Ellen Secor from Colorado State University recorded a college-career-best runner-up showing at The Gold Rush in Long Beach, Calif. And Robyn Choi from the University of Colorado notched her fifth top-10 showing of the season by tying for third in the Lady Puerto Rico Classic.

Secor (pictured), who led by three strokes going into the final round in Long Beach, posted the fourth top-10 individual showing of her college career. She carded rounds of 71-70-74 for a 1-under-par 215 total, ending up three behind Sophie Hausmann of Idaho, who won the tournament for the second straight year, this time closing with a 68.

Secor was trying to give CSU individual victories in its last two tournaments as teammate Katrina Prendergast won the UC Irvine Invitational in the Rams’ fall finale.

With Secor’s runner-up performance, CSU finished third out of the 14-team field in Long Beach.

(Updated on Feb. 15: Secor was subsequently named the Mountain West Conference Women’s Golfer of the Week.)

As for Choi, the 28th-ranked women’s college player in the country, she went 75-72-73 for a 7-over-par 220 total in Puerto Rico. She ended up four strokes behind winner Maria Fassi of Arkansas, the fifth-ranked women’s college player in the nation.

So far this season, Choi has recorded individual college finishes that include a second, two thirds, a fifth and a seventh. The Australian played in the U.S. Women’s Open last year.

Choi helped CU place fifth in the 11-team field.

Meanwhile, another U.S. Women’s Open competitor from last year, Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Wake Forest, opened the spring season by finishing 11th individually in the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes Estates, Calif. Kupcho recorded rounds of 72-74-73 for a 6-over-par 219 total.

In addition, two Coloradans notched top-10 finishes Tuesday in the Battle at Boulder Creek in Boulder City, Nev.

Kiselya Plewe of Cortez, who plays for Weber State in Utah, finished second as rounds of 72-74-79 left her at 9-over-par 225 and five strokes behind champion Pinyada Kuvanun of Toledo.

And Morgan Sahm of Centennial, a sophomore at Northern Colorado, tied for ninth individually. She recorded scores of 81-72-79 for a 232 total. UNC placed fourth out of nine teams.   

The Gold Rush
Feb. 12-13, 2018 (final) in Long Beach, Calif.
3. Colorado State (out of 14 teams; one behind leader) 297-295-300–892
2. Ellen Secor 71-70-74–215
15. Katrina Prendergast 75-75-75–225
22. Haley Greb 75-77-74–226
37. Jessica Sloot 76-74-79–229
60. Brooke Nolte 85-76-77–238
Also
30. Coloradan Anna Kennedy, BYU 80-72-76–228

Lady Puerto Rico Classic
Feb. 11-13, 2018 (final) in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico
5. (out of 11 teams; best 4 scores out of 6) Colorado 310-299-298–907
3. Robyn Choi 75-72-73–220
16. Kirsty Hodgkins 80-73-74–227
20. Brittany Fan 77-76-75–228
36. Gillian Vance 79-78-76–233
45. Alisha Lau 79-82-76–237
65. Jaclyn Murray 84-85-83–252

Battle at Boulder Creek
Feb. 12-13, 2018 (final) in Boulder City, Nev.
3. (out of 9 teams) Northern Colorado 315-301-315–931
9. Morgan Sahm 81-72-79–232
13. Aili Bundy 76-79-78–233
20. Nicole Polivchak 82-81-73–236
23. Marisa Hisaki 78-74-85–237
32. Beah Cruz 80-76-85–241
48. Hanna Atkins (competing only as individual) 81-86-86–253

DU men’s head coach Erik Billinger announced the cancelation of the second annual Paintbrush Invitational, where all five Division I Colorado-based men’s golf teams were scheduled to compete: DU, the University of Colorado, Colorado State, the University of Northern Colorado and the Air Force Academy.
   
The weather forecast calls for snow and a high around 32 on Monday in Parker, where two rounds were scheduled, while the final 18 had been set for Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the DU women’s team fell into second place after Saturday’s second round of the Ron Moore Intercollegiate at Highlands Ranch Golf Club, but trails leader New Mexico by just three strokes heading into Sunday’s final round.

The Pioneers, who won this event in 2015 and finished second last year, posted a 6-over-par 294 total on Saturday, leaving them at 1-over 577 overall. The University of Northern Colorado is in seventh place out of 14 teams, at 10-over 586.
   
DU’s Sophie Newlove, the defending individual champion, is pacing the Pioneers at 4-under-par 140, which leaves her in third place, three strokes behind leader Patricia Wong of Pepperdine.
   
Joining Newlove in a tie for third place is Coloradan Morgan Sahm (pictured) of UNC, who has gone 69-71, like her DU counterpart.
   
The tournament will conclude with a single round on Sunday.

Ron Moore Women’s Intercollegiate
Oct. 6-8, 2017 at Highlands Ranch GC
2. Denver 283-294–577
3. Sophie Newlove 69-71–140
19. Mary Weinstein 71-75–146
19. Jessica Dreesbeimdieke 72-74–146
28. Camille Enright 71-76–147
28. Lauren Whyte 73-74–147

7. Northern Colorado 289-297–586
3. Morgan Sahm 69-71–140
11. Beah Cruz 69-74–143
41. Marisa Hisaki 73-76–149
58. Nicole Polivchak 78-76–154
Hanna Atkins 80-DQ
71. Aili Bundy (competing only as individual) 77-83–160
79. Christina Ferreira (competing only as individual) 83-82–165

14. Denver B Team 309-323–632
62. Maggie Cowart 74-81–155
64. Anni Heck 76-80–156
66. Sonya Knebel 78-79–157
77. Caroline Klemp 81-83–164

Also
17. Coloradan Erin Sargent, Wyoming 70-75–145
75. Coloradan Sarah Hankins, Wyoming 77-84–161
76. Coloradan Jordan Remley, Wyoming 79-84–163
 

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 Westminster resident, a sophomore at Wake Forest, came into the spring portion of the schedule ranked as high as No. 1 nationally in women’s college golf. But a rough start to the spring — a concussion and subsequent withdraw at one tournament and a 47th-place finish in the next — set her back a little.

However, the 19-year-old got back on track this week in Hawaii as she finished second at the Dr. Donnis Thompson Invitational.

The winner of the last three CWGA Player of the Year awards shot a 2-under-par 70 in Wednesday’s final round to post a 5-under 211 total, leaving her four behind champion Maddie Szeryk of Texas A&M. Kupcho (pictured) held the outright lead briefly as she was 5 under par for the round through 13 holes, but she bogeyed three of her last five to lose her chance at the title.

Kupcho, who just earned induction into the Sportswomen of Colorado Hall of Fame, now has five top-10 individual finishes to her credit this season, including two wins and a second. She’s ranked seventh in the nation according to Golfweek and eighth by Golfstat. Kupcho sits 18th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

Meanwhile, a couple of other Colorado residents joined Kupcho in recording top-five individual finishes in college tournaments on Wednesday. Kala Keltz of Montrose and Morgan Sahm of Centennial tied for fifth place in the ORU/SFA Spring Break Invitational in Dallas as their University of Northern Colorado squad placed second out of 16 teams.

Keltz and Sahm matched 8-over-par 224 totals, ending up six strokes behind co-champions Amanda Lindahl and Sofie Levin, both of Eastern Kentucky.

As a team, UNC notched its best showing of the season. The Bears (906 for three rounds) finished 11 behind winner Eastern Kentucky.

ORU/SFA Spring Break Invitational
March 13-15, 2017 (final) in Dallas
2. (out of 16 teams) Northern Colorado 314-296-296–906
5. Kala Keltz 79-71-74–224
5. Morgan Sahm 78-73-73–224
10. Baile Winslow 76-76-76–228
38. Christina Ferreira 81-76-79–236
38. Marisa Hisaki 85-78-73–236

Also
74. Coloradan Sydney Gillespie, Creighton 86-79-85–250
 

The wind blew so hard during one squall Monday afternoon at CommonGround Golf Course that multiple golf bags were toppled and several players and spectators alike were sent running for cover.

Later in the day, when the weather improved somewhat, it was Regis Jesuit senior Mary Weinstein who was blowing away the competition at the girls 5A state high school tournament.

Just hours before she was scheduled to graduate from high school, Weinstein played her last eight holes in 3 under par and birdied her last two in opening up a four-stroke lead at the halfway point of the state meet.

“The beginning of my round wasn’t the best, but I got it back at the end, so I was pretty happy with that,” said Weinstein (pictured), a member of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program based at CommonGround.

Weinstein, the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year, shot a 1-under-par 71 and is 18 holes away from finishing her high school career with a state title.

“Every day is a new day (and) anyone can shoot whatever they want, but if I can keep this up …” said the Regis University golf signee.

Though Weinstein hasn’t won a state high school title before, last year she certainly established herself as a premier junior player in the state. She won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship. She placed a distant second to CWGA Player of the Year Jennifer Kupcho at the CWGA Stroke Play, and ended up 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships.

On a day when the conditions went from sunny, cool and breezy to strong winds (left), cold and light rain to sunny, cool and relatively calm, Weinstein was the only player to break 75 at CommonGround. Sharing second place, at 3-over 75, are fellow seniors Morgan Sahm of Grandview and Delaney Elliott of Monarch, and junior Jordan Remley of Ralston Valley. At 76 are 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play champ Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview and Jaclyn Murray of Regis.

Remley is on the leaderboard despite a triple bogey and a double bogey, and Chitkoksoong despite a quadruple bogey.

“There were a couple holes where I blew up,” said Remley, who only has been playing golf for 2 1/2 years. “I just had to come back from those. I came back and fought from there.”

Sahm, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions girls winner, has placed in the top 10 in each of her first three trips to state. But on Monday, the worst of the weather came up when she was finishing, and she three-putted her 16th and 18th holes and missed a short birdie putt on her 17th.

“I just want to finish strong and I know we have a strong team this year, so it would be really cool to win (a state title),” said Sahm, a University of Northern Colorado signee. “I’m really excited. It would be a cool way to end golf at Grandview.”

Another NCAA Division I signee who hopes to finish her high school career with a bang is Elliott, who has signed with Montana State.

“I’m really looking forward to tomorrow,” she said. “I just want to stay patient and be committed.”

In the 5A team competition, Weinstein’s Regis Jesuit squad (14-over-par 230) leads by eight strokes in its quest for a third consecutive state title. Sahm’s Grandview team is in second at 238.

Sargent Grabs Top Spot in 4A Meet at Pueblo CC: Senior Erin Sargent from Silver Creek, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year, shot a 3-over-par 75 Monday at Pueblo Country Club and holds a one-stroke lead heading into Tuesday’s final round of the girls 4A state tournament.

Sargent, a University of Wyoming signee who finished third at state last year, made two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in the first round.

Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy holds second place at 76, while Kelsey McKenna of Air Academy is third at 77 despite two double bogeys.

Colorado Academy appears destined to end Cheyenne Mountain’s team-title win streak at three as CA stands at 28-over-par 244 and with a 21-stroke advantage over Cheyenne Mountain.

For scores from the girls state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A

After all, it’s been a full decade since there’s been no former individual state champions in the field for either the 5A or 4A girls tourneys — until now. This year, for the first time since 2006, it’s a guarantee going into state that no one will repeat as an individual champion in either classification. Last year’s winners, Jennifer Kupcho of Jefferson Academy (4A) and Gillian Vance of Dakota Ridge (5A) are now both college players, Kupcho at Wake Forest and Vance at the University of Colorado. And all the earlier state champs have also graduated.

In other words, both of this year’s tournaments will be far more wide-open affairs than usual.

CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora will host the 5A tournament May 23-24, just after the women’s NCAA Division II finals conclude at the facility. And Pueblo Country Club will be the site for the 4A tournament on the same days.

At CommonGround, the favorites will include Mary Weinstein and Jaclyn Murray of Regis Jesuit, Morgan Sahm and Amy Chitkoksoong of Grandview, Delaney Elliott of Monarch, Jennifer Hankins of Legacy, Madison McCambridge of Fairview, Alexis Chan of Rock Canyon, and Joanna Kempton and Delaney Benson of Heritage. Weinstein (pictured), who placed seventh last year, was the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year after winning the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and finishing second at the open-division CWGA Stroke Play. Sahm, a top-10 finisher each of her first three state tournaments, and Chan tied for third in last year’s weather-shortened 5A meet.

Team-wise, Regis will be seeking its third consecutive state title and its fifth in the last seven years.

In the 4A meet at Pueblo CC, among the top players are Erin Sargent of Silver Creek, Kiselya Plewe of Montezuma-Cortez (playing for Dolores), Caroline Jordaan and Kacey Godwin of Colorado Academy, Hannah More of Mullen and Lauren Murphy of Glenwood Springs. Sargent, the highest returning player after placing third last year, qualified for the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur and will play college golf at the University of Wyoming.

Cheyenne Mountain will be attempting to win its fourth straight 4A state team championship.

Here are the team and individual champions from the 5A and 4A regional state-qualifying tournaments:

5A Northern at Ptarmigan CC — Team: Monarch 243; Individual: Joanna Kempton, Heritage, 71.

5A Central at South Suburban GC — Team: Regis Jesuit 237; Individual: Sarah Hunt, Denver East, 72.

5A Western at Tiara Rado GC — Team: Rock Canyon 220; Individual: Brandy McClain, Rock Canyon, 71.

5A Southern at Colorado Springs CC — Team: Ralston Valley 239; Individual: Jordan Remley, Ralston Valley, 73.

4A Western at Yampa Valley GC — Team: Rifle 358; Individual: Elly Walters, Rifle, 73.

4A Metro-West at Fox Hollow GC — Team: Colorado Academy 229; Individual: Caroline Jordaan, Colorado Academy, 72.

4A Northern at Saddleback GC — Team: (tie) Windsor and Northridge 279; Individual: Erin Sargent, Silver Creek, 74.

4A Colorado Springs at CC of Colorado — Team: Cheyenne Mountain 243; Individual: (tie) Regina Dillon, Cheyenne Mountain, and Kelsey McKenna, Air Academy, 78.

4A Southern at Steamboat Springs GC — Team: (tie) Pueblo County and Pueblo South 277; Individual: Sophia Montoya, Pueblo South, 78.

For tee times for the state tournaments: 5A at CommonGround, 4A at Pueblo CC.
 

For a couple of players who have come ever so close to winning major statewide junior championships in the last year, Sunday was very satisfying.

AJ Ott (left) of Fort Collins, the runner-up in both the CGA Junior Stroke Play and the 5A state high school tournament, claimed victory in the boys division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions at Ballyneal in Holyoke.

“This feels really good, especially after state,” the left-hander said. “It feels good to finish one off after being second a couple of times this summer. So it’s nice.”

And Morgan Sahm of Centennial, second in the CJGA Junior Series Championship and third in the weather-shortened 5A girls state high school meet, prevailed in the girls tournament at Ballyneal.

“I feel really good,” she said. “It was a really hard course for sure — one of the hardest I’ve played — and I thought I played pretty well for how hard it was.”

Ott’s 4-under-par 67 on Sunday was the best round of the tournament — by two strokes — as he rallied from three shots behind to prevail by one over Troy Dangler of Grand Junction.

Sahm (left) didn’t relinquish the lead in the girls event, winning by four over Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch.

Ott, a senior at Fort Collins High School who will sign a letter of intent with Colorado State University next month, posted a 1-under-par 141 total for two days. Dangler, a University of Denver recruit, closed with a 70 to check in at 142.

Jackson Solem of Longmont, the 4A state champion, came in third at 146 after a 70 on Sunday.

Defending champion and first-round leader Coby Welch of Highlands tied for fifth at 149 after a final-round 78.

Ott birdied the third hole from 25 feet and eagled the par-5 fourth from a similar distance en route to being 5 under par for the day through 13 holes. He was tied with Dangler through 12, but Ott’s birdie on 13 and Dangler’s bogey there — his only bogey of the day — putt Ott up for good. Ott made a key up-and-down from the native on No. 15, sinking a 15-footer for par to remain ahead.

All told, Ott called the 67 at Ballyneal one of his best rounds.

“It’s definitely up there,” he said. “It’s the type of course you’ve really got to pick your spots and you can get some really unlucky bounces. It was really solid. I shot 4 under on the front and just stayed steady on the back. It was one of my better rounds probably.”

Sahm, a senior at Grandview High School who has verbally committed to play her college golf at the University of Northern Colorado, won the girls competition with an 11-over-par 153 total after carding a 75 on Sunday.

Weinstein, the CWGA Junior Stroke Play champion, made four birdies on Sunday and closed with a 74 for 157 overall. Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village came in third at 159.

Sahm, who qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior this year, didn’t make any birdies on Sunday, but didn’t have anything worse than a bogey for the entire tournament. That’s saying something, considering she hadn’t seen the course before Saturday’s first round.

“I stayed consistent and that helped a lot,” she said. “This (win) is pretty high up on the list (of her golf accomplishments) I would say. I’m really happy about it.”

Still, Sahm and Weinstein were tied after 15 holes Sunday, but Sahm was steadier down the stretch.
 

CJGA Tournament of Champions
At Par-71 Ballyneal in Holyoke

Boys
AJ Ott, Ft. Collins, Colo. 74-67–141
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 72-70–142
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. 76-70–146
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 79-69–148
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 71-78–149
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 75-74–149
Cole Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 81-71–152
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. 81-72–153
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 77-77–154
Samuel Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 79-76–155
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 85-71–156
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 77-83–160
Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins, Colo. 83-77–160
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 85-78–163
Christopher Raap, Parker, Colo. 85-78–163
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colorado 92-76–168
Subin Lee, Greenwood Village, Colo. 83-86–169
Nick Visocky, Loveland, Colo. 96-90–186

Girls
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 78-75–153
Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 83-74–157
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 81-78–159
Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 82-78–160
Delaney Benson, Littleton, Colo. 83-78–161
Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, Colo. 86-76–162
Cassie Kneen, Parker, Colo. 83-79–162
Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colo. 81-83–164
Tabitha Diehl, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 81-83–164
Erin Sargent, Longmont, Colo. 82-84–166
Kelsey McKenna, Colorado Springs, Colo. 85-81–166
Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, Colo. 87-81–168
Sarah Hunt, Parker, Colo. 90-81–171
Andrea Hoos, Thornton, Colo. 88-85–173
 

There was much to admire Tuesday as the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship concluded at The Ranch Country Club in Westminster.

The boys champion, Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch, became the first person in history to win all three age divisions of the Junior Series Championships.

And the girls winner, Mary Weinstein, also of Highlands Ranch, prevailed despite calling a two-stroke penalty on herself Monday for an infraction which her playing partners didn’t notice.

Talent and integrity. That’s quite a 1-2 punch, especially when possessed by junior players.

Welch (pictured above and below), who last week finished seventh individually in the prestigious Junior America’s Cup, won the 10-and-under Junior Series title in 2008 and the 11-13 championship in 2012.

“It means a lot,” the 17-year-old said of completing the Junior Series sweep. “It shows that my golf game has improved, I guess, which is good to know. Hopefully going into college (in 2016) it’ll improve even more, and more past that.
But that’s a big accomplishment. It was something I wanted to do — a goal of mine. I accomplished it, so that’s good.”

In the 14-18 tournament, the Valor Christian High School senior-to-be shot consecutive sub-par rounds at The Ranch — 68 and 70 — for a 4-under 138 total. This, mind you, after closing with a 67 Friday at the Junior America’s Cup in Flagstaff, Ariz., meaning Welch is a cumulative 9 under par for his last three competitive rounds. On Tuesday, after being tied with Davis Bryant of Aurora after 27 holes, Welch shot a bogey-free 33 on the back nine Tuesday to pull away.

Daniel Pearson (left) of Longmont made five birdies on Tuesday in a round of 68 to finish second at 140. Bryant, like Welch a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and a CGA team representative at the Junior America’s Cup, placed third at 141 after closing with a 71. Timothy Amundson of Littleton posted consecutive 71s for a 142 total and fourth place.

Welch has played some of his best golf of the summer since recently verbally committing to play college golf at the University of Northern Colorado beginning a year from now.

“I think it helps a little bit (to have the pressure off),” said Welch, winner of the 2014 CJGA Tournament of Champions. “It isn’t as intense anymore.

“I’ve been playing good. I started out the summer a little rough, but I definitely got better and I’m playing some good golf now, so that’s exciting.”

On Tuesday, while Welch said he wasn’t in peak form, he was steady as a rock, carding two birdies, one bogey and 15 pars. Once Bryant bogeyed the 10th and 11th holes, Welch led for good.

“I wasn’t hitting the ball great today, but I just kept chugging and chugging and hoping it would come around,” Welch said. “A couple birdies came, and that was it.”

Weinstein (left and below), the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champion, shot rounds of 73-73, but Monday’s score included a two-stroke penalty on the par-3 15th hole, where the 17-year-old realized after the fact that she had teed off slightly in front of the tee markers. And though her playing partners didn’t see anything amiss, Weinstein called the infraction on herself and went on to take a double bogey on the hole.

“I don’t think it’s ever worth cheating,” said Weinstein, a senior-to-be at Regis Jesuit High School. “The way I played this tournament, it was good enough. I asked my playing mates, Morgan (Sahm) and Jaclyn (Murray), and they weren’t watching, so I called it. A rules official came over and did a string from my divot, but I knew I was out so I called the penalty and hit again.”

Penalty or not, Weinstein set the standard at The Ranch. Her 2-over 146 total was four shots better than runners-up Sahm, of Centennial, and Murray, of Grand Junction. Sahm, a 2015 U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier, closed with a 72 as she eagled the seventh hole and birdied two of the last three on Tuesday. Murray (pictured below), runner-up in the 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play, had a 77 in a round that included a triple-bogey 8 on the third hole and an eagle 3 on the 16th.

Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora, the CWGA Junior Match Play champion, placed fourth at 154 after a final-round 71 in which she played her final nine in 4-under 32.

For Weinstein, it’s been quite the summer. She won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, finished 15th at the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (the best showing ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group), placed second in the CWGA Stroke Play, and now wins the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship.

“I worked really hard and worked on my swing a lot, practiced hard and played a lot more tournaments,” she said, also crediting her swing coach, Terry Stearman. “All of that added up to playing better.”

Weinstein hasn’t yet settled on where she’ll play college golf, but she figures a verbal commitment will be forthcoming in the next week or so.

The CJGA Junior Series Championships for younger golfers will take place next week, with the 11-13 age group competing Aug. 10-11 at Deer Creek Golf Club in Littleton, and the 10-and-unders playing Aug. 12 at the Les Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder Country Club.
 

CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship
At The Ranch CC in Westminster

Boys (Par-71)
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 68-70–138
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 72-68–140
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 70-71–141
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 71-71–142
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-69–143
Glen-Michael Mihavetz, Montrose, Colo. 73-71–144
Philip Lee, Denver, Colo. 72-73–145
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 75-71–146
Evan Buchalski, Loveland, Colo. 75-72–147
Samuel Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 73-74–147
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-77–148
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 71-77–148
Zach Gomez, Westminster, Colo. 74-74–148
Wes Moran, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-78–149
Alec Poorman, Boulder, Colo. 77-73–150
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 73-77–150
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, Colo. 73-77–150
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-76–150
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 77-74–151
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 76-75–151
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 80-72–152
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 75-79–154
Jake Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-77–154
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo. 79-75–154
Micah Stangebye, Montrose, Colo. 79-77–156
Dillon Baker, Castle Rock, Colorado 81-78–159
Isaac Calden, Estes Park, Colorado 77-82–159
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 78-82–160
Christopher Kennedy, Aurora, Colo. 76-86–162
Cameron Chapman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 79-92–171
Linc Kleager, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 93-81–174
Michael Perea, Golden, Colo. 81-WD
 
Girls (Par-72)
Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 73-73–146
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 78-72–150
Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, Colo. 73-77–150
Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, Colo. 83-71–154
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, Colo. 78-77–155
Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 75-81–156
Erin Sargent, Longmont, Colo. 82-74–156
Alexis Chan, Castle Pines, Colo. 76-82–158
Kacey Godwin, Denver, Colo. 83-82–165
Andrea Hoos, Thornton, Colo. 79-87–166
Jordan Remley, Lakewood, Colo. 80-86–166
Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colo. 88-85–173
 

Gillian Vance has had a junior golf season to remember so far in 2015, but with college golf on the horizon in the fall, the end of the line is near, so she wants to wring every bit she can out of the remainder of her junior experience.

The 17-year-old from Lakewood took another step toward fully accomplishing that goal on Monday by earning co-medalist honors in U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifying at Valley Country Club in Centennial and earning a spot in that national championship for the second and final time.

The 5A state high school champion shot a 2-over-par 74 to land one of the four available berths in the Girls’ Junior, which this year is set for July 20-25 in Tulsa, Okla.

“It means a lot because it’s also my last year,” said Vance, who was medalist in the Colorado U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifier for the second consecutive summer. “And it will be one of my last big junior tournaments. I just want to go there and have a blast.”

Fellow 17-year-old Coloradan Morgan Sahm of Centennial likewise shared medalist honors and qualified. The other golfers landing national berths out of a field that originally numbered 36 were Emily Sumner of North Tustin, Calif., and Aiko Leong of Honolulu, Hawaii. (The medalists are pictured above, from left: Sumner, Vance and Sahm.)

Sahm and Sumner matched Vance’s 74, while Leong carded a 75 and made a 10-foot birdie on the first playoff hole to earn the final national berth. Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora and Delaney Elliott of Superior also shot 75, but Chitkoksoong ended up first alternate after parring the playoff hole, while Elliott is the second alternate after three-putting the extra hole for bogey.

It will be the third USGA championship for Vance, the second for Sahm and Leong, and the first for Sumner.

Actually, for Vance (left), it’ll be her second of 2015 as she and Jennifer Kupcho advanced to the round of 32 at the inaugural U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball in Oregon. Since then, she’s won the 5A state high school title and finished second in the CWGA Junior Stroke Play. And now the U.S. Girls’ Junior will be one of her final junior events before beginning her college career at the University of Colorado.

“Hopefully this year I’ll go deep in match play (in Tulsa),” she said. “That’s the goal.”

Vance made 16 pars and two bogeys on Monday, finishing with a run of 11 consecutive pars.

“I was pretty happy,” she said. “There was nothing too bad to complain about. I missed a lot of putts that I wish I could have made, but I’m not complaining.”

Sahm (below), a 17-year-old senior-to-be at Grandview High School, will be going to her first USGA championship since qualifying in 2012 as a 14-year-old for the U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links — a tournament that no longer exists.

“This means a lot,” said Sahm, who recently won the girls 15-18 title at the Colorado/Wyoming District Optimist Junior Golf Championships. “I’ve never made it in this tournament so it’s exciting.

“The last time I went (to a USGA championship), I was going to be a freshman in high school. I played really awful, but I had a good time outside of the course.”

Sahm, who finished third at the 5A state high school meet behind Vance, made three birdies and five bogeys on Monday. One of the birdies came on the first hole, where she hit the flagstick with her approach and then sank the putt she had left.

Sumner, 16, had never attempted to qualify for the U.S. Girls’ Junior before, but she made the most of his first opportunity on Monday by playing her final six holes in 2 under par. She birdied both of the final two par-5s, Nos. 13 and 15, making a 30-foot putt on the latter. And voila, she’s headed to the national championship.

“That will be fun,” she said.

Meanwhile, Leong (left) said she’s been first alternate more than once before in U.S. Girls’ Junior qualifiers. And that could have been the case again on Monday had the 2014 Michelle Wie Tournament of Champions winner not prevailed in the playoff in her final chance to make the Girls’ Junior.

“This is my first time — and my last too because I’m going to be too old next year,” said the 17-year-old, who’s committed to play college golf at Brigham Young University starting in 2016. “I’ve been first alternate too many times. I thought about that a little bit on the tee but I tried to push it out of my mind.

“This is a big deal for me because I’ve done a lot of qualifiers so it feels good to make one.”

For all the scores from qualifying, CLICK HERE.

If it wasn’t already obvious, the multiple layers of clothing, the knit hats and the warming mittens were dead give-aways on Sunday: This was the end of the tournament season for the CJGA.

With rain, strong wind and temperatures in the 40s, the only thing that was missing was snow flurries.

Coby Welch (left) of Highlands Ranch and Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster overcame the nasty weather conditions as well as all of their opponents on Sunday to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions at the Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield.

Welch and Kupcho both shot 2-over-par 74s in the final round to prevail in their respective divisions.

“It was a struggle having all of the elements,” Kupcho said. “… It was hard to get used to all the different stuff that was going on.”

Kupcho (left), a senior at Jefferson Academy who will sign next month with Wake Forest, ran away with the girls title, prevailing by a dozen shots over friend Gillian Vance of Lakewood, with Morgan Sahm of Centennial another three strokes back. Kupcho posted a two-day total of 2-over 146.

Welch, a junior at Valor Christian, rallied from three down beginning the final day to record a two-shot victory over Valor teammate Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village, who advanced to match play in the U.S. Junior Amateur this year. Jackson Solem of Longmont was another two back. Welch finished with a 3-over 147 total for the tournament.

“It was rough and usually I don’t play too good when it’s cold and rainy, but today was different,” Welch said. “I just stayed patient. I knew the rain would go away eventually. I needed the rain to go away. I didn’t mind the cold too much.”

It marked the third time in major Colorado junior events this year that Valor players have finished 1-2. Twice in those situations, Welch placed second — at both the CGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship.

That made Sunday all the sweeter, with Welch (left) calling the victory one of the top golf accomplishments of his young career.

“This means a lot,” he said. “All of us that are here have won a tournament so I know that I’m good enough to beat the best.”

Despite the difficult conditions, Welch played the final 11 holes in 1 under par on Sunday after carding double bogeys on Nos. 5 and 7. And he got up and down for par on each of the last three holes, sinking putts of 6, 10 and 8 feet.

“On the finishing holes when I knew I needed to make some putts, I made some clutch par putts,” the 16-year-old said.

Meanwhile, Kupcho picked up yet another victory in an outstanding 2014 season. She’s also won the CWGA Match Play and Junior Stroke Play, the 4A state high school meet and the CJGA Junior Series Championship. The 17-year-old also placed second in the HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open.

On Sunday, she birdied three of the first six holes and finished the day with four birdies and six bogeys. And that was despite having her share of putting problems.

“To continue winning and to win this is nice because I hadn’t won it yet,” Kupcho (left) said of the Tournament of Champions. “Hannah Wood has won it (the last two years), so it’s kind of nice to be like, ‘Yeah I won that too.'”

A 12-shot victory was certainly a nice way to cap off the 2014 Colorado season for Kupcho, who only has one tournament remaining this year — the prestigious Joanne Winter Arizona Silver Belle Championship Dec. 28-30.

Between now and then, Kupcho will take her official recruiting visit to Wake Forest before signing her letter of intent with the Demon Deacons.
 

CJGA Tournament of Champions
At Par-72 Omni Interlocken GC in Broomfield

BOYS
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, CO  73-74–147
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills Village, CO  74-75–149
Jackson Solem, Longmont, CO  72-79–151
Ji Woo Jang, Aurora, CO  70-83–153
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, CO  77-77–154
Cole Krantz, Windsor, CO  72-83–155
Pierce Aichinger, Englewood, CO  76-81–157
Aj Ott, Ft. Collins, CO  80-79–159
Brett Krantz, Windsor, CO  76-84–160
Davis Bryant, Denver, CO  81-85–166
Grant Olinger, Westminster, CO  73-NC–NC
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, CO  81-WD

GIRLS
Jennifer Kupcho, Westminster, CO  72-74–146
Gillian Vance, Lakewood, CO  78-80–158
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, CO  78-83–161
Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, CO  77-87–164
Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, CO  85-82–167
Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, CO  86-90–176
Kacey Godwin, Denver, CO  93-100–193
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, CO  79-WD