When the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica is contested next week, it will mark the first year of at least a three-year stay for the event at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster. And, for the second time in the three-year history of the tournament, Colorado’s favorite son in golf will add some star power to pre-tourney festivities.
Three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin, who lent his name to the event, will conduct a by-invitation-only clinic and Q&A for junior golfers and their families on Sunday afternoon (June 4) on the eve of the event, which runs Tuesday through Thursday.
Irwin, a graduate of Boulder High School and the University of Colorado, has won 20 times on the PGA Tour and a record 45 times on PGA Tour Champions. Before going pro, he won a state high school individual title, five CGA championships and the 1967 NCAA title while at CU.
Irwin’s clinic (he’s pictured during the 2015 AJGA event) will take place after Sunday’s qualifying tournament. On Monday, there will be a Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament and practice rounds, and the 54-hole tournament will begin Tuesday for boys and girls competitors age 12-19.
Among the top Colorado boys in the field are three NCAA Division I letter of intent signees: Griffin Barela of Lakewood (University of Wisconsin), Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (University of Colorado) and Daniel Pearson of Longmont (University of Nebraska), though Pearson recently learned he’ll be competing in 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying on Monday. Also in the boys field are 2016 3A state champion Oliver Jack of Denver, 4A winner Luke Trujillo of Colorado Springs, 5A champ Kyle Pearson (5A) and Davis Bryant of Aurora, a 2015 U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and 2016 Colorado Junior America’s Cup team member.
On the girls side, two recent winners of state high school titles are entered: Hailey Schalk of Erie (3A) and Lauren Lehigh of Loveland (4A). Also expected to compete are Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village, winner of the 2016 JGAC Junior Tour Championship.
In all, 96 players — from 18 states and five countries — will be in the field.
For more information on the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior by Transamerica, CLICK HERE.
