Alas, it wasn’t to be.
After sharing the lead going into Tuesday’s final round of the Summit League Championship in Newton, Kan., the Pioneers finished two strokes out of the top spot in the eight-team field.
North Dakota State posted a three-round total of 29-over-par 893. DU shot a 1-under-par 287 — the second-best daily team score in the tournament — but NDSU was two better on Tuesday.
Denver’s last major team title came in this tournament in 2014.
The Pioneers put three players in the top seven individually, including two seniors who have been teammates all through high school (at Regis Jesuit) and college. Jake Kelley tied for fourth individually at 5-over-par 221 after closing with a 4-under 68. Fellow senior Chris Korte shared seventh place at 224 with freshman teammate Jackson Solem, with Korte shooting a 70 and Solem a 74 on Tuesday.
The final hole proved very costly for DU on Tuesday as Eric Hagen made a triple bogey and Korte and John Sand double bogeys.
Zach Schroeder of Fort Wayne claimed the individual title at 2-under-par 214.
Men’s Summit League Championship
April 29-May 1, 2018 (final) in Newton, Kan.
2. (out of 8 teams) Denver 294-314-287–895
4. Jake Kelley 74-79-68–221
7. Chris Korte 73-81-70–224
7. Jackson Solem 72-78-74–224
15. John Sand 75-78-77–230
19. Eric Hagen 79-79-75–233
Among those joining Kelley in the final eight were 2016 CGA Player of the Year Kyler Dunkle (pictured) of the Club at Pradera, 2015 CGA Stroke Play champion Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, 2016 5A state high school champion Kyle Pearson of Meridian Golf Club and U.S. Open Sectional qualifier Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club.
Also in the quarters will be Brittain Walton of Collindale Golf Course, Jack Cummings of the Omni Interlocken Resort and Roy Carlsen of Walnut Creek Golf Club. Thursday’s matches will be: Kelley vs. Pearson, Dunkle vs. Walton, Korte vs. Cummings, and Staiano vs. Carlsen. The winners will then compete in the semifinals on Thursday afternoon, setting up Friday’s 36-hole final.
Kelley defeated CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year Chris Thayer 3 and 1 in Wednesday’s round of 16. Korte, a University of Denver teammate of Kelley’s, beat 2015 Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz, 6 and 5.
Among the others ousted in the round of 16 were U.S. Open Sectional qualifiers Ross Macdonald and Hunter Paugh, and 2016 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado boys Player of the Year AJ Ott.
For results from the Match Play, CLICK HERE.
Kelley, who shot a course-record 63 for the tees he was playing in Monday’s stroke-play qualifier, scored a 4 and 3 victory Tuesday over Stephen Fernandes of CommonGround Golf Course in the round of 64.
And Korte (pictured), who posted a 65 on Monday, defeated University of Northern Colorado golfer Li Chen of Legacy Ridge Golf Course 2 and 1 in their opening match.
But falling Tuesday were third-seeded Tristan Rohrbaugh, a former 3A state high school champion who plays out of Ironbridge Golf Club (3 and 1 to Pierce Aichinger of Glenmoor Country Club), and No. 4 seed Isaac Petersilie, a DU golfer from Colorado Springs Country Club (1 up to Cole Anderson of the Country Club of Colorado).
Joining Kelley and Korte in advancing to the round of 32 were the three reigning CGA Players of the Year (Kyler Dunkle-open division, Chris Thayer-mid-amateur) and Robin Bradbury-senior). Also moving on were 2016 CGA Amateur champion Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club, 2015 Match Play winnner Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course, and several 2017 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers: Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club, Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines, Daniel Pearson of The Fox Hill Club and former 5A state high school champion Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins Country Club.
Two rounds of matches will be contested on Wednesday, setting the stage for the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday and the 36-hole final on Friday.
For results from the Match Play, CLICK HERE.
]]>
Jake Kelley (pictured) of Columbine Country Club earned medalist honors and established a course record for the gold/black tees by shooting an 8-under-par 63 at Ravenna. The DU senior-to-be made two eagles — including one on the 346-yard par-4 seventh hole — to go along with five birdies and one bogey.
Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, a high school (Regis Jesuit) and college (DU) teammate of Kelley, landed the No. 2 seed in match play by firing a 65. Korte, the 2015 CGA Amateur champion, made seven birdies and one bogey on the day.
And Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs Country Club, also a DU golfer, managed a 67 Monday to share third place with Tristan Rohrbaugh of Ironbridge Golf Club, a Boise State golfer. Petersilie carded an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys on Monday. Rohrbaugh, like Petersilie a former Colorado state high school champion, posted an eagle, five birdies and three bogeys.
Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club and AJ Ott of Ptarmigan Country Club recorded 68s on Monday to tie for fifth place.
All told on Monday, 10 players carded sub-par rounds at Ravenna, which is hosting the CGA’s oldest championship for the first time.
The top 64 players out of the original field of 84 — those who shot 79 or better on Monday — will advance to match play, which begins on Tuesday and continues through Friday’s 36-hole final. Among those 64 are 2016 CGA Player of the Year Kyler Dunkle of the Club at Pradera (71), 2016 CGA Amateur champion Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club (72) and 2015 Match Play winner Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course (76).
For Monday’s scores, CLICK HERE.
Playing Division I college golf is a very competitive undertaking. Being successful as a freshman is particularly challenging.
But the transition from high school and junior golf to big-time college golf seems to have come relatively easy for the Colorado high school graduating class of 2014.
Eight true freshmen from Colorado have competed in all — or almost all — of his of her school’s college tournaments so far this season. And another few play semi-regularly.
Several are taking it yet another step, making a big-time impact by having been in contention for individual titles at large Division I college tournaments.
And just in the last week and a half, things have really come to a head as Arapahoe High School graduate and University of Oklahoma freshman Hannah Wood (above) won the Notre Dame Clover Cup, and Regis Jesuit grad and University of Denver frosh Chris Korte placed sixth in the 85-man Desert Shootout.
Wood, the reigning CWGA Stroke Play champion, leads Oklahoma in season stroke average (72.8) and has recorded four top-20 finishes in six college tournaments. And in the wake of her Clover Cup victory, the former Hale Irwin Elite Player was named the national female golfer of the week by Golfweek magazine.
As for Korte (left), while he hasn’t won a college tournament yet, he’s posted a remarkable three top-six finishes in his last five events (two fourths and a sixth). And, following his performance in the Desert Shootout, he was named the Summit League men’s golfer of the week.
Korte and DU freshman teammate Jake Kelley are in some ways picking up where they left off in high school at Regis. In their senior year, RJHS won the 5A boys state high school title for the fourth consecutive year. Kelley has likewise made the transition to college look relatively easy as he’s recorded two 11th-place finishes for DU, and three top-20s in all.
Here’s a quick look at some of the other true freshmen from Colorado high schools who have made an impact so far in their first season of college golf:
Sarah Hankins, Wyoming (Legacy HS graduate) — Hankins has seen periodic tournament action, with her best showing being a 36th-place finish.
Sam Marley, Northern Colorado (Arapahoe HS graduate) — Plays regularly at UNC and has notched two top-50 finishes.
Todd Millard, Air Force Academy (Silver Creek HS graduate) — Has seen limited tournament action, with his best finish being a 39th at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational.
Spencer Painton, Kansas (Regis Jesuit HS graduate) — The 2013 5A state high school individual champion hasn’t seen a lot of college tournament action, but he has two 25th-place finishes to his credit.
Calli Ringsby, Stanford (Cherry Creek HS graduate) — Ringsby has appeared in a few tournaments for Stanford so far this season, with a 50th-place showing her best individual performance.
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Boise State (Basalt HS graduate) — Has notched two top-35 finishes, both during the spring schedule, including a 15th at the Pat Hicks Invitational.
Josh Seiple, Mississippi (Valor Christian HS graduate) — Seiple has been a regular on Ole Miss’ traveling squad and has posted two top-40 individual finishes.
Jaylee Tait, Montana State (Columbine HS graduate) — Tait, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, has finished in the top 30 twice this season, including a 15th-place showing.
Glenn Workman, Wyoming (Pueblo West HS graduate) — Workman has been a workhorse for Wyoming as a freshman and has recorded two top-20 finishes.
The Ram Masters Invitational, hosted by the Colorado State men’s golf team, has only been held three times, but already it’s becoming known for its oddities.
For example:
— In Monday’s second round at Fort Collins Country Club, three players made holes-in-one — all at the same hole (the 195-yard ninth), and all within less than an hour of one another.
Freshman Drew McCullough of Wyoming, Shane Fontenot of McNeese State and Pierre Tillement of George Washington pulled off the feat. The ace came in particularly handy for McCullough, who went on to claim the individual title — by one stroke — on Tuesday.
— Three players from the 2013 5A state championship-winning Regis Jesuit team competed in the Ram Masters Invite: Jake Kelley (11th overall) and Chris Korte (36th) for the University of Denver, and individual state champ Spencer Painton (24th) for the University of Kansas.
And, for the record, three other true freshmen from Colorado high schools also played in the event: Glenn Workman for Wyoming (50th), Todd Millard for Air Force (66th) and Sam Marley for Northern Colorado (73rd).
— In 2013, the last three head coaches for CSU were on hand for the event — current coach Christian Newton, along with Jamie Bermel (now with Kansas) and Mark Crabtree (now with Louisville).
— In both of the first two Ram Masters Invitationals, in another odds-defying coincidence, CSU finished second as a team — by a single stroke on each occasion. And last year, one of the Ram players incurred a penalty on the final hole, accounting for the one-stroke difference between second place and a playoff for first.
But on Tuesday, the golf gods finally smiled on CSU as it claimed the team title in the Ram Masters Invitational. Colorado State prevailed by four over Bermel’s Kansas squad, and by seven over the 2013 champion University of Denver, now coached by Erik Billinger.
“Absolutely it is extra sweet,” said Newton, CSU’s third-year coach who notched his first team victory as a college head coach. “The guys just did a fantastic job. It was a struggle early on (Tuesday). I think they were a little tight early on and we might have lost the lead at one time. It was really good to have those guys get nervous and then pick themselves back up and finish up really good. I’m really proud of them. They did a great job.
“It’s the first (team) win for me as a head coach, so this one will definitely be real special to me. It doesn’t matter what (happens in the future), I won’t forget this one.”
CSU put six players in the top 24, including one of its three golfers competing strictly as individuals. Cameron Harrell (at left, with Newton), who shared the Ram Masters individual title last year, led the way again with a 2-over-par 212 total, good for fourth place. It marked the sixth top-10 performance of Harrell’s college career. Max Oelfke (215) was ninth, Dominic Kieffer and Patrick Winther (217) tied for 13th, Alec Bone (218) was 17th and Jimmy Makloski (219) checked in at 24th. (At top, Harrell admires the tournament trophy as Makloski shares a laugh.)
Though Kansas finished four back of CSU, the Jayhawks had a chance to catch the Rams down the stretch. But KU played the final hole in a combined 7 over par in round 3 (including a player who was disqualified on Tuesday). CSU was likewise far from stellar on No. 18, but went 2 over there.
As for DU, it held the lead late in the front nine Tuesday, but the Pioneers struggled in the middle of the round and couldn’t keep pace with CSU. Petter Mikalsen (213) led DU with a fifth-place individual finish, while Kelley (left) was 11th in his college debut.
“We had a ton of momentum because we got off to a hot start,” Billinger said. “But one of the guys (Adam Ruben) made a double bogey on 7 and we kind of lost momentum. I think the whole team kind of felt that, and we never got it back. Obviously, we always want to win, so we’re a little disappointed right now. But CSU kept the foot on the gas pedal. Hats off to them. They played great on their home course.”
The tournament was the first for Billinger (below) as a head coach.
“It’s fun obviously to get the competitive juices flowing,” he said. “I’m blessed to be able to be the coach and I couldn’t be more excited about it.”
But maybe things just evened out a bit after DU edged CSU in the Ram Masters a year ago.
“This tournament, I knew we just couldn’t lose again,” Harrell said. “One shot, two years in a row … So I knew we were going to win this one. We had to at least win this one.”
For Harrell, a senior, it was his first team victory in a multi-team event as a Ram. CSU last claimed such a team title in April 2011 at the Cougar Classic.
“Our four (counting rounds today) were 1 over, 1 over, 1 over and 2 over. I was really proud of that,” Harrell said. “We all hung in there and grinded it out and finally won. It feels good to have my first one ever (team-wise).”
The other two Colorado-based teams competing in the Ram Masters Invitational — Air Force and Northern Colorado — tied for 11th place in the 15-team field.
Ram Masters Invitational
Sept. 15-16, 2014 (final) at Fort Collins CC
1. (out of 15 teams) Colorado State men 283-287-285–855
4. Cameron Harrell 71-69-72–212; 13. Dominic Kieffer 68-78-71–217; 13. Patrick Winther 71-75-71–217; 17. Alec Bone 73-69-76–218; 24. Jimmy Makloski 74-74-71–219. Competing only as individuals: 9. Max Oelfke 73-71-73–215; 58. Trey Kidd 82-74-73–229; 60. Logan Iverson 75-79-76–230.
3. Denver 289-286-287–862
5. Petter Mikalsen 71-72-70–213; 11. Jake Kelley 71-71-74–216; 17. Victor Doka 76-71-71–218; 30. Adam Ruben 75-72-74–221; 36. Chris Korte 72-78-72–222. Competing only as individual: 73. Johan Werge 76-78-83–237.
11. Air Force 302-294-304–900
17. Sunwoo Choi 74-69-75–218; 45. Brenden Bone 75-74-75–224; 57. J.D. Kiesewetter 75-77-77–229; 63. Dane Hankamer 80-75-77–233; 65. Blake Edwards 78-76-79–233. Competing only as individual: 66. Todd Millard 78-79-77–234.
11. Northern Colorado 300-304-296–900
30. Jack Cummings 71-77-73–221; 36. Conner Barr 75-77-72–222; 50. Andrew Romano 79-72-76–227; 69. Julian Woodfork 75-80-80–235; 73. Sam Marley 82-78-77–237.
Also
24. Spencer Painton, Kansas 71-75-73–219
50. Glenn Workman, Wyoming 77-77-73–227
It was certainly a notable way to wrap up the CJGA tournament season for 2013.
— Spencer Painton almost drove the first green at Cherry Hills Country Club — a la Arnold Palmer in the 1960 U.S. Open — and made a 2-foot birdie there in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
— Hannah Wood (pictured at left), a caddie at Cherry Hills for the last several years, finally got to play the historic course over the weekend, with the result being a victory in the girls division of the T of C.
— In the boys playoff, Painton had to overcome a fellow senior on the four-time state champion Regis Jesuit golf team, Jake Kelley. Kelley, like Painton, qualified for the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur. And, earlier in the week, Painton won the 5A state high school individual title, while Kelley tied for second.
— And Wood became just the second player in history to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions in back-to-back years, joining Lynette Duran (1999 and 2000). Somin Lee won the event twice in a row (2008 and 2010), but there was a year in between when the tourney was canceled due to weather.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to put an exclamation mark on 2013. Certainly Painton (pictured at left) and Wood think so.
“It feels awesome, especially to come off of 5A and win this prestigious Colorado trophy,” said the 17-year-old Painton, who plays out of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. “I was in a state today where I didn’t care if I won or lost. I’m just very pleased with the way I’ve been playing recently.”
Added Wood: “I didn’t really realize (that she won two Tournament of Champions in a row) until just now. But back-to-back is pretty cool. It feels great. That’s fun.”
As for Painton and his sudden-death victory, he hit a driver on the 340-yard first hole — the same one where Palmer drove the green in the final round en route to winning the 1960 U.S. Open. Painton’s ball finished past pin-high just off the green.
He pitched his second shot to 2 feet and sank the birdie putt, while Kelley hit an overhanging tree limb with his approach shot and finished with bogey.
“Off the tee I knew (Spencer) was going to hit the green, so I tried to swing out of my shoes,” noted Kelley (pictured at left with Painton). “I missed it right, but I didn’t even see the tree (limb that his second shot hit). I was focusing on the distance.”
As for finishing twice in state tournaments for the second time in a week, Kelley said, “At least I’m losing to a good player; that’s always positive. I’m hoping to win soon, but I’m OK with this.”
Ironically, Painton had tried to drive the first green in his first two times playing the hole, but the result was a double bogey and a bogey.
“That was a nice shot — to hit a nice drive and make birdie — after what I had done the first two times I played it,” said Painton, who will play his college golf at the University of Kansas. “I knew that was the right play but I just had a couple of poor swings. I also knew Jake was going to pull driver and go for it so I just figured, ‘Why not?'”
Painton made six birdies — including one on the final hole — on Sunday in a 3-under-par 69 to post an even-par 144 total for two days. Kelley, who plays out of Pinehurst Country Club, went birdie-birdie-eagle to finish his round of 68 on Sunday and force a playoff.
Grant Rogers, Josh Seiple and Jacob Allenback tied for third place at 147.
Wood (pictured at left and below) shot the only sub-par round of the girls tournament — a 1-under-par 72 on Sunday — to win by six strokes. Wood, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course, played her last 11 holes in 3 under par to pull away.
Wood, a 17-year-old senior at Arapahoe High School, finished with an even-par 146 total for two days. Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround, who played in four USGA national events this year, placed second at 152 after closing with a 75. Calli Ringsby of Denver Country Club ended up third at 156 after her second consecutive 78.
It was another nice notch in the belt this year for Wood, who previously won the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational in Texas and who competed in three USGA championships this year.
Even though Wood hadn’t played Cherry Hills before the weekend, she was certainly familiar with the course, having caddied there in summers throughout her high school years.
“When I’m caddying it feels like I’m the player,” said Wood, who plans to sign a national letter of intent with the University of Oklahoma. “I’ve been all over the course. The members hit it left and right. I’ve been everywhere you can think of. I just imagine myself hitting their shot, what I would do. It was kind of a nice advantage I had for this tournament.”
If nothing else, that manifested itself on the greens as Wood didn’t have a three-putt in two days at Cherry Hills.
And Wood hopes to parlay her good play in the Tournament of Champions into a solid showing Oct. 11-14 at the AJGA Ping Invitational in Stillwater, Okla. Only about 30 of the top junior girls players were invited to the tournament.
CJGA Tournament of Champions
At Cherry Hills CC in Cherry Hills Village
* — indicates won playoff
BOYS
*Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club 75-69–144
Jake Kelley, Pinehurst CC 76-68–144
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC 77-70–147
Jacob Allenback, Elmwood GC 75-72–147
Joshua Seiple, Castle Pines GC 75-72–147
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC 76-72–148
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC 78-71–149
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 78-71–149
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines 77-75–152
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 77-76–153
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera 82-72–154
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park GC 77-78–155
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC 81-74–155
Erik Young, Commonground GC 79-77–156
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge Golf Club 79-79–158
Justin Allenback, Elmwood GC 83-77–160
Sam Marley, South Suburban Golf Course 80-80–160
Taylor Rodriguez, Elmwood GC 83-78–161
Gregory Shelton, Raccoon Creek GC 83-84–167
Grant McGinty, Family Sports GC 85-83–168
GIRLS
Hannah Wood, South Suburban Family Sports 74-72–146
Jennifer Kupcho, Commonground GC 77-75–152
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 78-78–156
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock GC 85-82–167
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch GC 89-80–169
Kelsey McKenna, Patty Jewett GC 85-86–171
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek GC Wga 85-86–171
Delaney Benson, South Suburban Family Sports 83-91–174
Holly Schaefer, Columbine CC Lga 86-WD
It was certainly a notable way to wrap up the CJGA tournament season for 2013.
— Spencer Painton almost drove the first green at Cherry Hills Country Club — a la Arnold Palmer in the 1960 U.S. Open — and made a 2-foot birdie there in a sudden-death playoff Sunday to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions.
— Hannah Wood, a caddie at Cherry Hills for the last several years, finally got to play the historic course over the weekend, with the result being a victory in the girls division of the T of C.
— In the boys playoff, Painton (pictured above) had to overcome a fellow senior on the four-time state champion Regis Jesuit golf team, Jake Kelley. Kelley, like Painton, qualified for the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur. And, earlier in the week, Painton won the 5A state high school individual title, while Kelley tied for second.
— And Wood (pictured at left) became just the second player in history to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions in back-to-back years, joining Lynette Duran (1999 and 2000). Somin Lee won the event twice in a row (2008 and 2010), but there was a year in between when the tourney was canceled due to weather.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad way to put an exclamation mark on 2013. Certainly Painton and Wood think so.
“It feels awesome, especially to come off of 5A and win this prestigious Colorado trophy,” said the 17-year-old Painton, who plays out of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. “I was in a state today where I didn’t care if I won or lost. I’m just very pleased with the way I’ve been playing recently.”
Added Wood: “I didn’t really realize (that she won two Tournament of Champions in a row) until just now. But back-to-back is pretty cool. It feels great. That’s fun.”
As for Painton and his sudden-death victory, he hit a driver on the 340-yard first hole — the same one where Palmer drove the green in the final round en route to winning the 1960 U.S. Open. Painton’s ball finished past pin-high just off the green.
He pitched his second shot to 2 feet and sank the birdie putt, while Kelley hit an overhanging tree limb with his approach shot and finished with bogey.
“Off the tee I knew (Spencer) was going to hit the green, so I tried to swing out of my shoes,” noted Kelley (pictured at left with Painton). “I missed it right, but I didn’t even see the tree (limb that his second shot hit). I was focusing on the distance.”
As for finishing twice in state tournaments for the second time in a week, Kelley said, “At least I’m losing to a good player; that’s always positive. I’m hoping to win soon, but I’m OK with this.”
Ironically, Painton had tried to drive the first green in his first two times playing the hole, but the result was a double bogey and a bogey.
“That was a nice shot — to hit a nice drive and make birdie — after what I had done the first two times I played it,” said Painton, who will play his college golf at the University of Kansas. “I knew that was the right play but I just had a couple of poor swings. I also knew Jake was going to pull driver and go for it so I just figured, ‘Why not?'”
Painton made six birdies — including one on the final hole — on Sunday in a 3-under-par 69 to post an even-par 144 total for two days. Kelley, who plays out of Pinehurst Country Club, went birdie-birdie-eagle to finish his round of 68 on Sunday and force a playoff.
Grant Rogers, Josh Seiple and Jacob Allenback tied for third place at 147.
Wood (pictured at left and below) shot the only sub-par round of the girls tournament — a 1-under-par 72 on Sunday — to win by six strokes. Wood, a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course, played her last 11 holes in 3 under par to pull away.
Wood, a 17-year-old senior at Arapahoe High School, finished with an even-par 146 total for two days. Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround, who played in four USGA national events this year, placed second at 152 after closing with a 75. Calli Ringsby of Denver Country Club ended up third at 156 after her second consecutive 78.
It was another nice notch in the belt this year for Wood, who previously won the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational in Texas and who competed in three USGA championships this year.
Even though Wood hadn’t played Cherry Hills before the weekend, she was certainly familiar with the course, having caddied there in summers throughout her high school years.
“When I’m caddying it feels like I’m the player,” said Wood, who plans to sign a national letter of intent with the University of Oklahoma. “I’ve been all over the course. The members hit it left and right. I’ve been everywhere you can think of. I just imagine myself hitting their shot, what I would do. It was kind of a nice advantage I had for this tournament.”
If nothing else, that manifested itself on the greens as Wood didn’t have a three-putt in two days at Cherry Hills.
And Wood hopes to parlay her good play in the Tournament of Champions into a solid showing Oct. 11-14 at the AJGA Ping Invitational in Stillwater, Okla. Only about 30 of the top junior girls players were invited to the tournament.
CJGA Tournament of Champions
At Cherry Hills CC in Cherry Hills Village
* — indicates won playoff
BOYS
*Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club 75-69–144
Jake Kelley, Pinehurst CC 76-68–144
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC 77-70–147
Jacob Allenback, Elmwood GC 75-72–147
Joshua Seiple, Castle Pines GC 75-72–147
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC 76-72–148
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC 78-71–149
Jake Staiano, Glenmoor CC 78-71–149
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines 77-75–152
Aj Ott, Ptarmigan CC 77-76–153
Kyler Dunkle, The Club at Pradera 82-72–154
Donny Kinnaman, Lincoln Park GC 77-78–155
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs CC 81-74–155
Erik Young, Commonground GC 79-77–156
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge Golf Club 79-79–158
Justin Allenback, Elmwood GC 83-77–160
Sam Marley, South Suburban Golf Course 80-80–160
Taylor Rodriguez, Elmwood GC 83-78–161
Gregory Shelton, Raccoon Creek GC 83-84–167
Grant McGinty, Family Sports GC 85-83–168
GIRLS
Hannah Wood, South Suburban Family Sports 74-72–146
Jennifer Kupcho, Commonground GC 77-75–152
Calli Ringsby, Denver CC Lga 78-78–156
Morgan Sahm, Saddle Rock GC 85-82–167
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch GC 89-80–169
Kelsey McKenna, Patty Jewett GC 85-86–171
Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek GC Wga 85-86–171
Delaney Benson, South Suburban Family Sports 83-91–174
Holly Schaefer, Columbine CC Lga 86-WD
Spencer Painton placed a nice, big beautiful bow on top of his high school golf career Tuesday at Murphy Creek Golf Course.
In his final high school tournament, the senior led Regis Jesuit to its fourth consecutive 5A state team title, a feat accomplished in Colorado by only two other programs in the open or large-school classification: Colorado Springs (four straight, 1948-51) and ThunderRidge (six in a row, 2001-06).
And Painton (pictured fist-pumping after making a birdie) doubled his fun by claiming the individual 5A championship.
“I’m happy to contribute to hopefully (Regis eventually winning) six in a row,” he said. “I wish I could come back again next year, but I went out with a bang. That’s all I can do.”
Indeed, between finishing Monday’s round of 66 with six straight birdies, then pulling away on Tuesday to earn the state title, it doesn’t get much better.
“This means a lot to me, especially because since freshman year it’s been one of my goals to win state as an individual,” said Painton, who will play college golf at the University of Kansas for former Colorado State coach Jamie Bermel. “All the hard work has paid off.
“The title of state champion never leaves you. I’m very, very proud of this one.”
Painton, who reached the round of 64 at the 2013 U.S. Junior Amateur, shot an even-par 72 Tuesday despite the wind wreaking havoc on the back nine. That left him with a 6-under-par 138 total.
Regis teammate Jake Kelley, also a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier this year, tied for second place — two shots behind Painton — with Legacy’s Li Chen, who was runner-up for the second straight year. Kelley (pictured at left) closed with a 69, while Chen posted a 73.
Regis cruised to the team title — its sixth overall — finishing with an impressive 7-under-par 425 total for two rounds. That was 23 strokes better than runner-up Ralston Valley.
“It’s amazing to watch these guys perform,” Regis coach Craig Rogers said of his team.
Chen, who didn’t win a high school tournament this season, was even with Painton through six holes Tuesday thanks to standing 2 under par for the day at that time.
But Painton kicked it into high gear with three consecutive birdies beginning on hole No. 6, and Chen finished the front nine with two straight bogeys, the first coming after hitting his tee shot in the water on the par-3 eighth.
So in the course of three holes (7-9), Painton went from all square with Chen to four ahead.
“My mindset was, I was hitting a lot of great shots,” Painton said. “It was only a matter of time before I had a stretch like that. I’m glad it came where it did.”
And he never relinquished that lead on the back nine despite winds that he said were “absolutely brutal.”
As for Chen (pictured at left), the junior said, “I’m a little disappointed. I could play much better (than I did) today. I didn’t play as well as yesterday (67). I shot an (over par) number, not an (under-par) number. The first day was great for me, the second day could be better. That’s all I can say about it.”
From Painton’s perspective, it seemed only appropriate that he end his high school golf career with team and individual titles at Murphy Creek, the course where he recently won a regional championship and where a few years ago he broke 70 for the first time.
“This course has always had a special place in my heart,” said Painton, who tied Chen for second place at state last year. “I guess it’s an even bigger portion now.”
Coronado’s Petersilie Prevails in 4A at Hiwan: On a day in which high scores were the norm, Coronado’s Isaac Petersilie earned the 4A state title at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.
Petersilie edged Wilson Belk of Cheyenne Mountain by one stroke, with both shooting 4-over-par 74s on Tuesday. Each player bogeyed two of his final three holes. Petersilie posted a 4-over 144 total.
Glenn Workman of Pueblo West placed third at 147 after a 77 Tuesday. First-round leader Andrew Rademacher-Howe of Silver Creek struggled to an 80, leaving him in fifth place at 149.
Valor Christian rallied to win its third 4A team title since 2009. Valor bested Silver Creek by three strokes.
Basalt’s Rohrbaugh Finishes Strong to Claim 3A Crown: Tristan Rohrbaugh of Basalt, the son of HealthOne Colorado Senior Open champion Doug Rohrbaugh, came from behind in the final round to win the 3A state championship at Pueblo Country Club.
Rohrbaugh shot a 1-under-par 70 on Tuesday to finish at 1-under 141 overall, good for a four-stroke victory.
Behrod Keshtavar of Peak to Peak took second after closing with a 73. First-round co-leaders Cole Folwell and Cameron Connor of Alexander Dawson placed third and fourth, respectively.
In the team competition, Alexander Dawson ended Kent Denver’s record run of seven consecutive state titles. With a 445 total, Dawson was 26 strokes better than Peak to Peak and Lutheran. It was Dawson’s first state team championship in golf.
]]>