Four Players Tied for Lead at CWGA Junior Stroke Play - 6/17/2013

Four players shot 2-over-par 74s on Monday to share the lead after the first round of the CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship at Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone.

Tied for the top spot are Gillian Vance of Red Rocks Country Club, Kelly Moran of Boulder Country Club, Sydney Gillespie of Highlands Ranch Golf Club and Mary Weinstein of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

Jaylee Tait of Raccoon Creek Golf Course and Sarah Hankins of Thorncreek Golf Club are one stroke out of the lead, in a tie for fifth place.

The 54-hole tournament will continue through Wednesday.

For scores, CLICK HERE.
    

Howe Fires 66 for 2-Shot Lead in CGA Junior Stroke Play - 6/17/2013

Andrew Howe of the Fox Hill Club made an eagle and six birdies Monday en route to a 5-under-par 66 and a two-stroke lead after the first round of the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

Four players share second place at 68, including 4A state high school champion Jacob Allenback of Elmwood Golf Course and 2012 Junior Stroke Play runner-up Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines.

Also at that figure are Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club and Pierce Aichinger of Bear Creek Golf Club.

All told, a dozen players broke part on Monday, while defending champion Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club opened with a 76.

The 54-hole tournament, which features all three of the 2012 state high school champions, will continue through Wednesday. The field will be cut to the low 40 and ties after Tuesday's round.

For scores, CLICK HERE.

-- Gary Baines
 

Ex-DU Golfer Sue Kim Wins in Playoff on Symetra Tour - 6/16/2013

Former University of Denver golfer Sue Kim used a stellar final round of 9-under-par 63 on Sunday, then prevailed in a playoff, to post her first Symetra Tour win, in the Decatur-Forsyth Classic in Decatur, Ill.

Kim, who teed off on the back nine Sunday with 2005 U.S. Women's Open champion Birdie Kim, made nine birdies and no bogeys in the final round for the 63, which left her with a 10-under-par 206 total. American Laura Kueny later tied Sue Kim with a birdie on her final hole of regulation, capping a string of four birdies on her last five holes.

Kim birdied the first playoff hole from 5 feet to overcome Kueny, who made par. Kim, who carded 72-71 on the first two days, came into the final round tied for 36th place.

It was Kim's third top-three finish on the Symetra Tour in the last three months. With the $15,000 she won on Sunday, she now leads the Tour's 2013 money list with $31,916.

Kim has conditional status this year on the LPGA Tour, and is splitting her time between the LPGA and Symetra circuits. She played just half of a season at DU before turning pro.

-- Gary Baines

Wood Among Top Contenders for CWGA Junior Stroke Play Title - 6/15/2013

Hannah Wood from the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program at CommonGround Golf Course will be among the favorites at next week's CWGA Junior Stroke Play Championship, which will be held Monday through Wednesday (June 17-19) at Saddleback Golf Club in Firestone.

Wood earlier this year won the prestigious Kathy Whitworth Invitational in Texas and she also claimed the 2012 CJGA Tournament of Champions title. She was second last year in the CWGA Junior Stroke Play, won by Calli Ringsby, who's not entered this year.

Jenni Chun, the 5A state high school runner-up, and Sarah Hankins and Sydney Merchant, who tied for third with Wood in the same tournament, are also scheduled to compete at Saddleback.

The nine players with the best gross scores after 36 holes will make up the championship flight.

-- Gary Baines
 

Makloski, State High School Champs Set for CGA Junior Stroke Play - 6/15/2013

Defending champion Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club and all three reigning state high school champs are among those entered in next week's CGA Junior Stroke Play at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

The 54-hole tournament will run Monday through Wednesday (June 17-19).

Eighty-four players are in the field, which will be cut to the low 40 and ties after two rounds.

The 2012 state high school champs scheduled to compete are Kyler Dunkle (5A), Jacob Allenback (4A) and Benjamin Moore (3A). Moore is coming off a victory Friday in the Colorado Junior PGA Championship.

In addition, two-time 3A state high school winner Ethan Freeman is in the field.

-- Gary Baines