Peruse the list of winners for the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Junior Series Championship, and it’s an impressive group.

There’s Jennifer Kupcho, a three-time champ, who won the Women’s NCAA Division I individual title in May.

There’s Elizabeth Wang, who earlier this week advanced to the round of 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.

And there’s Coby Welch, who just finished second in the CGA Amateur and who will be playing in next week’s U.S. Amateur along with another Junior Series winner, AJ Ott.

The kids who won Junior Series Championships on Saturday can look at those names on the trophy (left) and dream of having similar success in years to come.

“That’s amazing how those players won this,” said Hadley Ashton of Erie, who captured the girls 11-13 title on Saturday. “I think about that, but I try to stay in the moment and win as many as I can. I try to get better as I get older because the competition gets harder.”

Among the six champions on Saturday — two each in three age groups — was one (Andre Dumonteil of Centennial, left) who became just the fifth player to win three Junior Series titles, regardless of age, joining Kupcho, Welch, Somin Lee and Ashleigh Wilson.

Another champ, Traejan Andrews of Windsor, became the 10th player to win two or more Junior Series Championships.

And another, Ashton, claimed the 11-13 Junior Series title despite being just 10 years old.

All told, the following six players earned championships:

14-18 tournament at Eaton County Club — Andrews (boys), Jessica Mason of Westminster (girls).

11-13 tournament at Eaton CC — Matai Naqica of Centennial (boys), Ashton (girls).

10 and under tournament at Heather Gardens Golf Course in Aurora — Dumonteil (boys), Taylor Hale of Eagle (girls).

Here’s the breakdown:

Ashton, Naqica Rule 11-13: Ashton won’t turn 11 until next month, but you’d never know it by the way she’s dominated the competition in the 11-13 Junior Series this year. Including Saturday, she’s won 12 times in 14 tournaments.

At Eaton Country Club, Ashton shot back-to-back rounds of 78 for a 14-over-par 156 total. That gave her a four-stroke victory the year after she placed third in the 11-13 tournment as a nine-year-old.

“This means a lot,” said Ashton, who will start sixth grade at Erie Middle School this coming week. “I’ve always wanted to win this one, especially when I started in the 10 and unders. This means a lot to do it as a 10 year old in the 11-13 Series.”

In her own age division, Ashton (below) has fared very well this summer in major national and international tournaments, finishing fifth in the girls 9-10 division at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships, and 12th among 10-year-old girls at the U.S. Kids World Championship.

“It’s definitely been a special summer,” she said. “The thing I’m most proud of is finishing fifth at IMGs because it was really hard competition. And I’m also really proud of winning these (Junior Series) tournaments.”

Placing second in the girls 11-13 competition on Saturday was Kaitlin Zingler of Lakewood, who finished four behind Ashton after a second-round 79.

In the boys 11-13 tournament, Naqica (pictured above with Ashton) started the day five shots out of the lead and wasn’t helping his cause much through 13 holes as he stood 2 over par for the day. But then things changed in a hurry.

The 12-year-old put together a torrid stretch where he went 5 under par in four holes, going eagle-birdie-birdie-birdie. He holed a 70-yard shot with a wedge for his eagle on the par-5 14th, then sank birdie putts of 10, 3 and 3 feet on the next three holes.

“That’s the first time I’ve ever had a stretch like that,” Naqica said. “That gave me a lot of confidence.”

Despite a bogey on his final hole, he shot a 2-under-par 69 — the lowest round of the tournament — and won by two with a 4-over-par 146 total.

Naqica wasn’t expecting to have a chance to prevail on Saturday after trailing by five shots after the first round. But that back-nine stretch worked wonders.

“I was expecting to come in third or second today,” he said after his fourth victory of the JGAC season.

And it was certainly a big-time improvement on how he fared last year in this event.

“I came in second-to-last last year at Fox Hill with a 92 and an 87, so this is great,” he said.

Three players shared second place among the 11-13 boys on Saturday — first-round leader Max Weisser of Denver, Andrew White of Centennial and Blake Sullivan fo Castle Pines.

White played his final seven holes in 5 under par, making four straight birdies starting on No. 14.

Andrews, Mason Prevail in 14-18: Andrews, a member of the Hale Irwin Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course, suffered a frustrating loss in last year’s 11-13 Junior Series Championship as he three-putted the first playoff hole. But he gained some redemption on Saturday with his victory in the boys 14-18 tournament.

Andrews (pictured at left with Mason) shot a 1-over-par 72 on Saturday to post a 5-over 147 total, good for a three-stroke win, his second of the JGAC season.

“Of course it feels really good, for sure” after what happened in 2017, the 14-year-old said. “I just stayed more calm this year.”

Helping the cause on Friday was driving the 303-yard 12th green and two-putting from 10 feet for birdie. He also two-putted for another birdie at the par-5 16th.

It’s been a good week for Andrews, who won his first high school tournament by eight shots on Thursday as a freshman for Northridge.

“My friends were sending me screen shots of the (high school) rankings board,” he noted. “I was like, ‘Dude, it’s one tournament.'”

As noted, Saturday marked Andrews second Junior Series victory, having won in the 10-and-under ranks in 2014.

“It’s definitely special,” he said of the accomplishment.

Maxwell Lange of Golden finished runner-up in the nine-player field, closing with a 74 for a 150 total.

On the girls side in 14-18, Mason went wire-to-wire for a seven-stroke victory.

The 14-year-old freshman-to-be at Holy Family High School posted a final-round 84 for a 164 total.

“It means a lot,” Mason said after her third victory of the JGAC season. “I didn’t play great, but it’s still a good opportunity to win.”

Mason has only been playing golf to any significant extent for two years, so to win the Junior Series title is no small feat. And it was her first time playing in this event, no less.

“This year was when I said, ‘OK, let’s start doing it.'” she said of tournament golf. “I’ve come a long way” in two years.

Finishing second Saturday was Amira Badruddin of Parker, who carded a second-round 83 for a 171 total.

3-Peat for Dumonteil, Title for Hale in 10 and Under: A year after Wilson became the first person to win three straight titles in the Junior Series 10 and under Championship, Dumonteil posted a three-peat of his own.

He won last year’s title in this event by six strokes, and nearly matched that margin on Saturday at Heather Gardens. Dumonteil shot a 3-under-par 63, good for a five-shot win.

The 10-year-old made an eagle, four birdies (including three straight) and three bogeys on the day.

It was the ninth win of the JGAC season for Dumonteil.

Ross Miller of Highlands Ranch placed second at 68 after a three-birdie day.

In the girls 10 and under tournament, Hale (left) fired a 7-over-par 73 and recorded a one-stroke win. The 10-year-old made three birdies on Saturday.

It was Hale’s third victory of 2018 in JGAC tournaments.

Livia Pett of Denver was runner-up at 74.

For scores from Junior Series Championships, click on the following: 11-13, 14-18, 10 & Under.

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.
 

There was good-natured roughhousing among some of the boys, plenty of laughing and giggling by both the girls and boys, and pretty good golf along the way too.

Such is the nature of the CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship. While there’s certainly a competitive tournament going on, there was no lack of youthful playfulness Wednesday at the Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder Country Club.

“These tournaments are fun, and I play with all my friends,” noted 9-year-old Anna Jordaan from Cherry Hills Country Club.

Among some of the highlights of the day:

— In addition to sharing some laughs with some of her young golf buddies, Jordaan (left) won the girls 10 & Under Junior Series title two years after older sister Marie claimed the same championship.

Asked what Marie’s reaction might be to Anna duplicating her feat, the younger Jordaan said, “I’m moving up and she would probably get mad. She’ll probably think (she still has bragging rights because) she won it first.”

Jordaan posted the victory Wednesday — her fourth of the CJGA season — by shooting a 76. Sofia Choi of Highlands Ranch Golf Club took second place at 78, while Katelyn Lehigh of the Olde Course at Loveland finished third at 84.

— After playing with Brayden Bozak the last two years as Bozak won back-to-back 10 & Under Junior Series titles, Traejan Andrews (left) of Boomerang Golf Links prevailed by five strokes in the boys competition Wednesday.

“I’ve always wanted to win this event,” said the 10-year-old Andrews, who notched his third win of the year on the CJGA circuit. “I played with Brayden Bozak the two years before this and he won both times, so I’m really happy I won this year. I’m just really proud of myself.”

And, for the record, the Windsor resident finished a stroke lower than Bozak’s totals each of the last two years.

Andrews claimed the boys championship by shooting a 7-over-par 61 at the Fowler Course. Gage Messingham of The Heritage at Westmoor and Jake Chesler of the CJGA Club tied for second at 66.

— One of the most successful players ever in the Junior Series Championship, three-time 14-18 winner Somin Lee, returned to the event, albeit as an interested observer. Lee had planned to caddie for Andrew Jang, who takes lessons from Lee’s dad, but when she learned that wasn’t allowed, she became a rapt spectator. In case you’re wondering, Jang (left, with Lee) shot 70 and finished seventh in the boys tournament.

Lee, a two-time CWGA Player of the Year, will soon depart for her senior season as a golfer at Pepperdine University.

Wednesday’s tournament marked the third and final CJGA Junior Series Championship of 2014. On Tuesday, Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines and Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course won the 14-18 championships. And last week, Jack Castiglia of Fossil Trace Golf Club and Amy Chitkoksoong of Murphy Creek Golf Course claimed the 11-13 titles.
 

CJGA 10 & Under Junior Series Championship
At Par-54 Fowler Par-3 Course at Boulder CC

BOYS
Traejan Andrews, Boomerang GL – 31-30–61
Gage Messingham, Heritage at Westmoor – 33-33–66
Jake Chesler, Cjga Club – 33-33–66
Maxwell Lange, Rolling Hills CC – 34-33–67
Alex Chitkoksoong, CommonGround GC – 33-35–68
Luke Olkowski, Bookcliff CC – 33-36–69
Andrew Jang, Family Sports GC – 34-36–70
Trey Kirschner, West Woods – 37-33–70
Camden Braidech, Lone Tree Golf Club – 34-37–71
Liam Wood, Cjga Club – 36-35–71
Mason Macias, Family Sports GC – 35-39–74
Jack Rottschafer, South Suburban GC – 34-42–76
Yusuke Ogi, Fox Hollow – 38-40–78
Bielly Phasay, Riverdale GC – 39-40–79
Greg Woodley, Cjga Club – 40-39–79
Trey Grube, Meridian GC – 42-41–83
Elijah Knudsen, Fox Hill CC – 44-40–84
Benjamin Chin, Meridian GC – 43-44–87
Zane Aiken, Cjga Club – 44-47–91

GIRLS
Anna Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC – 37-39–76
Sofia Choi, Highlands Ranch GC – 41-37–78
Katelyn Lehigh, Olde Course at Loveland – 44-40–84
Ashleigh Wilson, Highlands Ranch GC – 44-42–86
Chunya Bead Boonta, Commond Ground GC – 45-44–89
Sarah Murphy, Cjga Club – 45-45–90
Joie Chun, Lonetree GC – 52-60–112