When it comes to top high school athletes often choosing to stay close to home to play college sports, a couple of reasons are among those often cited.

The athletes usually enjoy staying in the area where they grew up, and family and friends have more opportunity to watch their loved ones compete when college is nearby.

And it doesn’t hurt when some local college programs are highly regarded and competitive.

With that as a backdrop, some of the best junior golfers from Colorado and/or members of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado are making their college choices official during the National Letter of Intent early-signing period, which started on Wednesday and continues for eight days.

At least 15 Coloradans or JGAC members are expected to play college golf for NCAA Division I programs starting next fall. Eight of those 14 are heading to Colorado-based programs, with another two bound for the nearby University of Wyoming in Laramie.

Here’s the rundown of the Colorado/JGAC Class of 2018 commitments (the list of signees/commitments here will be updated throughout the school year. Additions to the list can be emailed to golfjournal@coloradogolf.org):

Boys
Davis Bryant (Eaglecrest HS) — Colorado State
Jack Castiglia (Lakewood HS) — Northern Colorado
Kirby Coe-Kirkham (JGAC member from Sheridan, Wyo.) — Wyoming
Spencer Daake (Monarch HS) — Hastings (Neb.) College 
Freddie Gluck (Boulder HS) — Rochester in New York
Gabe Goodman (Green Mountain HS) — Concordia in New York
Oliver Jack (Kent Denver HS) — University of Colorado
Barrett Jones (Eagle Valley HS) — Northern Colorado
Brayden Lambrecht (Sterling HS) — Colorado Mesa
Cal McCoy (Regis Jesuit HS) — University of Denver
Thomas Messner (Colorado Academy) — Army in West Point, N.Y.
Sam Ostravich (ThunderRidge HS) — Northeastern Junior College in Sterling
Ryan Pierce (Doherty HS) — Bethany College in Kansas
Micah Ramirez (Resurrection Christian HS) — Doane University in Nebraska
Kailer Rundiks (Denver East HS) — Western New Mexico
Andrew Rush (Palmer HS) — Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa
Tyler Severin (Roosevelt HS) — Wyoming
Ian Thorpe (Peak to Peak HS) — Iona College in New Rochelle, N.Y.
Luke Trujillo (Discovery Canyon HS) — Air Force Academy
Jackson Zinn (Ralston Valley HS) — New Mexico Military Institute

Girls
Anna Branscome (Bear Creek HS) — Chadron State in Chadron, Neb.
Payton Canon (Cherry Creek HS) — Oregon Tech
Kyree Conaway (Vista Peak HS) — Wagner College in New York
Kayla Elder (Fort Collins HS) — Chadron State in Nebraska
Gabriella Esquibel (Heritage HS) — Regis University
Callie Jones (Glenwood Springs HS) — Winona State in Winona, Minn.
Arielle Keating (former Colorado Springs resident) — Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton
Brandy McClain (Rock Canyon HS) — Colorado Mesa
Kieran McMullen (Rock Canyon HS) — Concordia College in N.Y.
Lauren Murphy (Colorado Rocky Mountain School; plays for Glenwood Springs HS) — Oregon State
Shelby Poynter (JGAC member from Scottsbluff, Neb.) — Northern Colorado
Kelsey Webster (Fairview HS) — University of Colorado

(In addition, Jessica Zapf of Windsor has committed to the University of Wyoming as part of the incoming college class of 2019.)

Bryant (CSU; pictured above) was the 2017 boys JGAC Player of the Year, and Jack (CU) and Trujillo (Air Force Academy) join him in having won state high school individual titles. Bryant and McCoy (DU) were both members of Colorado’s Junior America’s Cup team this year.

On the girls side, Webster (left) was the 2016 girls JGAC Most Improved Player and she won the girls AJGA Preview title this year in Wisconsin. She’s headed to CU — her dad’s alma mater — in her hometown of Boulder. Keating (Florida Atlantic) moved from Colorado Springs to Stuart, Fla., shortly after winning the girls Colorado Junior Amateur championship this year. And Poynter (UNC) qualified for this year’s U.S. Girls’ Junior.

In addition, here are the players — both from in-state and elsewhere — who have signed or committed to play at Colorado-based NCAA Division I schools from the Class of 2018:

University of Colorado Women
Malak Bouraeda, Southlake, Texas
Kelsey Webster, Fairview HS in Boulder

Colorado State University Women
Sydney Smith, Las Vegas, Nev.
Saga Traustadottir, Iceland

University of Denver Women
Alyson Beach, Murrieta, Calif.
Trussy Li, Diamond Bar, Calif.

Air Force Academy Men
Jonathan Farmer, San Diego
Luke Trujillo, Discovery Canyon HS in Colorado Springs

University of Colorado Men
Oliver Jack, Kent Denver HS
Adam Matteson, San Diego
Kristoffer Max, Denmark
John Paterson, Scotland

Colorado State University Men
Davis Bryant, Eaglecrest HS in Aurora
Akedanai Ponghathaikul, Thailand
Oscar Teiffel, Sweden

University of Denver Men
Carson Griggs, Sand Springs, Okla.
Cal McCoy, Regis Jesuit HS in Aurora
Esteban Missura, Ecuador

University of Northern Colorado Men
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood HS
Barrett Jones, Eagle Valley HS in Gypsum

And FYI, looking ahead to next year’s signings, CU has garnered a commitment from Canon Olkowski of Grand Junction as part of the Class of 2019. Olkowski is the brother of current CU player Trevor Olkowski.
 

That was in 2005 — when there were just two classifications in Colorado boys golf, instead of the current three — and Green Valley Ranch hosted the 5A meet and Wellshire the 4A.

A dozen years later, all three state tournaments next week — Monday and Tuesday specifically — will be based at public courses in the Denver area. The 5A championship will be at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, the 4A at Raccoon Creek Golf Course in Littleton, and the 3A at Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette.

Suffice it to say that’s quite a change from last year, when the 5A meet was conducted in Grand Junction, the 4A in Carbondale and the 3A in Aurora.

Here’s a quick look at what to expect from each of next week’s 36-hole state tournaments:

— 5A at CommonGround: Based on how 2017 has gone so far, senior Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest should be the player to beat at CommonGround. The future Colorado State University golfer has won both of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors in which he’s competed this year. In national/international events, he advanced to the match play round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur and finished 14th at the Boys Junior PGA Championship and ninth individually in the Junior America’s Cup.

Bryant is the top returning player from last year’s 5A state tournament as he placed second to then-senior Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch.

In all, five top-10 finishers from last year’s state meet are back: Bryant; Cal McCoy and Drew Anderson of Regis Jesuit (tied for sixth in 2016), Kailer Dundiks of Denver East (ninth) and Josh Caridi of Fossil Ridge (ninth). McCoy has verbally committed to the University of Denver.

All three current high school players who represented Colorado on the Junior America’s Cup team this year — Bryant, McCoy and Dillon Stewart of Fossil Ridge — will compete in the 5A tournament. Also at CommonGround will be Canon Olkowski of Grand Junction, who has verbally committed to the University of Colorado, and Colorado Junior Match Play runner-up Jack Castiglia of Lakewood.

Bryant, Olkowski and McCoy were among those who recently won regional state-qualifying tournaments.

Team-wise, Regis will be seeking its seventh state title in the last eight years after improbably winning by a single stroke each of the last two seasons.

–– 4A at Raccoon Creek: Luke Trujillo of Discovery Canyon will be back to defend his indvidual title after defeating current DU golfer Jackson Solem in a playoff last year.

Trujillo shot a 5-under-par 65 to win a regional state-qualifying tournament at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo.

Discovery Canyon also will be trying to win its second consecutive team title. One of Trujillo’s teammates in that regard is Kaden Ford, who recently became just the fourth Coloradan ever to qualify for the finals of the Drive Chip & Putt Championship.

Joining Trujillo as a top-10 finisher from 2016 who’s returning to state are Darren Edwards of Thompson Valley (fourth last year), Tyler Severin of Roosevelt (sixth), Micah Stangebye of Montrose (seventh) and Caleb Blackburn of Discovery Canyon (10th).

Also in the field are Barrett Jones of Eagle Valley, one of the top players in JGAC tournaments this year, and TJ Shehee of Mead, who qualified for this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur.

— 3A at Indian Peaks: Oliver Jack of Kent Denver, like Trujillo, will be attempting to win his second straight state individual title. If either should prevail again, he would be the fifth two-time Colorado boys state high school champion since 1995. Last year, Jack, who’s verbally committed to CU, won in a playoff over Ivan Richmond of Estes Park, who likewise will return.

In all, 10 of the top 12 finishers from the 2016 3A state tournament will be back. Besides Jack and Richmond, there’s Ethan Tartaglia of Peak to Peak (third last year), Jackson Klutznick of Kent Denver (fourth), Nishant Datta of Peak to Peak (sixth), Ian Thorpe of Peak to Peak (sixth), Liam O’Halloran of The Classical Academy (sixth), Jacob Mason of Jefferson Academy (sixth), Peter Grossenbacher of Eaton (10th) and Billy Howenstein of Dawson School (10th).

Also in the field is Kent Denver’s Mateo Manzanares, a First Tee of Denver member who on Sunday teamed with PGA Tour Champions standout Scott McCarron to place fourth in the pro-junior competition of the PURE Insurance Championship at Pebble Beach.

Kent Denver, the 2016 team champion, will be seeking its record 10th boys state high school team title. Eight of its victories have come since 2006.

With three top-six finishers back from last year’s state runner-up school, 2015 state champion Peak to Peak figures to make another run at the title, particularly playing at its home course.

Aspen may also be a contender as it finished 1-2-3-4 in the regional at Devil’s Thumb, posting a team total of 6 under par.

Here are the teams and individuals that won regional state-qualifying tournaments last week:

5A Southern at Colorado Springs CC — Team: Heritage +5; Individual: Canon Olkowski, Grand Junction, and Sam Blackwood, Heritage, 70.

5A Northern at Coal Creek — Team: Regis Jesuit +11; Individual: Cal McCoy, Regis Jesuit, 71.

5A Central at Plum Creek — Team: Fossil Ridge +5; Individual: Davis Bryant, Eaglecrest, and Kieran McMullen, Rock Canyon, 71.

5A Western at Broadlands — Team: Arapahoe +9; Individual: Tommy Packer, Arapahoe, 71.

4A Region 1 at Elmwood — Team: Discovery Canyon +11; Individual: Luke Trujillo, Discovery Canyon, 65.

4A Region 2 at CC of Colorado — Team: Valor Christian +37; Individual: Keaton Hulen, Cheyenne Mountain, 76.

4A Region 3 at Boomerang — Team: Thompson Valley +13; Individual: Wes Weber, Mountain View, and Tyler Severin, Roosevelt, 70.

4A Region 4 at The Bridges — Team: Montrose +3; Individual: Bridger Tenney, Evergreen, and Micah Stangebye, Montrose, 71.

3A Region 1 at East to Links — Team: Kent Denver +1; Individual: Oliver Jack, Kent Denver, 69.

3A Region 2 at CommonGround — Team: Colorado Academy +3; Individual: Christian Agelopoulos, Colorado Academy, and Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton, 69.

3A Region 3 at Estes Park GC — Team: Sterling +11; Individual: Riley Schaefer, Sterling, 70.

3A Region 4 at Devil’s Thumb — Team: Aspen -6; Individual: Carter Hall, Aspen, 69.

For Monday’s state championship tee times, CLICK HERE.

Also on the schedule are the national Boys Junior PGA Championship in Missouri, the Girls Junior America’s Cup near Las Vegas, and tourneys for the oldest boys and girls age divisions at the Optimist International Junior in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

With that as a backdrop, there will be both boys and girls tournaments at the Colorado Junior Match Play, which will run Monday through Wednesday (July 31-Aug. 2) at Black Bear GC (pictured). Round of 32 matches are set for Monday, with the round of 16 and the quarterfinals scheduled for Tuesday, and the semifinals and the finals on Wednesday.

With neither 2016 champion in the field — Griffin Barela nor Hailey Schalk — other state high school tournament winners will take center stage at Black Bear. Two of the three reigning boys state champs are in the field — Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch (5A) and Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs (4A). Pearson finished runner-up in the CGA Match Play last month. And on the girls side, 5A champion Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora is the top seed.

Sofia Choi of Littleton, who finished 13th this week in the Optimist International Junior girls 13-14 tournament, is likewise in the girls bracket, along with fellow top-25 Optimist finishers Eva Pett of Denver (17th) and Emma Bryant of Aurora (23rd).

As for the boys, Davis Bryant of Aurora, who won the first two JGAC majors of 2017, isn’t competing at Black Bear because he’ll be at the Junior PGA. And the winners of the first two majors on the girls side — Schalk and Arielle Keating — likewise will be elsewhere, with Schalk competing for the Colorado team in the Girls Junior America’s Cup and Keating having moved to Florida.
 

Let’s count the ways:

— Perhaps the most notable alteration will be that the qualifying tournament will be reduced from the 36 holes it long had been, to 18 holes starting this year.

— Also, the maximum age for competitors has been raised from 17 to 18.

— And the maximum Handicap Index allowed for players has been lowered from 6.4 to 4.4.

But the bottom line in all this is the same: There will be three national berths at stake on Tuesday, with the top finishers out of the field of 84 advancing to the Junior Am, set for July 17-22 at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan.

One Coloradan who qualified for the U.S. Junior Am each of the last two years — Davis Bryant of Aurora (2015 at Fox Hill), who recently won the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (2016 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve) — are aiming for a return trip.

Also entered on Tuesday are Kyle Pearson, the 5A state high school champion who just finished runner-up in the CGA Match Play; former 4A champ Jackson Solem, who just won his third straight Big I Junior Classic state title and who will be competing on his home course; 3A state champ Oliver Jack; and other NCAA Division I signees Daniel Pearson and Cole Krantz.

For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
 

And the run will continue next week as the first major of the 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado season takes place Monday through Wednesday (June 12-14) at Eisenhower Golf Club’s Blue Course at the Air Force Academy just north of Colorado Springs.

About 90 players — boys and girls combined — are expected to compete in the 54-hole Colorado Junior PGA Championship, one of four JGAC majors.

Arguably the state’s hottest junior player this spring, 15-year-old Hailey Schalk of Erie, is entered. In the last three weeks, she’s won the 3A state high school title as a freshman, she qualified for the Junior Worlds, and she became the first Coloradan to win the AJGA Hale Irwin.

Also entered in the girls field at Eisenhower are Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, runner-up to Schalk in both the 3A tourney and the AJGA event, and winner of the 2016 JGAC Tour Championship; 4A champ Lauren Lehigh of Loveland; and Caroline Jordaan of Denver, winner of the North American Junior Amateur in January.

On the boys side, all three reigning state high school champions are in the field: Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch (5A), Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs (4A) and Oliver Jack of Denver (3A). Also entered are Davis Bryant of Aurora, a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and 2016 Colorado Junior America’s Cup team member; and Daniel Pearson of Longmont, who recently competed in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying.

The top two finishers in both the boys and girls fields will qualify for the national Junior PGA Championships at the the Country Club of St. Albans near St. Louis, set for July 18-21 (girls) and July 31-Aug. 3 (boys).

For the not-yet-finalized pairings for Monday at Eisenhower, CLICK HERE.
 

The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program reaches an early milestone this fall with the naming of its fifth class.

Designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptionally promising junior golfers in the state, the Irwin Elite Player Program grants those selected — all age 18 and under, of either gender — free unlimited use of the practice range and Kids Course at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora — and of the championship course on a space-available basis.

CommonGround, a public facility that opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA, which adminsters the program.

The 2017 Elite Player class features a record 18 golfers — 12 boys and six girls — including a dozen returnees from 2016.

Two junior golfers selected will be in their fifth year with the program, dating back to its inception: Christian Agelopoulos and Roger Nakagawa, both of Denver. Another program participant, Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, will be starting his fourth year. Traejan Andrews of Windsor, Jack Castiglia of Lakewood and Cade Kilkenny of Centennial will be going into their third years.

The 2017 group includes two Kent Denver students who notched big victories in 2016: Oliver Jack, the 3A boys state high school individual champion, and Charlotte Hillary, who captured the girls title in the final major of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado season, the Junior Tour Championship.

Hale Irwin Elite Player Program candidates are evaluated based on their golf skill and their character, as exhibited through community service, academic performance and general demeanor.

The group will meet monthly to work on VISION54 programs with highly respected instructor Elena King, and will also participate in workshops on fitness and nutrition. Additionally, the Elite Players volunteer with CGA Community and Wellness Programs and at JGAC 10 & under tournaments.

The Irwin Elite Player Program has produced some of the best young players Colorado has had to offer in recent years. Included have been numerous golfers currently playing with — or having committed to — NCAA Division I golf programs: Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest), Hannah Wood (Oklahoma), Jake Staiano (Colorado State), Spencer Painton (Colorado), Coby Welch (Northern Colorado), Ross Macdonald (Colorado), Calli Ringsby (Stanford), Delaney Elliott (Montana State) and Jack (verbally committed to Colorado). In addition, JGAC female Player of the Year Mary Weinstein went through the program. Kupcho (16th) and Wood (84th) are currently in the top 100 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. (Part of the 2016 Irwin Elite Player class is pictured above.)

Appropriately, the Irwin Elite Player Program is named in honor of the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. A Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, Irwin has won five USGA championships: three U.S. Opens and two U.S. Senior Opens. Overall, he’s claimed 20 titles on the PGA Tour and a record 45 on the PGA Tour Champions circuit, and he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

In Colorado, Irwin claimed the 1962 CGA Junior Match Play title, the 1963 state high school championship, three straight CGA Amateurs (1963, ’64 and ’65) and the CGA Match Play in 1966. He won the NCAA individual title in 1967 while competing for CU.

Steve Irwin, Hale’s son and one of the top amateur players in the state, serves on the CGA board of governors and was instrumental in the establishment of the Elite Player Program. The visionary behind the program was another CGA governor, former Cherry Hills Country Club head professional Clayton Cole.

Here’s a rundown of all 18 junior players who have been selected to partcipate in the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program for 2017:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, a freshman at Colorado Academy — 2017 will mark his fifth year in the program. … Was a JGAC Academic All-Star in 2016.

Traejan Andrews of Windsor, an eighth-grader at Winograd K-8 — 2017 will mark his third year in the program. … Was a JGAC 11-13 All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2016. … Notched two wins in 11-13 Junior Series events.

Chunya Bead Boonta of Aurora, a sixth-grader at Thunder Ridge Middle School — 2017 will mark her second year in the program. .. Recorded four third-place finishes in JGAC events in 2016.

Supawich Beam Boonta of Aurora, a freshman at Eaglecrest High School — 2017 will mark his second year in the program. … Was a JGAC 14-18 All-Star in 2016. … Finished second on JGAC 14-18 Series points list after a season which featured two second-place finishes and two fourths.

Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, a sophomore at Lakewood High School — 2017 will mark his third year in the program. … Posted five top-10 finishes in JGAC events in 2016. … Named a JGAC Academic All-Star.

Sofia Choi of Littleton, a seventh-grader at Falcon Bluffs Middle School — 2017 will mark her first year in the program. … Named a JGAC 11-13 All-Star and Academic All-Star. … Finished second in the JGAC 11-13 Series points standings after recording five wins in 2016.

Merielle Gojo of Cherry Hills Village, an eighth-grader at West Middle School — 2017 will mark her first year in the program. … Earned JGAC 11-13 All-Star and Academic All-Star status in 2016. … Finished fourth in the JGAC 11-13 Series points standings after two victories in 2016.

Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, a freshman at Kent Denver — 2017 will mark her first year in the program. … Won the final major of the 2016 JGAC girls season, the Junior Tour Championship, giving her three JGAC wins in 2016. … Named a JGAC Tour All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2016.

Oliver Jack of Cherry Hills Village, a junior at Kent Denver — 2017 will mark his second year in the program. … Won the 3A boys state high school individul title at the end of September. … Has committed to play college golf at CU.

Cade Kilkenny of Centennial, a sophomore at Cherry Creek High School — 2017 will mark his third year in the program. … Posted six top-10 finishes in JGAC events in 2016.

Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland, a seventh-grader at Bill Reed Middle School — 2017 will mark her second year in the program. … Named a JGAC 11-13 All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2016. … Finished first in the JGAC 11-13 Series point standings following a season that included four wins and four runner-up finishes.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, a sophomore at Loveland High School — 2017 will mark her second year in the program. … Earned JGAC Tour All-Star and Academic All-Star status in 2016. … Finished third on the 2016 JGAC Tour points list after a year which featured a win and eight other top-three finishes in JGAC events.

Parker McNitt of Highlands Ranch, a junior at Heritage High School — 2017 will mark his first year in the program. … Named a 2016 JGAC Academic All-Star.

Roger Nakagawa of Denver, a junior at Thomas Jefferson High School — 2017 will mark his fifth year in the program. … Teamed with fellow Irwin Elite Player Kailer Rundiks to win the JGAC 14-18 Team Event in 2016. … Selected as a 2016 JGAC Academic All-Star.

Kailer Rundiks of Denver, a junior at East High School — 2017 will mark his second year in the program. … Teamed with fellow Irwin Elite Player Roger Nakagawa to win the JGAC 14-18 Team Event, marking one of his three top-10s in 2016 JGAC events. … Competed with 1982 Masters champion Craig Stadler in the pro-junior portion of the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach in September. … Named a JGAC Academic-All-Star in 2016.

Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, an eighth-grader at the Denver School of the Arts — 2017 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Earned JGAC 11-13 All-Star status in 2016. … Finished third on JGAC 11-13 Series points list. … Posted two firsts and two seconds in 2016 JGAC events.

Jeffrey Zhou of Greenwood Village, an eighth-grader at Kent Denver — 2017 will mark his first year in the program. … Named a JGAC 11-13 All-Star in 2016. … Finished second on JGAC 11-13 Series points list after recording three wins and six other top-10 finishes.

Ben Zimmerman of Englewood, a freshman at Kent Denver — 2017 will mark his first year in the program. … Finished 10th in the 3A state high school tournament as a freshman. … Named a JGAC Academic All-Star in 2016.
 

Bob Austin helped put the Cherry Creek boys golf team in the record books, and he had a hand in removing the Bruins as well.

Austin played on two of Creek’s state title-winning teams — in 1970 and ’71 — as the Bruins went on to set the record for the most boys golf state team titles in Colorado, with eight.

But on Tuesday in the 3A state meet at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, with Austin serving as the head coach of the host Kent Denver squad, the Sun Devils took sole possession of the aforementioned record, moving out of a tie with Cherry Creek.

Kent Denver (pictured celebrating) has now won state crowns nine times since 1999, and Austin has been the coach for eight of those nine — two in Class 4A and six in 3A. (With its sixth win in the last seven years in 5A on Tuesday, Regis Jesuit joined Creek with eight state championships.)

And to double the fun for Kent on Tuesday, Sun Devils junior Oliver Jack (left) won a playoff to claim the 3A individual championship.

“It’s an unbelievable feeling,” Austin said. “I’m really choked up. I really wanted this for these kids. We finished second the last two years. I wanted to get over that hump. The kids, I couldn’t be prouder of them. They played awesome. It was really fun. This might be the sweetest (state title) of all.”

And that was just one of the three state tournaments that concluded on Tuesday around the state. The others were just as notable:

— In the 4A meet at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale, the individual title also was settled in a playoff, this one denying defending champion Jackson Solem of Silver Creek from becoming just the fifth two-time Colorado boys state high school champion since 1995. The first-round leader, junior Luke Trujillo of Discovery Canyon, parred the second playoff hole to defeat Solem and claim the title. And Trujillo helped Discovery Canyon win a boys state golf team championship for the first time. Three-time defending champ Valor Christian was third.

— In the 5A tournament at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction, senior Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch put on a clinic as rounds of 66-67 gave him a 9-under-par 133 total and a six-stroke victory over Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest. Moreover, Pearson made a hole-in-one Tuesday en route to the title, acing the 136-yard 15th hole with a gap wedge. And, as noted earlier, Regis made it six 5A team titles in seven years. And perhaps the most remarkable thing about that is that each of the last two victories have come by one-stroke margins.

Back at 3A, the two players who finished tied for second in the state tournament last year were the ones in a playoff on Tuesday: Jack and Ivan Richmond of Estes Park. Richmond birdied the 17th hole in regulation to pull even, and both players bogeyed No. 18, with Jack three-putting.

But on the par-5 556-yard playoff hole, Jack hit his drive 30 yards beyond where his ball traveled on the same hole earlier Tuesday, and he had just a 7-iron for his approach into the green. Richmond, meanwhile, pulled his tee shot into a hazard and needed four shots to get to the front fringe. He three-putted from there for a double bogey. Jack, meanwhile, sank a 4-foot birdie for the victory.

“This means a lot,” said Jack, a 16-year-old who has already verbally committed to play his college golf at the University of Colorado. “A state championship is something I always wanted to win. Words can’t describe the feeling. Nothing means more to me than winning this. And it’s great for the team (too).”

Richmond (left), meanwhile, was thinking of what might have been.

“Obviously the tee shot (in the playoff) wasn’t the greatest,” he said. “Nerves and all that stuff were just going through my brain. It was bad.

“Obviously I wanted to win here. It would have been pretty special.”

Jack shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday — not counting his playoff birdie — and finished at even-par 144. Richmond closed with a 71 to get to that same total.

“I was really excited for Oliver,” Austin said. “I thought Oliver was the best player coming in, and I told him that. And I thought if we were going to win, the best player needs to win individually — and he did. He’s such an unbelievable talent and such a great kid

“(Winning both titles) was a huge thrill. The last two hours, I’m probably more nervous than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Joining Jack in the top 10 individually for Kent Denver on Tuesday were sophomore Jackson Klutznick (148, fourth place) and freshman Ben Zimmerman (153, 10th place). Rounding out the Sun Devil team was senior Jack Friedman (162, 25th place).

Placing third individually on Tuesday was Peak to Peak’s Ethan Tartaglia, who posted a 72 for a 146 total. Yale Kim of the Dawson School, the 2014 champion, shared fourth place with Klutznick at 148.

Kent Denver, which finished at 13-over-par 445, had a battle to win its eighth team title since 2006. Defending champion Peak to Peak took second place at 448.

In the 5A tournament, the team race was even closer as Regis Jesuit’s 10-over-par 436 total just edged Highlands Ranch by one.

Individually, Pearson was the only player to post two rounds in the 60s at Bookcliff. Besides his hole-in-one eagle, he made four birdies and two bogeys on Tuesday. For the two days, he racked up 10 birdies plus the eagle.

Bryant, a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier last year, was very much in contention through 10 holes Tuesday as he had made a birdie and nine pars and stood 6 under overall. But he went 3 over par the rest of the way, shot 73, and had to settle for runner-up with a 3-under 139 total.

First-round leader Nick Caldwell of Rock Canyon was the only other player to finish under-par for two rounds, in his case at 140, good for third place. He made an eagle and a birdie on Tuesday, but also seven bogeys in a round of 75.

In 4A, Solem rallied from four behind going into the day to force a playoff in his bid for two straight individual championships. But after both players parred the first extra hole, Trujillo made a par on the second playoff hole to prevail as Solem missed his 6-foot par attempt. Both players finished at 4-under-par 140 overall, with Solem closing with a bogey-free 69 (though his blemish-free day ended on the second playoff hole) and Trujillo a 73.

Trujillo led by three strokes with four holes left in regulation, but a double bogey on 15 and a bogey on 18 forced the playoff.

Cole Krantz of Windsor was also in the thick of the title race, but back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16 led to a third-place finish, one out of the playoff. Krantz played his first seven holes in 4 under par on Tuesday, making an eagle on the 325-yard seventh hole.

Discovery Canyon ran away with the 4A team title. Its 6-over-par 438 total was 15 strokes better than runner-up Montrose.

For scores from the state tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.

Let it not be said that Monday’s first rounds of the three boys state high school golf tournaments lacked for pizzazz.

Let’s count the ways they filled the bill:

— Luke Trujillo of Discovery Canyon had perhaps the best start in the history of Colorado boys state high school tournaments as he played his first five holes in 6 under par at the 4A state meet at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale. He shot a 6-under-par 30 on his first nine holes and was 8 under after making eagle on his 11th hole. But he finished double bogey-bogey to settle for a 5-under-par 67, which was still good for a three-stroke lead.

— At the 5A tournament at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction, three players — Nick Caldwell of Rock Canyon, Davis Bryant of Eaglecrest and Kyle Pearson of Highlands Ranch — shot 66 or better. Caldwell fired a 6-under-par 65 to lead the way.

— In the 3A tournament at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora, senior Yale Kim of the Dawson School put himself in position to become just the fifth two-time Colorado boys state high school champion since 1995. Kim, who won as a sophomore in 2014, shares second place, one out of the lead, after round 1. For the record, the other two-time champs over the last 21 years are Tom Glissmeyer of Cheyenne Mountain (2003 and ’04), Steve Ziegler of Legacy (2005 and ’06), Wyndham Clark of Valor Christian (2009 and ’11), and Ethan Freeman of Kent Denver (2010 and ’11). Jackson Solem of Silver Creek, who trails by four strokes in 4A, also has a chance to repeat as champion.

“I’m really excited,” said Kim (left), who’s been seventh and sixth in his other two trips to state. “I already have one (state win) in my bag. I’m just trying to play the best golf I can. I’m still going for the No. 1 spot.”

Notably, Kim is in contention for a state title despite not winning a tournament so far this high school season.

“I was busy for the whole summer, visiting my family in Korea, and my swing wasn’t that great.,” he said. “But I got my game together in time for state.”

— Also at the 3A tournament, Oliver Jack of Kent Denver birdied four of the last six holes to close out his round, including draining a 30-footer on No. 18, to grab the lead with an even-par 72. The junior finished with six birdies on the day.

Here are brief roundups on each of the state high school tournaments:

5A at Bookcliff: Caldwell, Bryant and Pearson separated themselves from the field in Monday’s opening round.

In his 65, Caldwell eagled the 553-yard 12th hole and added five birdies, while making just one bogey.

Bryant, a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier last year, likewise made just one bogey on Monday, while he notched a half-dozen birdies in his round of 66. Starting on No. 14 (his fifth hole), he ran off four in a row, part of an eight-hole stretch which he played in 6 under par.

Pearson also carded six birdies an a bogey on Monday.

The only other player under par in round 1 was Tommy Packer of Arapahoe, who posted a 1-under-70, leaving him five out of the lead.

Regis Jesuit, winner of five of the last six 5A state team titles, leads after round 1 at 7-over-par 220. But four schools are within seven strokes heading into the final round: Rock Canyon (222), Fossil Ridge (225), Highlands Ranch (225) and Lakewood (227).

4A at River Valley Ranch: After his impressive round, Trujillo (67) was the only player to finish with a score in the 60s on Monday.

But five other players posted subpar totals on Monday: 2015 Colorado Junior PGA champion Cole Krantz of Windsor (70), Reice Hendricks of Air Academy (71), Owen Pasvogel of Discovery Canyon (71), Micah Stangebye of Montrose (71) and defending champion Solem of Silver Creek (71).

Discovery Canyon, with a stellar 4-under-par 212 total, holds a healthy 13-stroke lead over second place Montrose. Evergreen (231) is third, while three-time defending champ Valor Christian (232) is fourth.

3A at Saddle Rock: Jack, who tied for second place at state last year as a sophomore, was 4 over par through 12 holes on Monday. Then his round turned on a dime as he went birdie, par, birdie, par, birdie, birdie.

“I was struggling a little with my putting, but I finally got some to drop,” he said. “That was a nice confidence booster.

“I knew they had to drop at some point because I was getting close. I was waiting for the first one to go, then I knew (more would follow).”

Kim, who was 3 under par through 10 holes before going bogey-double bogey on 11 and 12, sits a stroke behind Jack along with Ivan Richmond of Estes Park and Jacob Mason of Jefferson Academy. Richmond tied Jack for second place at state last year.

Host Kent Denver, winner of a record-tying eight state team titles in boys golf, shares the team lead with Peak to Peak at 9-over-par 225. Aspen is third at 234.

For scores from the tournaments, click on the following: 5A, 4A, 3A.

What is it about Texas A&M recruits and shooting extremely low final rounds to win major Colorado-based junior tournaments?

Last year, A&M recruit Reese Ramsey set the course record with a 10-under-par 61 at CommonGround in the last round to win the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

And on Friday, Aggie recruit Walker Lee fired a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 at Eisenhower Golf Club at the Air Force Academy to rally to win a national PGA Junior Series event. Lee and Ramsey will be freshman teammates at Texas A&M in the fall of 2017.

“That’s crazy good,” Lee (pictured) said of the 63. “But I feel like I should be much closer to that more often. But everything was going great. Everything was going my way.

“The first day (of the 54-hole tournament) my putting was good but my ball-striking wasn’t. The second day it was vice-versa. And I knew if I could get both those to click I’d be in pretty good shape.”

The 63 Friday for Lee was the lowest tournament round in the life of the golfer from Houston, which came at an ideal time for him.

But it wasn’t so ideal for AJ Ott of Fort Collins, who led after the first and second rounds. Despite being up by three going into Friday and shooting an even-par 72, Ott amazingly finished six shots behind the champion.

The result was yet another runner-up finish for the Colorado State University-bound golfer, who also placed second in the 2015 CGA Junior Stroke Play, the 2015 5A state high school meet and the 2016 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

“I’ve just got to learn how to finish,” said Ott (left), the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner. “There really isn’t any other answer to it. Second place is fine, but it’s not really going to go anywhere. It’s been solid, but I think I need to learn how to finish off a little better.”

But even if Ott had played better on Friday, it would have been difficult to keep up with Lee. The champion’s closing 63 gave him a three-round total of 14-under-par 202. To put that into perspective, the record-low 54-hole total for the winner of the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational college tournament that’s held annually at Eisenhower Golf Club is 203.

“It was fun to watch,” said Ott, who was paired with Lee all three days. “I was kind of rooting him on there toward the end.”

Ott, like Lee a left-hander, checked in at 208 for second place, while 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Davis Bryant of Aurora came in third at 212 after carding a bogey-free 68 in round 3. Oliver Jack of Denver placed fourth at 214.

Lee, a past winner of an AJGA tournament in Texas, made nine birdies Friday and played his final 11 holes in 7 under par.

“I haven’t won in a long time,” the 18-year-old said. “It’s good to get that off my back. I’ll take some confidence from this.

“My goal today was 4 under on the front nine (which he shot) just in case the rain came and they cut it down to nine holes. I wanted to get at least tied with (Ott) after nine. I did that, and put some pressure on.”

Lee said this was his first time playing golf in Colorado — or anywhere with significant altitude.

“I like it,” he said with a smile. “I talked to a bunch of friends who have played up here and they said, ‘Turn your range finder to meters and it’s about the same’. It worked pretty well.”

After Ott went 67-69 the first two rounds, making two eagles on Thursday, Friday wasn’t as good, though he was steady, with two birdies and two bogeys.

“I didn’t hit the ball as well today and I didn’t putt as well,” said the 18-year-old Ott. “I had six three-putts this week so that cost me a little bit.”

In the girls tournament, Thai national team member Tunrada Piddon (left) also posted a stellar final-round score — in her case, a 66 — to win by four strokes. The 15-year-old, who had never before carded a 6-under-par round, finished at 1-under-par 215.

Dominique Galloway of Rio Rancho, N.M. was second at 219 while Sophie Guo of China ended up third at 224. The top Coloradan in the girls 15-18 division was Sarah Hwang of Monument, who placed sixth at 232.

“She’s happy,” Piddon said through a translator. “Today everything just came together. She drove the ball really well and putted really well.”

With their victories on Friday, Lee and Piddon qualified for the Junior PGA Championship, set for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I.

Marie Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village was best among the four players in the girls 12-14 division. She carded an 83 Friday for a 244 total, good for a one-stroke victory over Amisha Singh of Greenwood Village.

Aaron Kuznik of Orono, Minn., went wire-to-wire to win the boys 12-14 division. His final-round 78 gave him a 19-over-par 235 total. Carson Hackmann of Laurel, Mont., came in second at 245, while Supawich Boonta of Aurora placed third at 246.

For scores: boys 15-18, girls 15-18, boys 12-14, girls 12-14
 

Ott, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner, backed up his first-round 67 with a 3-under-par 69 on Thursday, giving him an 8-under 136 total with just Friday’s final round remaining.

The Colorado State University signee (pictured) supplemented his two eagles — on the fifth and 16th holes — with two birdies and three bogeys on Thursday. The 18-year-old is three up on Walker Lee of Houston (70-69) and seven up on Luke Travins of Colorado Springs (71-72). Among the five players tied for fourth at 144 are Davis Bryant of Aurora, Oliver Jack of Denver and David Leede of Greenwood Village.

Meanwhile, in the girls 15-18 division, two players from the Thailand contingent are among the top three golfers after Thursday. Nicha Vorrasanpisut of Thailand (74-74) shares the lead with Sophie Guo of China (74-74), while Thai national team member Tunrada Piddon is third, one stroke back, after going 78-71.

The top Coloradan in the girls 15-18 division is Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village, who’s seventh at 153 (76-77).

The winners in the top boys and girls divisions will earn spots in the Junior PGA Championship, set for Aug. 9-12 in Rumford, R.I.

Marie Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village, Caroline’s sister, maintained her lead in the girls 12-14 division, going 80-81–161. That’s two better than Amisha Singh of Greenwood Village (83-80) in the four-player field.

In boys 12-14, Aaron Kuznik of Orono, Minn., kept his lead, posting rounds of 76-81 for a 13-over-par 157 total. That’s two better than Carson Hackmann of Laurel, Mont. (80-79–159) and six better than third-place Trey Jones of Colorado Springs (79-84–159)

For scores: boys 15-18, girls 15-18, boys 12-14, girls 12-14