Designed to nurture the budding careers of promising junior golfers in the state, the Irwin 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. Participants also receive help with their games on a variety of levels.

CommonGround, a public facility that opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA, which adminsters the program that was launched in 2012.

The 2018 class features 11 boys and eight girls, with seven of the overall total being newcomers to the program.

Among the returnees is Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, the reigning 4A girls state high school champion who was one of four players that represented Colorado in the Girls Junior America’s Cup in 2017. Lehigh is entering her third year as an Irwin Player.

Two junior golfers selected will be in their sixth year with the program, dating back to its inception: Christian Agelopoulos and Roger Nakagawa, both of Denver. Three are set for their fourth year as an Irwin Player: Traejan Andrews of Windsor, Jack Castiglia of Lakewood and Cade Kilkenny of Centennial.

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

Included as part of the program, players will have access to supervised practices and on-course coaching, will learn with the VISION54 curriculum, will participate in workshops on fitness and nutrition and will hear occasionally from speakers. Additionally, the Irwin Players are asked to volunteer with CGA Community and Wellness Programs and at JGAC 10 & under tournaments or Drive Chip & Putt competitions.

The Irwin 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), Mary Weinstein (Denver), Spencer Painton (Colorado), Coby Welch (Northern Colorado), Ross Macdonald (Colorado), Calli Ringsby (Stanford), Delaney Elliott (Montana State) and 2016 3A state champion Oliver Jack (signed with Colorado). Kupcho currently stands No. 3 in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings and finished second individually in the Women’s NCAA Championships and 21st in the U.S. Women’s Open in 2017.

The Irwin 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 Irwin Player Program. The visionary behind the program was another CGA Governor, former Cherry Hills Country Club head golf professional Clayton Cole.

Among the changes the Hale Irwin Player Program has undergone for this year are:

— Once selected, players will remain in the program until graduating from high school or electing to leave or being asked to leave due to behavior issues or lack of participation.

— The program now features three tiers of players based largely on the amount of time in the program.

— The name has changed after initially being known as the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program as many players are selected at a relatively young age and may not yet be at the elite level, though all are striving to be.

Here’s a rundown of all 19 junior players who have been selected to partcipate in the Hale Irwin Player Program for 2018:

Abigail Aeschleman of Highlands Ranch, a seventh-grader at Mountain Ridge Middle School — 2018 will mark her first year in the program. … She finished third in the 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 11-13 Series girls points list, notching two tournament victories.

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, a sophomore at Colorado Academy — 2018 will mark his sixth year in the program. … He finished 46th in the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list.

Traejan Andrews of Windsor, an eighth-grader at Winograd K-8 in Greeley — 2018 will mark his fourth year in the program. … He finished a close second on the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series boys points list, winning three tournaments.

Ty Andrews of Windsor, a fifth-grader at Winograd K-8 in Greeley — 2018 will mark his first year in the program. … He finished sixth on the 2017 JGAC 10 & Under Series boys points list, finishing as high as second in a tournament.

Chunya Bead Boonta of Aurora, a seventh-grader at Thunder Ridge Middle School — 2018 will mark her third year in the program. … She finished eighth in the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series girls points list, winning one tournament.

Supawich Beam Boonta of Aurora, a sophomore at Eaglecrest High School — 2018 will mark his third year in the program. … He finished fourth on the 2017 JGAC 14-18 Series boys points list, finishing as high as second in a tournament.

Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, a senior at Lakewood High School — 2018 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Has signed to play college golf at the University of Northern Colorado. … He finished sixth on the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list, winning one team tournament and placing as high as second individually.

Kaylee Chen of Highlands Ranch, an eighth-grader at Cresthill Middle School — 2018 will mark her first year in the program. … She finished first on the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series girls points list, winning eight tournaments.

Caitlyn Chin of Greenwood Village, a fifth-grader at Challenge School — 2018 will mark her first year in the program. … She finished second on the 2017 JGAC 10 & Under Series girls points list, winning five tournaments.

Sofia Choi of Littleton, an eighth-grader at Falcon Bluffs Middle School — 2018 will mark her first year in the program. … She finished second on the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series girls points list, earning five wins, including the 11-13 Junior Series Championship.

Merielle Gojo of Cherry Hills Village, a freshman at Cherry Creek High School — 2018 will mark her second year in the program. … She finished third on the JGAC 14-18 Series girls points list, winning one tournament.

Cade Kilkenny of Centennial, a junior at Cherry Creek High School — 2018 will mark his fourth year in the program. … He finished 95th on the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list, finishing as high as fourth in a tournament.

Maxwell Lange of Golden, an eighth-grader at The Manning School — 2018 will mark his first year in the program. … He finished first on the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series boys points list, winning two tournaments.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, a junior at Loveland High School — 2018 will mark her third year in the program. … She finished second on the 2017 JGAC Tour girls points list, winning eight tournaments, including the 4A state high school title.

Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland, an eighth-grader at Bill Reed Middle School — 2018 will mark her third year in the program. … She finished first on the 2017 JGAC 14-18 Series girls points list, winning four tournaments.

Roger Nakagawa of Denver, a senior at Thomas Jefferson High School — 2018 will mark his sixth year in the program. .. He finished 90th on the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list, placing as high as second in a tournament.

Kailer Rundiks of Denver, a senior at East High School in Denver — 2018 will mark his third year in the program. … Has signed to play college golf at Western New Mexico. … He finished 20th on the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list, finishing as high as fourth in a tournament.

Hunter Swanson of Denver, an eighth-grader at DSST Conservatory Green — 2018 will mark his first year in the program. … He finished third on the 2017 JGAC 11-13 Series boys points list, winning one tournament.

Jeffrey Zhou of Greenwood Village, a freshman at Kent Denver — 2018 will mark his second year in the program. … He finished 89th on the 2017 JGAC Tour boys points list, finishing second in a team event and as high as fourth individually.
 

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.
 

The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program is just a little more than three years old, but in that short period, it’s certainly lived up to its name.

The first three classes of Irwin Elite Players featured seven golfers who are now playing or have signed with NCAA Division I golf programs: Hannah Wood (Oklahoma), Jennifer Kupcho (Wake Forest), Spencer Painton (Kansas), Jake Staiano (Colorado State), Ross Macdonald (Colorado), Calli Ringsby (Stanford) and Coby Welch (just signed with Northern Colorado).

And two of those players — Kupcho and Wood — currently stand among the top 75 in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings.

With that as a backdrop, the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program announced its fourth — and largest — class on Thursday. Fourteen junior golfers will comprise the 2016 Elite Player class, including seven returnees from 2015. The group features nine boys and five girls, with two sets of siblings among them.

The program, designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptionally promising boys and girls golfers in the state, is named for the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. Irwin, a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, has won three U.S. Opens, 20 PGA Tour events overall, and a record 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. 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 Stroke Plays (1963, ’64 and ’65) and the CGA Match Play in 1966. He won the NCAA individual title in 1967 while competing for CU.

The players chosen for the Irwin Elite Player Program receive 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 — in 2016. CommonGround, which opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA, which established and administers the Irwin Elite Player Program. The group will meet once a month beginning in January, and will work periodically at CommonGround with Elena King, who recently was named one of the top 10 instructors in Colorado by Golf Digest. Additionally, participants volunteer with CGA Community and Wellness Programs.

Steve Irwin, Hale’s son, 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.

The 2016 Irwin Elite Players include two juniors who will be in their fourth 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 third year.

Also among those in the 2016 class are some of the best junior players in the state.

Mary Weinstein (pictured above) of Highlands Ranch, who just signed to play college golf with Regis University, won the 2015 CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship, and finished runner-up in the CWGA Stroke Play and the CJGA Tournament of Champions. On a larger stage, she placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there. Weinstein also represented Colorado at the USGA Women’s State Team Championship and at the Girls Junior Americas Cup.

Oliver Jack (left) of Cherry Hills Village finished second in the 3A state high school tournament (playing for Kent Denver). He placed fifth in the CGA Junior Stroke Play and went to the quarterfinals of the CGA Junior Match Play.

Here’s a rundown of all 14 junior players who have been selected to partcipate in the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program for 2016:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, an eighth-grader at Colorado Academy — 2016 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Posted two CJGA victories in 2015. … Competed in the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.

Traejan Andrews of Windsor, a sixth-grader at Winograd K-8 — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Finished 35th in Optimist International Junior Golf Championships’ boys 10-11 division. … Went undefeated at the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Posted six top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Chunya Bead Boonta of Centennial, a fifth-grader at Canyon Creek Elementary — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Won two CJGA events and finished second in the CJGA girls 10-and-under Junior Series Championship. … Was named a CJGA All-Star in 2015.

Supawich Beam Boonta of Centennial, an eighth-grader at ThunderRidge Middle School — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Posted seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Competed in the CJGA Ryder Cup Matches.

Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, a sophomore at Lakewood High School — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Finished 38th in the boys 13-14 division of the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships. … Placed 28th in the 5A state high school tournament. … Posted eight top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Kacey Godwin of Denver, a senior at Colorado Academy — 2016 will mark her second year in the program. … Placed third in the girls division of Colorado PGA Junior Championship. … Finished eighth in 4A girls state high school tournament. … Posted seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Oliver Jack of Cherry Hills Village, a sophomore at Kent Denver — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Tied for second place at the 3A state high school tournament. … Placed fifth in CGA Junior Stroke Play and went to quarterfinals in CGA Junior Match Play. … Recorded seven top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Cade Kilkenny of Centennial, a freshman at Cherry Creek High School — 2016 will mark his second year in the program. … Made it to round of 64 at CGA Junior Match Play. … Qualified for Optimist International Junior Golf Championships. … Posted four top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015.

Katelyn Lehigh of Loveland, a sixth-grader at Bill Reed Middle School — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Finished 27th in IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (girls 10-12 age division). … Won one CJGA tournament and recorded a dozen top-10 finishes in CJGA events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, a freshman at Loveland High School — 2016 will be her first year in the program. … Qualified, with Alli Bundy, for the 2016 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball Championship. … Qualified for both the IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships (finishing 66th in girls 13-14 division) and the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (placing 38th). … Recorded a remarkable 17 top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Roger Nakagawa of Denver, a sophomore at Thomas Jefferson High School — 2016 will mark his fourth year in the program. … Made it to the round of 64 at the CGA Junior Match Play. … Recorded one top-10 finish at a CJGA points event in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Kailer Rundiks of Denver, a sophomore at (Denver) East High School — 2016 will be his first year in the program. … Won Western Chapter Daily Sentinel Junior Championship. … Posted six top-10 finishes in CJGA points events in 2015. … Was named a CJGA Academic All-Star in 2015.

Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, a seventh-grader at Denver School of the Arts — 2016 will mark his third year in the program. … Won two CJGA events and posted 14 top-10 finishes in points tournaments in 2015. … Went undefeated in CJGA Ryder Cup Matches. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.

Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch, a senior at Regis Jesuit High School — 2016 will mark her first year in the program. … Has signed to play college golf at Regis University. … Won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Championship in 2015. … Also was runner-up in CWGA Stroke Play and the CJGA Tournament of Champions. … Went to quarterfinals of CWGA Match Play. … Placed 15th in the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships, marking the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age group there. … Represented Colorado at the USGA Women’s State Team Championship and at the Girls Junior Americas Cup. … Won four CJGA tournaments in 2015. … Was named a CJGA All-Star and Academic All-Star in 2015.
 

The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program will welcome its biggest class ever as 11 junior golfers from Colorado, including four returnees, have been selected to participate in 2015.

The third class of the program will feature two players who have been included in the program since its inception, Christian Agelopoulos and Roger Nakagawa, both of Denver.

The program, designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptional boys and girls golfers in the state, is named for the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. Irwin, a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, has won three U.S. Opens, 20 PGA Tour events overall, and a record 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

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

The third class for the program was announced recently at the Colorado Golf Awards Brunch. The players chosen receive 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 — in 2015. CommonGround, which opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, who established and administer the Irwin Elite Player Program.

Steve Irwin, Hale’s son, 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.

The 2015 Irwin Elite Player class includes two members of the two-time defending 4A state high school championship team from Valor Christian, Jake Staiano (left) of Cherry Hills Village and Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch. Staiano qualified for the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur and made it to the round of 64 in match play. The Class 4A state high school individual runner-up recently signed a national letter of intent to play college golf with Colorado State University. Welch won the CJGA Tournament of Champions this fall after finishing second in both the CGA Junior Stroke Play and CJGA Junior Series Championship, and placing fourth in the 4A state high school meet.

Welch’s younger brother, Jake, an eighth-grader at STEM Academy, also will be part of the Irwin Elite Player Program in 2015.

Ross Macdonald, another Valor player who earned the CGA Junior Player of the Year award, was an Irwin Elite Player in 2013 and ’14 and recently paid tribute to the program.

“It’s amazing and it’s growing every year,” he said. “It’s allowing kids to have that practice facility and (work on) all the skills they need to get better. And it allows older kids to mentor younger kids, which I think is an important value so that kids can grow in their golf game and grow in their personality to become young men (and women) people want to be like.”

In all, 18 junior players applied for the program this time around. Here are the 11 who were picked:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, a seventh-grader at Colorado Academy — 2015 will mark his third year in the program. … Was part of the winning team in the 2014 CJGA Junior Ryder Cup. … Competed in the 2014 Callaway Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego. … Was named to the 2014 CJGA Junior All-Star Team.
 
Traejan Andrews of Windsor, a fifth-grader at Winograd K-8 School in Greeley — Won the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship and finished second on the points list for that age group. … Was named to the 2014 CJGA Junior All-Star Team.
 
Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, a freshman at Lakewood High School — Won the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship. … Finished first on the CJGA 11-13 points list. … Played on the winning team in the CJGA Junior Ryder Cup. … Was named to the 2014 Junior All-Star Team.
 
Delaney Elliott of Superior, a junior at Monarch High School — Qualified for and competed in the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Florida. … Finished sixth on the CJGA 14-18 girls points list.
 
Kacey Godwin of Denver, a junior at Colorado Academy — Won the girls division of the Colorado Junior PGA Championship. … Placed 12th in the girls points list for CJGA players 14-18.
 
Cade Kilkenny of Centennial, an eighth-grader at West Middle School — Competed in the CJGA Junior Ryder Cup. … Finished third on the CJGA 11-13 points list. … Named to the 2014 CJGA Junior All-Star team.
 
Roger Nakagawa of Denver, a freshman at Thomas Jefferson High School — 2015 will mark his third year in the program.
 
Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver, a sixth-grader at Denver School of the Arts — This will be his second straight year in the program. … He competed in the CJGA Junior Ryder Cup competition.
 
Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village, a senior at Valor Christian High School — Selected for the program for the second straight year. … The 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion qualified for the 2014 U.S. Junior Amateur and advanced to the round of 64. … Recently signed a letter of intent to play college golf at Colorado State University. … Finished second individually in the 4A state high school meet. … Played for Colorado in the Junior America’s Cup.
 
Coby Welch (left) of Highlands Ranch, a junior at Valor Christian High School — Won the boys division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions. … Finished second in both the CGA Junior Stroke Play (in a playoff) and the CJGA 14-18 Junior Series Championship. … Also placed fourth individually in the 4A state high school tournament. … Led the CJGA boys points list in 2014. … Played on Colorado’s Junior America’s Cup team. … Named to the 2014 CJGA Junior All-Star Team.
 
Jake Welch of Highlands Ranch, an eighth-grader at STEM Academy — Finished third in the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship. … Competed in the CJGA Junior Ryder Cup. … Qualified for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championships in Florida.
 

The program, designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptional young golfers in the state, is named for the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. Irwin, a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, has won three U.S. Opens, 20 PGA Tour events overall, and a record 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

In Colorado, Irwin claimed the 1963 state high school championship, three straight CGA Stroke Plays (1963, ’64 and ’65) and the CGA Match Play in 1966.

The second class for the program was announced this week by the CGA and CWGA. The players chosen receive 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 — in 2014. CommonGround, which opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, who established and administers the Irwin Elite Player Program.

Out of 22 applicants, the young golfers who have been accepted into the program for the coming year are: Christian Agelopoulos of Denver; Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster; Ross Macdonald of Castle Rock; Roger Nakagawa of Denver; Spencer Painton of Aurora; Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver; Jake Staiano of Englewood; and Hannah Wood of Centennial.

(Pictured above are Painton, Wood, Sangchompuphen, Nakagawa and Kupcho, who are pictured with Clayton Cole, one of the driving forces behind the initiative. Recipients not pictured are Macdonald, Staiano and Agelopoulos.)

Four of those selected also participated in the program in 2013: Agelopoulos, Macdonald, Nakagawa and Wood.

Wood, a senior at Arapahoe High School, has committed to play college golf at the University of Oklahoma beginning in the fall of 2014. And Painton, who this fall won the 5A state high school individual golf title, is headed for the University of Kansas.

All five of the high-school-age golfers chosen — Kupcho, Macdonald, Painton, Staiano and Wood — have won either a CGA/CWGA championship and/or qualified for USGA national championships.

The hope is that the junior golfers selected will demonstrate some of the same work ethic, discipline and competitiveness that Hale Irwin himself is known for.

A letter from Irwin goes to each recipient, and part of it reads: “When I was asked to lend my name to this program I did so on the condition that the program focuses on the values that I attribute to my success in golf. When I am asked what I credit to my success my answer is simple — hard work. I may not win every tournament I play in, but if I don’t it won’t be for lack of trying. My passion for the game and my drive to be the best I can be motivates me to outwork my fellow competitors. You might beat me, but you won’t out-try me! 

“The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program is for young men and women, like yourself, who share this passion and determination.  Talent will only take you so far — the rest you earn through hard work, determination and drive.  You have been selected as someone who exhibits these qualities. The potential is there, now let’s see what you can do with it.”

Steve Irwin, Hale’s son, serves on the CGA board of governors and was instrumental in the establishment of the Elite Player Program.

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the junior players selected for the 2014 class:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver — The sixth-grader from Colorado Academy returns for his second year in the program. The 11-year-old played on the winning team in the season-ending CJGA Junior Ryder Cup. Agelopoulos won the City of Aurora Junior Championship and tied for second in the Colorado Optimist Junior tournament.
   
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster — After never competing in a USGA championship before this year, Kupcho played in four such national tournaments in 2013: the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team. Individually, she advanced to the round of 32 at the Girls’ Junior. She recently was named CWGA Junior Player of the Year. Along with Hannah Wood and Melissa Martin, she helped Colorado finish sixth in the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, tying the state’s best showing ever in the event. Also team-wise, Kupcho joined with Calli Ringsby, Wood and Sydney Merchant in leading the CWGA team to a third-place finish in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, tying the state’s second-best performance ever in that event. Kupcho won titles in the Colorado Junior PGA and the Big I Junior Classic state tournament, and she was runner-up in the 4A state high school meet and in the girls division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions. Kupcho, 16, is a junior at Jefferson Academy.
    
Ross Macdonald of Castle Rock — Macdonald won the 2013 CGA Junior Stroke Play by four shots at CommonGround, home of the Irwin Elite Player Program of which he was a part in 2013. He finished second in the same tournament in 2012. Now a 17-year-old junior at Valor Christian, Macdonald was a quarterfinalist in the CGA Junior Match Play and finished seventh in the 4A state high school tournament. Macdonald’s Valor Christian squad won the 4A state team title. He also competed for Colorado in the Junior America’s Cup.
    
Roger Nakagawa of Denver — Nakagawa returns for a second year in the Irwin Elite Player Program after dropping his handicap index by 4 1/2 strokes in 2013. He competed in the CJGA’s season-ending Junior Ryder Cup and posted three top-five finishes in 2013. Nakagawa, 13, attends eighth grade at the Hill Campus of the Arts and Sciences.
    
Spencer Painton of Aurora — Painton won three times during the course of the fall, claiming titles in the 5A state high school championship, the CJGA Tournament of Champions and the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational. In addition, Painton made it to the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Amateur, where he fell to the eventual national champion, Scottie Scheffler of Dallas. Painton, 17, is a senior at Regis Jesuit High School, which won its fourth consecutive 5A state title last month.
    
Ryan Sangchompuphen of Denver — At 10 years old, Sangchompuphen is the youngest of this year’s Irwin Elite Player class. He led the CJGA 10-and-under points list in 2013, finished in the top three all but once in 12 tournaments, and won twice. Sangchompuphen is a fifth-grader at Steck Elementary.
    
Jake Staiano of Englewood — Staiano made his mark in 2013 by winning the CGA Junior Match Play, giving Valor Christian players a sweep of CGA junior championships in 2013 (teammate Ross Macdonald won the Junior Stroke Play). Staiano finished fourth in the 4A state tournament, helping Valor claim the team title. The junior also placed third at the CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational. He competed on the CGA team at the Junior America’s Cup competition.

Hannah Wood of Centennial — Wood will remain in the Irwin program for the second straight year after repeating as the winner of the girls division of the CJGA Tournament of Champions, this time prevailing by six strokes. Wood won the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational junior tournament in Texas early this year, then competed in three USGA championships. The Arapahoe High School senior helped lead Colorado to a sixth-place finish in the USGA Women’s State Team Championship, matching the state’s best performance ever in the tournament. Wood, 17, also competed on the CWGA team that placed third in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, tying Colorado’s second-best showing ever in that event.
 

Six junior players from Colorado will be the first group to receive the privileges that go along with being picked for the Irwin Elite Player Program, which is designed to nurture the budding careers of exceptional young golfers in the state.

The perks include 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 — in 2013. CommonGround, which opened in 2009, is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, who established and will administer the Irwin Program.

The inaugural players selected are Christian Agelopoulos of Denver, Payton DeVencenty of Englewood, Ross Macdonald of Castle Rock, Roger Nakagawa of Denver, Calli Ringsby of Cherry Hills Village and Hannah Wood of Centennial. (Pictured above, CGA governors Clayton Cole, left, and Steve Irwin, right, flank, from left,  Agelopoulos, DeVencenty, Nakagawa and Wood.)

The Hale Irwin Elite Player Program is named for the most successful golfer with Colorado roots. Irwin, a Boulder High School and University of Colorado graduate, has won three U.S. Opens, 20 PGA Tour events in all, and a record 45 tournaments on the Champions Tour. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

In Colorado, Irwin claimed the 1963 state high school championship, three straight CGA Stroke Plays (1963, ’64 and ’65) and the CGA Match Play in 1966.

Irwin, who also played football at CU, is known for his competitiveness and work ethic, dating back to his days growing up in Boulder in the 1960s.

“(It) just comes down to the ‘These guys aren’t going to beat me’ attitude,” Irwin said earlier this year during a visit to the state where he grew up. “They could certainly outplay me but they weren’t going to beat me. They might win the battle, but I was going to win the war.”


Nineteen young golfers applied for spots in the first class of the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, and the half-dozen who were selected were introduced Sunday at the Colorado Golf Awards Brunch by CGA governors Clayton Cole and Steve Irwin. Cole, the visionary behind the Irwin Elite Player Program, is a former head professional at Cherry Hills Country Club. Steve Irwin, the 2004 CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year, is Hale Irwin’s son and has also helped establish the Irwin Elite Player Program.

The six junior players selected range in age from 10 to 17. They include two golfers ranked among the top 220 girls players worldwide by Junior Golf Scoreboard: Ringsby (No. 89) and Wood (No. 213). Both players qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship in 2012.

Ringsby won both the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play this year, and she was one of four American girls selected to compete in the 2012 USA-China Youth Golf Match. Wood won the Colorado Junior Golf Association Tournament of Champions last month.

On the boys side, Macdonald was runner-up in the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship.

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the junior players selected for the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program:

Christian Agelopoulos of Denver — The 10-year-old from Bromwell Elementary School finished atop the CJGA 10-and-under points list in 2012. He never placed out of the top five in his age group and won two tournaments outright.

Payton DeVencenty of Englewood — The junior at Lutheran High School in Parker finished seventh in the 2012 3A state tournament.

Ross Macdonald of Castle Rock — The Valor Christian sophomore placed second in the CGA Junior Stroke Play and made it to the quarterfinals in the Junior Match Play. The native of London, England represented Colorado at the 2012 Junior America’s Cup.

Roger Nakagawa of Denver — The 12-year-old from the Hill Campus of Arts and Sciences owns an 11.9 handicap and shot a 77 this summer. His home course is CommonGround.

Calli Ringsby of Cherry Hills Village — The Cherry Creek High School junior is ranked 89th internationally among girls by Junior Golf Scoreboard and played in the USA-China Youth Golf Match. She won both the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and Junior Match Play this year and qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior. She finished 36th in the Callaway Junior World Golf Championships.

Hannah Wood of Centennial — The Arapahoe High School junior won the CJGA Tournament of Champions in October and qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior. She was runner-up to Ringsby in the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and placed third in the 5A girls high school state tournament. A Colorado representative at the Girls Junior America’s Cup, she plays regularly at CommonGround.