A violent hail and lightning storm moved through Green Gables Country Club Thursday afternoon shortly after play ended in the CJGA Junior Series Championship for 14-18 year-olds.
But that wasn’t the only noise made at the course on Thursday.
Earlier, Alex Gutesha of Greenwood Village capped his junior career on an outstanding note by shooting the low round of the tournament — by three strokes — to finish atop the boys division. And Somin Lee of Denver (pictured) put an exclamation point on a dominant summer of junior golf in the state by successfully defending her Junior Series Championship girls title.
Gutesha, a Cherry Creek High School graduate who will play golf at the University of Kansas starting this fall, rallied in the final round with a 3-under-par 68 to win the boys competition by five strokes over Michael Lee of Greeley Country Club. Gutesha, from Meridian Golf Club, finished the two-day event at 1-under-par 141. First-round leader Clark Shafer of the Country Club at Castle Pines came in third at 148 after a second-round 77.
“This feels very good because it’s my last tournament ever as a junior,” Gutesha said. “For that reason it’s probably the best win I’ve ever had. “¦ I think I had finished second about five times this year, but then I won my last two tournaments.”
Gutesha, 18, also claimed the title at the Denver Country Club (Junior) Invitational, shooting a 68 Monday to win by two shots.
On Thursday, Gutesha overcame a two-shot deficit to take the lead for good after nine holes. For the day, he made four birdies and one bogey. One of the birdies came on the 472-yard, par-4 17th, where Gutesha smacked a 342-yard drive.
“I should have made about nine more (birdies),” Gutesha said after hitting 15 greens in regulation. “It was one of the better rounds I’ve ever played. The course wasn’t playing easy. If I was under par, I knew I”˜d win.”
Indeed, in two days only three players in the boys field recorded rounds under 73 at Green Gables.
Lee, meanwhile, will continue to be the only name on the trophy for the girls 14-18 division. She won the inaugural title last year, and claimed the crown Thursday by three strokes. Her 9-over-par 80 in the final round — good for a 9-over 151 total — was enough to fend off runner-up Kathleen Kershisnik of Columbine Country Club (154) and Shinwoo Lee of Aurora Hills (155).
“I’m proud of myself,” said Somin Lee, who plays out of Heather Ridge Country Club. “I can’t wait until next year to win again.”
Lee has been made winning a habit in the last couple years. By her count, she’s claimed 13 or 14 tournament titles in 2008 and 2009 combined. That includes two CWGA Junior Match Play titles and the 2009 CWGA Junior Stroke Play championship.
Thursday was a bit of a struggle for the 17-year-old junior-to-be at Overland High School. After shooting an even-par 71 on Wednesday, she couldn’t break 80 in round 2.
“I was kind of worried on the front nine (when she shot 41),” Lee said. “I wasn’t playing like myself. I was getting a little nervous. But I tried my best on the back, and it worked out.”
The Junior Series Championship features many of the top performers from 2009 CJGA tournaments. An event for 11-13 year-olds will be held Tuesday at The Homestead in Lakewood, while the 10-and-under tournament is set for Aug. 13 at the Boulder Country Club par-3 course.
CJGA JUNIOR SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP (14-18 year-olds)
At Par-71 Green Gables Country Club
Girls
Somin Lee, Heather Ridge 71-80–151
Kathleen Kershisnik, Columbine CC 78-76–154
Shinwoo Lee, Aurora Hills 74-81–155
Allie Johnston, Murphy Creek GC 78-79–157
Shannon Lubar, Deer Creek Golf Club at Meadow Ranch 80-78–158
Andrea Hibbert, Applewood 85-79–164
Kristin Kempton, Lone Tree Golf Club 82-82–164
Chance Forbes, Hiwan 84-81–165
Claudia Davis, Glenmoor 83-84–167
Christina Spinzig, Hiwan 83-84–167
Katy Dyachkova, South Suburban 85-84–169
Sarah Moore, Cherry Hills 79-92–171
Paige Crawford, Patty Jewett 88-86–174
Jennifer Kempton, Lone Tree 84-95–179
Linnea Danielson, Broadlands 93-89–182
Taylor Dorans, Eagle Trace 91-94–185
Boys
Alexander Gutesha, Meridian 73-68–141
Michael Lee, Greeley CC 73-73–146
Clark Shafer, Country Club at Castle Pines 71-77–148
Clay LaBrec, The Ranch Country Club 76-74–150
Cody Kent, Plum Creek 74-76–150
Michael Schoolcraft, Cherry Hills 75-75–150
Ben Lyons, South Suburban 80-72–152
Dario Ortega, Collindale 77-76–153
Spencer Sheets, Glenmoor 77-77–154
Caleb Barker, Perry Park 78-77–155
Benjamin Krueger, Pine Creek 76-79–155
Connor Klein, Lone Tree Golf Club 76-79–155
Joey Muckler, Meridian 79-77–156
Steven Kupcho, Legacy Ridge GC 76-80–156
Kyle Tobin, Colorado GC 80-77–157
Reid Howey, South Suburban 78-79–157
Cody Vance, Raccoon Creek 77-80–157
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC 76-81–157
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo 83-75–158
Bryan Fickle, Perry Park 80-78–158
Chris Weinstein, South Suburban Family Sports 76-82–158
Nicholas Reisch, Thorncreek GC 80-79–159
Chris Winter, Red Hawk Ridge 80-80–160
Derek Despres, Pinery CC 80-80–160
Sam Schweitzer, Meridian 84-77–161
Danny Boylen, Woodmoor Pines 82-79–161
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp 80-81–161
Christopher Dillon, Colorado Springs CC 80-81–161
Justin Mortensen, Cattails 80-81–161
Kenneth Forward, Omni Interlocken 79-83–162
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC 79-83–162
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill 83-80–163
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor 76-87–163
Ryan Frost, Silver Spruce 84-80–164
Matthew Vacek, Indian Peaks 75-89–164
Tyler Lovato, The Ranch Country Club 87-80–167
Austin Raap, Ridge at Castle Pines North 82-90–172
Blake Basham, The Links Golf Course 86-87–173
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek 88-88–176
