Like many parents of talented junior golfers, Jim Hillary often finds himself on the golf course in a passive role, largely limited to providing moral support as a spectator.
But this weekend, for a change, Hillary had the chance to play an active role while still cheering on daughter Charlotte, one of the top girls players in the state.
The result was a win-win for the Hillarys. Besides father and daughter getting to enjoy each other’s company on a glorious late-October day at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada, the Englewood residents got the bonus of winning the 14-18 division of the inaugural Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Parent/Child Tournaments on Sunday.
“It was great,” Jim Hillary said. “It’s always fun to play with Charlotte. I spend most of my time watching her, not playing. It was good to play. And it’s always better to win,” he added with a smile.
A day before on the same course, getting the same experience as the Hillarys were Max and Dan Weisser of Denver (winners of the 11-13 division), and Landon and Shane Houska of Fort Collins (10 and under). (For more on their victories, see below.)
As for the Hillarys (above and below), on Sunday in the season finale for the JGAC tournament schedule, they shot a 3-under-par 67 to win by two in the 6, 6, 6 format (holes 1-6 alternate shot, 7-12 scramble and 13-18 best ball).
Two 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifiers paired with a parent to share second place at 69: JGAC boys Player of the Year Davis Bryant of Aurora and mom Julie (below), who works for the CoBank Colorado Open Championships and The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch; and TJ Shehee of Mead and mom Terra, the PGA head professional at Boulder Country Club. The Shehees finished with six birdies on Sunday, but went 5 over par in the six alternate-shot holes.
The Shehees were the runners-up in two age divisions at Indian Tree as Timbre Shehee teamed with dad Tray, a PGA instructor at Ute Creek, to place second on Saturday in the 11-13 tournament.
The Bryants were also among the families to enter two teams at Indian Tree as 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play winner Emma Bryant and dad Matt, PGA general manager at Green Valley Ranch, shot a 73 and tied for 11th on Sunday.
All told, on Saturday and Sunday combined, 154 players showed up to compete in the JGAC Parent/Child.
On Sunday, the Hillarys had just one blemish on their scorecard as they bogeyed the 18th hole (their 13th of the day). They also made four birdies, one in the scramble and three in a row (14-15-16) in the best ball.
“I sank a 50-footer on No. 9 for birdie,” Charlotte said. “Dad made birdie on 14; he really pulled through on that hole because I was having some issues. But on the next hole I hit it to 1 foot and tapped it in for birdie. Then on 16 I birdied also. We had some action going on.”
Charlotte Hillary, a 15-year-old sophomore at Kent Denver, has had a strong year in the junior ranks. She finished second in both the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior and in the 3A girls state high school tournament, and third in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. The 2016 JGAC Tour Championship winner also qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior and was part of a four-person Colorado squad that finished sixth out of 17 teams in the Girls Junior America’s Cup. And she placed 43rd at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships.
Jim, who carries a 3.7 handicap index at Cherry Hills Country Club, joked that Charlotte did most of the heavy lifting in Sunday’s round.
“Charlotte doesn’t like to carry her father because I’m just too heavy, too much of a load,” he said with a laugh.
“But it was lots of fun. We got so lucky with the weather. It was great turnout and we got to meet some new people. It was really delightful.”
For Charlotte, playing in the 6, 6, 6 format was a welcome change of pace, particularly as a cap to the season in Colorado.
“I thought it was super cool how they did best-ball and alternate shot and scramble,” she said. “It was a bunch of different things, and you never get to do that in one (two-person team) tournament. It was really fun.”
Meanwhile, in Saturday’s tournaments at Indian Tree:
— Weissers Prevail by 4 in 11-13 Event: Max and Dan Weisser of Denver posted a comfortable four-stroke victory in the 11-13 age division. They recorded the only sub-par total in their event, carding a 2-under-par 68, making four birdies and two bogeys on the day.
Timbre and Tray Shehee of Mead placed second at 72.
Tying for third at 73 were JT and Jeff Timmers of Littleton, and Jack and Andy Dannewitz of Highlands Ranch.
— Houskas Tops in 10 and Under Tourney: Landon and Shane Houska of Fort Collins were winners in the 10 and under age division tournament. They made five birdies, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey, to shoot an even-par 70, good for a two-stroke victory. (The Houskas are pictured at right, along with the Weissers.)
Sharing second place at 2-over 72 were Campbell and Michael McFadden of Denver, and Collen and Chris Todd of Golden.
JGAC Parent/Child Tournaments
At Par-70 Indian Tree GC in Arvada
14-18 Division
1. Charlotte Hillary, Jim Hillary, 34-33-67 -3
2. Tj Shehee, Terra Shehee, 38-31-69 -1
2. Davis Bryant, Julie Bryant, 34-35-69 -1
4. Evan Kalac, Mike Kalac, 38-33-71 +1
4. Trey Kirschner, Jay Kirschner, 36-35-71 +1
4. Dakota Dolph, Kelly Dolph, 36-35-71 +1
4. Brayden Lambrecht, Roger Lambrecht, 38-33-71 +1
8. William Leary, Bill Leary, 37-35-72 +2
8. Ryan Stedman, Jeff Stedman, 36-36-72 +2
8. Natasha Brandy McClain, Chris McClain, 37-35-72 +2
11. Emma Bryant, Matt Bryant, 38-35-73 +3
11. Jackson Klutznick, John Klutznick, 39-34-73 +3
13. Max Heupel, Kevin Heupel, 39-35-74 +4
13. Lexi Mueldener, Bill Mueldener, 39-35-74 +4
13. Ryan Bomareto, Darron Pinet, 38-36-74 +4
16. Drew Anderson, Jennifer Anderson, 40-35-75 +5
16. Jeffrey Nelson II, Jeff Nelson, 38-37-75 +5
16. Beck Duncan, Rob Duncan, 40-35-75 +5
16. Steele Luoma, John Luoma, 40-35-75 +5
20. Kellen Kudrna, Douglas Kudrna, 36-40-76 +6
21. Jacob Pendergast, Pete Pendergast, 40-37-77 +7
21. Matt Ammon, Brad Ammon, 43-34-77 +7
23. Eva Pett, Tony Pett, 41-37-78 +8
23. Halle Holmes, Danielle Atkinson, 40-38-78 +8
25. Annika Rennaker, Tj Rennaker, 43-36-79 +9
26. Avery Gibson, Jeff Gibson, 41-41-82 +12
27. Merielle Gojo, Michael Gojo, 46-37-83 +13
27. Jack Siler, Brad Siler, 46-37-83 +13
27. Charlie Felsher, Corby Felsher, 41-42-83 +13
27. Madeline Olsen, Ron Olsen, 44-39-83 +13
31. Katelyn Gabler, Donna Edelen, 42-42-84 +14
31. Kira Petersen, Ty Petersen, 44-40-84 +14
33. Gabi Werst, Brian Werst, 47-39-86 +16
34. Greg Lewis, Bill Lewis, 47-42-89 +19
35. Camden Long, Bob Long, 48-42-90 +20
35. Cody Kuptz, Matthew Kuptz, 46-44-90 +20
37. Brentyn Paiz, Omar Paiz, 49-42-91 +21
37. John Lamb, Tom Leland, 49-42-91 +21
39. Jackson Green, Kevin Green, 47-46-93 +23
40. Morgan Frieling, Bill Frieling, 50-44-94 +24
41. Christopher Glaze, Mark Glaze, 50-51-101 +31
42. Chase Luoma, Renae Luoma, 54-51-105 +35
43. Skyler Winter, Josh Winter, 60-52-112 +42
11-13 Division
1. Max Weisser, Dan Weisser, 36-32-68 -2
2. Timbre Shehee, Tray Shehee, 36-36-72 +2
3. Jt Timmers, Jeff Timmers, 36-37-73 +3
3. Jack Dannewitz, Andy Dannewitz, 40-33-73 +3
5. Dylan Bundy, Devin Bundy, 39-36-75 +5
6. Blake Sullivan, John Sullivan, 39-40-79 +9
6. T.J. Giordano, Tony Giordano, 40-39-79 +9
6. Kenny VanWormer, Kevin VanWormer, 40-39-79 +9
6. Sydney Taylor, Grant Taylor, 41-38-79 +9
10. Will Rinehart, Todd Rinehart, 40-41-81 +11
11. Travis Seitz, Craig Seitz, 39-43-82 +12
12. Sarah Bentley, Mark Bentley, 45-39-84 +14
13. Nathan Kim, Justin Kim, 47-40-87 +17
13. Brooke Hudson, Jeff Hudson, 46-41-87 +17
13. Ayzic Belanger, Brian Belanger, 46-41-87 +17
16. Aidan Highsmith, Todd Highsmith, 44-44-88 +18
17. Nicholas Buchenau, Michael Buchenau, 47-42-89 +19
17. Hunter Swanson, Kris Swanson, 48-41-89 +19
19. Jessica Morrissey, Joe Morrissey, 48-46-94 +24
20. Mylie Pavelis, Joel Pavelis, 60-54-114 +44
10 & Under Division
1. Landon Houska, Shane Houska, 36-34-70 E
2. Campbell McFadden, Michael McFadden, 38-34-72 +2
2. Collen Todd, Chris Todd, 36-36-72 +2
4. Alena Kasanicky, Sam Kasanicky, 39-36-75 +5
5. Addison Hines, Jeff Hines, 41-36-77 +7
6. Charles Budacz-Kauflin, Ron Budacz, 39-40-79 +9
7. Isabel Paraiso, Charlie Paraiso, 41-40-81 +11
7. Adrielle Miller, Ross Miller, Sr., 39-42-81 +11
9. Livia Pett, Tony Pett, 42-40-82 +12
10. Emerson Irving, Aaron Irving, 43-41-84 +14
11. Sean Cary, Jeremy Cary, 45-41-86 +16
12. Donovan O’Brien, Brenden O’Brien, 49-40-89 +19
13. Alexandria Anderson, Nathan Anderson, 55-52-107 +37
14. Parker Sullivan, Louis Sullivan, 57-52-109 +39
On display are showing of support, some laughs, and even occasional tenderness that can warm the heart.
It reinforces that golf can be, and often is, a family affair.
That’s part of the attractiveness of a new Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado event that will make its debut this weekend.
The JGAC Parent/Child Tournaments will be held Saturday and Sunday (Oct. 28-29) at Indian Tree Golf Club in Arvada. Kids 13 and under will play with their parents, step-parents or grandparents on Saturday, while Sunday will be the day for 14-18 year-olds and their parents/grandparents.
There has been a CGA Parent/Child Championship (earlier known as the Father/Son) since 1983, but most of the “children” in that event are college age or older. The JGAC Parent/Child will focus on a younger demographic.
“We had JGAC members express interest in the CGA Parent/Child, but the location was not as convenient and the format was not as kid- and family-friendly as this will be,” Ashley Barnhart, the CGA’s manager of junior competitions, said via email on Monday. “We also know there are a few other parent-child events in the region (US Kids, City of Aurora, etc.) that are well-received. We did some informal research and determined that we would have good turnout, so decided to create something for young players to play with their parents. Hopefully it will encourage the importance of golf as a family experience!”
Indeed, the sign-up for the event was impressive, with 164 golfers registered (70 for Saturday and 94 for Sunday). There will be separate divisions for JGAC members age 10 and under, 11-13 and 14-18.
Several families will take it a step beyond a single team entry by signing up two parent/child teams. That includes JGAC male player of the year Davis Bryant and mom Julie, who works for The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch and for the CoBank Colorado Open Championships at GVR. And 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play girls winner Emma Bryant will team up with dad Matt, the PGA general manager at GVR.
In the case of other PGA professionals competing with their kids, Timbre Shehee will pair up with dad Tray, an instructor at Ute Creek, on Saturday. And 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier TJ Shehee will compete with mom Terra, head professional at Boulder Country Club, on Sunday.
Among the JGAC major winners participating, besides Davis and Emma Bryant, is 2016 JGAC Tour Championship victor Charlotte Hillary (with dad Jim).
Tournaments each day will feature six holes each of best ball, alternate shot and scramble).