On the boys side, there’s been PGA Tour veteran Brandt Jobe (1983); Wyndham Clark (2009) and Mark Hubbard (2007), both of whom have competed in quite a few PGA Tour events in recent years; and Geoff Keffer (1997), a five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year.

On the girls side, past champs have included Jennifer Kupcho (2014), currently the No. 2-ranked women’s amateur in the world; social media sensation Paige Spiranac (2010); and Becca Huffer (2005), a former CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion who just finished second in a Symetra Tour event.

Another chapter will be written in the Colorado Junior Am next week when Todd Creek Golf Club (pictured) in Thornton hosts the 54-hole event Monday through Wednesday (July 9-11). No former champions are in the field as 2018 winner Davis Bryant of Aurora is competing at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships in the San Diego area next week, and his female counterpart, Arielle Keating, moved to Florida last summer and will be playing college golf at Florida Atlantic in the fall. Among those joining Bryant at the Junior Worlds will be 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Girls Player of the Year Hailey Schalk of Erie, Kelsey Webster of Boulder and Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch.

But scheduled to compete in the boys tournament at Todd Creek are Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, winner of the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior last month, and Walker Franklin of Broomfield, who sits No. 3 on the JGAC Tour boys points list in 2018, behind Bryant and Stewart.

In the girls portion of the Colorado Junior Amateur, entered are Emma Bryant of Aurora, the reigning 5A state high school champion and the winner of the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play; Meghan Vogt of Broomfield, who recently qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior; and future University of Northern Colorado golfer Shelby Poynter, who competed in the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior.

The Colorado Junior Amateur is the second of four JGAC majors in 2018.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

One thing she hasn’t yet done is qualify for the U.S. Girls’ Junior. But next week will present a great opportunity to rectify that situation.

When the qualifying tournament is held on Tuesday (June 26), it will take place at Schalk’s home course, Colorado National Golf Club in Erie, where her dad Matt is the PGA general manager.

The 2017 JGAC Girls Player of the Year will be one of 33 competitors in the field competing for three spots in the national championship, set for Poppy Hills in Pebble Beach, Calif., July 16-21.

Two JGAC members who played in the 2017 U.S. Girls’ Junior will also be vying for spots — Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village and Nebraskan Shelby Poynter.

Among the other players seeking national spots are University of Colorado-bound Kelsey Webster of Boulder, who just finished third in the CGA Women’s Stroke Play; past girls state high school champs Emma Bryant of Aurora, Lauren Lehigh of Loveland and Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora; and Kaylee Chen of Denver, winner of the Big I Junior Classic state title.

For Tuesday’s tee times at Colorado National, CLICK HERE.
 

This year, two Coloradans made the 156-player field, plus a Nebraskan who is a member of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. But taking the next step — advancing to the 64-person match-play bracket — proved too high of a hurdle this week.

Jaclyn Murray (left) of Grand Junction, competing in the event for the second time, was the top Colorado finisher, placing 89th. The 18-year-old, headed for the University of Colorado, went 77-79 for a 14-over-par 156 total. She made one birdie for the second straight day.

And Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, who like Murray will represent Colorado next week in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, ended up in 128th place. The 15-year-old carded rounds of 81-80 for a 19-over-par 161 total. She likewise had one birdie on Tuesday.

JGAC member Shelby Poynter of Scottsbluff, Neb., recorded rounds of 92-82 for a 32-over-par 174 total that left her in 149th place.

Fourteen-year-old Lucy Li of Redwood Shores, Calif., earned medalist honors at 5-under 137 after rounds of 71-66. The golfers at 152 played off for the final spot in match play.

Here are scores for the Coloradans — and the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado members — competing in the U.S. Girls’ Junior this week:

Failed to Advance to Match Play
89. Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction 77-79–156
128. Charlotte Hillary, Cherry Hills Village 81-80–161
149. Shelby Poynter, JGAC member from Scottsbluff, Neb. 92-82–174

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

With the top 64 players after Tuesday’s second round of stroke play advancing to match play, Jaclyn Murray of Grand Junction sits in 73rd place of out 156 competitors, while Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village is 121st, and Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado member Shelby Poynter of Scottsbluff, Neb., is 154th.

Murray, who will represent Colorado next week in the Girls Junior America’s Cup, made one birdie and shot a 6-over-par 77 in Monday’s opening round after being even-par for her first nine holes. Murray is competing in her second U.S. Girls’ Junior.

Hillary, who likewise will be on the state’s Girls JAC team next week, carded three birdies in a round of 81. And Poynter posted a 92 due in part to the 10 she took on the par-4 second hole.

Mika Liu of Beverly Hills, Calif., leads after round 1 following her 4-under-par 67. Only seven players broke par on Monday.

Here are scores for the Coloradans — and the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado members — competing in the U.S. Girls’ Junior this week:

73. Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction 77
121. Charlotte Hillary, Cherry Hills Village 81
154. Shelby Poynter, JGAC member from Scottsbluff, Neb. 92

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Murray, a recent Regis Jesuit High School graduate who plans to play college golf at the University of Colorado beginning this fall, shot a 1-over-par 73 on Tuesday at Valley Country Club in Centennial to land one of the three national spots that were at stake.

“I think it’s a great way to end up my junior career,” said the 18-year-old. “I really wanted this. It’ll be fun to have one last go at it. It means a lot to me.”

Joining her at the U.S. Girls’ Junior — scheduled for July 24-29 at Boone Valley Country Club in Augusta, Mo. — were medalist Jennifer Cai, a 14-year-old from Irvine, Calif., and Shelby Poynter of Scottsbluff, Neb., who’s a member of the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. Cai carded a 1-under-par 71 and Poynter a 74. (The qualifiers are pictured, from left, Cai, Murray and Poynter.)

Murray, who became the first Colorado resident in two years to qualify in the Centennial State for a spot in the U.S. Girls’ Junior, hit 15 greens in regulation on Tuesday but managed just one birdie to go with two bogeys. She parred her final 10 holes of the day.

“I couldn’t make a putt,” said the two-time Colorado Girls Junior America’s Cup representative. “I had so many opportunities — so many putts within 10 feet, 5 feet. I just couldn’t make them. I had a lot of two-putts, but should have had more one-putts. But I’m definitely happy (with a 73). I hit the ball super, super well so I can’t complain.”

Murray, runner-up in this month’s Colorado Junior PGA Championship, was among the beneficiaries this year of a change in age restrictions for the U.S. Girls’ Junior that allows 18-year-olds to compete, after 17 had been the maximum.

It will mark the third USGA championship overall for Murray, who also competed in the 2015 USGA Women’s State Team. Cai will be going to her second USGA championship, having played — alone — in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball last month. It’ll be the first USGA tournament for Poynter.

“This is probably the biggest thing I’ve done (in golf),” said the 17-year-old Poynter, a high school senior-to-be. “I placed second at state my sophomore year of high school, but this is a much bigger deal to me.

“It’s really special. It’s really an honor. I haven’t been playing golf for very long. (Qualifying for a USGA championship) has been one of my biggest goals since I started playing, so it’s awesome. It’s a good feeling.”

Cai, who made four birdies on Tuesday, was 4 under par through 15, but carded a double bogey on 16 and a bogey on 17 and still managed to post the only sub-par round out of a field that originally numbered 33. That despite this trip marking her first time playing golf in Colorado.

Poynter also chalked up four birdies — including a 60-footer on No. 12 — in addition to four bogeys and a double bogey.

“I actually played really well,” Poynter said. “I didn’t get a practice round in this year. I was actually late getting here this afternoon. I didn’t get here as early as I would have liked, so I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t think I would really make it (qualify). I was hoping for it, but …

“I was putting really well. I hadn’t been putting well for a long time. My coach just said, ‘You’re close. It’ll come. Just be patient.’ And I was today and they started falling.”

As for Cai, she said she came to Colorado to qualify because the odds were better than if she tried it in her home state of California.

“It’s more competitive at other places,” she said. “There’s too many good players in California.”

Whatever the case, getting a recent taste of what USGA championships are like at the Women’s Four-Ball, Cai was happy to earn another berth in a national tournament.

“It means a lot. I love USGA events,” she said. “They’re really well-planned. To play in another one is really great. When I played in the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, I was amazed by how good it was. It was a great experience. It was really fun, but I also learned a lot.”
 

U.S. Girls’ Junior Qualifying
At Par-72 Valley CC in Centennial
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jennifer Cai, Irvine, Calif. 34-37–71
Jaclyn Murray, Grand Junction, Colo. 37-36–73
Shelby Poynter, Scottsbluff, Neb. 36-38–74
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Caroline Jordaan, Denver, Colo. 40-35–75
Jenna Chun, Englewood, Colo. 39-37–76
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Sadie Englemann, Austin, Texas 40-36–76
Julia Baroth, Denver, Colo. 39-38–77
Libby Singleton, Kingwood, Texas 39-38–77
Amy Chitkoksoong, Aurora, Colo. 39-38–77
Tabitha Diehl, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 41-36–77
Anju Ogi, Arvada, Colo. 39-39–78
Lauren Murphy, Carbondale, Colo. 39-39–78
Hailey Schalk, Erie, Colo. 41-37–78
Alexis Chan, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 39-39–78
Sofia Choi, Littleton, Colo. 40-39–79
Lexi Mueldener, Arvada, Colo. 43-37–80
Sarah Hwang, Monument, Colo. 40-40–80
Lauren Lehigh, Loveland, Colo. 41-39–80
Dylin Myers, Huntington Beach, Calif. 43-38–81
Kellsey Sample, Monument, Colo. 43-38–81
Gracie Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. 43-38–81
Sydney Eye, Golden, Colo. 41-41–82
Marie Jordaan, Denver, Colo. 44-39–83
Amelia Lee, Castle Rock, Colo. 42-41–83
Natasha McClain, Denver, Colo. 42-42–84
Eva Pett, Denver, Colo. 40-45–85
Olivia Roper, Denver, Colo. 42-43–85
Kelsey Fuess, Austin, Texas 43-43–86
Caitlin O’Donnell, Centennial, Colo. 44-42–86
Olivia Patrick, Tustin, Calif. 42-47–89
Amisha Singh, Greenwood Village, Colo. 48-45–93