The CGA has been fielding teams in the Junior America’s Cup annually since 1975, and on Thursday the Coloradans matched their best finish ever in the event that features representatives from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico.
The CGA placed third in the 18-team field at Pine Canyon Golf Club in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Coloradans also were third in 2011 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen. Three other times — in 1984, ’85 and 2012 — the Coloradans finished fourth in the event.
That means CGA teams have posted top-four performances in three of the last five JACs.
Three of the four Colorado representatives shot par or sub-par rounds in Thursday’s final round. With eight birdies on Thursday, Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch fired a 5-under-par 67 to place seventh individually at 5-under 211. AJ Ott of Fort Collins carded a 72, good for a 214 total and 16th place. And Jackson Solem of Longmont closed with a 70 to come in at 222, leaving him in 38th place.
The fourth Colorado player, Davis Bryant of Aurora, checked in at 226 for 49th place. Bryant carded a team-best 68 in Wednesday’s second round.
Sam Choi of Southern California claimed the individual title on Thursday by posting 204 overall.
With the CGA throwing out its high score of the day, it recorded a stellar 7-under-par 209 team total on Thursday. That put Colorado at 8-under 640 overall, 17 strokes behind champion Southern California and four back of runner-up Wyoming. Southern California has won three of the last eight JAC titles.
Colorado’s 640 total is 17 strokes better than when it finished third in 2011 at Hiwan.
Colorado’s team total on Thursday included a 9-under-par showing over the final nine holes, with Welch going 5 under, Solem 3 under, and Ott 1 under. Welch and Ott were competing in the Junior America’s Cup for the second straight year.
(Pictured above is the CGA team. From left: Bryant, Ott, captain Dustin Jensen, Welch and Solem.)
Here are the round-by-round scores and standings for all the Coloradans:
3. Colorado 216-215-209–640
7. Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch 69-75-67–211
16. AJ Ott of Fort Collins 70-72-72–214
38. Jackson Solem of Longmont 77-75-70–222
49. Davis Bryant of Aurora 79-68-79–226
For all the scores from the JAC, CLICK HERE.
