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.
 

The Pioneers, coming off a team victory last week at the Golfweek Conference Challenge in Wolcott, posted a 5-under-par 283 total, leaving them in a tie with New Mexico. DU won the Ron Moore title in 2015 and placed second last year. Northern Colorado, the other Colorado-based school competing, shares fifth place out of 14 teams, at 289.

Two players who grew up in Colorado are in the top 10 individually through one round of the 54-hole tournament: Morgan Sahm of UNC (3-under-par 69, fourth place) and Erin Sargent of Wyoming (70, seventh place). Also in the top 10 are defending champion Sophie Newlove of DU and Beah Cruz of UNC (both at 69).

Ingrid Gutierrez of New Mexico shot a 6-under-par 66 to take the individual lead after round 1.

The tournament will continue through Sunday.

Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Oct. 6-8, 2017 at Highlands Ranch GC
T1. Denver 283
4. Sophie Newlove 69
11. Mary Weinstein 71
11. Camille Enright 71
19. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 72
29. Lauren Whyte 73

5. Northern Colorado 289
4. Beah Cruz 69
4. Morgan Sahm 69
29. Marisa Hisaki 73
63. Nicole Polivchak 78
71. Hanna Atkins 80
59. Aili Bundy (competing only as individual) 77
78. Christina Ferreira (competing only as individual) 83

14. Denver B Team 309
38. Maggie Cowart 74
53. Annie Heck 76
63. Sonya Knebel 78
72. Caroline Klemp 81

Also
7. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 70
59. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 77
68. Coloradan Jordan Remley, Wyoming 79
 

The 27-year-old former Colorado Mesa University golfer made 11 birdies and one bogey over the course of two days in carding rounds of 67-67 for a 10-under-par 134 total. Bingaman birdied five holes twice in 36 holes: Nos. 6, 9, 11, 14 and 18.

Jack Allen of Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club finished two back of Bingaman to place second. He posted rounds of 69-67.

Tied for third at 137 on Tuesday were four-time winner Geoff Keffer of the Greater Golfer Development Center and defending champion Pat Grady from the University of Colorado, both of whom went 67-70.

By finishing in the top four, Bingaman, Allen, Keffer and Grady qualified for the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship, set for Nov. 9-12 in Port St. Lucie, Florida.

National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistants Championship
July 31-Aug. 1, 2017 (final) at Par-72 Highlands Ranch GC
1. Brandon Bingaman 67-67–134
2. Jack Allen 69-67–136
T3. Geoff Keffer 67-70–137
T3. Pat Grady 67-70–137
5. Ben Lanting 69-69–138
6. Caine Fitzgerald 71-68–139
T7. Ryan Bakken 68-72–140
T7. Ryan Wroblewski 71-69–140
T9. Ross McLean 69-72–141
T9. Christopher Hyten 71-70–141
T9. Rich Lash 71-70–141

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and University of Denver signee Jackson Solem of Longmont shot a 5-under-par 67 at Highlands Ranch Golf Club and shared seventh place out of the 88-man field. Also making an eagle and five birdies and carding a 67 on Thursday was Sam Marley of Centennial, a Univesity of Northern Colorado golfer who won the 2014 Colorado Junior Match Play. And University of Wisconsin-bound Griffin Barela of Lakewood, the 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play winner, prevailed in an 11-man playoff at 69 by making birdie on the first hole of sudden death.

Joining the three Coloradans in qualifying for the $250,000 Colorado Open, which is set for July 20-23 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver: Ben Hargis of Amarillo, Texas (10 birdies in a 9-under-par 63), Justis Searles of Mesa, Ariz. (65), Zack Baker of Scottsdale, Ariz. (65), David Rose of Vancouver, B.C. (66), Brandon Kita of Layton, Utah (66), Hans Reimers of Oregon City (66), Jordan Rodgers of Salt Lake City (67), Tayler Termeer of Lakeway, Texas (67), Ryan O’Read of Belton, Texas (67), Dalan Refioglu of Foster City, Calif. (68), Ryan Lenahan of Charlotte, N.C. (68), and Samuel Smith of Fredricksburg, Texas (68).

Other qualifying tournaments are set for July 11 at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle, and July 13 and 17 at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

For scores from Thursday, CLICK HERE.

With DU and Pepperdine matching 4-under-par 284s in Sunday’s final round, the Waves held on for a four-stroke victory in the 18-school team race. The Pioneers finished with a 6-under-par 858 total, giving them two runner-up finishes in three tournaments this season. Colorado State placed fifth at 875 after a strong 281 final-round score, while Northern Colorado (910) was 14th.

DU sophomore Sophie Newlove notched the first individual victory of her college career as the English golfer closed with a 2-under-par 70 to post a 6-under 210 total, good for a two-shot win. She played her final seven holes in 3 under par. (Newlove is pictured above with coach Lindsay Kuhle in a DU photo.)

Also finishing in the top 10 individually were DU’s Jessica Hardy and CSU’s Katrina Prendergast (tied for fourth place at 214) and Denver’s Mariell Bruun (seventh place, 215).

Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Oct. 7-9, 2016 at Highlands Ranch GC

2. (out of 18 teams) Denver 289-285-284–858
1. Sophie Newlove 69-71-70–210
4. Jessica Carty 73-71-70–214
7. Mariell Bruun 72-69-74–215
23. Camille Enright 75-74-70–219
27. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (individual) 71-76-73–220
44. Sonya Knebel (individual) 75-79-70–224
55. Lauren Whyte 75-74-77–226
57. Kathi Baratta (individual) 75-77-75–227
90. Maggie Cowart (individual) 81-79-78–238

5. Colorado State 292-302-281–875
4. Katrina Prendergast 68-77-69–214
12. Brianna Becker 74-73-70–217
12. Ellen Secor 72-76-69–217
57. Sarah Archuleta 78-76-73–227
65. Caroline Reiners (individual) 76-77-76–229
75. Jessica Sloot (individual) 78-79-74–231
93. Elisabeth Rau 82-83-74–239

14. Northern Colorado 308-308-294–910
50. Morgan Sahm 77-76-72–225
57. Marisa Hisaki 76-77-74–227
65. Kala Keltz 76-77-76–229
65. Janet Yeo 79-78-72–229
100. Hanna Atkins (individual) 87-77-83–247
101. Christina Ferreira 90-80-82–252

Also
65. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 77-75-77–229
88. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 76-77-82–235

With just Sunday’s round remaining, DU stands at 2-under-par 574 overall, while Pepperdine is at 570.

One player from each of the top two teams share the top spot individually. Denver’s Sophie Newlove (69-71) and Pepperdine’s Hira Naveed (70-70) are at 4-under-par 140 going into the final round. DU’s Mariell Bruun is one back, in third place, after second-round 69.

Sunday’s final round begins with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Oct. 7-9, 2016 at Highlands Ranch GC

2. (out of 18 teams) Denver 289-285–574
T1. Sophie Newlove 69-71–140
3. Mariell Bruun 72-69–141
7. Jessica Carty 73-71–144
17. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (individual) 71-76–147
34. Lauren Whyte 75-74–149
34. Camille Enright 75-74–149
50. Kathi Baratta (individual) 75-77–152
71. Sonya Knebel (individual) 75-79–154
91. Maggie Cowart (individual) 81-79–160

7. Colorado State 292-302–594
11. Katrina Prendergast 68-77–145
17. Brianna Becker 74-73–147
26. Ellen Secor 72-76–148
57. Caroline Reiners (individual) 76-77–153
71. Sarah Archuleta 78-76–154
83. Jessica Sloot (individual) 78-79–157
98. Elisabeth Rau 82-83–165

17. Northern Colorado 308-308–616
57. Kala Keltz 76-77–153
57. Marisa Hisaki 76-77–153
57. Morgan Sahm 77-76–153
83. Janet Yeo 79-78–157
97. Hanna Atkins (individual) 87-77–164
102. Christina Ferreira 90-80–170

Also
50. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 77-75–152
57. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 76-77–153

With an 8-under-par 280 total, Pepperdine leads the way in the 54-hole tournament, while DU is at 289 and CSU at 292. Northern Colorado is 17th at 308.

CSU sophomore Katrina Prentergast (pictured) is setting the pace individually following a five-birdie, 4-under-par 68. DU’s Sophie Newlove shares second place at 69.

The tournament will continue through Sunday.

Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Oct. 7-9, 2016 at Highlands Ranch GC

2. (out of 18 teams) Denver 289
2. Sophie Newlove 69
11. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke (individual) 71
13. Mariell Bruun 72
20. Jessica Carty 73
38. Lauren Whyte 75
38. Sonya Knebel (individual) 75
38. Kathi Baratta (individual) 75
38. Camille Enright 75
93. Maggie Cowart (individual) 81

3. Colorado State 292
1. Katrina Prendergast 68
13. Ellen Secor 72
29. Brianna Becker 74
52. Caroline Reiners (individual) 76
75. Jessica Sloot (individual) 78
75. Sarah Archuleta 78
96. Elisabeth Rau 82

17. Northern Colorado 308
52. Kala Keltz 76
52. Marisa Hisaki 76
67. Morgan Sahm 77
84 Janet Yeo 79
101. Hanna Atkins (individual) 87
102. Christina Ferreira 90

Also
52. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 76
67. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 77

For sheer oddities, it would be tough to top the inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior as last year a player shot a final-round 61 — a course record at CommonGround and tying an all-time AJGA record — and there were three holes-in-one on the first day of the tournament, including two from the same threesome of girls.

But the second annual Irwin Junior, now presented by Huntington Industrial Partners, had its moments. For instance, Clare Amelia Legaspi of Santa Clarita, Calif., pitched in for eagle from 30 yards on her final hole Thursday at Highlands Ranch Golf Club to edge out Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont, Ill., who narrowly missed eagling the hole herself.

And though it didn’t decide the tournament, future University of Denver golfer John Sand aced the 197-yard 17th hole Thursday at DU’s home course with an 8-iron. Sand went eagle, birdie on his final two holes to get into the top 10.

As for the boys title, for the second straight year a couple of Coloradans were in the hunt for the victory, only to finish a little short. Connor Howe of Ogden, Utah, prevailed by one stroke over AJ Ott (above) of Fort Collins, Trevor Olkowski (left) of Grand Junction and Sunday qualifier Tyler Parker of Knoxville, Tenn.

It was the second top-three showing in the tournament by the Colorado State University-bound Ott, who last year tied for third with Jackson Solem of Longmont.

“It feels good (but) I wanted first (place) pretty bad,” said Ott, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner. “Two years in a row there’s definitely something in the water here for the Colorado kids. So I think someone (local) is going to win one one day; it just wasn’t this year.”

All told, five Coloradans placed in the top 10 of the boys division. Joining Ott and Olkowski (a University of Colorado commitment) were Colorado School of Mines signee Timothy Amundson of Littleton (eighth place at 212), incoming DU golfer Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs (who eagled the 18th hole to tie for ninth at 214) and David Leede of Greenwood Village (ninth at 214).

Howe (left), the 2015 Utah 5A state high school champion, held at least a share of the lead after all three rounds at Highlands Ranch GC. He followed up an opening 66 with consecutive 70s for a 10-under-par 206 total. Ott, Olkowski and Parker were one behind, with Olkowski (5-under-par 67) and Ott (a bogey-free 68) carding the best two rounds of the day in the boys division.

“I feel good about it,” said Olkowski, who eagled a par-4 and added five birdies on Thursday. “There were strokes I could have picked up out there, but I had three solid rounds. I’m happy with it overall.

“I knew I had to shoot 4 or 5 under (today to have a chance to win) and I did that. I gave myself the best chance I could. I came up one short.”

Howe led by three after making a 6-inch birdie on No. 16, but he needed to drain a 15-foot putt to post a bogey on No. 17, where he took a penalty stroke. Ott birdied from 8 feet there to cut the deficit to one going into 18. But Ott ended up in a greenside bunker in two and couldn’t get up and down, settling for a par on the par-5. And despite a three-putt for par on the 18th green, Howe prevailed by one.

“This is probably the best win I’ve had,” the 16-year-old Howe said of his first AJGA victory. “This and state (high school) are probably tied. I shot 62 at state so that’s hard to beat, but this was a big tournament for me. I’m happy I pulled through.

“It’s a really good confidence-builder for me. I know I’ve been able to win (an AJGA event), I just hadn’t been able to pull the trigger. To be able to win one, just for the future gives me lots of confidence in bigger tournaments.”

On the girls side, Thursday marked the third AJGA win for the UCLA-bound Legaspi (left), but her first since 2014. She played her final 10 holes in 6 under par, and needed every one of those strokes, including the pitch-in on 18. That’s because Beadreau played her final 16 holes in 5 under par, reeling off birdies on 15, 17 and 18. Beaudreau almost pitched in for eagle on 18 to match Legaspi and force a playoff, but she was forced to settle for a tap-in birdie.

The two players matched 68s on Thursday, with Legaspi posting a 7-under-par 209 total.

Legaspi and Beaudreau were tied going up 18 after the latter sank a long birdie putt on 17.

“I knew I had to make something — an eagle or anything,” said Legaspi. “Lauren was playing really well so I knew I had to do something magnificent on the last hole.

“I had to will (the pitch shot) in because I really knew I had to make something happen. I think every shot is makeable. I just always think positive that it’s going to go in, it’s going to go close. I always try to will it in.”

Two young golfers led the way for Coloradans among the girls, with Hailey Schalk of Erie and Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village tying for seventh place at 6-over-par 222. Jordaan closed with a 73 and Schalk with a 74.

“I achieved what I wanted to do,” said the 15-year-old Jordaan, who finished second last month in the 4A state high school tournament. “Coming in I had never finished top half (in an AJGA event) and that was my goal. To do even better than that was great.”

Schalk (left), 14, was 2 under par for the day through 12 holes, but four bogeys coming down the stretch didn’t help the cause.

“I feel really good about the week,” she said. “It was really fun and I played really solid golf. It was just those (back-nine) mistakes that make me a little bit annoyed. But overall I was proud to get into the top 10.”

Also posting a top-10 finish was DU signee Camille Enright of Plano, Texas, who placed fifth at 217.

As for the 17-year-old Legaspi, it wasn’t the first time she’s holed a wedge shot at a particularly opportune moment. Two years ago, in a playoff for a spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior, she drained a 60-yard shot to advance after her opponent had put her approach within tap-in range.

“This is a breakthrough win since I haven’t been playing well for the past year,” said Legaspi, who won a gold medal while competing for the Philippines in the 2013 Asian Youth Games. “It means a lot to me. I’ve been through a lot the last year (an injury, equipment change and finishing high school) and I haven’t won for a long time. So this is really special for me.”

For both Legaspi and Howe, it was their first time competing in Colorado.

The AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, Past and Future: After the tournament, the AJGA presented CGA executive director Ed Mate with the AJGA Newcomer of the Year Award for the 2015 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, which was held at the CGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course.

Mate announced that after one year each at CommonGround and Highlands Ranch Golf Club, the 2017 Hale Irwin Colorado Junior is set for Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster. A junior-am is planned for June 5, 2017, with the championship rounds scheduled for June 6-8.

For boys scores from the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, CLICK HERE.
 

For girls results, CLICK HERE.

Within six strokes of Howe heading into Thursday’s final round are AJ Ott of Fort Collins (who trails by three), Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (four back), Timothy Amundson of Littleton (five behind), and Philip Lee of Denver, Oliver Jack of Cherry Hills Village, first-round co-leader Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs, Jackson Solem of Longmont and Troy Dangler of Grand Junction (all six back).

In the girls competition, Clare Amelia Legaspi of Santa Clarita, Calif., holds a one-stroke lead, with a couple of Coloradans in the top 10 after two rounds.

Fourteen-year-old Hailey Schalk of Erie is in sixth place, seven behind Legaspi, and Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village is another shot back, sharing ninth place.

Legaspi, No. 74 among girls in the Polo rankings, has posted rounds of 70-71 for a 3-under-par 141 total, one stroke better than Lauren Beaudreau of Lemont, Ill. (71-71).

Schalk has gone 72-76, while Jordaan has carded rounds of 74-75.

In boys action, Howe has racked up 14 birdies in two rounds, posting scores of 66-70 for an 8-under-par 136 total. He’s one up on Tyler Parker (70-67) of Knoxville, Tenn., going into Thursday’s final 18.

Ott, who tied for third at last year’s AJGA Irwin Junior, sits in that same spot after two days. The Colorado State University signee has gone 69-70, chalking up 10 birdies in two rounds.

The boys leaders will tee off on Thursday at 12:10 p.m., while the top girls will start at 11:20 a.m.

For boys scores from the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, CLICK HERE.

For girls results, CLICK HERE.