Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, winner of this month’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, and Christopher Kennedy of Aurora both eagled the 18th hole and matched 4-under-par 68s to share medalist honors out of a 79-player qualifying field at Buffalo Run.

The two joined Andrew Rodriguez of The Woodlands, Texas (69) in punching their tickets to Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J., host of many major championships over the years. The dates for the national tournament are July 16-21. (The qualifiers are pictured, from left: Rodriguez, Stewart and Kennedy.)

Stewart actually eagled two of his last eight holes on Tuesday, making a 40-footer on No. 11 and a 5-footer on No. 18.

“I was coming down 18 and Calvin McCoy’s caddie wondered if I wanted to know where I was at (relative to the qualifying number),” Stewart said. “I said, ‘No, I’m just going to play it and see where I finish up at the end when I sign the card.’

“I had 238 (yards) to the pin. I hit a 4-iron to 5 feet and made eagle. Looking back on it, it was a clutch shot to get it real close and make the putt for eagle.”

Kennedy, playing more than an hour earlier, eagled his final hole from 10 feet after making four birdies and two bogeys earlier. The 68 was the best score ever for the Smoky Hill senior-to-be.

“My tee shot took a joyride on the cart path (on 18). It was sitting on the cart path with 155 yards left to the green,” Kennedy noted. “Then I hit 9-iron to 10 feet for eagle.

“In a big qualifier with all the pressure around and with how big and competitive the field is, it’s a really great feeling (to advance).

“I feel like this is the biggest qualifier I have ever played in — topping the other ones combined. Not only was I co-medalist, I shot my career best, so it’s kind of a double bonus.”

Stewart, a Fossil Ridge student who has verbally committed to play his college golf at Oklahoma State starting in the fall of 2019, had Colorado State University golfer AJ Ott caddying for him on Tuesday. It was just last Friday that Ott won the CGA Match Play title, and with him on the bag, Stewart made three birdies and three bogeys in addition to his two eagles.

“We’re both out at Ptarmigan, and he’s kind of been a mentor to me,” Stewart said of Ott. “I learn from his mistakes and he’s showed me the ropes a little bit in junior golf and what to expect in college. We’re pretty good buddies.”

So what does going to the U.S. Junior Amateur mean to Stewart?

“It means a lot because I’ve qualified for pretty much everything else (for juniors nationally) — the Junior PGA last year, the IMG (Junior Worlds) several times …,” he said. “I’ve fallen short a few times in this tournament and I’m glad I got it done. I feel like I’ve been knocking on the door the last few years. It feels good to finally get this one.”

Rodriguez, meanwhile, finished the day with five birdies and two bogeys.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, who qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2015 and ’17, fell short of earning a third berth as he shot a 71. Bryant has won the last four Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors in which he’s competed.

Also failing to qualify after competing in last year’s U.S. Junior Am was TJ Shehee of Mead, who carded a 75 on Tuesday.

U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying

At Par-72 Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Christopher Kennedy, Aurora 68
Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins 68
Andrew Rodriguez, The Woodlands, Texas 69
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood 70
Matthew Denton, Austin, Texas 70

For all the scores from Monday, CLICK HERE.
 

It was two years ago, and Solem made it into a playoff where four players competed for the final two available national berths. Alas, despite his home-course advantage, Solem was one of the odd men out.

But fate smiled on the Longmont resident on Tuesday. First, the rules were changed for the 2017 championship, upping the maximum age of entrants from 17 to 18. Solem just happens to be 18, set to play golf for the University of Denver starting in the fall. And then the qualifying tournament returned to Fox Hill, where Solem estimates he’s played 1,000 rounds over the last 10 years. In fact, Solem won the 4A state high school individual title at the course in 2015.

And on Tuesday, he earned medalist honors at his home club to qualify for his first USGA championship. The U.S. Junior Amateur will be held July 17-22 at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan.

Solem birdied two of the last three holes to shoot even-par 70 to lead the way out of a field that originally numbered 84. Joining him in earning spots in the U.S. Junior Am were Davis Bryant of Aurora, who has now qualified twice at Fox Hill for the U.S. Junior Amateur, and TJ Shehee of nearby Mead, who like Solem will be going to his first USGA championship. (The qualifiers are pictured, from left, Bryant, Solem and Shehee.)

“I thought it was awesome” that 18-year-olds are allowed to compete in the U.S. Junior Am starting this year, Solem said. “This is something I’ve never qualified for. I’ve played in a lot of different things. I missed in a playoff when qualifying was here last time (in 2015). That kind of stung a little bit. Last year I played terribly out at (the qualifier) at Walnut Creek. It was cool to have a shot at redemption.”

As for qualifying for his first USGA event, “it means a whole lot,” Solem said. “I’ve heard the USGA championships are awesome — like the pinnacle of golf. It’s cool to get my first one. Getting at least a taste of it at (U.S. Open) Sectionals was so cool. I think it gave me a lot of confidence coming into this. It made me want it a little more even.”

Solem, who last week won his third consecutive state Big I Junior Classic, has changed his mental approach to competing on his home course over time.

“I used to (put a lot of pressure on himself) because I play out here all the time so people expect me to play well,” he said. “This year I’ve stopped caring about that so much and think, ‘It’s another golf course. I just know a little bit more about it than most people.’ I just think of it as a little advantage rather than as a curse now. “

Bryant and Shehee matched 1-over-par scores of 71 on Tuesday, tying for second, a stroke behind Solem.

Solem and Shehee were teammates on the Silver Creek High School golf squad, though Solem recently graduated from Longmont Christian and Shehee is a junior-to-be at Mead High School. And Solem and Bryant were teammates on the 2015 and ’16 Colorado Junior America’s Cup teams.

Bryant, who prevailed in the 2015 playoff in which Solem fell short, also rallied late in his round on Tuesday. After being 4 over par through eight holes, he played his last 10 in 3 under, making four birdies along the way, starting with a 40-footer on his ninth hole. Bryant, who recently won the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, has verbally committed to play his college golf at Colorado State University beginning in 2018.

“I bounced back good” after the rough start, said the Eaglecrest senior-to-be. “I left it all out there and did as best as I could.

“I like this course a lot,” Bryant added. “It’s always in really good shape. I read the greens pretty well. It’s tight with the trees, which I like. I hit it really straight off the teebox. There’s a lot of dogleg lefts, which suits my draw. So there’s something about this place I really like. It’s been good to me.

“I’ve really had a good start to the summer. To add this one to the schedule will be awesome. My game two years ago is nothing like it is now. I’ll definitely be a lot more prepared.”

Like Bryant, the 17-year-old son of Green Valley Ranch PGA general manager Matt Bryant, Shehee comes from a family with close ties to the Colorado PGA. His dad, Tray, is an instructor at Ute Creek Golf Course, and his mom, Terra, is the head professional at Boulder Country Club.

“They’re definitely the biggest influence on how I’m playing right now,” said TJ Shehee, who recently qualified for the Optimist International Junior Championships.

On Tuesday, TJ Shehee made two birdies and three bogeys on the day at Fox Hill, where he often practices.

“This is one of my home courses,” the 16-year-old said. “I feel really comfortable here. I’ve been playing well coming up to this point (of the season), so I thought I had a good chance here.

“To qualify, it’s the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in in my life. It’ll be a really great experience.”

Several changes were made for the U.S. Junior Amateur starting this year:

— The qualifying tournament was reduced from the 36 holes it long had been to 18 holes.

— As noted, the maximum age for competitors has been raised from 17 to 18.

— And the maximum Handicap Index allowed for players has been lowered from 6.4 to 4.4.
 

U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-70 The Club at Fox Hill in Longmont
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Jackson Solem, Longmont 36-34–70
Davis Bryant, Aurora 33-38–71
TJ Shehee, Mead 37-34–71
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 35-37–72
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood 34-38–72

For all of Tuesday’s scores, CLICK HERE.

Let’s count the ways:

— Perhaps the most notable alteration will be that the qualifying tournament will be reduced from the 36 holes it long had been, to 18 holes starting this year.

— Also, the maximum age for competitors has been raised from 17 to 18.

— And the maximum Handicap Index allowed for players has been lowered from 6.4 to 4.4.

But the bottom line in all this is the same: There will be three national berths at stake on Tuesday, with the top finishers out of the field of 84 advancing to the Junior Am, set for July 17-22 at Flint Hills National Golf Club in Andover, Kan.

One Coloradan who qualified for the U.S. Junior Am each of the last two years — Davis Bryant of Aurora (2015 at Fox Hill), who recently won the Colorado Junior PGA Championship, and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (2016 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve) — are aiming for a return trip.

Also entered on Tuesday are Kyle Pearson, the 5A state high school champion who just finished runner-up in the CGA Match Play; former 4A champ Jackson Solem, who just won his third straight Big I Junior Classic state title and who will be competing on his home course; 3A state champ Oliver Jack; and other NCAA Division I signees Daniel Pearson and Cole Krantz.

For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
 

The top three finishers Monday, out of a field of 79, will advance to the U.S. Junior Amateur, which this year is scheduled for July 18-23 at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. The Honors Course is ranked No. 31 on Golf Digest’s most recent list of “America’s 100 Greatest Golf Courses”.

Among those in the field Monday is Davis Bryant (pictured) of Aurora, who qualified for the 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur as a 15-year-old.

Also entered are 4A state high school champion Jackson Solem of Longmont, the first alternate in qualifying last year; Cole Krantz of Windsor, winner of the 2015 Colorado PGA Junior Champioship; Daniel Pearson of Longmont, runner-up in the recent Colorado Junior Amateur; and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction, who was second in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

The field also includes eight players from countries other than the U.S., and golfers from six states other than Colorado.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

All three players who qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Monday at the Fox Hill Club in Longmont felt they had something to prove.

And though that “something” was different in each case, prove it they did.

Subin Lee of Englewood, Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch and Davis Bryant of Aurora landed the three available berths — out of a field of 71 — for the Junior Am, which is set for July 20-25 in Bluffton, S.C.

As for Monday being a proving ground of sorts:

— For Lee, it was a chance to take his next big step in golf, a game he’s played for only four years.

— For Welch, it was about prevailing in a playoff after being the odd man out a couple of times in sudden death recently.

— And for Bryant, it was an opportunity to go from a promising young junior golfer to making a definitive mark as a 15-year-old.

Lee, a 17-year-old senior-to-be at Cherry Creek High School, matched par over 36 holes with consecutive rounds of 70 to earn medalist honors by three strokes.

“This means a lot for me,” said Lee, who carded six birdies and six bogeys on Monday, in addition to chipping in for par from 30 yards on his 34th hole of the day. “For the Junior Am last year, I really wanted to qualify (but came up short). So winning this was kind of big for me.

“Today I was just trying to make pars and sometimes birdies would go in. I was pretty happy about that.”

Monday marked the second significant national tournament Lee has qualified for in June, coming on the heels of the golfer from CommonGround advancing to the Optimist Junior national championships.

Four players tied for second place at 3-over-par 143, putting them into a playoff for the final two national berths. Welch, winner of the 2014 CJGA Tournament of Champions, chipped in from 17 feet for birdie on the second extra hole to advance.

“That felt good, especially after making two bogeys on my last three holes (of regulation, with a birdie in between),” Welch said. “That was my chip. I always do good on those chips.

“I thought my (approach) shot was all over the pin, but it came up short. I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to chip this one in and win it right here.’ That was my shot.” (Welch, in red, is pictured at left celebrating afterward.)

As for Bryant, after keeping his hopes alive by making a 15-foot par putt on the second playoff hole, he gained the last national spot when he drained a 10-foot birdie putt (below) on his 39th hole of the day. He had missed a similar birdie putt on the same hole to start the playoff.

“I said, ‘I can’t give up until the last putt drops,'” said Bryant, the boys 14-15 Colorado/Wyoming district champ in the Optimist Junior tourney. “I just kept believing. It was a great day of golf, so much fun.

“This is definitely my biggest accomplishment in golf. It’s going to be a very fun ride home for sure.”

Like many in the field, Bryant had plenty of support at Fox Hill. His dad, Matt, the general manager and director of golf at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, followed him all day. And LindaSue Chenoweth, the 2014 women’s club champion at Fox Hill and a former chief operations officer for the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, served as Bryant’s caddie.

“That was a little home-course advantage, which was nice,” Davis Bryant said after a day which included four birdies, 29 pars and six bogeys.

It will be the first USGA championship for all three qualifiers. Welch, 17, is a senior-to-be at Valor Christian, and Bryant is a sophomore-to-be at Eaglecrest.

Jackson Solem, competing in his hometown of Longmont, and Ji Jang of Aurora ended up as the first and second alternates at Fox Hill, respectively, after being the odd men out in the playoff.
 

U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-70 Fox Hill Club in Longmont

Qualified for National Championship
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo. 70-70–140
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 72-71–143
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 72-71–143

Alternates (In Order)
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. 69-74–143
JI Jang, Aurora, Colo. 71-72–143

Failed to Qualify
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 73-71–144
Cole Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 74-71–145
Aj Ott, Fort Collins, Colo. 72-73–145
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 73-73–146
Griffin Barela, Lakewood, Colo. 74-72–146
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 75-72–147
Sam Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 73-75–148
Josh Caridi, Fort Collins, Colo. 77-72–149
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 74-75–149
Barrett Jones, Edwards, Colo. 74-76–150
Glen-Michael Mihavetz, Montrose, Colo. 76-74–150
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-76–150
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins, Colo. 74-78–152
Cooper Taylor, Superior, Colo. 80-72–152
Jake Gannon, Longmont, Colo. 72-80–152
Carlos Vazquez, Atizapan Estado, Mexico 73-79–152
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 76-76–152
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 81-72–153
Kevin Liao, Littleton, Colo. 77-77–154
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 77-77–154
Will Firestone, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 79-76–155
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 79-76–155
Roger Nakagawa, Denver, Colo. 78-77–155
Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, Colo. 77-78–155
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo. 81-75–156
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 78-78–156
Will Hazen, Aspen, Colo. 79-77–156
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80-76–156
Zachary Gomez, Westminster, Colo. 75-81–156
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 78-79–157
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 82-76–158
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 84-74–158
Cade Kilkenny, Centennial, Colo. 80-78–158
Matthew Heesemann, Johnstown, Colo. 74-84–158
Brittain Walton, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 81-78–159
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80-79–159
Zachary Zurcher, Parker, Colo. 78-81–159
Nick Leibold, Littleton, Colo. 77-83–160
Ryan Kropp, Brighton, Colo. 82-79–161
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo. 83-78–161
Jaxon Franklin, Broomfield, Colo. 81-80–161
Nicholas Michas, Golden, Colo. 77-86–163
Bennett Rogers, Centennial, Colo. 85-78–163
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, Colo. 78-85–163
Nishant Datta, Broomfield, Colo. 85-79–164
Ethan Ashbrook, Santa Maria, Calif. 81-83–164
Ivan Richmond, Estes Park, Colo. 82-82–164
Reese Leiker, Littleton, Colo. 85-80–165
Logan Gorman, Colorado Springs, Colo. 82-83–165
Cole Chalmers, Denver, Colo. 81-84–165
Mathew Casias, Pueblo, Colo. 81-84–165
Jack Marty, Longmont, Colo. 83-86–169
Kyle Huber, Larkspur, Colo. 87-83–170
Brandon Bervig, Colorado Springs, Colo. 82-88–170
Preston Ewing, Pueblo West, Colo. 85-86–171
Christopher Dennis, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 84-88–172
Charlie Schneider, Lone Tree, Colo. 88-84–172
Luke Thomson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 86-87–173
Hayden Smith, Greenwood Village, Colo. 83-95–178
Josh Pusar, Castle Rock, Colo. 88-90–178
Cameron Nagel, Fort Collins, Colo. 91-93–184
Hill Washburne, Dallas, Texas 86-WD–WD
Evan Malloy, Denver, Colo. WD
Ryan Zoellner, Centennial, Colo. WD
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. WD
Hunter Tuite, Englewood, Colo. WD
 

Jake Staiano admits that three years ago, when he came ever so close to qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur as a 14-year-old, he didn’t appreciate the significance of the event.

“At that time it wasn’t a big deal to me,” the golfer from Cherry Hills Village said, referring to when he tied for fourth in a tournament where three qualified for nationals. It was only “after that I realized it was a big deal.”

Last year, Staiano was in the hunt again at the U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying, but a quintuple-bogey 9 during his second round at Eaton Country Club left him four shots out of a playoff for the final spot.

But on Tuesday, in his final chance to qualify for the national championship, Staiano didn’t squander the opportunity. In a qualifying event at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor, Staiano shared medalist honors with AJ Ott of Fort Collins and the two earned berths into the U.S. Junior Amateur along with Blake Dyer of St. Petersburg, Fla.

“It’s almost a relief because I’ve been so close in this (qualifier) in the last few years,” said Staiano, the 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion. “This is my last year to do it, and I got it done. I was really proud of myself. I stayed focused and didn’t get ahead of myself.”

Staiano — a senior-to-be at reigning 4A state champion Valor Christian who has committed to play college golf at Colorado State — and Ott posted 4-under-par 138 totals in the 36-hole qualifier at Highland Meadows, while Dyer checked in at 139. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left, Ott, Staiano and Dyer.)

With that, the three earned trips to the national tournament, which will be played July 21-26 in The Woodlands, Texas. It will be the first USGA championship for each of the three.

Ott (left), a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Fort Collins High School, made 10 birdies on the day and overcame a triple bogey on his 30th hole to shoot 67-71. Staiano, 17, carded two eagles on the day to go along with six birdies en route to scores of 68-70. The 17-year-old Dyer, like Ott, recorded 10 birdies in going 70-69. Dyer decided to try to qualify in Colorado because it worked out with a recruiting trip he’s taking at the University of Denver this week.

Ott, who finished sixth in the 5A state high school meet as a sophomore last fall, was leading the pack most of the day on Tuesday. Through 29 holes, he was 8 under par overall. But even going triple bogey-bogey on the next two holes wasn’t close to enough to knock him from a qualifying spot.

“I finished well,” the left-hander said. “I told myself, ‘Just get in at even par for the last round’, and I did.”

Ott is no stranger to Highland Meadows as his home course, Ptarmigan Country Club, is just down the street, and he occasionally practices at Highland Meadows and has played 10-15 rounds there.

“I didn’t play a practice round (for the qualifier). I was confident going into it that I knew how to hit the right shots,” Ott said. Knowing the course well “kind of gave me a little more confidence for sure.”

But Ott hadn’t been playing well in general recently, so Tuesday proved a big step in the right direction.

“I’ve been struggling a lot this summer and I told myself I was going to start coming around during this event,” he said. “I knew I could go low on this course. It’s going to be an awesome experience to go” to the U.S. Junior Am.

Staiano (at left with his caddie) likewise had to overcome some issues he was having with his game to earn a qualifying berth.

“I didn’t have a lot of confidence in my driver. I just played with what I had,” he said. “I was hitting this weak pull cut all day. I was able to get it done — just put it in the fairway.

“But I putted great. I made a lot of big putts on the last 18 (including a 50-footer and a couple of 20-footers). That gave me some confidence coming down the stretch.” The 50-footer was actually a bogey after he hit his tee shot into an environmentally sensitive area and had to re-tee.

Ott had similar results on the greens, starting his afternoon round by draining birdie putts of 30, 20 and 35 feet.

“I made some long putts and I told myself I can make anything,” he said. “I’ve been struggling putting the last few weeks, but I think I’ve figured something out. Most of it is just self-confidence, I think.”

Though Dyer is from Florida, he was no stranger to Highland Meadows. Three times before, he’s played Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour events at the course, finishing in the top seven on each occasion.

“I played well here before, so I felt confident about it,” he said. “Last time I played, two years ago, I shot 81 the first day and 66 the second. Having that being the last round I played here (before the qualifier this week) helped me be real confident. It was hard to shoot a bad score out here.”

The first alternate spot Tuesday went to Pierce Aichinger of Englewood (141), with the second going to Robert Rickard of Austin, Texas (142).

In all, 68 junior golfers entered the qualifier at Highland Meadows, including nine players from out of state.

U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Highland Meadows GC in Windsor

QUALIFY FOR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
AJ Ott, Fort Collins, Colo. 67-71–138
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 68-70–138
Blake Dyer, St. Petersburg, Fla. 70-69–139

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Pierce Aichinger, Englewood, Colo. 68-73–141
Robert Rickard, Austin, Texas 72-70–142

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Alan Berry, Littleton, Colo. 73-70–143
Chris Korte, Littleton, Colo. 71-72–143
Ji Jang, Aurora, Colo. 74-70–144
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-70–144
Grant Dinkel, Boulder, Colo. 71-74–145
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 74-71–145
Behrod Keshtavar, Erie, Colo. 76-69–145
Kyler Dunkle, Larkspur, Colo. 74-71–145
Blake Flint, Wolfforth, Texas 76-70–146
Sean Benson, Billings, Mont. 71-75–146
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 75-71–146
Alec Poorman, Boulder, Colo. 72-75–147
Taylor Rodriguez, Pueblo, Colo. 77-70–147
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 72-75–147
Kobe Padilla, Centennial, Colo. 74-73–147
Connor Chesky, Saint Helena, Calif. 70-78–148
Trey Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo. 74-74–148
Dathan Terry, Lubbock, Texas 77-71–148
Cole Folwell, Boulder, Colo. 76-73–149
Cameron Connor, Boulder, Colo. 77-72–149
Jake Goldman, Leawood, Kan. 78-72–150
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 77-73–150
Nick Leibold, Littleton, Colo. 79-71–150
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 77-73–150
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. 72-79–151
Josh Caridi, Fort Collins, Colo. 76-75–151
Mathew Casias, Pueblo, Colo. 80-72–152
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 77-75–152
Li Chen, Westminster, Colo. 71-81–152
Bennett Rogers, Centennial, Colo. 78-74–152
Jackson Vacek, Lafayette, Colo. 79-74–153
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo. 77-76–153
Bretton Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 81-72–153
Josh Pusar, Castle Pines, Colo. 75-79–154
Austin R Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 75-80–155
Philip Lee, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 80-75–155
Coleson Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 82-73–155
Trevor Glen, Thornton, Colo. 78-77–155
Weston Moran, Colorado Springs, Colo. 78-77–155
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 78-78–156
Jack Lazzeri, Littleton, Colo. 81-75–156
Evan Buchalski, Loveland, Colo. 74-82–156
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 82-76–158
Gary Schlatter, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 80-78–158
Cameron Berndt, Elizabeth, Colo. 78-84–162
Reese Leiker, Littleton, Colo. 85-77–162
John Kane, Centennial, Colo. 84-78–162
Donny Kinnaman, Clifton, Colo. 81-81–162
Mitchell Nevin, Aurora, Colo. 82-81–163
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo. 81-83–164
Roy Carlsen, Arvada, Colo. 83-82–165
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo. 84-82–166
Robert Hill, Spring, Texas 84-83–167
Mark Hillary, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 91-79–170
Derek Leydecker, Aspen, Colo. 84-86–170
Luke Toillion, Longmont, Colo. 88-88–176
Dru Novak, Pueblo, Colo. 99-87–186
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo. 71-WD
Harrison Murphy, McKinney, Texas 76-WD
 

The conditions at The Fox Hill Club took their toll, but after the competition was over, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock and Michael Decker of Pebble Beach, Calif., didn’t seem any worse for the wear.

No doubt that had something to do with them being the two players who earned spots in the U.S. Junior Am.

“This means a lot,” said Seiple, a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Valor Christian High School. “It was one of my goals going into the summer, so I’ll definitely be excited” for the national championship.

Seiple and the 17-year-old Decker shared medalist honors in Sectional Qualifying at The Fox Hill Club with 3-over-par 143 totals. (Seiple is at right in photo with Decker.)

Both will advance to the U.S. Junior Amateur, scheduled for July 16-21 at The Golf Club of New England in Stratham, N.H.

Seiple, winner of the AJGA Aspen Junior Golf Classic earlier this month, shot a 69 in the morning — one of just two sub-par rounds posted Monday — and backed it up with an afternoon 74. Decker, a U.S. Amateur qualifier last year, went 72-71 to tie for the best score out of Monday’s field, which originally numbered 55.

Both players had caddies, which was no small matter when playing 36 holes, mostly in triple-digit temperatures.

“I’m not used to this,” said Decker, who played in the Longmont qualifier while visiting family in Denver. “I kept reminding (my caddie) to make me hydrate every hole, keep me focused, keep me energized. I was about to collapse after the first 18. I’m used to 60-, 70-degree weather. One hundred is not my cup of tea.”

The qualifying results from Monday continue a stellar last month of golf for Seiple. Late in May, he finished sixth in the Future Collegians World Tour Tour Championship in Florida. Early this month, he won the AJGA event in Aspen. Then at The Fox Hill Club, he qualified for his first USGA championship.

Perhaps the most notable thing about Seiple’s performance Monday was that he was the co-medalist after never having seen the course before. Fortunately, though, Seiple’s caddie was Tyler Engel, a CU golfer who knows The Fox Hill Club well.

“I just got back from a tournament in Florida so I didn’t have time to play a practice round,” Seiple said. “But my caddie plays this course all the time for his college golf team. I just trusted him. I had high expectations for qualifying, but not shooting under par in my first round. Maybe the second, but not the first.”

Seiple finished with 30 pars, two birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey over his two rounds. Decker, who three-putted three of his first four holes for bogeys on Monday, chalked up 23 pars, five birdies and eight bogeys.

For Decker, earning a spot was a sweet moment after what happened to him in a U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying tournament in Chicago last year.

“It’s kind of a sensitive topic,” he said. “I was clearly in (line for a national berth) and we had a big break on 16 — a three-group backup — and a laid down. I woke up 30 minutes later. I hadn’t hit a ball. I duck hook it out of bounds and finished 4 over for my last three and missed it in a playoff.

“This year it’s my last year (to play in the U.S. Junior Am), so I was going to make it. It was redemption.”

Alec Bone of Phoenix (76-69–145) and recent CGA Junior Stroke Play champion Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo (70-76–146) garnered the first and second alternate spots, respectively, on Monday.
 

U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-70 Fox Hill Club in Longmont

ADVANCE TO U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo. – 69-74–143
Michael Decker, Pebble Beach, Calif. – 72-71–143

ALTERNATES (in order)
Alec Bone, Phoenix, Ariz. – 76-69–145
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo, Colo. – 70-76–146

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Ethan Freeman, Littleton, Colo. – 75-72–147
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo. – 74-74–148
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo. – 75-74–149
Wilson Belk, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 75-74–149
Colin Prater, Colorado Springs, Colo. – 70-79–149
Jake Kelley, Littleton, Colo. – 74-75–149
Pierce Aichinger, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 74-76–150
Jack Adolfson, Niwot, Colo. – 74-76–150
Andrew Romano, Littleton, Colo. – 74-76–150
Ethan Yamada, Arvada, Colo. – 74-77–151
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills, Colo. – 74-79–153
Johan Werge, San Luis Potosi – 78-75–153
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo. – 75-79–154
Dylan Wonnacott, Longmont, Colo. – 77-77–154
Ross Macdonald, Castle Rock, Colo. – 82-73–155
Christopher Korte, Littleton, Colo. – 75-80–155
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo. – 81-74–155
Li Chen, Westminster, Colo. – 82-73–155
Austin Rowe, Columbine Vallley, Colo. – 78-77–155
Brenden Bone, Phoenix, Ariz. – 74-82–156
Andrew Howe, Longmont, Colo. – 79-77–156
Billy Ramsey, Littleton, Colo. – 78-78–156
Tyler Bricker, Fort Collins, Colo. – 76-83–159
Alec Poorman, Boulder, Colo. – 78-82–160
John Hadfield, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 78-82–160
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. – 82-78–160
Josh Mclaughlin, Fort Collins, Colo. – 80-81–161
Randy Urso, Aurora, Colo. – 82-79–161
Gary Schlatter, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. – 75-87–162
Benjamin Moore, Englewood, Colo. – 79-83–162
Matthew Bell, Fort Collins, Colo. – 85-78–163
Dylan Mitchell, Breckenridge, Colo. – 83-80–163
Samuel Theil, Evergreen, Colo. – 82-81–163
Hayden Nicholaides, Englewood, Colo. – 81-82–163
Sam Lange, Golden, Colo. – 83-80–163
Hayden Plewe, Cortez, Colo. – 81-83–164
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. – 84-80–164
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. – 79-86–165
Eli Schoenbeck, Pueblo West, Colo. – 82-87–169
Trevor Mckune, Littleton, Colo. – 81-88–169
Matthew Vacek, Lafayette, Colo. – 85-87–172
Dylan Rakowski, Carbondale, Colo. – 91-83–174
Robert Morris Pettit, Basalt, Colo. – 92-91–183