McGill (left in a Golf Channel photo) improved on her 35th-place performance in 2017 thanks to an impressive 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday in French Lick, Ind., which tied for the low final round of the event.

The Denver native, who won the 1993 U.S. Women’s Amateur and ’94 U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links, placed 23rd on Wednesday out of a field of 80 players. With a five-birdie three-bogey day in round 3, she posted a total of 12-over-par 228, finishing 20 strokes behind champion Laura Davies, who also won the U.S. Senior Women’s Open this year. McGill’s 70 was 10 strokes better than what she carded on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Sherry Andonian-Smith, the Colorado PGA’s inaugural Women’s Player of the Year in 2018, tied for 37th place on Wednesday (233 total) and World Golf Hall of Famer and part-time Coloradan Hollis Stacy tied for 67th (244).

It’s been a memorable year for Andonian-Smith, who also qualified for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open, finished second at the Colorado PGA Professional Championship, won her second Colorado PGA West Chapter Championship in three years, and became one of the first two Colorado women to qualify for the 2019 national PGA Professional Championship.

Here are the round-by-round scores for the players with strong Colorado ties who competed in the Senior LPGA Championship in French Lick, Ind.:

23. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jill McGill 78-80-70–228
37. Colorado PGA member Sherry Andonian-Smith 81-73-79–233
67. Part-time Colorado resident Hollis Stacy 78-80-86–244

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

The 21-year-old Westminster resident competed for the third time in an LPGA Tour event, and it’s no doubt obvious by now why this is the top women’s golf circuit in the world. Kupcho (left) played very good golf at the LPGA Marathon Classic in Sylvania, Ohio, and she now has an additional standard by which to measure herself.

The senior-to-be at Wake Forest (left, with dad and caddie Mike; photo courtesy of the Kupcho family) never shot a round over par for the four days, and made just two bogeys on the weekend, but with stellar competition, she lost some ground on Sunday. Nevertheless, her 16th-place finish was her best in an LPGA Tour event, surpassing the 21st-place showing at the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open.

Kupcho, the Women’s NCAA Division I individual champion and now the top-ranked women’s amateur in the world, received a good bit of air time on the Golf Channel during Sunday’s final round. She started the last day in fifth place, three strokes out of the lead, and was hoping to become the first amateur to win an LPGA Tour event since Lydia Ko in 2013. But a 1-par 70 on Sunday dropped her out of the top 10.

Kupcho, who had her dad Mike caddying for her this week, made a nice pitch to within a foot for a birdie on her final hole to check in at 9-under-par 275, five strokes behind champion Thidapa Suwannapura. Kupcho finished the final round with three birdies and two bogeys. Before bogeying the 13th hole with a three-putt on Sunday, she had gone 30 straight holes on the weekend with no score worse than a par.

“It’s been a great week,” Kupcho said on Saturday. “It’s fun to be around all the pros and have all these fans out here watching us. It’s just a great experience.”

For all the scores from the Marathon Classic, CLICK HERE.

Stacy 28th in U.S. Senior Women’s Open: Part-time Colorado resident Hollis Stacy was remarkably consistent in the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open at Chicago Golf Club. The three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion posted scores of 77-76-77-76, leaving her with a 14-over-par 306 total.

A final-hole birdie on Sunday gave Stacy a 28th-place finish. Laura Davies, like Stacy a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame, cruised to a 10-stroke victory over Juli Inkster in the event, ending up with a 276 total.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans who competed in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open:

28. Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy 77-76-77-76–306
Missed 36-Hole Cut
Part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy 82-77–159
Janet Moore, Centennial 80-81–161
Sherry Andonian-Smith, Centennial 80-81–161

For all the scores from the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.

Stacy (pictured), winner of six USGA championships including three U.S. Women’s Opens, shot a 4-over-par 77 to share 29th place. A round which featured three birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey left her seven strokes behind leader Elaine Crosby.

Meanwhile, a couple of the the other full- or part-time Colorado residents also competing at Chicago Golf Club are in position to make the 36-hole cut, which will reduce the field from 120 to the low 50 and ties on Friday evening.

Colorado PGA professional Sherry Andonian-Smith and amateur Janet Moore, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer likewise from Centennial, posted first-round 80s, which put them in 58th place. Andonian-Smith was even-par through 11 holes, but played her last seven in 7 over, including making a triple-bogey 8 on No. 4, her 13th hole. Moore likewise had one big number on her card, a double-bogey 7 on her ninth hole after making birdie on her eighth.

Amateur Marilyn Hardy, who lives in the Gunnison area during the summers, carded an 82 after closing with a birdie on Thursday, which left in her 77th place.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:

29. Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy 77
58. Janet Moore, Centennial 80
58. Sherry Andonian-Smith, Centennial 80
77. Part-time Gunnison resident Marilyn Hardy 82

For all the scores from the U.S. Senior Women’s Open, CLICK HERE.

At least that’s the case for golfers trying to qualify in Colorado for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open.

When CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora hosts the Colorado-based qualifier for the event on Tuesday, four players out of a field of 24 will advance to the first U.S. Senior Women’s Open ever held. And there will be three alternates — a change from the typical two for most USGA qualifying events.

The inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open is scheduled for July 12-15 at Chicago Golf Club, which is currently ranked No. 14 among Golf Digest’s America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses. Chicago GC is one of the nation’s oldest 18-hole courses.

The field for Tuesday’s qualifier at CommonGround features many accomplished competitors: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore; Denver native Lori West, who posted six top-10s on the LPGA Tour; former Colorado Women’s Open champions Dawne Kortgaard, Shelly Rule and Shannon Hanley; Coloradan Sherry Andonian-Smith, who finished second in the senior division of the LPGA Teaching & Club Professionals National Championship in September, earning a spot in the 2018 Senior LPGA Championship in the process; Elena Callas King, longtime instructor at CommonGround who was named among the top 50 LPGA teachers worldwide by the LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals membership; part-time Colorado resident Marilyn Hardy, a past semifinalist in the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur; former CWGA Stroke Play winner Kristine Franklin; and past CWGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play champion Deb Hughes.

Already in the U.S. Senior Women’s Open field is part-time Colorado resident Hollis Stacy, a World Golf Hall of Famer and three-time U.S. Women’s Open champion. The 64-year-old has a 10-year exemption by virtue of winning a U.S. Women’s Open title. Only four women have won more USGA national titles than has Stacy (6): JoAnne Gunderson Carner (8); Anne Quast Sander (7); Carol Semple Thompson (7); and Ellen Port (7).

“I will be playing, (trying) not to make a mess of it,” Stacy wrote to coloradogolf.org in an email earlier this year.

For Tuesday’s pairings at CommonGround, CLICK HERE.
 

When it comes to sheer candidness, there are few players who have won on the PGA Tour who are more forthright than Jonathan Kaye.

The former University of Colorado golfer seldom hesitates to voice his true opinions — good, bad or otherwise.

Last year, in the week in which he won his second CoBank Colorado Open title, Kaye was talking about the subject of money and purses on the PGA Tour. And he said something that was both illuminating and candid.

“I passed Jack Nicklaus (in career PGA Tour earnings) my third year on the Tour,” Kaye said. “There’s no way I should ever pass Jack Nicklaus.”

With the Masters on tap this week, we decided to take a look at where the most prominent players in the history of Colorado golf stack up in a statistic seldom mentioned anymore: career money leaders on the major professional tours.

It’s not surprising that the PGA Tour competitors in the Tiger Woods era have received a disproportionate boost in money earnings compared to their earlier counterparts. What was eye-opening was just how much an effect that had.

For instance, regarding Nicklaus and Kaye, the Golden Bear may be the greatest player of all time, with 18 majors among his 73 PGA Tour victories. Kaye, meanwhile, has won twice in his PGA Tour career.

Yet look at the PGA Tour career money list and Nicklaus is No. 271 ($5.734 million) and Kaye is No. 164 ($10.585 million, just ahead of Bernhard Langer). Many people debate whether Nicklaus or Woods is the greatest golfer ever, but on the PGA Tour’s career money list the Bear is a pauper compared to Tiger, who has won more than 19 times as much money ($111.183 million).

Hale Irwin (pictured above), a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, is unquestionably the most successful golfer the Centennial State has produced from an early age, with three U.S. Open victories among his 20 PGA Tour wins. But you’d never know it by looking at all-time PGA Tour money won. The World Golf Hall of Famer checks in at No. 263 ($5.966 million).

Another former CU golfer who won the U.S. Open is just a little ahead of Irwin. Steve Jones, whose eight-win career included the 1996 U.S. Open title, is No. 249 ($6.519 million).

As for other prominent players who grew up in Colorado and have had extensive PGA Tour careers, Brandt Jobe is 195th in career money at $9 million and one-time winner Kevin Stadler is 180th at $9.698 million. Both played their high school golf at Kent Denver.

Others with strong Colorado connections in the top 200 are Evergreen resident Craig Stadler (Kevin’s dad), winner of 13 PGA Tour events including a Masters (174th at $10.022 million); former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, a three-time PGA Tour champion (91st at $16.155 million); and Colorado resident David Duval, winner of 13 PGA Tour events including a British Open (78th at $18.984 million).

And, the top PGA Tour career money winner with major Colorado ties is Aspen resident Justin Leonard, who owns a dozen Tour wins including a British Open (22nd at $33.885 million).

Other PGA Tour winners with strong Colorado ties made less than $1 million in their PGA Tour careers, including Paul Runyan (28 wins), Ed Dudley (15 wins), Dow Finsterwald (11 wins), Dale Douglass (3 wins), Bob Byman (1 win) and Fred Wampler (1 win).

Dave Hill made $1.13 million in a career that included 13 victories, and Mark Wiebe earned $4.314 million in a career that featured two wins.

On the LPGA Tour, part-time Colorado resident and World Golf Hall of Famer Hollis Stacy (left, with Annika Sorenstam) earned $2.58 million in winning 18 times on the LPGA circuit, including four majors. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jill McGill earned $2.342 million, though she didn’t win a tournament on that circuit. World Golf Hall of Famer Babe Zaharias, a Denver-area resident in the 1940s, won 41 times on the LPGA Tour but earned just $66,237. Sharon Miller, like Zaharias and McGill a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, won $164,274 on the LPGA circuit, on which she posted two victories. Lauren Howe racked up $236,084 in career LPGA money after winning once. Sorenstam, who won the 1995 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, leads the LPGA career money list, with $22.573 million.

As for PGA Tour Champions, Irwin was a check-cashing machine for many years. The former Buff, winner of a career-record 45 PGA Tour Champions events, has won a remarkable $27.089 million on the 50-and-over circuit, putting him No. 1 all-time.

Also ranking among the top 100 in what was once know as the Senior Tour are Craig Stadler (35th at $8.979 million with nine wins); Douglass (56th at $7.019 million with 11 wins), Wiebe (73rd at $5.69 million with five wins) and R.W. Eaks (91st at $4.693 million with four wins). 

Four big-time LPGA Tour-related events have come to Colorado in the last 20 years, and all have been successes in the attendance department.

The biennial Solheim Cup matches between the U.S. and Europe, which concluded Sunday at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, drew about 110,000 fans for the three practice days and the three competition days. That’s a little shy of pre-tournament goals of 120,000 — the Solheim Cup record, set in 2009 in Sugar Grove, Ill. — but it’s still a strong total.

“I can’t tell you how great these fans are out here. It’s amazing,” American player Paula Creamer said.

Added John Solheim, part of the family that lent its name to the Solheim Cup: “What a course, what a place, what an atmosphere.”

Part-time Lakewood resident Hollis Stacy, a World Golf Hall of Famer who takes an active role in promoting the LPGA and women and girls golf, attended both the Ping Junior Solheim Cup at Inverness Golf Club and the main event at Colorado Golf Club.

“It’s gotten a great response,” said Stacy, winner of three U.S. Women’s Opens, three U.S. Girls’ Juniors and 18 LPGA Tour events overall. “The crowds have been very, very, very, very good, even with the Europeans pulverizing us. The fans have been wonderful.”

And that comes on the heels of Colorado-based tournaments setting then-U.S. Women’s Open weeklong attendance records in 1995 (96,000 for seven days at the Broadmoor in Colorado Springs) and in 2005 (more than 131,000 at Cherry Hills). And while the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor didn’t break a record, it still drew an impressive total of more than 125,000.

The crowds at the Solheim Cup are a little different. Besides being considerably more boisterous, many more fans come from out of the country — and out of the state — than in a more typical golf event. And, of course, because of the nature of the Solheim Cup, it’s televised in nations worldwide.

“It showcased Colorado golf terrifically,” Stacy said. “The winner of the whole thing is the golf course. It’s extremely tough, especially for the U.S. players. The course looked great.”

And the event could play a role in growing the game in Colorado, especially among women and girls who get the itch to play — or play more — because of what they’ve seen.

“I saw a lot of little girls out there,” Stacy said. “I think it will help little girls in playing golf and being excited about playing.”

And Stacy hopes that the run of big-time women’s golf events in Colorado continues. Starting in 2005, three of the women’s game’s top competitions have been held in the state.

“I think it’s smart to have LPGA events and USGA events here because it does showcase the beauty of Colorado and everything else that’s so wonderful about Colorado,” Stacy said.
 

With the year drawing to a close, it’s time to play one final 18. In this case, we’ll run down the top 18 Colorado golf stories of 2012, then throw in some honorable-mention selections at the end.

And just for the sake of a little suspense, we’ll start with the 18th-biggest story.

18. Woodard Inducted into National Black Golf Hall of Fame, Voted into Colorado Golf Hall of Fame: 2012 was a big year for longtime Coloradan Tom Woodard, now the director of golf for the Foothills Park & Recreation District. In March, he was inducted into the National Black Golf Hall of Fame, then in October he was voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, along with fellow Colorado PGA professional Alan Abrams and Jimmy Vickers. COLORADO GOLF HALL OF FAME FULL STORY, NATIONAL BLACK GOLF HALL OF FAME FULL STORY

17. Tourney Routs by Eaton, Humerickhouse: There were a couple of lopsided state tournament victories that went beyond the norm. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton prevailed by 16 shots in the CWGA Senior Stroke Play at the course on which she grew up, Greeley Country Club. STORY And in winning his third straight CGA Mid-Amateur, Keith Humerickhouse was a dozen shots ahead of the runner-up, marking the biggest margin in the event since 1991. STORY Then Humerickhouse put an exclamation mark on the year by proposing to his girlfriend in the midst of his acceptance speech for the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year award.

16. A Lucky Seven Straight for Kent Denver: Kent Denver, coached by Bob Austin, set a Colorado record by winning its seventh consecutive state high school boys team championship, this time in Class 3A. STORY 

15. Bertsch, Jacques, Huffer ‘Open’ the Door: Three Coloradans qualified for the top USGA championship for their respective gender. Shane Bertsch of Parker earned a U.S. Open berth for the first time since 1998. STORY And Becca Huffer and Kelly Jacques made it through qualifying at the Broadmoor to punch their tickets to their first U.S. Women’s Open. STORY Then in December, Jacques joined former University of Denver golfer Stephanie Sherlock in earning LPGA Tour status in 2013. STORY

14. Jones Joining Nicholson in Colorado Sports Hall of Fame: Former USGA president Will Nicholson Jr., was inducted into the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame in April. STORY And after being voted in in October, 1996 U.S. Open champion Steve Jones, a former University of Colorado golfer, will follow suit in the spring of 2013. STORY

13. Ringsby Hits the National Stage: Calli Ringsby of Cherry Hills Village had a memorable 2012 tournament season. She swept both the CWGA Junior Stroke Play STORY and Junior Match Play titles. Then she was one of just four American girls selected to compete in the USA-China Youth Golf Match. STORY

12. Lee Adds Still More Variety to Her Accomplishments: With a nine-shot victory in the CWGA Stroke Play, Somin Lee became just the second player in history to win the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, Junior Match Play, Stroke Play and Match Play. Lee joined Wendy Werley as the only golfers to capture all four of those titles during their careers. STORY

11. Colorado PGA Keeps its Streak Going: For the sixth and seventh time in six years, the Colorado PGA earned national awards from the PGA of America. Dale Smigelsky, the director of golf at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins, was named PGA Merchandiser of the Year for Public Facilities, while George Kahrhoff, head professional at The Country Club at Castle Pines in Castle Rock, earned the Merchandiser award for private facilities. STORY The Colorado PGA also was among the national leaders in the “Get Golf Ready” initiative in which PGA and LPGA professionals teach people everything they’ll need to know to play golf with confidence — in five lessons, usually for $99 total. The idea is to bring new and former golfers into the game as seamlessly as possible in a no-pressure environment.

10. Tolan Doubles Up in Colorado Open: Coloradan Derek Tolan won his second HealthOne Colorado Open in the last four years, this time rallying after trailing by four strokes with six holes to play. STORY

9. Bermel Departs CSU After 13 Years: After 13 successful years at the helm of the Colorado State University men’s team, Jamie Bermel resigned to take the same job at the University of Kansas. Bermel’s teams went to the NCAA regional tournament in 12 of his 13 years, and in 2011 the Rams earned a berth in the NCAA Finals for just the second time in program history. Overall, the Rams won 18 multi-team tournaments in Bermel’s tenure, including two conference titles. Former national assistant coach of the year Christian Newton succeeded Bermel at CSU. STORY

8. Near Miss in College Finale for Knous: Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous finished up his college career with a flourish. After leading most of the final round of the NCAA Division II national finals, Knous finished second, losing in a playoff. STORY

7. Mallon, Neumann Will Lead the Way at Colorado Golf Club: The leadership of the competing teams for the 2013 Solheim Cup matches that will be played at Colorado Golf Club in Parker was set early this year. Meg Mallon, winner of 18 LPGA Tour events in her career, will captain the U.S. squad, while 1988 U.S. Women’s Open champion Liselotte Neumann will be her European counterpart. STORY 

6. CU Women Score NCAA Breakthrough in Colorado: An NCAA women’s regional golf tournament was held in Colorado for the first time, and the University of Colorado took advantage of its host role at Colorado National by advancing to the NCAA Finals for the first time in program history. STORY

5. Kupcho Rallies from 9 Down in Final Round to Win CGA Stroke Play: After starting the final round nine strokes out of the lead and in 16th place, Steven Kupcho posted one of the biggest final-round rallies ever by a winner of the CGA Stroke Play. His final-round 66 at Fort Collins Country Club gave him the title as a 19-year-old. STORY

4. Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy Debuts: The CGA and CWGA launched a unique initiative to promote the use of caddies and foster candidates for the Evans Caddie Scholarship at the University of Colorado. The Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course — which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA — provides a powerful incentive to use caddies by paying all of their base fees. The program’s mission is to use caddying and the game of golf to help kids learn how to succeed in life. STORY

3. Stacy Gains Spots in World Golf Hall of Fame: Part-time Colorado resident Hollis Stacy earned one of golf’s biggest honors by being inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. Stacy, who lives in Lakewood during the summer, won 18 times on the LPGA Tour, but particularly excelled in USGA events. She won three U.S. Women’s Opens and three U.S. Girls’ Juniors. STORY

2. Austin Departing Powerful USGA Executive Committee: Not many women preceded Coloradan Christie Austin as a member of the USGA Executive Committee, one of golf’s most powerful governing bodies. But after six years in that role, Austin will be stepping down in February. STORY 

1. U.S. Amateur a Hit in Colorado: The U.S. Amateur was held in Colorado for just the fourth time, with Cherry Hills hosting and CommonGround being the second stroke-play course. The week started with Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 major championships and two U.S. Amateurs, playing the role of spectator as son Gary competed. It continued with two players with strong Colorado ties — Michael Schoolcraft and Justin Spray — qualifying for match play. And it ended with largely unheralded and 63rd-seeded Tennesseean Steven Fox winning a final in 37 holes after being 2 down with two holes left. Fox (pictured above with his dad Alan) was the the highest-seeded player to win the U.S. Amateur since the USGA began the seeding process in 1985. About 4,500 fans attended the final day, one of the largest totals in recent U.S. Amateurs. STORY

Honorable Mention: Former University of Colorado athlete Hale Irwin followed the likes of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson in receiving the Nicholson Award given for a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf. Later in the year, the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program was launched, with the initiative designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptional young golfers in the state. … After Ray Makloski won the CGA Senior Match Play in May, son Jimmy claimed a CGA title of his own (the Junior Stroke Play) in June. Later in the year, University of Denver golfer Andy Yang qualified for the U.S. Amateur shortly after sister Jennifer advanced to the U.S. Women’s Amateur. … Former college hockey standout David Delich won the CGA Senior Stroke Play the week after placing second in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, which marked the best finish by an amateur in that event since 1999. … Despite dozens and dozens of entrants both years, Lone Tree Golf Club repeated as champion in the season-long CGA Team InterClub Championship. … Nicole Zhang made it to the semifinals of the U.S. Women’s Amateur after qualifying for the event in Colorado. … At age 14, Jordan Sahm of Centennial qualified for U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship. … Cherry Creek’s Mackenzie Cohen, who shot 93 in the first round of the 5A state tourney in 2011, posted a score 26 strokes better in the final round of this year’s meet en route to an improbable victory. … Six-time CGA Player of the Year Rick DeWitt, who had never before competed in an event on the PGA, Champions or Web.com Tours, qualified for the U.S. Senior Open.
 

The most prestigious tournament in women’s golf came to the state, another Coloradan was selected for induction into the World Golf Hall of Fame, a PGA Tour playoff event was scheduled for Colorado in a few years, and a major growth-of-the-game initiative gained traction.

And that just scratches the surface of what transpired in 2011. So with the year quickly coming to a close, here’s one golf writer’s ranking of the top stories in Colorado golf over the last 12 months. (Note: Because we’ve previously chronicled the biggest moments for local tour players in 2011 — CLICK HERE — we left them off this list).

1. U.S. Women’s Open at the Broadmoor. Though the tournament was plagued by turbulent weather much of the week, the Broadmoor Golf Club attracted 130,485 spectators for the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open. That means the only two Women’s Opens to exceed 120,000 occurred in Colorado, with Cherry Hills Country Club drawing more than 131,000 in 2005.

The Broadmoor continued Colorado’s recent tradition of being very hospitable to foreign-born players in major USGA championships. In the first three-hole aggregate playoff in U.S. Women’s Open history, South Korea’s So Yeon Ryu (pictured celebrating) defeated countrywoman Hee Kyung Seo to claim the title.

Previously, Argentina’s Eduardo Romero won the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor, South Korea’s Birdie Kim claimed the 2005 Women’s Open at Cherry Hills, and Sweden’s Annika Sorenstam prevailed in the 1995 Women’s Open at the Broadmoor.

2. Stacy Lands Spot in World Golf Hall of Fame. Only four people with major Colorado connections are already in the World Golf Hall of Fame, but Hale Irwin, Judy Bell, Paul Runyan and Babe Zaharias will soon have company.

Hollis Stacy, a part-time resident of Lakewood since 1995, will be inducted through the veterans category on May 7 in St. Augustine, Fla. Stacy won four major championships and six USGA titles during her career, with the most notable victories coming in three U.S. Women’s Opens.

3. BMW Championship Set for Cherry Hills. Cherry Hills Country Club was already in line to host the 2012 U.S. Amateur — with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second course for the stroke-play portion of the event — but now the storied Cherry Hills Village layout has two major tournaments on the agenda in the foreseeable future.

In April, the announcement came that the BMW Championship, one of the PGA Tour playoff events, will be contested at Cherry Hills Sept. 4-7, 2014. That will be the first time the state has hosted a PGA Tour event since The International ended its run in 2006.

4. Golf in Schools Gears Up.  With the number of golfers in the country dropping, it’s important to lay the grass-roots foundation for growth in the future. That was the impetus behind the Colorado Section PGA Golf in Schools Program, a major initiative of the Colorado PGA, CGA, CWGA, the Colorado Open Golf Foundation and other Allied Golf Associations.

The program, which puts golf professionals in physical education classes to provide instruction, has a goal of bringing golf to 9,000 students in 60 schools by 2015, and it’s ahead of pace after Year 1.

5. Closing of Green Gables Country Club. Green Gables had operated continuously for more than 80 years and had hosted six events on the LPGA Tour and one on the Senior Tour, but that didn’t stop the end from coming in late October. The financially-troubled club closed its doors after being purchased by a group of investors which plans to develop the property in west Denver.

The situation was stark proof that in tough economic times like these, no one in the business is immune.

6. National Leadership Roles for Coloradans. There’s certainly no lack of Colorado residents who held national leadership posts in 2011, or will do so in 2012.

Among those who headed up national golf organizations this year were CWGA executive director Robin Jervey (president of the International Association of Golf Administrators) and Rick Phelps (president of the American Society of Golf Course Architects).

Meanwhile, Denver’s Jim Bunch will become chairman of the Western Golf Association on Jan. 1, and Christie Austin of Cherry Hills Village will take over as treasurer of the USGA Executive Committee on Feb. 4.

7. Nicholson Bound for Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. It isn’t every year that a person with a golf background gets elected to the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame. In fact, it’s more the exception than the rule.

However, Denver resident Will Nicholson Jr., recently received the support necessary to gain a spot in the Hall effective in April of 2012. Nicholson is a former USGA president and a former chairman of both the Competition and Rules Committees at Augusta National, home of the Masters.

8. Steve Irwin Qualifies for U.S. Open. Arvada resident Steve Irwin is no stranger to the U.S. Open — after all, his father Hale won the Open three times — but the younger Irwin had never competed in the event before this year.

That changed when the former CGA Player of the Year successfully beat the odds by making it through the Local and Sectional qualifying tournaments. And to add icing to the cake, Hale was part of Steve’s gallery at the Open.

9. Jensen’s Departure. By all accounts, longtime CGA director of youth programs Dustin Jensen had a knack for making a significant impact on many young golfers in Colorado over the years. If there was any doubt about that, watching Jensen interact with the youngsters at tournaments was proof enough. Many a junior player learned valuable lessons — both about golf and life — through the time they spent with Jensen.

After a decade of working for the CGA, Jensen left the association late in the summer to become the associate director of alumni relations and the booster club at his alma mater, Jamestown College in Jamestown, North Dakota.

10. Death of Dave Hill. Colorado lost one of the most successful and storied players in state golf history in the fall when Dave Hill died after battling emphysema.

Hill won a record four Colorado Opens and also claimed the second title of his PGA Tour career at the 1961 Denver Open. To show Hill’s stature in Colorado golf history, he was in the first class to be inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, in 1973.

11. Lefty’s Fast Sunday Start Nets Colorado Open Title. Westminster resident Ben Portie ran off six straight birdies to start the final round and won the HealthOne Colorado Open and the biggest paycheck of his career ($23,000). The victory came seven days after Portie claimed the South Dakota Open title.

Portie was one of several left-handers to win significant Colorado tournaments in 2011. Keith Humerickhouse claimed his second consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur title, while John Ahern prevailed in the CGA Junior Match Play.

12. CGA Hosts Junior America’s Cup. Due to safety concerns about holding the Junior America’s Cup in Mexico, the prestigious tournament was moved to Colorado — Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, specifically — just 4 ½ months ahead of time.

The event, which features 17 four-person teams of top-level junior golfers from the western U.S., western Canada and Mexico, was held in Colorado for just the third time.

The team representing the CGA posted its best recorded finish ever, placing third, behind only perennial powers Northern and Southern California.

13. Brown’s August to Remember. Coloradan Zahkai Brown went out on a high note in what is likely to be his final summer as an amateur. In August, Brown was medalist in U.S. Amateur qualifying, won the CGA Stroke Play by rallying from six strokes down going into the final round, then made it to match play in the national Amateur.

The 75th CGA Stroke Play Championship was particularly memorable as third-round leader David Schroeder took a quadruple-bogey 8 on the 15th hole at CommonGround and Brown shot a final-round 66 to change the complexion of the tournament.

14. Clark’s 64-64 in High School Finale. Wyndham Clark was certainly the favorite going into his final high school tournament, but the way he went about winning his second 4A state title was still eye-opening. The Valor Christian senior shot 64-64 — likely the best two-day total in state high school history — at Pelican Lakes to win by a whopping eight strokes.

Clark has signed to play his college golf at Oklahoma State, winner of 10 national team titles.

15. Eaton a USGA Quarterfinalist.  For the second time in three years, Kim Eaton of Greeley made it to the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur. This time, she lost in the final eight to Terri Frohnmayer of Salem, Ore., who went on to win the national title.

16. Famous Caddie at Colorado Women’s Open. A couple of very famous people in the sports world — neither of them competitors in the open tournament — made headlines in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open. First, Jody Conradt, the second-winningest coach in the history of Division I women’s college basketball, made a hole-in-one in the pro-am competition.

Then 2010 PGA Champion Martin Kaymer showed up to caddie in the tournament for his girlfriend, Allison Micheletti. Kaymer, then the No. 3-ranked golfer in the world, went largely unnoticed at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

17. Sixty-Somethings Make Their Mark. Age appeared to be no object to several competitors in 2011. At 63 years old, Jerry Kidney tied the competitive course record at Valley Country Club en route to winning the CGA Senior Stroke Play — and the super-senior title in the same event.

Meanwhile, John Olive, just short of his 66th birthday, claimed medalist honors in USGA Senior Amateur qualifying. And Harry Johnson, just shy of his 63rd birthday, nearly won the CGA Mid-Amateur, an event for players 25 and older. He finished a stroke behind Keith Humerickhouse, who birdied the final hole for the victory.

18. Urman’s Cherry Creek Team Wins State. Dani Urman, who battled back from bone cancer to qualify for the girls state high school tournament, helped her Cherry Creek team win the 5A state title in May.

Urman had both of her scores (90-79) count toward the team total, and the then-sophomore finished 16th individually.