner-up in the recent Colorado Junior Amateur; and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction, who was second in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

The field also includes eight players from countries other than the U.S., and golfers from six states other than Colorado.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

In all, 69 golfers (60 of whom are amateurs) will compete at the site for two spots in the Women’s Open, arguably the most prestigious tournament in women’s golf, which this year will be contested July 7-10 at CordeValle in San Martin, Calif.

Among the top entrants is two-time CWGA Player of the Year Jennifer Kupcho (above) of Westminster, who is ranked No. 43 in the world among women’s amateur golfers. Kupcho, a freshman at Wake Forest, just qualified as an individual for the NCAA Championship Finals. In her last three college tournaments, she’s been runner-up twice (including in the ACC Championships) and sixth in an NCAA Regional at Stanford. Overall, she’s posted six top-10 finishes in 10 tournaments so far as a freshman.

Kupcho and other in-state residents are attempting to become the first Coloradans to qualify for the U.S. Women’s Open in their home state since 2012.

Also scheduled to compete at Heritage at Westmoor is Maria Fassi of Mexico, who qualified last year in Colorado for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Open. Fassi, now 18, has also qualified in the Centennial State for the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior and the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. She’s 55th in the Women’s World Amateur rankings.

Others in the top 100 in those rankings who are entered Monday are University of Colorado golfer Esther Lee (34th) and Mariah Stackhouse (95th), who helped Stanford clinch the NCAA women’s team title last year.

Heritage at Westmoor is one of 25 qualifying sites for the U.S. Women’s Open, including 21 in the U.S. All told, the USGA accepted 1,855 entries for the 2016 Women’s Open.

For Monday’s pairings at Heritage at Westmoor, CLICK HERE.

Three Local Qualifying tournaments will be held again this year in Colorado: Monday (May 9) at The Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster, May 15 at the East Course at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, and May 17 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins. Collindale is serving as a Local Qualifying site for the 13th consecutive year.

At each Colorado venue, about 84 competitors will vie for five spots in the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, set for June 6 at 10 sites in the U.S. From there, the top finishers will advance to the Open itself.

In all, 111 U.S. Open Local Qualifiers will be held. A total of 9,877 entries were sent in for this year’s championship.

At the Colorado sites, previous U.S. Open competitors in the field include Leif Olson and Jason Preeo (Heritage at Westmoor) and Derek Tolan, Steve Irwin, Nick Mason and Wil Collins (all at The Broadmoor).

Among those entered in Colorado who advanced to Sectionals last year were Nathaniel Goddard, Greg Johnson, Michael Schoolcraft, Jim Knous, Cameron Harrell and Andrew Romano (all at Heritage at Westmoor this year); Tolan, Eric Bradley and Jake Staiano (all at The Broadmoor this year); and Parker Edens (Collindale this year).

For tee times, click on the following: Heritage at Westmoor, The Broadmoor, Collindale.
 

If for no other reason, Mary Weinstein enjoyed winning the CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship so she wouldn’t be left in the position she was earlier in the week at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

“It’s a good feeling because one of the CWGA ladies came up to me before the tournament — she wanted to give a little spiel about every single person when we teed off — and she asked me if I’d won a CHSAA tournament or a CWGA tournament,” Weinstein recounted on Wednesday. “I was like, ‘No, I haven’t. Sorry. My bad.'”

But that won’t be an issue again.

On Wednesday, the 17-year-old from Highlands Ranch overcame a quadruple-bogey 8 and birdied the final hole Wednesday to win the 37th Junior Stroke Play Championship.

The senior-to-be at Regis Jesuit High School, who took a six-stroke lead into Wednesday, recovered from going quadruple bogey-bogey-bogey on holes 11 through 13 to play her final five in 2 under par and post a one-stroke victory.

Not that either of the top two contestants knew the outcome when they walked off the 18th green. Gillian Vance of CommonGround Golf Course had no idea she’d finished a stroke behind Weinstein, who was so convinced she was headed for a playoff that she put her glove back on as she exited the green.

“I didn’t think I won,” she said. “I thought Gillian made the (4-foot par) putt on the last hole to get into a playoff. I thought I needed that eagle putt to go in (to win outright).”

Weinstein (left and above), who last week qualified for the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, shot a 7-over-par 79 Wednesday and recorded a 4-over 220 total.

Vance, who won the 5A state high school title last month, was a stroke ahead going into the final two holes on Wednesday, but a bogey on 17 and Weinstein’s birdie on 18 left her a shot back overall, good for second place. Vance carded a 74 on Wednesday.

Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Country Club placed third Wednesday as a 74 left her at 224.

If you think Vance would have been better off knowing exactly how she stood coming down the stretch, she begs to differ.

“I never want to know exactly where we are because I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself,” said the University of Colorado signee. “I just like to float in my own little zone.”

Vance (left) actually caught Weinstein when the latter made her snowman on No. 11. And Vance had a two-shot advantage after Weinstein bogeyed the next two.

“I wasn’t really keeping Gillian’s score but in the back of my head I was,” Weinstein said. “So I thought after that (11th) hole she was gaining on me. So I was like, ‘I’ve got to get this back, I’ve got to get this back.’ That 8 kind of ruined my day.”

But Weinstein’s strong finish, with birdies on 14 and 18, salvaged the victory.

“It was a good fight and it was really fun,” Vance said, noting that it was likely her final CWGA junior championship. “I felt good. I was happy that I was kind of consistent. I would have loved to have putted better but that happens to everybody.”

With Weinstein and Vance all square through 17, both found the fairway off the tee on the par-5 18th. But Vance pulled her second shot left of the green, and her pitch over a bunker went 25 feet past the cup.

Weinstein hit the green in two with a 190-yard approach, leaving her 40 feet for eagle. She two-putted for birdie, and Vance couldn’t convert on her birdie attempt to force a playoff.

Weinstein called the win her biggest accomplishment in golf.

“I’ve never won a three-day tournament or a tournament this big,” said Weinstein, who has helped Regis to back-to-back girls state team titles in Class 5A.

CWGA Junior Stroke Play

At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster

Championship Flight 
Mary Weinstein, CWGA Junior Club 70-71-79–220 
Gillian Vance, CommonGround WGA 74-73-74–221 
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC WGA 75-75-74–224 
Hailey Schalk, Colorado National WGA 76-76-77–229 
Rachel Hardy, Dos Rios WGA 71-80-79–230 
Delaney Elliott, CommonGround WGA 76-76-79–231 
Hannah More, Pinehurst CC WGA 78-75-78–231 
Delaney Benson, CommonGround WGA 73-80-81–234 
Flight 1 
Erin Sargent, Twin Peaks LGA 75-80-78–233 
Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods Wgc 78-79-79–236 
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree WGA 78-80-79–237 
Amy Chitkoksoong, Commonground Wgc 77-81-80–238 
Anna Kennedy, Denver CC Lga 75-83-82–240 
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC Wga 74-89-78–241 
Adara Pauluhn, Indian Peaks WGA 78-78-85–241 
Kelsey Webster, Boulder CC Wga 78-86-87–251 
Flight 2 
Emilee Strausburg, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 80-76-80–236 
Kellsey Sample, CWGA Junior Club 80-81-78–239 
Lexi Ringsby, Denver CC 80-84-75–239 
Lauren Murphy, Aspen Glen Wga 80-80-80–240 
Alexis Mikayla Chan, CommonGround WGA 79-82-79–240 
Sarah Hwang, CommonGround WGA 79-84-79–242 
Elena Barboza, CWGA Junior Club 81-84-90–255 
Emma Mellman, Cherry Creek CC Wga 81-87-94–262 
Flight 3 
Sarah Hunt, CWGA Junior Club 83-77-75–235 
Kelsey Mckenna, CWGA Junior Club 84-83-77–244 
Sydney Prey, CWGA Junior Club 86-82-80–248 
Natasha Brandy McClain, Denver CC Lga 85-80-86–251 
Julia Baroth, CommonGround WGA 87-88-81–256 
Ashlee Sample, Cwga Junior Club 84-87-85–256 
Mariah Ehrman, Heritage at Westmoor WGA 87-88-84–259 
Flight 4 
Lauren Lehigh, Loveland Wga 89-79-79–247 
Riley McKibbon, The Club at Rolling Hills Wga 92-82-89–263 
Caitlyn Olson, Highland Hills GC 92-90-84–266 
Makena Prey, CWGA Junior Club 99-94-89–282 
Molli Boruff, Twin Peaks WGA 95-104-85–284 
Sarah Goldsmith, Lga at Blackstone/Black Bear 97-92-108–297

Derek Tolan will long be remembered as the first Colorado kid to qualify for the U.S. Open as a 16-year-old. But you’ll have to excuse him if he doesn’t want that to be the only thing he’s remembered for when it comes to the Open.

The Highlands Ranch resident would not only like to earn a return trip to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2002, but he’d like to parlay that into something big.

“You know, (qualifying in 2002 at such a young age) doesn’t really mean much anymore,” said the two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion, now 29. “It was a great experience at the time. Even now if you make it, it doesn’t really mean anything unless you do well and do something with it. I don’t know if that’s part of growing up, having more expectations or my game improving. But obviously it’s good to have a chance again this year. Just getting to (the second stage of qualifying) doesn’t mean a whole lot. You’ve got to really play well, and have a chance to parlay it into a career.”

That part may come down the road, but for now — Tuesday specifically — Tolan (above) took care of business by advancing to the final stage of U.S. Open qualifying by sharing medalist honors in a Local Qualifier at the Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

In all, five players each from 18-hole Local Qualifiers at Westmoor and the Broadmoor Golf Club’s East Course in Colorado Springs punched their tickets to Sectionals, which will be contested over 36 holes at 10 U.S. sites on June 8. The top performers on that date will earn spots in the U.S. Open, set for June 18-21 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

The five players who advanced from Heritage at Westmoor, all of whom shot 2-under-par 70s, were Tolan, 2012 CGA Junior Match Play champion Andrew Romano of Lone Tree, Jim Knous of Englewood, Greg Johnson of Lakewood, and Dino Giacomazzi of Salinas, Calif. Knous has earned Sectional berths the last three years at Heritage at Westmoor. Tolan, Johnson and Romano each birdied his final hole on Tuesday to land a share of medalist honors.

At the Broadmoor, Colin Prater of Colorado Springs birdied the last three holes and needed just 22 putts overall at the East Course to shoot a 2-under-par 69 and claim medalist honors by one shot. Prater, the NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award winner in 2014 (when he played for Colorado Mesa), transferred to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before this school year, but had to sit out the entire season. Tuesday marked his first tournament since December.

Joining Prater (left) in advancing from the Broadmoor were Colorado PGA professional Eric Bradley of Eagle (70), former Colorado State golfer Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs (72), 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village (72) and Colorado Christian University golfer Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins (72). Harrell, a former U.S. Amateur qualifier, posted an eagle on the 402-yard par-4 sixth hole on Tuesday. Goddard played his last seven holes in 3 under par.

The fact that Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, advanced should come as no surprise. By his best recollection, he’s made to to U.S. Open Sectionals six or seven times, including each of the last three years. Last June, he came relatively close to qualifying for the Open by placing 15th out of 110 players in Daly City, Calif., where the top five punched their tickets to the national championship.

On Tuesday, after three-putting his 17th hole from 12 feet, Tolan needed a 5-foot birdie on his 18th to assure himself a spot in Sectionals.

Meanwhile, Knous continued to be able to rely on the Heritage at Westmoor site to earn berths into Sectionals. The former Colorado School of Mines standout used an eagle on the sixth hole en route to his third consecutive successful Local Qualifier at the course.

“Three years in a row is pretty amazing,” said the 25-year-old, who shot a course-record 60 at Boulder Country Club during the 2010 CGA Stroke Play. “I don’t know what it is exactly, but the course just fits my eye. It’s kind of open and I can hit driver everywhere. It’s long. It sets up for me. I like the golf course.”

Knous, the 2012 NCAA Division II national runner-up, hasn’t yet qualified for a U.S. Open, but has high hopes.

“Every year I just keep getting a little bit better,” he said. “It’s a real opportunity to get to that next level. It’s about time for me to get to that next level or the dream is going to have to stop pretty soon. You just can’t sustain mini-tour golf for very long.”

As for the other Coloradans to advance from Heritage at Westmoor, Johnson will be going to Sectionals for the second time in four years, while Romano will be making his first trip ever.

Romano, who just completed his first season at the University of Northern Colorado, like Knous eagled the sixth hole Tuesday en route to co-medalist honors.

“It’s been a dream” to have a chance to play in the U.S. Open, the 20-year-old said. “I’ve been so close in a couple of USGA events. I’ve just got to keep grinding. You never know — just one day away, a couple of good rounds away.”

Of those who advanced Tuesday, Johnson cut things the closest. Knowing he likely needed a birdie to make Sectionals, he snap-hooked his drive on his final hole (No. 9), putting his ball into the native grass. With a 7-iron, “I swung pretty much as hard as I could,” the 26-year-old former Regis University golfer said. “I looked up and the ball was going all over the flag. And I happened to make the putt (a 30-footer) on top of it, too. I needed to do something. I was really trying to make that last putt there. That last hole was pretty awesome.”

Meanwhile, at the Broadmoor, Prater ruled the roost, especially with his putter. He made the most of his knowledge of the course — his grandparents are members, and he estimates he’s played that historic layout about 50 times.
    “
I’ve been able to play here for many years through (my grandparents),” the 20-year-old said. “I putted extremely well today. I had 22 putts. I attribute all of that to course knowledge. I didn’t hit the ball particularly well, but I putted extraordinarily well.

“I’ve had pretty good putting rounds, but 22 is probably the lowest I’ve had in my entire life.”

In fact, with his six-birdie round — which included a 35-footer on the closing hole — Prater was able to make his late afternoon chemistry final exam at UCCS without having to worry whether his score would be good enough to advance. As it was, he had no problem making Sectionals for the first time, despite this being just his second tournament since last summer.

“It’s real nice to get my feet wet again playing golf,” he said. “It was a goal of mine to qualify for Sectionals and I was able to accomplish that. I’m thrilled.”

A third and final Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament will be held May 19 at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster

ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 35-35–70
Dino Giacomazzi, Salinas, Calif., 35-35–70
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 34-36–70
Andrew Romano, Lone Tree, Colo., 34-36–70
James Knous, Englewood, Colo., 33-37–70

ALTERNATES (In Order After 4-Hole Playoff)
Chris Korte, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 36-35–71
Matt Robertson, Lakewood, Colo., 37-34–71

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Dillon Mcdonald, Wolcott, Colo., 35-37–72
David Oraee, Greeley, Colo., 36-36–72
Anthony Aguilar, Phoenix, Ariz., 36-37–73
Charles Soule, Denver, Colo., 37-36–73
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 39-34–73
Luke Symons, Aurora, Colo., 35-38–73
Tommy Carpenter, Greenwood Village, Colo., 34-39–73
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Adam Griffith, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo., 38-36–74
Andrew Vance, Denver, Colo., 36-38–74
Jeremy Paul, Boulder, 35-39–74
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 38-36–74
Kane Webber, Denver, 40-34–74
Kevin Burke, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Keenan Holt, Durango, Colo., 36-39–75
Steve Connell, Thornton, Colo., 39-36–75
Chris Bourdeon, Castle Pines, Colo., 38-37–75
Collin Covault, Bagdad, Ariz., 35-40–75
Cody Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 36-39–75
Joe Lord, Arvada, Colo., 37-39–76
Paul Beblavi, Denver, Colo., 38-38–76
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 38-38–76
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 38-38–76
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo., 38-38–76
Derek Eley, Thornton, Colo., 41-35–76
Drew Trujillo, Montrose, Colo., 40-36–76
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 36-41–77
Leif Olson, Golden, Colo., 38-40–78
Grant Jackson, Aurora, Colo., 37-41–78
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 40-38–78
Patrick Arellano, Denver, Colo., 38-40–78
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo., 41-37–78
Sean Kurzweil, Denver, Colo., 36-42–78
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo., 38-41–79
Nick Berry, Golden, Colo., 43-36–79
Jackson Vacek, Lafayette, Colo., 38-41–79
Dan Sniffin, Denver, Colo., 40-39–79
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 39-40–79
Trey Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo., 41-38–79
Matt Vacek, Lafayette, Colo., 40-39–79
Behrod Keshtavar, Erie, Colo., 38-42–80
Bretton Krantz, Windsor, Colo., 38-42–80
Jack Allen, Aurora, Colo., 39-41–80
Dan Keyghobad, Aurora, Colo., 41-39–80
Ross Macdonald, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-40–80
Jason Holley, Englewood, Colo., 40-41–81
Aristides Papadopoulos, Avon, Colo., 39-42–81
Mike Chavez, Arvada, Colo., 37-44–81
Sam Taylor, Nederland, Colo., 42-40–82
Dustin Miller, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-41–82
Trey Fankhouser, Goodwell, Okla., 43-39–82
Luke Goeglein, Yuma, Colo., 40-42–82
Jonathan Doern, Denver, Colo., 40-43–83
Josh Pusar, Castle Rock, Colo., 43-40–83
Lamar Carlile, Denver, Colo., 42-42–84
Alex Gorman, Broomfield, Colo., 40-44–84
Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, Colo., 43-41–84
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 42-43–85
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge, Colo., 40-45–85
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 43-43–86
Keith Mergenthal, Westminster, Colo., 42-44–86
Ryan Tierney, Redwood City, Calif., 44-44–88
Stephen Horvey, Arvada, Colo., 45-43–88
Ethan Yamada, Arvada, Colo., 44-48–92
Austin Pilkington, Thornton, Colo., 46-46–92
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo., 48-44–92
Matthew Oliver, Westminster, Colo., 47-57–104
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., WD
Harrison Murphy, McKinney, Texas, WD
Thomas B. Noonan, Jr., Boulder, Colo., WD
Dean Siskowski, Johnstown, Colo., WD
Christopher Thayer, Denver, Colo., WD
Shane Bertsch, Parker, Colo., WD
Jon Lindstrom, Westminster, Colo., WD
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo., WD

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-71 Broadmoor GC East Course in Colorado Springs

ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Colin Prater, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-34–69
Eric Bradley, Eagle, Colo., 34-36–70
Nathaniel Goddard, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-34–72
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills, Colo., 36-36–72
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-38—72
 
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-39–73
Josh Woodworth, Durango, Colo., 34-39—73
 
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Christopher Roehrkasse, Parker, Colo., 36-38–74
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 36-38–74
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo., 37-37–74
Wilson Belk, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-36–74
Jeffrey Chapman, Centennial, Colo., 35-39–74
Jon Roth, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-37–75
Brandon Barron, Centennial, Colo., 36-40–76
Michael Fan, Usaf Academy, Colo., 37-39–76
Ken Tamez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-38–77
Kyler Booher, Carbondale, Colo., 39-38–77
Sam Nichamin, Avon, Colo., 38-39–77
Ben Krueger, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-38–77
Nick Zinanti, Pueblo, Colo., 38-40–78
Garrett Froggatte, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., 39-39–78
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 40-38–78
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-39–78
Blake Young, Trinidad, Colo., 39-39–78
Taylor Stamp, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., 37-42–79
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo., 38-41–79
Mike Swan, Crested Butte, Colo., 43-36–79
Kaleb Nichols, Peyton, Colo., 42-37–79
Gilbert Garcia, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-42–80
Shaun Payne, Albuquerque, N.M., 38-42–80
Daniel Augustine, Castle Pines, Colo., 43-37–80
Matthew Goddard, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-39–80
Justin Fox, Montrose, Colo., 43-37–80
Devyn Solano, Aurora, Colo., 39-41–80
Matthew Hart, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-40–81
Joel Norwood, Denver, Colo., 43-38–81
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-39–81
James Vaughn, Greenwood Village, Colo., 42-39–81
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-41–81
Marc Renjard, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-44–82
Mitchell Smith, Elizabeth, Colo., 37-45–82
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 41-41–82
Rob Cummings, Denver, Colo., 40-42–82
Connor Alexander, Castle Rock, Colo., 39-43–82
Mike Kerrigan, Castle Rock, Colo., 43-39–82
Ryan Connors, Montrose, Colo., 42-41–83
Jason Kroese, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 42-41–83
Derek Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-41–83
Cody Eberl, Lakewood, Colo., 40-43–83
Victor Minovich, Morrison, Colo., 42-42–84
Kale Waaso, Castle Rock, Colo., 42-42–84
Marshall Clark, Denver, Colo., 42-42–84
David Schroeder, Colorado Springs, Colo., 44-40–84
Owen Pasvogel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 46-38–84
Justin Snyder, Aurora, Colo., 42-42–84
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-45–85
Chad Hansen, Gypsum, Colo., 43-42–85
Sam Chapman, Parker, Colo., 42-43–85
Mark Pustay, Albuquerque, N.M., 41-45–86
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo., 47-39–86
Ryne Scholl, Breckenridge, Colo., 42-44–86
Bill Parker, Denver, Colo., 38-48–86
Aaron Bevans, Parker, Colo., 41-45–86
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 46-40–86
Cole Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., 46-40–86
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-44–86
Joey Bast, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-46–87
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 40-48–88
Caleb Blass, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-45–88
Nick Vanetten, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-47–89
Zachary Dobrota, Sandusky, Ohio, 46-43–89
Benjamin Cockrill, Greeley, Colo., 45-44–89
Taylor Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 45-45–90
Matt Pasvogel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 51-43–94
Brian Thomas, Commerce City, Colo., 46-49–95
Russ Aragon, Aspen, Colo., NS
Beau Hombach, Parker, Colo., WD
Benjamin Schlossmann, Fox Point, Wis., NS
Graham Cliff, Parker, Colo., WD
Bob Maggard, Parker, Colo., NS
Tyler Enna, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
David Lysaught, Basalt, Colo., WD
 
 

Previously on the docket for the two high school seniors were final exams, graduation, the regional state qualifying golf tournaments and the state meet.

Then last week, Kupcho and Vance added a trip to Bandon Dunes in Oregon for the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship, set for May 9-13, 2015.

Kupcho and Vance earned a berth in the USGA national championship by sharing medalist honors in a qualifying tournament held Oct. 6 at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster. The Coloradans posted a 3-under-par 69 best-ball total to share the top spot in the 11-team field with 16-year-olds Maria Fassi and Maria Balcazar, both golfers from Mexico. (Vance, in a black shirt, is pictured above with Kupcho.)

Those two teams claimed the available qualifying spots at Westmoor for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Four-Ball, the first ever held. The USGA announced in early 2013 that it was adding women’s and men’s Four-Ball Championships beginning in 2015, while discontinuing women’s and men’s U.S. Public Links Championships after this year.

“I think it’s extra special (to qualify for this event) because for 50 years and however long it will be going on, we’ll be able to say we played in the first one,” said Vance, who attends Dakota Ridge High School.

“It’s going to be fun to play in the first one, and to do it with Gillian is going to make it even better,” added Kupcho, a senior at Jefferson Academy.

The U.S. Women’s Four-Ball will be the sixth USGA championship for Kupcho and the second for Vance, who was the qualifying medalist in Colorado for the 2014 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Kupcho and Vance, friends who have known each other and competed for seven or eight years, had to bounce back after a best-ball bogey on the opening hole at Heritage at Westmoor. But a birdie on No. 2 led to them playing the final 17 holes in 4 under.

“We both struggled (at times), but we were good because we were playing together,” said Kupcho, the runner-up in this year’s HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.

“We ham-and-egged it really well,” Vance said. “When she wasn’t playing well, I played well, and when I played bad she played really well.”

Both Kupcho and Vance will be playing NCAA Division I golf next year, with Kupcho committed to Wake Forest and Vance to the University of Colorado.

Fassi, who recently competed for Mexico in the World Junior Girls Championship, is no stranger to having played in Colorado. She qualified in the state for the 2013 U.S. Girls’ Junior (along with Kupcho).

Fassi and her fellow Mexico native Balcazar made four birdies and one bogey at Heritage at Westmoor, just as Kupcho and Vance did. Both teams birdied the 18th hole to post their 69s.

Coloradans Sydney Gillespie and Adara Pauluhn were the only other team to break par in the Oct. 6 qualifier as they earned the first alternate spot by shooting a 71 at Heritage at Westmoor.

For all the results from the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Qualifying, CLICK HERE.