The last year has been very good to left-handers in Colorado golf. Among the southpaws who have won significant championships are Ben Portie (2011 HealthOne Colorado Open and 2010 Enstrom’s Rocky Mountain Open), Keith Humerickhouse (2010 CGA Mid-Amateur and 2011 CGA Western Chapter) and John Ahern (2011 CGA Junior Match Play and 2010 4A state high school and CJGA Tournament of Champions).
And on Tuesday, AJ Ott (pictured above) did his part in extending the trend. The youngster from Ptarmigan Country Club overcame first-day leader Tyler Zhang of Valley Country Club to win the boys division of the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship at The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood.
It was sweet turnabout a year after Ott took a five-stroke lead into the final round of this event and ended up losing to Jake Staiano in a playoff.
“It feels good,” said the 13-year-old from Fort Collins. “The last few years I’ve come close here, and this is always one I like to try to win. So this (victory) is pretty high up there for me.”
While Ott rallied to win the boys title, fellow 13-year-old Sydney Merchant of Red Rocks Country Club went wire-to-wire in claiming the girls championship.
Ott pulled ahead when Zhang carded a quintuple-bogey 9 on the fourth hole, and the lead never changed hands again as Ott held on for a two-stroke victory. The eighth-grader-to-be shot a 3-over-par 68 in the final round for a two-day total of 7-over 137.
Zhang finished second following a final-round 71. Christopher Raap of Highlands Ranch Golf Club (67-141) placed third.
Zhang went into the final round a stroke ahead of Ott, and extended his lead to three strokes after the first three holes on Tuesday. But Zhang’s disastrous 9 on No. 4 gave Ott a two-stroke edge, and he never gave up the advantage.
“I was able to play good in the wind and stay steady,” said Ott, who had two birdies and five bogeys on Tuesday. “I think it was one of my best rounds considering the wind. I hit it good and scrambled a little bit. I just wanted to stay steady and not let the bad holes get to me.”
In the girls division, Merchant (pictured at left) cruised to a nine-stroke victory as a 7-over-par 72 on Tuesday left her at 10-over 140 overall. Morgan Sahm of Blackstone Country Club (76-149) ended up a distant second, while Delaney Elliott of Coal Creek Golf Course (73-154) and Gillian Vance of Green Gables Country Club (73-154) tied for third.
“This is the big championship, so it’s good to win the big championship,” Merchant said.
But despite the easy victory, the Morrison resident was less than thrilled with her play on Tuesday. She posted two double bogeys and three bogeys on the day and failed to card a birdie.
“I didn’t play my best; that’s for sure,” said Merchant, who placed third in this tournament last year. “I just blew up on a few holes and that brought me down.”
Nevertheless, the eighth-grader-to-be still posted the best girls division score of the day, so she never was in danger of being overtaken.
The 14-18 division of the Junior Series Championship was played last week, with Ethan Freeman and Taylor Dorans winning the titles. The 10-and-under tournament will be held Wednesday at Boulder Country Club.
CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship
At the Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood
BOYS
AJ Ott, Ptarmigan Country Club, 69-68–137
Tyler Zhang, Valley Country Club, 68-71–139
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 74-67–141
Coby Welch, The Links Golf Club, 72-70–142
Alec Poorman, Flatirons Golf Course, 74-71–145
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 79-68–147
Troy Dangler, Tiara Rado Golf Course, 74-77–151
Andrew McCormick, Denver Country Club, 76-77–153
Chase Federico, Elmwood Golf Course, 81-73–154
Henry Schaefer, Columbine Country Club, 77-77–154
Braden Bentley, Pueblo Country Club, 82-75–157
Nicholas Leibold, Columbine Country Club, 85-82–167
Raymond Simanjuntak, South Suburban Family Sports, 91-77–168
A Detlof-Maldonado, Fort Carson Golf Club, 80-91–171
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins Country Club, 89-87–176
Cameron Allan, Lakewood Country Club, 85-93–178
Jackson Crist, The Links Golf Club, 95-91–186
GIRLS
Sydney Merchant, Red Rocks CC Lga, 68-72–140
Morgan Sahm, Blackstone CC Wga, 73-76–149
Delaney Elliott, Coal Creek Wga, 81-73–154
Gillian Vance, Green Gables CC Wga, 81-73–154
Mary Weinstein, Valley CC Wga, 81-76–157
Adara Pauluhn, Flatirons Wga, 84-78–162
Joanna Kempton, Lone Tree Lga, 86-77–163
Delaney Benson, Valley CC Wga, 85-79–164
Hannah More, Pinehurst Country Club, 90-87–177
Kacey Godwin, Valley CC Wga, 95-93–188
