But there’s at least one major item left on his to-do list regarding Colorado junior golf, and the opportunity to check it off his list comes early next week.

The Fossil Ridge senior, who plans on signing a national letter of intent with perennial college powerhouse Oklahoma State later this fall, has yet to win a state high school title. He finished second last year as now-Colorado State University player Davis Bryant prevailed. In previous seasons, Stewart placed 16th in 2016 and 19th as a freshman in 2015.

But Stewart has certainly put together a record in recent months that point to him as the player to beat next week:

— He won the individual title at the prestigious Junior America’s Cup competition, leading Colorado to its first team championship ever in that event.

— He became the first boy from Colorado to prevail at the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior.

— He also qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur and won an AJGA event in Montana.

— And just last week at Murphy Creek Golf Course, Stewart fired a 9-under-par 63 in winning the 5A Northern Regional state qualifying tournament by five shots. He posted a 7-under 29 on the front nine and was an amazing 11 under through 15 holes before bogeying 16 and 17. He finished ith 11 birdies and two bogeys on the day.

Stewart will be among 84 players competing in the Class 5A state tournament at Colorado Springs Country Club on Monday and Tuesday. That will be one of two 36-hole state tournaments held in Colorado Springs on those days as the 4A meet is set for The Club at Flying Horse. The 3A tournament is scheduled for Boulder Country Club.

Here’s a quick look at what to expect from each of next week’s boys state tournaments:

— 5A at Colorado Springs Country Club: Stewart will be one of four top-10 finishers from the 2017 5A state tournament who will be competing in Colorado Springs. The other three — all of whom tied for sixth place, are Connor Jones from Mountain Range, Ryder Heuston of Fairview and Beam Boonta of Cherokee Trail.

Among the other qualifiers for the 5A state field are Valor Christian’s Jake Welch, who beat Stewart by two at the Colorado Junior Amateur over the summer, and U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier Chris Kennedy of Smoky Hill. Welch shot a 68 to win the 5A Central Regional at Legacy Ridge. Valor Christian played in 4A last year, when Welch placed seventh at state, but now is in 5A.

Team-wise, Regis Jesuit will be going for its fourth consecutive 5A championship, eighth in the last nine years, and 10th overall. Meanwhile, at its regional meet, Fossil Ridge shot 6-under 210 to win at Murphy Creek.

— 4A at The Club at Flying Horse: Only two players who finished in the top 10 in last year’s 4A meet are back to compete in the same tournament at Flying Horse — and both are from Montrose. That would be Micah Stangebye, who tied for fourth, and Jordan Jennings, who finished seventh. Those two players tied for the lowest 4A regional tournament scores this year, matching 69s at Indian Peak in 4A Region 4.

Others who will be competing include TJ Shehee of Mead, a 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier who won the 4A Region 3 tournament at the Olde Course at Loveland; and Kaden Ford of Discover Canyon, who competed in the Drive, Chip & Putt Nationals at Augusta National in April.

Montrose, winner of the 4A team title last year and the runner-up in 2016, figures to be a strong contender for another championship. The Indians shot a regional-best 2-under-par 214 at Indian Peaks to win 4A Region 4.

— 3A at Boulder Country Club: Davis Long of Peak to Peak will be the only 2017 individual state high school champion back to defend his title last week. Last year’s state tournament at Indian Peaks was limited to one round due to weather.

Long is one of seven top-10 finishers in the 2017 3A state tournament returning for this year’s meet. The others were Walker Franklin of Prospect Ridge (tied for second), Dominic Lanese IV and Derek Holmes of Aspen (fourth), Peter Grossenbacher of Eaton (fourth), Jackson Klutznick of Kent Denver (fourth) and Billy Howenstein of Dawson (fourth).

Along with Stewart — and current college players Bryant and Cal McCoy — Franklin was part of the Colorado team that won its first-ever Junior America’s Cup title over the summer.

Peak to Peak won’t be able to defend its team title in Boulder as the Pumas only qualified two players for state. They prevailed last year in a playoff over 2016 champion Kent Denver. It was Peak to Peak’s second team title in three years.

Meanwhile, Kent Denver will be seeking its 10th boys state championship next week.

This will be the second high school state tournament hosted by Boulder CC in the last four-plus months as the 5A girls meet was held there in late May.

For Monday’s tee times at all three state tournament sites, CLICK HERE.
 

Here are the teams and individuals that won regional state-qualifying tournaments last week:

5A Southern at Murphy Creek GC — Team: Arapahoe 3-over-par 219; Individual: (tie) Jack Tickle, Arapahoe, 71; Riley Rottschaefer, Arapahoe, 71; Brandon Bervig, Liberty, 71.
5A Central at Legacy Ridge GC — Team: (tie) Fairview 7-over-par 223 (won team playoff); Valor Christian 223; Individual: Jake Welch, Valor Christian 68.
5A Western at GC at Redlands Mesa — Team: Ralston Valley 9-over-par 225; Individual: Ryan Bomareto, Horizon 71.
5A Northern at Murphy Creek GC — Team: Fossil Ridge 6-under-par 210; Individual: Dillon Stewart, Fossil Ridge 63.

4A Region 3 at Olde Course at Loveland — Team: Evergreen 17-over-par 233; Individual: TJ Shehee, Mead, 71.
4A Region 1 at Shining Mountain — Team: Coronado 39-over-par 249; Individual: Andrew Merz, Coranado 76.
4A Region 4 at Indian Peaks — Team: Montrose 2-under-par 214; Individual: (tie) Micah Stangebye, Montrose, 69; Jordan Jennings, Montrose, 69.
4A Region 2 at Eisenhower’s Silver Course — Team: Ponderosa 24-over-par 240; Individual: Mac Konrad, Ponderosa 76.

3A Region 2 at CommonGround — Team: Kent Denver 2-over-par 215; Individual: Jacob Mason, Holy Family, 67.
3A Region 1 at Hollydot — Team: Colorado Academy 16-over-par 229; Individual: Cody Schrock, La Junta, 70.
3A Region 3 at Boomerang — Team: Eaton 8-over-par 224; Individual: Peter Grossenbacher, Eaton, 70.
3A Region 4 at Dos Rios — Team: Aspen 1-over-par 214; Individual: Jack Hughes, Aspen 70.
 

The last time Kristine Franklin raised a CGA/CWGA trophy that she’d won, her name was Kris Hoos, she wasn’t yet married or had any kids, she hadn’t yet turned pro — and it was 32 years ago.

On Tuesday — seemingly a lifetime after winning the 1986 CWGA Stroke Play, now with a family that includes a husband and two sons, and having long ago regained her amateur status — Franklin revisited the good old days by winning her second CGA/CWGA title.

And not only did the Broomfield resident capture the title in the CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play, she did so by beating five-time champion Kim Eaton — and on Eaton’s home course of her younger days, Greeley Country Club.

“To play well enough against her was wonderful,” said the 52-year-old Franklin. “I love that she hit such great shots (into greens) right after me. That was really neat. She’s such a competitor. To play against her and be on top was unbelievable.”

After three-putting the 18th green — missing a 4-foot par attempt — in Tuesday’s final round to allow a playoff, Franklin landed the victory with a par on the first hole of sudden death as an uncharacteristic shank by Eaton on her greenside pitch shot led to a bogey.

“She gave me a break on 18 by missing that putt, then I go and do that,” said a frustrated Eaton, who had missed a 3-foot par putt on that same hole earlier in the day. “I would at least like to have given her a little better fight (in the playoff).”

Franklin, wife of University of Colorado women’s golf assistant coach Brent Franklin and the mother of one of the top junior players in the state (Franklin, younger brother of Jaxon), played her final 12 holes of regulation in even-par, shooting her second straight 2-over-par 74. That left the golfer from Colorado National (left and above) tied with Eaton, who had led by one stroke after 12 holes on Tuesday but bogeyed three times in her final seven holes, including the playoff. Eaton, a 59-year-old who now lives in Mesa, Ariz., missed two birdie putts inside of 10 feet on the 15th and 16th holes.

In sudden death, after Eaton’s shank (below) had resulted in a bogey, Franklin putted from just over the green, 20 feet from the flag, to within 6 inches and tapped in for the title.

After being under pressure with good shots by Eaton all day, Franklin was relieved to win it in relatively easy fashion.

“To have it end that way, I was so thankful,” said Franklin, who opted not to know where she stood all day, until a conversation with cartmate Eaton made it apparent heading up to the 18th green that she was one ahead.

“I’m like, ‘Why did I say anything?’ You are so stupid.”’ Franklin said of being informed of her status relative to Eaton.

Franklin, a former director of operations for Ricardo Patton when the latter was the head men’s basketball coach at CU, dedicated Tuesday’s win to her dad, George Hoos, a longtime high school golf coach in Boulder and a fixture in the Colorado golf community, who is battling leukemia.

“I really wanted to do this for my dad,” said Franklin, who returned to competitive golf just last year after a layoff of 18 years. “I just can’t wait to tell my dad (about winning).

“I get so much joy from watching my kids play. I didn’t realize that back when I played that my parents got that much joy. So I thought maybe if I started playing again …”

Franklin had a friend, Lara Tennant, talk her into returning to competition in 2017 after last competing in the 1999 Colorado Women’s Open, where she lost in a playoff to Shannon Hanley. So last year she played in the Women’s Trans National Senior Four-Ball, then qualified for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur and made match play. And this year in Colorado, she’s taken it up a notch, finishing second in the CGA Women’s Senior Match Play and winning on Tuesday.

So how has it been playing in these events after so long — and winning?

“It’s really exciting,” Franklin said. “The thing I enjoy most is meeting some of the ladies out here. They’re so nice and a real treat to play with.

“I drive up in the morning and am like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ because I get the nerves. But I think the more I practice and the more I work on my mental game, I hope it’ll be a better drive up to each of the tournaments. I think I’d like to keep competing.”

But while that’s the case, Franklin also will be on the golf course trying to help build the games of teenagers. Her brother, Eric Hoos, a former University of Denver men’s golf head coach who once won an event on the Web.com Tour, has taken on head coaching duties at Prospect Ridge Academy, where Walker Franklin plays. And with Eric on board, Kristine has committed to be an assistant coach, a role in which she’s currently enmeshed.

Franklin, who played professionally in Japan for about seven years, joined Jill Gaschler (2015) as the only players who have beaten Eaton in a CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play. The last time Greeley Country Club had hosted the event, in 2012, Eaton won by 16 shots. But that year, Eaton shot just one stroke better over 36 holes than her total this week (148).

Eaton (left), a four-time quarterfinalist in the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, is seeking her 26th career CGA/CWGA championship, which would give her sole possession of the record she now shares with fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Carol Flenniken. Eaton said her next opportunity for No. 26 won’t come until next year.

Asked if falling short on Tuesday was more painful, given it was at her old home course, Eaton said, “It’s more painful in that I feel like I have a target on my back and everybody is out to get me (as the favorite). I just want to win it so I can get it over with.

“I was a little nervous on the back nine just because I wanted to get it over with and not have to worry about it anymore.”

Finishing third behind Franklin and Eaton on Tuesday was 2018 CGA Women’s Senior Match Play champion Tiffany Maurycy (below) of Cherry Creek Country Club, who closed with a 75 for a 153 total.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Janet Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club placed fourth at 154 after a second-round rally was derailed by a triple-bogey at the 11th hole en route to a 75. Coincidentally, Moore and Franklin were college teammates at the University of Arizona.

Audrey McEwen of Coal Creek Golf Course, who won the seventh-flight gross competition, had one of the highights of the tournament as she made a hole-in-one — the first of her life — on the 117-yard second hole on Tuesday.

For all the scores from the championship flight, as well as from the other seven flights at the CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play, CLICK HERE.

CGA Women’s Senior Stroke Play Winners

Championship Flight
Gross: Kristine Franklin, Colorado National GC 74-74–148

First Flight
Gross: Jennifer Hocking, Cherokee Ridge GC 80-80–160
Net: Laurie Steenrod, Saddle Rock GC 73-74–147

Second Flight
Gross: Lynda McManus, Highland Hills GC 78-83–161
Net: Sheila Schroeder, Broken Tee GC 72-75–147

Third Flight
Gross: Laura Wetzel, Coal Creek GC 82-85–167
Net: Audrey Bopp, Ptarmigan CC 72-72–144

Fourth Flight
Gross: Darlene Evans, West Woods GC 90-84–174
Net: Berta Thimmig, Riverdale 70-72–142 and Candy Hammerich, Rifle Creek GC 77-65–142

Fifth Flight
Gross: Insook Bhushan, Meadow Hills GC 93-91–184
Net: Judy Maillis, Broken Tee GC 80-70–150

Sixth Flight
Gross: Sandra Schnitzer 86-101–187
Net: Margaret Brubaker, Riverdale 73-69–142

Seventh Flight
Gross: Audrey McEwen, Coal Creek GC 95-96–191
Net: Susie Goldberg, Overland Park GC 79-69–148 

After 44 years of competing annually in the boys Junior America’s Cup competition, Colorado’s representatives finally had the pleasure of having the team trophy presented to them on Thursday afternoon.

Colorado, which had never before finished better than third place in the prestigious junior event, won the JAC team championship this week after competing in the event since 1975. The Junior America’s Cup now features 18 teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.

And to add icing to the cake for Colorado, Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins captured the individual title out of the field of 72 on Thursday.

“When I signed my scorecard, (captain Dustin Jensen) came over said, ‘I think we did it,'” Stewart relayed later by phone. “It just shocked me and we were really excited after that and I gave all the boys hugs.”

Team-wise, the Coloradans overcame a three-stroke deficit entering the final round at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course in Anaconda, Mont., rallying to overcome Utah and Mexico. The foursome representing the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado posted a 7-under-par 209 on Thursday, giving the team a three-day total of 26-under-par 622. That was one better than Mexico, three better than Utah and four better than fourth-place Arizona.

Joining Stewart on Colorado’s JAC championship team were Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, Davis Bryant of Aurora and Walker Franklin of Broomfield. Bryant was playing on his fourth JAC team, Stewart and McCoy their second and Franklin his first. (The champions are pictured, from left: Franklin, Jensen, Stewart, McCoy and Bryant.)

Prior to Thursday, Colorado’s best showings at the JAC were third places in 2011 (at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen) and in 2015. The JGAC team was fourth last year.

Bryant competed on that team in 2015 — and every year since — so he has some perspective on Thursday’s accomplishment.

“It feels awesome,” said the 18-year-old, who will soon begin his college golf career at Colorado State University.

“We worked well together this week and we didn’t let a bad hole affect us. We hit a shot and forgot about it, which was great. We were able to make a lot of birdies (55 in all, plus two eagles) and take advantage of the shorter holes when we had them. We all made mistakes, but we were able to capitalize on our opportunities. We all helped in some way throughout the week. To bring (the title) back to Colorado, it feels awesome.”

Down the stretch, after Stewart made a double bogey and Franklin a triple bogey early on the back nine on Thursday, the team finished just strongly enough to claim the championship. Stewart played his final seven holes in 3 under and McCoy his final five in 3 under.

Captaining the team once again this year was Jensen, the former CGA managing director of operations, who is now an associate dean at the University of Jamestown (N.D.), his alma mater. Jensen has captained or co-captained every Colorado boys JAC team but three since 2005. Though he’s back in North Dakota full time now, he volunteered for duty in Montana with the CGA and Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado staffs busy with the Girls Junior Americas Cup in Evergreen and the CoBank Colorado Open in Denver.

“It’s crazy. There’s so many years with so many great players. You just never know if and when (winning a title) is going to happen,” Jensen said on Thursday. “These guys were awesome this week. They continued to score constantly. It was just birdie after birdie after birdie. They didn’t complain about anything; they just got in and played.

“We made our par for the course this week 69 and we ended up shooting 1 stroke over par for what we hoped. Twenty-seven under par was the hope and we shot 26 and won by one. I guess we guessed right before the tournament.”

As for Stewart (left), the senior-to-be at Fossil Ridge High School prevailed by two strokes for the individual title. Stewart, who will play his college golf at perennial national power Oklahoma State starting in 2019, carded rounds of 64-68-68 for a 16-under-par 200 total. Last month’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior champion finished the week with an eagle, 20 birdies, four bogeys and one double bogey for 54 holes.

Stewart gained the upper hand early in the round when 36-hole leader Zachary Jones of Utah pumped two shots out of bounds and took a quadruple-bogey 8 on No. 4.

“That kind of flipped everything,” Stewart said. “But I tried not to think about that too much because there was so much golf left to play. … But I’m just happy we won as a team.”

Stewart placed 13th individually at last year’s JAC. He qualified for this year’s U.S. Junior Amateur, which was contested this month.

The University of Denver-bound McCoy placed 14th on Thursday, closing with a 69 for a 212 total. Bryant, who finished ninth individually in last year’s JAC, tied for 17th this week at 213.

The 16-year-old Franklin shared 27th place at 215.

All in all, you couldn’t get a much better week for the Coloradans, who emerged with both the team and individual titles and had a great time in the process.

“It’s a really fun tournament because we don’t really get to play many team events like this one until we get to college,” Bryant said. “It’s a fun time to spend with your buddies. We jack around and have fun, but also played some pretty good golf while we were at it. It was a really fun week and we’re really glad to finish it off this way.” 
 

1. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205-208-209–622
1. Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins 64-68-68–200
14. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71-72-69–212
17. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70-70-73–213
27. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73-70-72–215

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

Colorado will go into Thursday’s final day of the JAC just three strokes out of the lead in Anaconda, Mont. The With a 19-under-par 413 total after Wednesday’s second, Coloradans hold third place out of the 18-team field, trailing leader Mexico (410) and second-place Utah (412). The JAC features squads from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Colorado backed up a first-round 205 with a 208 on Wednesday, and every team member is in the top 25 individually out of the 72-player field.

Dillon Stewart (left) of Fort Collins, who shared the individual lead with a first-round 64, is in second place after Wednesday, three back of Utah’s Zachary Jones, who shot a course-record 63 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course. Jones made an eagle and eight birdies on Wednesday, offset by one bogey.

Stewart, the 2018 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior champion, carded a 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday, recording an eagle, four birdies and two bogeys.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, a Colorado State University-bound golfer who’s competing in his fourth JAC, moved up to 14th place with his second straight 70. He played his final four holes in 4 under par, with one eagle and two birdies.

And Walker Franklin of Broomfield and Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch share 24th place at 143, with Franklin firing a 70 on Wednesday and McCoy a 72.

3. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205-208–413
2. Dillon Stewart, Fort Collins 64-68–132
14. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70-70–140
24. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71-72–143
24. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73-70–143
   
For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

With the top three scores from each squad counting toward the team total, Colorado shot an 11-under-par 205. The Coloradans — who have never finished better than third in this event for teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico — trail only Mexico (202) and are tied with Arizona.

Colorado has been a roll in recent years in this 18-team event as it placed third in 2015, sixth in 2016 and fourth last year.

Leading the way in round 1 of the 54-hole event was Stewart, who last month won the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. The future Oklahoma State golfer made nine birdies and one bogey in his 64 at Fairmont Hot Springs Resort Golf Course. That left him tied for the individual lead with Ian Siebers of Washington, who was bogey-free on Tuesday.

Two other Coloradans broke par on Tuesday, four-time JAC participant Davis Bryant of Aurora (2-under-par 70, good for 18th place) and Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch (71, 24th place). Bryant, who made four birdies on Tuesday, will be playing college golf starting this fall at Colorado State University, while McCoy (an eagle and two birdies) is headed to the University of Denver.

Rounding out Colorado’s players was first-time JAC contestant Walker Franklin of Broomfield, who opened with a 73. (Pictured is the Colorado squad, from left: McCoy, captain Dustin Jensen, Stewart, Bryant and Franklin.)

Play will continue through Thursday.

2. (out of 18 teams) Colorado 205
T1. Dillon Stewart (pictured below), Fort Collins 64
18. Davis Bryant, Aurora 70
24. Cal McCoy, Highlands Ranch 71
34. Walker Franklin, Broomfield 73

For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.

The four Coloradans competing July 24-26 in Anaconda, Mont., will come into the event having played in a combined five JACs.

Records aren’t complete, but Davis Bryant of Aurora might go down as having played in more boys Junior America’s Cups for Colorado than anyone. This will mark his fourth and final appearance, having placed ninth individually last year, 21st in 2016 and 49th in 2015.

More importantly, Bryant helped Colorado finish fourth out of 18 teams in 2017, sixth in 2016 and third in 2015, when the Centennial State matched its best showing ever in the event, also accomplished in 2011 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen.

Bryant will be joined on the 2018 Colorado team by Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch and Walker Franklin of Broomfield. Stewart and McCoy likewise played on the 2017, while the 16-year-old Franklin is a first-timer in the event. (Bryant and Stewart are pictured at a recent tournament, with Bryant at left.)

All three of the Colorado returnees have set their college plans. Bryant is headed for Colorado State University and McCoy to the University of Denver, both in the fall, while Stewart has verbally committed to Oklahoma State when he heads for college in 2019.

Here’s a brief rundown on the Colorado JAC representatives this year:

— Davis Bryant of Aurora: Will be playing in his fourth Junior America’c Cup. He finished ninth individually last year. … Will play his college golf at CSU beginning in the fall. … Named the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Boys Player of the Year in 2017. … Has won all four JGAC majors in which he’s competed in 2017 and 18 — three last year and the Colorado Junior PGA this year. He’s also qualified for the national Junior PGA Championship. … Finished 40th out of 212 players in the boys 15-18 division at the IMG Academy Junior World Championships. … Played in the U.S. Junior Amateur in 2015 and ’17, going to match play in the latter. … Finished second to Stewart at last month’s AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. … Advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying late in the spring. … Won the 5A boys state high school title as a senior at Eaglecrest. … Younger sister Emma is on this year’s Colorado team for the Girls Junior Americas Cup.

— Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins: Will be playing in his second Junior America’c Cup. He finished 13th individually last year. … Has verbally committed to play his college golf at Oklahoma State beginning next year. … Competed this week at the U.S. Junior Amateur. … Won the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior last month, becoming the first local player to claim the title in the boys division. … Finished second last week at the Colorado Junior Amateur. … Also was runner-up at the 5A boys state high school tournament in the fall, behind only Bryant.

— Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch: Will be playing in his second Junior America’c Cup. He finished 31st individually last year. … Will begin his college golf career at the University of Denver beginning in the fall. … Finished 103rd out of 212 players at the recent IMG Academy Junior World Championships. … Has qualified for the CoBank Colorado Open, but will instead compete in the JAC, which has conflicting dates. … Is the first alternate for the U.S. Amateur from the Fort Collins Country Club qualifying site. … Finished second to Bryant at the Colorado Junior PGA and qualifed for the national Junior PGA Championship.

— Walker Franklin of Broomfield: Will be playing in his first Junior America’s Cup. … Finished fourth in the Colorado Junior PGA and fifth at recent Colorado Junior Amateur. … Placed fifth last month in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. … Was the medalist in Colorado qualifying for the Optimist International Junior Golf Championship. … Won a JGAC Spring Tour event at Country Club of the Rockies in April. … Tied for second in last fall’s 3A state high school tournament.

At the Junior America’s Cup, which features 18 teams from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico, the best three scores for each team each day count toward the team total.

For a story on the girls who will represent Colorado at the Girls Junior Americas Cup at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, CLICK HERE.
 

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.
 

But with the change, one Coloradan will have the opportunity for No. 3 this year.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, who has won the last four Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado majors in which he’s competed, has qualified for the 2015 and ’17 U.S. Junior Ams. And he can add one last one next week before he starts his college golf career at Colorado State University in the fall. Bryant went to 21 holes in the match play round of 64 at last year’s Junior Am.

Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City will host the 18-hole U.S. Junior Amateur qualifying on Tuesday (June 26), with 79 competitors vying for three spots in the national championship. Baltusrol in Springfield, N.J., a major championship venue many times in the past, will be the site for the national event July 16-21.

Also trying to earn a return trip to the U.S. Junior Amateur on Tuesday will be TJ Shehee of Mead, who advanced last year.

Likewise in the field at Buffalo Run will be Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who won the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior early this month; Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, who captured the title earlier this week in the JGAC Tour event at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker; U.S. Open Sectional qualifier Jack Castiglia of Lakewood; and 3A state high school runner-up Walker Franklin of Broomfield.

For Tuesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, who has verbally committed to play golf for 2018 NCAA champion Oklahoma State starting next year, retained the lead among the boys at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster.

Stewart shot his second straight 2-under-par 70 on Wednesday, which leaves him with a two-stroke lead heading into Thursday’s final round. He birdied his first three holes on Wednesday and two of his last three, and finished day 2 with seven birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey.

Davis Bryant of Aurora, who edged Stewart for the 5A boys state high school title in the fall, matched the low round of the tournament with a 3-under-par 69 on Wednesday to check in at 142, two back of Stewart. Bryant, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s 2017 Boys Player of the Year and a Colorado State University signee, carded six birdies and three bogeys on the day.

Rounding out the players under par through 36 holes is Walker Franklin of Broomfield, the 3A state high school runnerup in 2017. He shot a 71 on Wednesday and holds third place at 143. Franklin eagled the 392-yard, par-4 first hole on Wednesday and bogeyed his last, with 16 pars in between.

In the girls competition, Savannah Grewal of Ontario posted her second straight 73 to grab a one-stroke lead at 2-over-par 146. She made a birdie and two bogeys on Wednesday.

Sara Camarena of Mexico City, ranked No. 84 in the girls Rolex AJGA rankings, shares second place at 147 with Paige Harrison of Castaic, Calif. Camarena had a rough finish on Wednesday, going 5 over in her final three holes.

First-round leader Lauren Lehigh of Loveland, the 2017 4A girls state high school champion, holds fourth place at 149 after struggling to a 79 on Wednesday.

Defending champion Hailey Schalk of Erie, winner of the last two 3A state high school titles, posted a second-round 80 and sits at 153, in eighth place.

For the scores for the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, CLICK HERE.
 

Walker Franklin of Broomfield, who finished second individually in the Class 3A state tourney last fall, scored a seven-stroke victory in the boys division of the JGAC Spring Tour event at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

And Amy Chitkoksoong of Aurora, the reigning 5A state high school individual champion, posted a one-shot win in the girls division in Colorado Springs. (Franklin and Chitkoksoong are pictured.)

Franklin, son of Canadian Golf Hall of Famer and University of Colorado women’s assistant coach Brent Franklin and 1986 CWGA Stroke Play champion Kristine (Hoos) Franklin, ran away with the title in the 62-player boys event by carding rounds of 72-71. That left the 16-year-old with a 1-over-par 143 total. He made seven birdies over the course of two days.

Tying for second place at 150 on Sunday were former 4A state champion Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs, Jake Welch of Highlands Ranch and John McGinley of Casper, Wyo., all of whom went 74-76.

Meanwhile, Chitkoksoong recorded rounds of 80-76 for a 14-over-par 156 total to earn the girls title. The 17-year-old fended off Brittlynn Jade O’Dell of Grand Junction, who posted a tournament-best 73 on Sunday to check in at 157. After shooting an 84 on Saturday, O’Dell played her first 12 holes in 1 under on Sunday. But a bogey on her final hole dropped her out of a tie for the lead.

Maxine Choi of Colordo Springs (84-77) and Kaylee Chen of Denver (80-81) tied for third place out of a field of 23 girls.

For scores from the Country Club of Colorado event, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.

(April 29 Update: Chitkoksoong also won the second JGAC Tour event of the year, which concluded April 29 at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo. With a 5-over-par 149 total, she posted a two-stroke victory. In the boys division, Trujillo turned the tables from the Country Club of Colorado tournament, winning while Franklin finished second. Trujillo posted a winning total of 2-under-par 142, which gave him a one-shot edge on Franklin. For scores from Walking Stick, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS)