In some respects, these are unprecedented times for the amateurs in the Colorado Cup Matches they play against professionals from the Colorado PGA.

To wit:

— On Tuesday, when the matches were contested for the 46th year overall, and the 11th year with a women’s division, the CGA and CWGA amateurs swept the titles in the open, senior and women’s competitions for the first time.

— The eight-point winning margin in the open division (13-5) was the largest since the pros won 13.5-4.5 in 2002. (The CGA’s open team is pictured above.)

— With Tuesday’s victory at Valley Country Club, the amateurs have now won the open division three straight years, something they had never done before since the Cup Matches began in 1971. In fact, the last time the amateurs had won two straight before this current run was 2000-01, when their teams included a current PGA Tour player (Kevin Stadler), the winners of four Colorado Opens (Derek Tolan, Stadler and Ben Portie) and a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (Rick DeWitt).

— And, of course, the CWGA amateurs continue to own a remarkable unblemished record, having gone 11-0 against the professionals.

— Even in the senior division, where the amateurs had won just once since 2005, they eked out a victory on Tuesday. (They’re pictured at left.)

“Obviously as amateurs we want to beat the pros, and the pros obviously want to beat us, so there is a good rivalry between the two of us,” said CGA amateur open-division captain Nick Nosewicz, winner of the 2015 CGA Match Play. “It’s pretty special. Anytime you can get your name on the trophy that’s state-related and be part of a team, it’s fun.”

On Tuesday, the CGA amateurs defeated the Colorado PGA professionals 13-5 in the open division and 9.5-8.5 in the seniors, while the CWGA amateurs (below) kept their record unblemished against the pros, winning 6-3.

“That was a relief,” said Deb Hughes, who served as CWGA amateur captain and won both her four ball and singles matches, the latter thanks to carding an eagle and three birdies. “(The pressure to keep the perfect record intact) was no joke. I told the girls, ‘Don’t worry about it, just go out and play and enjoy yourselves.

“But I was worried because I didn’t expect to be appointed the captain. I came in this morning and all the girls were sitting at the table and I sat down thinking I was just going to join in. They all looked at me and said, ‘You’re the captain.’ I said, ‘What?’ I thought they were kidding. I’ve never done anything like this before. But it worked out OK.”

As it did for the seniors, whose only previous win against the pros in the last decade came in 2012. This time around, Tom Roos served as senior amateur captain.

“I think it’s great (to notch the victory),” said 2015 CGA Senior Stroke Play winner Bill Fowler, who won his singles match and halved his four-ball while teaming with Sean Forey. “We obviously played well. It’s kind of a cobbled-together team, but I think everyone went out to do the best they could, and at the end of the day we got one more point than them.”

The professionals still handily lead the all-time open series, 30-14 with two draws. With Tuesday’s victory, senior amateurs took the overall lead in their series 16-15 with three draws. And, after a one-year hiatus in the women’s competition, the women’s amateurs continued their Colorado Cup win streak.

Eight players — all amateurs — won both their four-ball and singles matches on Tuesday: Chris Thayer, Andrew Tapia, Connor Klein and Tristan Rohrbaugh in the open division; Hughes, Taylor Dorans and Sarah Hankins in the women’s competition; and Art Cudworth in the seniors. (Hughes and Dorans are pictured at left.)

Suffice it to say there was some pretty good golf played on Tuesday.

Nosewicz noted that he was 5 under par on his own ball in the morning four ball, and teammate Chris Korte, winner of the 2015 CGA Stroke Play, was 5 under on his. But the future U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifying team still lost 3 and 2 to professionals Geoff Keffer and Blake Sharamitaro.

But both CGA champions notched singles victories against former Colorado PGA Players of the Year, with Korte edging Keffer 3 and 1 and Nosewicz defeating Caine Fitzgerald 2 and 1. As captain, Nosewicz arranged to face Fitzgerald as the former plays out of Meadow Hills Golf Course and the latter is an assistant professional there.

“I wanted to make sure somebody from Meadow Hills won today,” Nosewicz said with a smile. “But I think I had six birdies and an eagle and won with a hole left to play. It was a battle, but a fun one indeed.”

As for his four-ball pairings, Nosewicz said, “I kind of knew the players I wanted to pair together. I know a couple of the amateurs’ games and I knew which ones could play this course really well. I asked Chris Thayer and Korte for a little input. I had six solid squads that we wanted to play. Then I got in and (almost everyone else) won. I did OK. Dustin (Jensen from the CGA) said I could stay.”

While Nosewicz is a relative newcomer to the Colorado Cup Matches — Tuesday was his second — Hughes and Fowler are veterans, Hughes having competed in five and Fowler in enough that he doesn’t remember the exact number.

“I haven’t won very many (titles with the amateur team), so this is historic for me too,” Fowler said. “I haven’t seen my name on the trophy on the open side but I’m going to look for it because I’m hoping to have my name on (for both the open and senior divisions).

“It took me a long time to realize I’m good enough to play against some of these pros, and to actually go and beat them once in a while is certainly an accomplishment that I’m proud of. The professionals obviously play at a very high level so that’s kind of a barometer for us to be able to compete and be successful at that level. I respect them. It’s always fun to compete and see how we compare.”

(Above, amateur Colin Prater putts as professionals Kyle Voska and Rob Hunt look on.)
 

Colorado Cup Matches
At Valley CC in Centennial

OPEN DIVISION
Overall Score: CGA Amateurs 13, Colorado PGA Professionals 5

Four Ball: CGA Amateurs 4, Colorado PGA Professionals 2
Jimmy Makloski/Andrew Tapia (A) def. Chris Johnson/Scott Ough, 5 and 4
Lamar Carlisle/Connor Klein (A) def. Ryan Wroblewski/Peter Norwood, 2 and 1
Geoff Keffer/Blake Sharamitaro (P) def. Nick Nosewicz/Chris Korte, 3 and 2
Chris Thayer/Kyle Danford (A) def. Kyle Voska/Rob Hunt, 4 and 2
Barry Milstead/Caine Fitzgerald (P) def. Colin Prater/Jake Staiano, 3 and 2
Tristan Rohrbaugh/Sam Marley (A) def. Dan O’Shaughnessy/Tray Shehee, 3 and 2

Singles: CGA Amateurs 9, Colorado PGA Professionals 3
Connor Klein (A) def. Barry Milstead, 3 and 2
Tristan Rohrbaugh (A) def. Chris Johnson, 1 up
Kyle Voska (P) def. Lamar Carlile, 4 and 2
Colin Prater (A) def. Rob Hunt, 1 up
Nick Nosewicz (A) def. Caine Fitzgerald, 2 and 1
Chris Korte (A) def. Geoff Keffer, 3 and 1
Blake Sharamitaro (P) halved with Sam Marley (A)
Peter Norwood (P) def. Kyle Danford, 1 up
Andrew Tapia (A) def. Scott Ough, 2 and 1
Chris Thayer (A) def. Ryan Wroblewski, 3 and 2
Jimmy Makloski (A) halved with Tray Shehee (P)
Jake Staiano (A) def. Dan O’Shaughnessy, 5 and 4

SENIOR DIVISION
Overall Score: CGA Amateurs 9.5, Colorado PGA Professionals 8.5

Four Ball: Colorado Colorado PGA Professionals 3, CGA Amateurs 3
Robin Bradbury/Scott Sullivan (A) def. Rudy Castaneda/Doug Perry, 3 and 2
Scott Hart/Dave Detweiler (P) def. Owen Ellis/Bob Beiersdorf, 2 and 1
Ron Vlosich/Perry Holmes (P) halved with Mike Larson/Kelly Crone (A)
Bill Fowler/Sean Forey (A) halved with Scott Walter/Scott Sommers (P)
Pat Bowe/Art Cudworth (A) def. Russell Aragon/Vance Pollock, 2 up
Rick Ellefson/Tom Krause (P) def. Tom Roos/Gary Driber, 2 up

Singles: CGA Amateurs 6.5, Colorado PGA Professionals 5.5
Art Cudworth (A) def. Russell Aragon, 4 and 2
Vance Pollock (P) def. Robin Bradbury, 1 up
Ron Vlosich (P) def. Scott Sullivan, 2 and 1
Perry Holmes (P) def. Kelly Crone, 3 and 2
Scott Walter (P) def. Owen Ellis, 4 and 3
Bill Fowler (A) def. Scott Sommers 4 and 3
Mike Larson (A) def. Rick Ellefson, 5 and 4
Gary Driber (A) def. Tom Krause, 1 up
Dave Detweiler (P) halved with Tom Roos (A)
Bob Beiersdorf (A) def. Scott Hart, 3 and 1
Doug Perry (P) def. Pat Bowe, 5 and 4
Sean Forey (A) def. Rudy Castaneda, 5 and 4

WOMEN’S DIVISION
Overall Score: CWGA 6, Colorado PGA 3

Four Ball: CWGA 3, Colorado PGA 0
Taylor Dorans/Delaney Elliott (A) def. Patti Marquis/Sherry Andonian-Smith, 2 and 1
Kylee Sullivan/Megan Vernon (A) def. Casey Brittain/Courtney Rudolph, 5 and 4
Deb Hughes/Sarah Hankins (A) def. Katie Milstead/Erin Diegel, 1 up

Singles: CWGA 3, Colorado PGA 3

Taylor Dorans (A) def. Erin Diegel, 7 and 5
Deb Hughes (A) def. Patti Marquis, 4 and 3
Sarah Hankins (A) def. Katie Milstead, 4 and 3
Sherry Andonian-Smith (P) def. Kylee Sullivan, 5 and 4
Casey Brittain (P) def. Delaney Elliott, 3 and 2
Courtney Rudolph (P) def. Megan Vernon, 5 and 3
 

Playing Division I college golf is a very competitive undertaking. Being successful as a freshman is particularly challenging.

But the transition from high school and junior golf to big-time college golf seems to have come relatively easy for the Colorado high school graduating class of 2014.

Eight true freshmen from Colorado have competed in all — or almost all — of his of her school’s college tournaments so far this season. And another few play semi-regularly.

Several are taking it yet another step, making a big-time impact by having been in contention for individual titles at large Division I college tournaments.

And just in the last week and a half, things have really come to a head as Arapahoe High School graduate and University of Oklahoma freshman Hannah Wood (above) won the Notre Dame Clover Cup, and Regis Jesuit grad and University of Denver frosh Chris Korte placed sixth in the 85-man Desert Shootout.

Wood, the reigning CWGA Stroke Play champion, leads Oklahoma in season stroke average (72.8) and has recorded four top-20 finishes in six college tournaments. And in the wake of her Clover Cup victory, the former Hale Irwin Elite Player was named the national female golfer of the week by Golfweek magazine.

As for Korte (left), while he hasn’t won a college tournament yet, he’s posted a remarkable three top-six finishes in his last five events (two fourths and a sixth). And, following his performance in the Desert Shootout, he was named the Summit League men’s golfer of the week.

Korte and DU freshman teammate Jake Kelley are in some ways picking up where they left off in high school at Regis. In their senior year, RJHS won the 5A boys state high school title for the fourth consecutive year. Kelley has likewise made the transition to college look relatively easy as he’s recorded two 11th-place finishes for DU, and three top-20s in all.

Here’s a quick look at some of the other true freshmen from Colorado high schools who have made an impact so far in their first season of college golf:

Sarah Hankins, Wyoming (Legacy HS graduate) — Hankins has seen periodic tournament action, with her best showing being a 36th-place finish.

Sam Marley, Northern Colorado (Arapahoe HS graduate) — Plays regularly at UNC and has notched two top-50 finishes.

Todd Millard, Air Force Academy (Silver Creek HS graduate) — Has seen limited tournament action, with his best finish being a 39th at the Mark Simpson Colorado Invitational.

Spencer Painton, Kansas (Regis Jesuit HS graduate) — The 2013 5A state high school individual champion hasn’t seen a lot of college tournament action, but he has two 25th-place finishes to his credit.

Calli Ringsby, Stanford (Cherry Creek HS graduate) — Ringsby has appeared in a few tournaments for Stanford so far this season, with a 50th-place showing her best individual performance.

Tristan Rohrbaugh, Boise State (Basalt HS graduate) — Has notched two top-35 finishes, both during the spring schedule, including a 15th at the Pat Hicks Invitational.


Josh Seiple, Mississippi (Valor Christian HS graduate) — Seiple has been a regular on Ole Miss’ traveling squad and has posted two top-40 individual finishes.

Jaylee Tait, Montana State (Columbine HS graduate) — Tait, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Women’s Amateur, has finished in the top 30 twice this season, including a 15th-place showing.

Glenn Workman, Wyoming (Pueblo West HS graduate) — Workman has been a workhorse for Wyoming as a freshman and has recorded two top-20 finishes.
   

For a person so young, Sydney Merchant put up some very impressive numbers this week.

The 15-year-old from Red Rocks Country Club not only won the 61st CWGA Junior Match Play Championship at Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette, but she did so with one of the largest margins in the history of the title match.

Record-keeping is spotty for the Junior Match Play, but Merchant’s 8 and 6 win Thursday over Sarah Hankins of Thorncreek Golf Club is by far the most lopsided title match in the last nine years.

Thursday’s performance capped a memorable week overall as the Morrison resident (pictured above) won her quarterfinal match 8 and 7, then went 5 under par in defeating Hannah Wood 2 up in the semifinals.

“You always go into a tournament thinking you’ll play your best,” said Merchant, a sophomore-to-be at Dakota Ridge High School. “I played very well this week, I thought. There was no particular part of my game I was great in, but it all just clicked.”

In winning her first CWGA championship, Merchant was 2 under par through the 12 holes of Thursday’s final match. She played the front nine in 3 under — making birdies on each of the par-5s — which left her 6 up at the turn. Merchant and Hankins (picured at left) tied for third place in this year’s 5A state high school meet, but Hankins struggled on Thursday, going 7 over par in her 12 holes of the final. She bogeyed her last four holes and six of her last seven.

“I just struggled putting today,” said Hankins, a senior-to-be at Legacy High School in Broomfield. “I could have made some putts that would have (made it) closer, but they didn’t fall today. Coming into this (match), I’d been putting lights out. I felt confident, but it just didn’t work out today.

“Some days you win, some days you lose. Today I lost. That’s sports for you.”

Merchant got up and down for par on No. 10 and went 7 up there when Hankins (pictured at left) three-putted for bogey. Merchant hit her second shot into the water on the par-5 11th, settling for her only bogey and a halve there. Then needing just a halve to end the match, Merchant two-putted from 25 feet for par on No. 12 for the victory.

Claiming the title was particularly satisfying given that Merchant finished second in the CWGA Junior Match Play last year, when Calli Ringsby beat her in the final.

“Obviously this feels great,” said Merchant, who didn’t lose a hole on Thursday. “It was a great win and I’m happy.”

And the fact that she also beat Wood — who advanced to match play at this year’s U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links Championship — made it all the sweeter. In that semifinal, each player made six birdies.

“Yesterday I shot like (5) under, so that was a great round,” Merchant said. “That was a really fun round. It was very satisfying. We both played great, and it was fun and intense. I enjoyed it.”

Despite her age, Merchant (pictured at left) is no stranger to big-time junior golf. By the time this summer is over, she will have competed in three Callaway Junior World Golf Championships, two Junior America’s Cups, one Optimist International Junior Golf Championship and one national Big “I” Junior Classic.

Hankins, who will be playing in this year’s Optimist International, took satisfaction in being a CWGA Junior Match Play finalist this week despite Thursday’s lopsided loss.

“It’s a big deal,” she said. “This is the farthest I’ve made it in match play ever. It’s a huge accomplishment. It’s definitely one of the best tournaments I’ve played.”

CWGA Junior Match Play
At Indian Peaks GC in Lafayette
 
  Championship Flight Final — Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC def. Sarah Hankins, Thorncreek GC 8 & 6.
  Championship Flight Consolation Final — Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch GC def. Kylee Sullivan, CC of Colorado5 & 4
  First Flight Final — Jennifer Kupcho, CommonGround GC def. Dani Urman, Meridian GC 2 & 1
  First Flight Consolation Final — Gillian Vance, Red Rocks CC def. Andrea Ballou, Red Hawk Ridge GC- Forfeit
  Second Flight Final — Jennifer Hankins, Thorncreek GC def. Mary Weinstein, Green Valley Ranch GC 1 up
  Second Flight Consolation Final — Adara Pauluhn, Lake Valley CC def. Jordan Sunset, Boulder CC 8 & 6
  Third Flight Final — Mary Kate Nelson, Eisenhower GC def. Michelle Romano, Colorado GC 20 holes
  Third Flight Consolation Final — Maggie Gelat, Monument Hill CC def. Ashlyn Kirschner, West Woods GC 2 & 1
  Fourth Flight Final — Mattie Schwall, Colorado Springs CC def. Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree Hotel & GC 3 & 1
  Fourth Flight Consolation Final — Mariah Ehrman, Omni Interlocken Resort GC def. Madison McCambridge, Boulder CC 7 & 6
  Fifth Flight Final — Kelsey Petersen, Marianna Butte GC def. Kendra Bellmann, Estes Park GC 3 & 2
  Fifth Flight Consolation Final — Colleen Casey, Estes Park GC def. Aubrey Doran, Ptarmigan CC 6 & 5
 

The 17-year-old Fairview High School graduate fired that 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday — the same day that two of her pursuers in the CWGA Junior Stroke Play did likewise.

The result was that her best was just good enough for the state title at Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone.

“I really like going out where it’s close or I’m in contention,” said Moran, who will play college golf at NCAA Division I William & Mary in Virginia beginning in the fall. “I’ve been playing really well, but I kept having one thing off in my game. But it all came together today.”

Actually, Moran did end up with a two-stroke margin in her wire-to-wire victory in the Junior Stroke Play. She birdied her 16th hole from 3 feet on Wednesday to give her a little cushion, but it was always close.

Moran finished with a 2-over-par 218 total, two stokes better than Jaylee Tait of Raccon Creek Golf Course, who matched Moran’s 70. Likewise firing 70 was third-place finisher Sarah Hankins of Thorncreek Golf Club, who checked in at 222.

“This means a lot,” said Moran, who placed third in this tournament a year ago. “It’s a good way to close out (her junior golf career in the state, though she still has a tournament or two left). I knew I had to win one of them.

“This is probably my biggest win with the field they had here. Maybe it’s tied with the (high school) regional I won as a junior.”

On Wednesday, Moran posted three birdies — all from inside of 5 feet — and one bogey in her career-best round. But if there was one area of her game that didn’t cooperate on the final day, it was her putter.

“I kept having short birdie putts and they wouldn’t drop,” she said. “It was frustrating. I was hitting it close. If I putted good, I could have gone lower, but I’m not complaining.

“I was proud of how I handled the mental part of my game today.”

Moran wasn’t the only CWGA Junior Stroke Play winner from Fairview High School. Former teammate Megan McCambridge won the First Flight on Wednesday after carding rounds of 79-84-73 for a 236 total.

CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Kelly Moran, Boulder, Colo. 74-74-70–218

Jaylee Tait, Littleton, Colo. 75-75-70–220

Sarah Hankins, Thornton, Colo. 75-77-70–222

Gillian Vance, Lakewood, Colo. 74-75-79–228

Samantha Barker, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-73-78–228

Sydney Gillespie, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-78-78–230

Kylee Sullivan, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80-73-82–235

Mary Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 74-82-79–235

Sydney Merchant, Morrison, Colo. 80-78-79–237



FIRST FLIGHT
Megan McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. 79-84-73–236

Joanna Kempton, Littleton, Colo. 79-83-77–239

Madison Tenney, Evergreen, Colo. 83-78-79–240

Andrea Ballou, Larkspur, Colo. 82-82-78–242

Dani Urman, Greenwood Village , Colo. 79-81-83–243

Delaney Benson, Littleton, Colo. 80-84-79–243

Jennifer Hankins, Thornton, Colo. 77-85-81–243

Adara Pauluhn, Longmont, Colo. 80-84-80–244

Hannah More, Littleton, Colo. 83-79-84–246



SECOND FLIGHT
Morgan Sahm, Centennial, Colo. 86-73-76–235

Jenni Chun, Lone Tree, Colo. 87-80-78–245

Margot Leibold, Englewood, Colo. 88-81-80–249

Jacquelin Biggs, Englewood, Colo. 88-77-86–251

Ashlyn Kirschner, Arvada, Colo. 88-79-85–252

Delaney Elliott, Superior, Colo. 88-86-79–253

Heather Kroll-Schoonover, Arvada, Colo. 86-90-84–260

Mariah Ehrman, Westminster, Colo. 87-89-90–266

Julia Kim, Aurora, Colo. 87-90-91–268



THIRD FLIGHT
Katherine Kemp, Colorado Springs, Colo. 91-78-80–249

Morgan Stacks, Thornton, Colo. 91-80-87–258

Emilee Strausburg, Lakewood, Colo. 90-88-86–264

Courtney Ewing, Pueblo West, Colo. 94-87-87–268

Natasha Brandy McClain, Castle Pines, Colo. 92-88-89–269

Madison McCambridge, Boulder, Colo. 93-92-93–278

Andrea Hoos, Thornton, Colo. 94-98-88–280

Duval Sutherland, Parker, Colo. 95-104-99–298

Julia Baroth, Denver, Colo. 105-101-101–307