Canon Olkowski of Grand Junction rallied from an eight-stroke deficit going into the final round to win the boys tourney by one at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

And Hailey Schalk of Erie, the 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play champion, wasn’t seriously challenged in posting an eight-stroke victory in the girls competition. (The two winners are pictured.)

Olkowski, brother of 2016 JGAC Tour Championship winner Trevor Olkowski, rebounded from a first-round 77 to card a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday, giving him a two-day total of 7-over 149. Canon, 16, notched four birdies in round 2, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey.

Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs, who led after an opening-round 69, tied for second at 150 following an 81 on Sunday. Particularly costly was a quadruple-bogey 7 on his 17th hole Sunday. Also sharing second place was University of Colorado-bound Cole Krantz of Windsor, who closed with a 71, the low score on Sunday.

In the girls tournament, the 15-year-old Schalk carded back-to-back rounds of 74 for a 6-over-par 148 total. On Sunday, she overcame a triple-bogey 8 with three birdies, and added three bogeys.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland finished second at 156 after a second-round 77. Amisha Singh of Greenwood Village took third place at 157 after closing with an 80.

The tournament in Colorado Springs marked the beginning of the “spring points chase”. The top three boys and top three girls in the points standings after three spring Tour events will earn spots in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica that’s being hosted by Walnut Creek Golf Preserve (the former Heritage at Westmoor) June 6-8.

For scores from this weekend’s JGAC Tour event, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
 

JGAC Series Opener at Pueblo CC: Meanwhile, the first JGAC Series event of 2017 also concluded on Sunday — in this case at Pueblo Country Club.

The winners for the various age/gender divisions were: Mario Dino of Denver (boys 14-18), Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland (girls 14-18), Matai Naqica of Centennial (boys 11-13), Sofia Choi of Littleton (girls 11-13), Andre Dumonteil of Centennial and Kaden Devenport of Windsor (boys 6-10), and Ashleigh Wilson of Highlands Ranch (girls 6-10).

For all the scores from Pueblo Country Club, CLICK HERE.

There was no endorsement deal involved, but shortly after winning the individual title at the 5A girls state high school tournament, Mary Weinstein noted that she was going to Disney World.

After an eventful Monday and Tuesday, she’d earned it.

On Monday, Weinstein built a four-stroke lead in tough weather conditions at CommonGround Golf Course. That night, she graduated from Regis Jesuit High School. Then on Tuesday, she won the individual championship by four strokes despite four-putting the 18th green.

“It feels great,” she said, noting that the Disney trip will be followed by a cruise with her family. “I have not done well at state my freshman, sophomore or junior years, so I really wanted to go out with a bang, and I feel like I did that today.”

And the same can be said for Grandview, which ended Regis Jesuit’s two-year reign as 5A team champion. In a team competition that went down to the last group at the last hole, the Wolves (pictured below) edged Regis by two strokes to earn their first state championship in girls golf.

Had Weinstein two-putted from long distance on the 18th hole and made birdie, the teams would have tied, but Grandview prevailed in regulation with an 8-over-par 224 score on Tuesday and a two-day total of 30-over 462.

With freshman Amy Chitkoksoong, the 2015 CWGA Junior Match Play champion, finishing second individually and senior Morgan Sahm placing third for the second straight year, they set the tone for the Wolves, who rallied from an eight-stroke deficit after round 1. Also on the state-title winning squad were Caitlin O’Donnell (30th) and Ryan Morgan (51st). (Sahm, in blue, and Weinstein are pictured at top chatting on the 18th green after finishing their high school careers.)

“It’s amazing,” said Sahm, the 2015 CJGA Tournament of Champions winner and a University of Northern Colorado signee. “I’m so proud of my team. It’s a great way to end my senior year. I couldn’t have asked for anything else. I’m so happy for Mary winning individually. I’ve grown up playing with her, so I’m very proud of her. But to win as a team really means a lot to me. I’m very happy.”

Added Chitkoksoong, who birdied the last hole to give Grandview the lead: “It feels really great, to be honest. We were neck and neck with Regis, and just being able to push through those last holes really made a difference.”

While the team race went right down to the wire, the individual competition was never particularly close on Tuesday. Weinstein (left), the 2015 CWGA Junior Player of the Year and 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play champ, left little doubt with a 3-under-par 69 in the final round, giving her a two-day total of 4-under 140. And that was despite the four-putt on her final hole.

Weinstein, a Regis University signee, eagled the par-5 fifth hole from 10 feet and added three birdies in the final round.

“That four-putt was not my greatest moment, but I wouldn’t change anything for the world,” said Weinstein, who finished 15th in last year’s prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships.

Weinstein has been a semi-regular at CommonGround this year as she’s part of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program there, but she said that didn’t give her any home-course advantage as she practices plenty at the facility but rarely plays the championship course.

Meanwhile, Chikoksoong carded the low round of the tournament on Tuesday — a 4-under-par 68 — to place second individually as a freshman, ending up at even-par 144. She made four straight birdies on Tuesday (holes 3-6) and six overall for the day.

Unfortunately, she can look at the four strokes she finished behind Weinstein and trace it all back to one hole, the 296-yard par-4 fourth, where she made a quadruple-bogey 8 in the first round.

“I guess I got kind of greedy on that one hole, trying to get on (the green) in one and pushed my shot into the trees,” she said. “I was so caught up in the moment that I just took shot after shot. I messed up on that hole. It was pretty upsetting. I just had to deal with it and keep moving on. That’s what today was — to keep making up those strokes.

“I ‘m really proud of how I played the second day. The first day, I guess I made a mental mistake and that pretty much cost me my round. We’re out here to win, you know, and coming in runner-up is kind of upsetting. But you’ve got to tip your hat to the winner. Mary had a great round and she completely deserves the win.”

Sahm, meanwhile, posted her fourth top-10 finish at state by ending up third. She carded a 73 on Tuesday to check in at 148.

“That’s OK,” she said. “I’m just happy I’m done with senior year and that ended it this way (with a team title).”

Final-Hole Birdie Proves Difference for Sargent in 4A: Erin Sargent of Silver Creek birdied the final hole of her high school golf career, giving her the individual title Tuesday in the 4A state meet at Pueblo Country Club.

The 10-foot birdie putt gave the University of Wyoming signee a one-stroke victory over playing partner Caroline Jordaan of Colorado Academy. Both players closed with 2-over-par 74s, with Sargent ending up with a two-day total of 5-over-par 149.

Sargent, who qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open last year, made three birdies — including on the first and last holes of the day — and five bogeys for round 2. Jordaan parred 11 of her final 12 holes, with a bogey on 16 proving costly.

But Jordaan’s Colorado Academy squad ran away with the team title, ending Cheyenne Mountain’s streak of three conscutive championships in 4A. CA posted a 36-over-par 468 total, while Cheyenne Mountain was second at 520.

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

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.
 

Winning state championships seemed to come pretty easily for Robert Polk from 2005 to ’09. For that four-year stretch, the Parker resident won a remarkable seven CGA titles, including five individually.

Then the floodgates seemed to close. For six years, the Colorado Golf Club member was shut out in his attempt to add to his CGA championships.

But on Wednesday, the drought ended — at last.

Just three months after turning 60 and becoming eligible to compete in the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play, Polk (pictured) won the event in his “rookie” year.

“It’s always great to win state titles; it’s why we play,” said Polk, who just recently fully retired. “It’s very exciting. I also won the Senior Stroke the first time I played in it (in 2005), which is kind of fun. But the first goal of every season is to win state championships.

“I thought all day, this would be the first one in six years. To win again is special, having been so long, And you start thinking, ‘Am I going to win again or not?’ Hopefully this will allow me to play really well again.”

Polk was one of two first-timers in their respective age divisions to claim the Super-Senior Stroke Play titles on Wednesday at Pueblo Country Club. While Polk prevailed in the 60-and-over event, Kirk Miller, a 70-year-old from Estes Park Golf Club, came out on top in the 70-and-up tournament.

For Polk, he’s now won three CGA Senior Stroke Plays, one Senior Match Play, one Super-Senior Stroke Play and two Senior Four-Balls, along with the 2007 CGA Mid-Amateur. It was the first CGA title for Miller.

Polk, who took a two-stroke lead into the final round, shot a 4-over-par 75 on Wednesday to finish at 4-over 146, good for a three-shot victory. David Merritt of Meridian Golf Club closed with a 76 to place second at 149. Dan Grigsby of Todd Creek Golf Club carded a final-round 77 to finish third at 150.

Polk’s lead was never seriously threatened on Wednesday. He made a couple of birdies, but he pointed to an 8-foot putt he holed for par on No. 13 after missing the green long as a key point.

“It was a beautiful par putt. When I made that, I thought it would be my day,” said the three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year. “Sometimes par putts can be the most important ones.

“On 16 tee, I was three up and just murdered it off the tee, chipped to 3 feet and missed it. Then I three-putted the last two greens. I really played very solid other than that. I never felt like I was not going to win.”

In the 70-and-older competition, Miller (left) tied for the lowest round of the day — a 9-over-par 80 — to win by three. The former University of New Mexico golfer played the final six holes in 1 over to check in at 15-over 157 for 36 holes.

Joe Morrill of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, the 2013 70-and-older champ, was runner-up at 160 after carding an 84 on Wednesday. Bob Sims of Clubcorp Colorado finished third at 162 after closing with an 83.

“This feels great,” Miller said of earning his first CGA championship. “I just turned 70 in June. There is something good about getting old.”

Miller, who trailed by one entering Wednesday, took the lead for good from Morrill with a par on No. 11, then helped his cause with his only birdie of the day, a 5-footer on No. 15.

The victory comes on the heels of Miller’s previous top golf accomplishment, winning the super-senior division of the Estes Park Labor Day Tournament.

CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play
At Par-71 Pueblo CC

60+ Division
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club 71-75–146
David Merritt, Meridian Golf Club 73-76–149
Dan Grigsby, Todd Creek Golf Club 73-77–150
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club 76-75–151
Robert Bulthaup, Valley Country Club 77-74–151
Jeffrey English, Commonground Golf Course 77-75–152
Jim LeMar, Meadows Golf Club 78-74–152
Gary Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club 75-78–153
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club 77-76–153
Ed Thiele, Eagle Ranch Golf Course 84-71–155
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course 76-79–155
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado 75-80–155
Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course 77-79–156
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s 82-75–157
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf & CC 77-81–158
Paul Yoon, Colorado Springs Country Club 76-82–158
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor 81-78–159
Rick Pirog, Clubs at Cordillera 79-80–159
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor 79-80–159
John Sostman, Meadows Golf Club 82-78–160
Russell L Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs Country Club 76-85–161
Scott Crone, Pinehurst Country Club 79-82–161
Tim Daniel, Eaton Country Club 81-81–162
Randy Miller, Boulder Country Club 82-81–163
Ken Tai, Perry Park Country Club 84-80–164
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado Golf Course 81-84–165
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course 84-82–166
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park Golf Course 84-83–167
John Leamon, Littleton Golf & Tennis Club 87-82–169
Bill Weinman, Clubcorp Colorado 84-87–171
Marc Sims, Eisenhower Golf Club 86-85–171
Mark Barkley, Clubcorp Colorado 84-90–174
Bob Miller, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s 98-97–195
Norm Nuwash, Saddle Rock Golf Course 94-104–198
Dicky Laner, Trinidad Golf Course 102-104–206
Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club 77-DQ
Terry Gillespie, Thorncreek Golf Club 83-DQ
Steven Hill, Aurora Hills Golf Club 88-NS
Chuck Fisher, Legacy Ridge Golf Course WD
Dan Birnley, Conquistador Golf Course WD
John Livingston, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C WD
 
70+ Division
Kirk Miller, Estes Park Golf Club 77-80–157
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch Golf Course 76-84–160
Bob Sims, Clubcorp Colorado 79-83–162
Chet Baker, Foothills Golf Course 83-80–163
Tom Vickers, Club at Crested Butte 85-81–166
Lawrence Covell, Country Club at Castle Pines 84-84–168
Matt Quinn, Estes Park Golf Club 79-89–168
William Schmit, Heather Ridge Golf Club 86-83–169
John Litvay, Collegiate Peaks Golf Course 85-91–176
Bob Brown, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s 90-95–185
Dick Schmaltz, Elmwood Golf Course 89-97–186
Gary Cowan, Broadmoor Golf Club WD
Joe Streater, Collindale Golf Club WD
 

Editor’s Note: With the CGA celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1915, this is the second monthly installment of a series of stories looking back on the last century of golf in Colorado. All the articles will be published on ColoradoGolf.org. This chapter focuses on the period from 1915-1924. For a list of all installments to date, CLICK HERE. 

While there were certainly very notable happenings in the history of Colorado golf prior to 1915, the decade starting then marked a watershed for the sport in the Centennial State.

After all, that period included the founding of both the CGA and the CWGA; the first USGA presidency held by a Coloradan; the opening of a club that’s gone on to host more major championships and USGA championships than any other in Colorado (Cherry Hills Country Club) and of another club that’s been home to the second-most USGA championships in Colorado history (the Broadmoor); and the debut of what would become one of the country’s top amateur tournaments (the Broadmoor Invitation).

That’s what you call laying a strong foundation for golf in the state.

But before we continue with that, let’s briefly note what preceded the CGA’s founding.

A half-dozen golf courses in Colorado that opened prior to World War I remain vibrant to this day. That list includes Overland Park in Denver (left, circa 1895), Denver Country Club, Patty Jewett in Colorado Springs, Pueblo Country Club, Lakewood Country Club (then known as The Colorado Golf Club), and City Park in Denver. And there’s been some indication that other courses can trace their lineage back to pre-World War I, including perhaps Greeley Country Club.

Denver Country Club was one of the original 15 clubs in the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association (as was the Town & Gown Golf Club of Colorado Springs), and in the early years DCC hosted the Trans-Miss Championship in 1910 (won by a gentleman by the name of Harry Legg) and 1921 (George Von Elm). DCC was also the site of the 1912 Western Amateur won by Chick Evans, now best known as the founder of the Evans Scholarship for caddies. Evans would go on to capture eight Western Amateur titles in addition to two U.S. Amateurs and the 1916 U.S. Open.

Even though the CGA wasn’t founded until 1915, the tournament now known as the CGA Match Play dates back to 1901, making it the oldest continuously held state golf championship in Colorado. Frank Woodward, who played an exhibition match at Overland against the famed Harry Vardon during Vardon’s nationwide tour in 1900, captured the first Match Play title. (Keep his name in mind for a little history he’ll make later.)

Walter Fairbanks (pictured at top), also part of the Vardon exhibition, strung together four consecutive Match Play titles from 1902-05, a feat that remains unmatched in tournament history. But by far the most successful performer overall in the Match Play was Dr. Larry Bromfield, who won eight titles between 1912-28.

As for the specific decade at hand (1915-24), here are some of the highlights:

— The Colorado Golf Association was formally founded on Aug. 20, 1915. A two-paragraph Denver Post story noted that the “organization will control the state tournaments, give the cups and appoint the officers, and the winner will be the recognized champion of the association and state.”

M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood Country Club was elected the first president. That same year, coincidentally, McLaughlin won the first of his two CGA Match Plays, this time defeating Bromfield. McLaughlin had been the Match Play runner-up the previous three years.

— The following year, on March 14, 1916, the Colorado Women’s Golf Association came into being when eight women met and elected a president, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and delineated the association’s objectives and purpose: to promote and maintain the best interests of the game of golf; to hold golf tournaments; and to promote good fellowship among member clubs.” Mrs. Olyn Hemming was named the CWGA’s first president.

In September 2016 the first CWGA Match Play Championship was held, with Mrs. M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood prevailing for the title.

During the period from 1915-21, the McLaughlins won five CGA/CWGA Match Play titles between them.

— Meanwhile, at this same time, a Coloradan was making some history nationally. The United States Golf Association was founded in 1894, and from then through 1914, all the presidents of the organization had come from the East or Midwest. But Denver Country Club founding member Woodward, winner of the first CGA Match Play 14 years earlier, in 1915 became the first USGA president from the western U.S. He served a two-year term during which the USGA in 1916 stripped the amateur status from 1913 U.S. Open champion Francis Ouimet because Ouimet intended to open a sporting goods store. Ouimet wouldn’t be reinstated until 1918. The next USGA president from Colorado wouldn’t take office until 1980 (Will Nicholson Jr.).

During the period from 1909-20, Woodward would be president of Denver Country Club for five years. He was also a chairman of the Western Golf Association and the Trans Mississippi Golf Association.

— During the period from 1915-24, two of Colorado’s most famous courses opened, with the Donald Ross-designed Broadmoor Golf Club coming online in 1918 and William Flynn-designed Cherry Hills in 1922. Between them, Cherry Hills and the Broadmoor have hosted 16 USGA championships and 10 major championships (PGA, LPGA and Champions tours combined).

— In 1921, the Broadmoor debuted the Broadmoor Invitation (sometimes referred to as the Broadmoor Amateur Open in the early years), which would become one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the country. From 1921 to ’95, the tournament built a reputation for crowning top-notch champions. Among the winners of the tournament over those years — the event returned in 2014 as a scratch four-ball — were Hale Irwin, Lawson Little, Tom Purtzer, Grier Jones, Duffy Waldorf, Bob Dickson, John Fought and Willie Wood — all of whom went on to win on the PGA Tour — as well as Charlie Coe and locals N.C. “Tub” Morris (his 1922 Broadmoor Invitation medalist honor is pictured above), Bill Loeffler and Jim English.

As for the Broadmoor Ladies Invitation, its most famous champion would be Babe Zaharias, who won the event three consecutive years beginning in 1945.

All in all, the decade beginning in 1915 — along with the period leading up to it — had Colorado golf off to a rousing start through the first quarter of the 20th century. But many ups and downs awaited in the years to come.

Next up: 1925-34.
 

The Vail resident has attempted to qualify for dozens of USGA national tournaments over the years, but it wasn’t until Monday that he hit pay-dirt.

Johnson, who earlier this year captured the Senior Match Play title for his first individual CGA championship, landed medalist honors in Monday’s qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. The golfer from Eagle Ranch Golf Course shot an even-par 71 at Pueblo Country Club to set the standard for a field that originally numbered 50.

Johnson and the other reigning CGA senior champion, 2012 Senior Stroke Play winner David Delich of Colorado Springs, joined Ted Warner of Greeley in qualifying for the national Senior Amateur. Delich and Warner fired 73s to earn the final two USGA berths at stake on Monday. (The three are pictured above, from left: Warner, Johnson and Delich.)

The USGA Senior Amateur, for players 55 and older, will take place Sept. 21-26 in Cashiers, N.C.

“I’m excited,” Johnson said by phone on Monday. “I’ve been playing a long time, and this will be my first USGA event. Maybe I thought I was running out of time. I’ve always been a blow or two back (in qualifiers). In a one-day deal, you’ve got to be fortunate, and I was today.”

Johnson has tried to qualify for a variety of USGA championships, including the U.S. Open. But it was his ninth time attempting for the USGA Senior Am — every year since he became eligible by turning 55 — that he was successful.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Johnson played his lone practice round at Pueblo Country Club with Delich — along with Delich’s brother Chuck and another contestant, Rick George — after they suggested getting a look at the course. “Chuck Delich, especially, was an immense help” with Pueblo CC, Johnson said.

“It’s a short, tight course, with the strength in the greens,” Johnson noted. “You’re gong to miss some fairways, but when I did miss a fairway, I had a play.”

Johnson, the 2011 CGA Senior Player of the Year, finished with three birdies and three bogeys on Monday. David Delich, the 2012 Senior Player of the Year, opened with a double bogey and was 4 over at the turn. But the four-time CGA champion shot a bogey-free 2-under 34 on the back nine to earn a spot in his eighth USGA championship. Warner, meanwhile, offset two birdies with four bogeys on Monday.
 

USGA Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Pueblo CC

QUALIFIERS
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 35-36–71
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 39-34–73
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 38-35–73

ALTERNATES (in order)
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 37-37–74
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 35-39–74

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 35-40–75
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 35-40–75
Rodney Walters, Heritage at Westmoor, 36-39–75
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 38-38–76
Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC, 43-33–76
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 36-40–76
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 37-40–77
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 37-40–77
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills GC, 39-38–77
Steve Summers, Dallas CC, 38-39–77
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, 39-39–78
Carlos Salaber, The TwinEagles Club, 40-38–78
Jim Pierce, Stone Canyon Club, 39-40–79
Grant Porter, Commonground Golf Course, 38-41–79
Tim McAdam, Whisper Rock GC, 39-40–79
Daniel Birnley, Conquistador GC, 38-41–79
Stephen Bell, Denver CC, 38-41–79
Pat Bowe, Commonground GC, 43-37–80
Charlie Post, Colorado GC, 40-40–80
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 39-41–80
Robert Cloud, Bear Creek GC, 40-40–80
John Hoge, Spring Valley Gc, 42-38–80
Lou Gerig, Commonground GC, 40-40–80
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado, 40-41–81
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC, 37-44–81
Doug Wilson, Oro Valley CC, 40-41–81
Mark Barkley, Canongate Colorado, 39-43–82
James Lemar, Meadows GC, 41-41–82
Charles Delich, Eisenhower GC, 41-41–82
Paul Leonard III, Starr Hollow GC, 42-40–82
Frank Wilkinson III, Lincoln Park GC, 42-42–84
Keith Fretwell, CC of Colorado, 38-47–85
John Vanderbloemen, Haymaker Golf Course, 46-40–86
Bret Yetter, Colorado Springs CC, 42-44–86
Laird Middleton, Coal Creek GC, 43-46–89
James Ball, Walking Stick GC, 45-44–89
W. Eric Elison, Canongate Colorado, 44-45–89
Paul Yoon, Colorado Springs CC, 53-41–94
Chuck Fisher, Legacy Ridge GC, WD
John Olive, Paradise Valley CC, NS
Duwayne Lewis, Airport GC, WD
Tres Cochran, Royal Oaks CC, NS
David Cohn, Bethesda CC, WD
Kenneth Sady, Eagle Ranch GC, NS
David Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, WD