Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch is on track for the first trifecta in CJGA Junior Series Championship history.
On Tuesday, the young man from The Links Golf Course won the CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship four years after claiming the boys title in the 10 & Under tournament. So having earned victories in the two younger age groups, he now has the next several years to try to win the 14-18 title, which would make him the first player to prevail at every age level.
“It feels great to win the end-of-the-year tournament,” Welch said. “It’s good to win something before I go on to the older division, but being the youngest (there next year), you never know.”
Welch (pictured above) recorded the only sub-par round of the 11-13 tournament on Tuesday to win the title by two strokes at The Homestead Golf Course in Lakewood.
In the girls division, Zarena Brown (pictured at left) of Arvada, the sister of HealthOne Colorado Open runner-up Zahkai Brown, claimed the championship, also by two.
Welch became just the fourth player to win a CJGA Junior Series Championship more than once, joining Somin Lee (three 14-18 titles from 2008 through 2010), Jennifer Kupcho (11-13 in 2010 and 14-18 this year) and Ethan Freeman (11-13 in 2008 and 14-18 last year).
Welch shot a 1-under-par 64 in the final round, which gave the Valor Christian High School freshman-to-be a two-day total of 4-over-par 134. That was two strokes better than first-round co-leader Jackson Solem of The Fox Hill Club.
Solem closed with a 67 but played his final six holes in 3 over par. Daniel Pearson of Twin Peaks Golf Course (70-68–138) claimed third place.
Welch actually turned 14 years old on June 29, but since he competed most of the year in the 11-13 age group, he was allowed to play in the 11-13 Series Championship, as has been the practice in the past. And suffice it to say he took advantage by shooting just the third sub-par tournament round of his life.
“Not being able to play (part of) the year because I was too old, it’s good to come back and win,” said Welch, who claimed six or seven junior tournament victories this year. “I don’t think I won any of these tournaments last year, so it’s a big accomplishment for me to come out and win a bunch of them.”
On Tuesday, Welch’s highlight of the day was hitting a 9-iron on the 155-yard sixth hole and leaving his ball on the lip of the cup, just missing a hole-in-one.
“I don’t know how it didn’t go in,” he said.
As for the girls division, first-round leader Brown started day 2 with a triple bogey, but the Pomona High School freshman-to-be held on for a two-stroke victory with a 159 total. Jaclyn Murray of Bookcliff Country Club took second place after an 82 Tuesday, while Hannah More of Pinehurst Country Club placed third at 162, likewise after shooting 82.
“I was just playing so bad this season, then all of a sudden (this) just happened,” Brown said, noting it was her first tournament win of the year. “This is definitely very big, but it still hasn’t hit me.”
Brown (pictured at left), who turns 14 years old in five days, thought a victory wasn’t in the cards the way she started Tuesday’s round.
“Off the first tee I totally duffed my first shot because I was so nervous,” she said of the tee shot that led to the triple bogey. “I was like, ‘I’m totally out of this. I’m not going to win it.’ But I just kept going.”
And draining a 25-foot putt on the 15th hole — for her only par on the back nine — seemed to all but seal the deal for Brown.
Brown’s two siblings, Zen and Zahkai, both are playing professional golf now after college careers at Colorado State. Zarena may or may not follow their lead.
“My brother Zahkai used to swim,” Zarena said. “I said, ‘All right, I’m going to take that up.’ Then they played golf. I said, ‘I guess I should keep the tradition going.’ But I didn’t like it until this year and I really didn’t take it serious until this year.
“But I also like swimming, so it will depend which I want more for college (in four years).”
The Junior Series Championship for 14-18 year-olds took place last week, with Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club and Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course claiming the titles. The 10 & Under championship is scheduled for Wednesday at Boulder Country Club.
CJGA 11-13 Junior Series Championship
At Par-65 Homestead GC in Lakewood
BOYS
Coby Welch, The Links GC – 70-64–134
Jackson Solem, The Fox Hill Club – 69-67–136
Daniel Pearson, Twin Peaks GC – 70-68–138
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree GC – 73-66–139
Jeremy Mosser, Applewood GC – 71-68–139
Mathew Casias, Elmwood GC – 69-71–140
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch GC – 73-71–144
Liam Short, Hiwan GC – 75-72–147
Davis Bryant, Green Valley Ranch GC – 74-74–148
Johnny Schlager, Riverdale GC – 77-73–150
Darren Edwards, Loveland Mens Golf Assoc – 76-75–151
Luke Travins, Broadmoor GC – 75-77–152
Jack Castiglia, Fossil Trace GC – 77-75–152
Aiden Detlof, Fort Carson GC – 72-80–152
Zach Gomez, Indian Tree GC – 80-77–157
Jackson Crist, The Links GC – 77-80–157
Griffin Lawrence Barela, Fox Hollow at Lakewood – 80-81–161
Dillon Baker, Red Hawk Ridge GC – 84-78–162
Cade Kilkenny, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 87-89–176
Raymond Simanjuntak, South Suburban Family Sports – 85-WD
GIRLS
Zarena Brown, Lake Arbor Lga – 78-81–159
Jaclyn Murray, Bookcliff CC Wga – 79-82–161
Hannah More, Pinehurst CC – 80-82–162
Empress Hawkins-Kimmel, Fox Hill CC Wga – 83-80–163
Caroline Jordaan, Cherry Hills CC – 87-82–169
Delaney Benson, South Suburban Family Sports – 92-79–171
Amy Chitkoksoong, Springhill GC – 89-86–175
Lauren Murphy, River Valley Ranch Wga – 92-84–176
Kacey Godwin, Family Sports Center – 88-90–178
Amisha Singh, Family Sports – 95-92–187
