Dillon Stewart put together a set of bookend AJGA titles for what many observers consider the summer golf season.
In early June, the player from Fort Collins became the first Coloradan to win the boys title in the AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, held at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster.
Then on Monday, the senior at Fossil Ridge High School added his second AJGA championship by winning the AJGA Junior at Big Sky in Montana.
Combine those victories with his individual win in the Junior America’s Cup — and leading Colorado to its first team title in that event — and it’s been quite a memorable summer for Stewart (left). By the way, both the JAC and this AJGA victory came in Montana.
“Yep…. it’s official I love playing in Montana,” Stewart tweeted on Monday afternoon.
Stewart, who will sign with NCAA Division I champion Oklahoma State this fall, rallied in Monday’s final round to earn the title in Montana. Trailing by five entering the last 18, Stewart shot a 5-under-par 67 and prevailed by one stroke over Piercen Hunt of Hartland, Wis.
Stewart posted rounds of 66-74-67 for a 9-under-par 207 total. He made seven birdies and two bogeys on Monday and finished the tournament with two eagles and 13 birdies.
In the same tournament in Montana, Charlotte Hillary of Cherry Hills Village almost gave Coloradans a sweep of the titles. But after Hillary was tied at the end of regulation for the top spot among the girls, Montgomery Ferreira of University Place, Wash., prevailed in a three-golfer playoff.
Hillary rebounded from a first-round 77 with scores of 71-71 on Sunday and Monday to finish at 3-over-par 219 with Ferreira and Canadian Chaewon Baek. Ferreira, who closed with a bogey-free 67, won the playoff on the second extra hole.
Hillary made three birdies and a double bogey in regulation on the final day.
