CGA, CWGA Set to Celebrate Unique Year
Ziegler, Eaton, Polk, Lee among those to be honored at Nov. 22 brunch
by Gary Baines - November 12, 2009
This year turned out to be a perfect storm of sorts in Colorado’s amateur golf ranks.
The 2009 tournament season produced some rare and even unprecedented occurrences, all of which will be highlighted on Nov. 22 when the CGA, CWGA and CJGA host their awards brunch at the Omni Interlocken Resort in Broomfield.
Here’s a rundown of this unique year of tournament golf:
Steve Ziegler of Broomfield (pictured, top) will receive the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year honor after becoming the first golfer since Brandt Jobe in 1985 to win both the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play Championships in the same year.
“It’s one of the greatest moments I’ve ever had on a golf course,” Ziegler said at the time. “… I’ve never done anything grander than this.”
The Stanford golfer went on to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur, losing to eventual champion Byeong-Hun An in 21 holes. In 2009, Ziegler also won his first college tournament, played on the U.S. Palmer Cup team, and made the round of 16 at the British Amateur.
Kim Eaton of Greeley (also pictured) will become the first golfer in history to be named both CWGA Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year in the same season -- or in a career, for that matter. In winning the CWGA Senior Stroke Play shortly after turning 50 this year, Eaton gained the distinction of being the first player to claim CWGA individual championships at the junior, open-age, and senior levels.
Already a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, Eaton will become just the second three-time winner of the CWGA Player of the Year Award, joining Kelly Schaub. Eaton previously claimed the honor in 2004 and 2007.
Eaton also won a state title in Arizona, finishing first in the Arizona Women’s Golf Association State Amateur Seniors Championship.
Eaton likewise excelled on a national level in 2009, beating World Golf Hall of Famer Carol Semple Thompson en route to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur, making the round of 32 at the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur, and helping Colorado finish sixth in the U.S. Women’s State Team Championship.
Robert Polk of Parker was the obvious choice for CGA Senior Player of the Year after becoming the first competitor since 2002 to sweep the titles in the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play in the same season. He’s just the fourth player in history to accomplish that feat, joining John Olive, John Golden and Larry Eaton.
“That’s some very good company,” Polk said after completing the sweep. “Anytime you’re mentioned in the same breath as people like that, it’s pretty tall cotton.”
Polk, a winner of five major CGA championships since 2005, will become the fourth person to win Senior Player of the Year honors three straight years. Les Fowler, Eaton and Olive previously hit that trifecta.
Somin Lee of Denver earned CWGA Junior Player of the Year honors after winning both the Junior Match Play and Junior Stroke Play. Lee, who has claimed three consecutive CWGA junior titles, became just the fourth player in CWGA history to win some combination of three Junior Stroke and Junior Match Championships in the course of two consecutive calendar years. Gailynn Addis (1981-82), Wendy Werley (1984-85) and Nancy Abiecunas (1996-97) previously pulled off the feat.
Lee also qualified for the U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship and competed in the Girls Junior Americas Cup.
Ziegler, Eaton, Polk and Lee will be among the major award winners who will be honored at the Nov. 22 brunch. Among the other honorees are:
CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year -- Michael Harrington of Colorado Springs, who won the CGA Mid-Amateur, qualified for the U.S. Amateur and played in the USGA Men’s State Team Championship.
CGA Junior Player of the Year -- Cody Kent of Castle Rock, the University of Tulsa-bound golfer who won two CJGA tournaments and finished second in the Class 5A state high school championship. He also placed 14th in the Junior Americas Cup competition.
Presidents’ Award (given to a Colorado PGA member for a lifetime of outstanding service to golf) -- Tom Connell, who recently retired after many years as head professional at Denver Country Club.
Dave Nelson Award for Excellence in Golf Journalism -- Jay Ritchie, co-host of “Tee to Green,“ the Colorado Springs-based nationally syndicated radio golf show.
Jim Topliff On-Course Official of the Year -- Dave Wining of Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder, who is also a CGA Governor.
CJGA ALL-STAR TEAM
Zarena Brown of Arvada (11 years old)
Davis Bryant of Denver (9)
Jackson Burke of Centennial (13)
Jack Castiglia of Lakewood (9)
Jenni Chun of Lone Tree (13)
Brendan Connolly of Castle Rock (16)
Clayton Crawford of Aspen (13)
Claudia Davis of Centennial (14)
Payton DeVencenty of Aurora (13)
Katy Dyachkova of Centennial (15)
Sydney Gillespie of Highlands Ranch (12)
Trinity Goderstad of Cherry Hills Village (10)
Kacey Godwin of Denver (11)
Empress Hawkins-Kimmel of Longmont (8)
Andrew Howe of Longmont (14)
Caroline Jordaan of Cherry Hills Village (8)
Cody Kent of Castle Rock (17)
Kathleen Kershisnik of Littleton (15)
Benjamin Krueger of Colorado Springs (17)
Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster (12)
Shinwoo Lee of Aurora (15)
Somin Lee of Denver (17)
Shannon Lubar of Littleton (15)
Lindsay McGetrick of Highlands Ranch (16)
Sydney Merchant of Morrison (11)
Hayden Nicholaides of Castle Rock (13)
Asher Nolting of Greenwood Village (10)
Canon Olkowski of Grand Junction (9)
Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction (11)
David Oraee of Greeley (16)
Christopher Raap of Highlands Ranch (11)
Calli Ringsby of Cherry Hills Village (13)
Taylor Rodriguez of Pueblo (12)
Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village (13)
Kylee Sullivan of Colorado Springs (12)
Elizabeth Wang of Parker (9)
Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch (11)
Kevin Wohlfarth of Thornton (13)
Emily Wood of Salida (18)
Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree (10).
CJGA ACADEMIC ALL-STAR TEAM (GPA of 3.0 or above)
Jack Adolfson, Silver Creek HS, 2013
Michael Allgood, Cherry Creek HS, 2012
Cole Anderson, Broadmoor Elementary, 2015
Andrea Ballou, Castle Rock MS, 2014
Cameron Barnhardt, Animas Valley Elementary, 2016
Ben Bayless, Highlands Ranch HS, 2012
Taylor Bolton-Harvey, Cherry Creek HS, 2010
Zarena Brown, Little Elementary, 2016
Joey Buckley, Lois Lenski, 2016
Tayler Bull, Golden HS, 2010
Cole Bundy Cottonwood Elementary, 2015
Megan Bush, Resurrection Christian School, 2012
Jack Carroll, Chaparral HS, 2011
Peter Catterall, Ranch View MS, 2014
Rachel Cavalier, Holy Family HS, 2011
Gavin Chamberlain, Laredo MS, 2014
Adam Clayton, Fairview HS, 2010
Mackenzie Cohen, Cherry Creek Challenge School, 2013
Michael Cole, Lewis-Palmer HS, 2010
Andrew Cornella, St Mary’s HS, 2011
Tyson Davis, Burlington HS, 2010
Derek Despres, Ponderosa HS, 2011
Payton DeVencenty, Murphy Creek K-8, 2014
Christopher Dillon, Mullen HS, 2010
Dane Donegan, Littleton HS, 2011
Calvin Dorsey, Kent Denver, 2012
Katy Dyachkova, Arapahoe HS, 2012
Jackson Elliott, Eldorado K-8, 2014
Tyler Engel, Regis Jesuit HS, 2011
Jackson Everhart, Timnath Elementary, 2016
Azur Ewari, Excellence, 2017
Enzo Ewari, Excellence, 2020
Kyle Fanning, Central HS, 2011
Will Fowler, Green Mountain HS, 2012
Alex Freimuth, Cheyenne Mountain MS, 2014
Ryan Frost, Falcon HS, 2010
Josh Gardella, Rocky Heights MS, 2013
Greg Gibson, Holy Family Catholic School, 2015
Cory Gillespie, Sand Creek MS, 2015
Jackson Giro, Fort Collins HS, 2010
Palmer Giro, Fort Collins HS, 2012
Kalina Grabb, Boulder HS, 2011
Brendan Harp, Cresthill MS, 2015
Cameron Harrell, Air Academy HS, 2011
Laura Heien, Standley Lake HS, 2009
Kolton Heiman, Ponderosa HS, 2011
Jared Hofer, Mountain Vista HS, 2010
Zachary Hofer, Mountain Ridge MS, 2014
Andrew Howe, St. John's, 2013
Reid Howey, Arapahoe HS, 2009
Ryan Jacks, Highlands Ranch HS, 2012
Tanner Jenson, Ponderosa HS, 2011
Daniel Johnson, Mountain Vista HS, 2012
Allie Johnston, Rock Canyon HS, 2012
Ryan Keeler, Fruita Monument HS, 2010
Kathleen Kershisnik, Regis Jesuit HS, 2012
Elizabeth Kresock, Colorado Academy, 2009
Jennifer Kupcho, Jefferson Academy, 2015
Steven Kupcho, Jefferson Academy, 2011
Chris Lauinger, Strake Jesuit College Prep, 2009
Jake Lauinger, Trafton Academy, 2016
Hunter Lee, Euclid MS, 2014
Jason Lehigh, Kent Denver, 2011
Nick Leibold, Wilder Elementary, 2016
Alisa Lindsay, Rampart HS, 2011
Alex Liss, St. John, 2014
Dani Listiadji, Cresthill MS, 2013
Ross Macdonald, Timber Trail Elementary, 2015
Jared Mannatt, Longmont HS, 2012
John Marble, Prospect Valley Elementary, 2020
Preston Marcoux, Chatfield HS, 2012
Brandon Martin, Fossil Ridge HS, 2011
Alec Mclain, Silver Creek HS, 2014
Matthew Messer, Home School, 2012
Lauren Mickelson, Thompson Valley, 2012
Taylor Mickelson, Walt Clark, 2014
Sarah Moore, Arapahoe HS, 2010
Joey Muckler, Cherry Creek HS, 2012
Hayden Nicholaides, Academy Charter School, 2014
Asher Nolting, Denver Christian, 2017
Cole Nygren, Alexander Dawson School, 2012
Canon Olkowski, Holy Family Catholic School, 2019
Trevor Olkowski, Holy Family Catholic School, 2017
David Oraee, Greeley West HS, 2011
A J Ott, Kruse Elementary, 2016
Spencer Painton, Liberty MS, 2014
Adara Pauluhn, Altona MS, 2015
Maxwell Pederson, Rocky Heights, 2014
Alexandra Pedrinan, Rocky Canyon HS, 2012
Sam Phillips, D'Evelyn HS, 2011
Colin Prater, Horace Mann MS, 2013
Austin Preiss, Cheyenne Mountain HS, 2012
Austin Preiss, Kinard MS, 2014
Nicholas Reisch, Broomfield HS, 2012
Sam Rock, Fairview HS, 2012
Henry Rock, Superior Elementary School, 2019
Ryan Rodgers, West MS, 2013
Scott Rosas, Saint Anthony School, 2014
William Roth, Holy Family HS, 2010
Maddi Rutenbeck, Regis Jesuit HS, 2011
Sonny Scheer, Douglas County HS, 2012
Aslinn Scott, Evergreen HS, 2010
Kasha Scott, Cherry Creek HS, 2010
Spencer Sheets, Valor Christian HS, 2011
Ben Shepherd, St. Mary's, 2018
Burl Shepherd, St. Mary's, 2019
William Skinner, Fairview HS, 2009
Christina Spinzig, Evergreen HS, 2010
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills Village, 2015
Emilee Strausburg, Devinny Elementary, 2015
Kylee Sullivan, Cheyenne Mountain Elementary, 2015
Michael Taloumis, Cheyenne Mountain HS, 2010
Jocelyn Thompson, Fossil Ridge HS, 2011
Nicole Thompson, Preston Junior HS, 2013
Luke Toillion, Sunset MS, 2015
Samuel Toillion, Sunset MS, 2013
Alexandria Trask, Bill Roberts, 2014
Eric Urbina, Heritage HS, 2012
Maxwell Urman, West MS, 2013
Danielle Urman, West MS, 2013
Jackson Vacek, Louisville MS, 2015
Adam Vasilakis, Cheyenne Mountain HS, 2010
Darcy Vernon, Wray HS, 2012
Alec Walters, Holy Family HS, 2012
Elizabeth Wang, Pine Lane Intermediate, 2017
Chad Wegscheider, Mountain Range HS, 2011
Nick Willenbrock, Regis HS, 2012
Zachary Wilson, Boulder HS, 2011
Ryan Witte, Monarch HS, 2010
Kevin Wohlfarth, Hulstom Options School, 2014
Jenny Wolicki, Ponderosa HS, 2012
Dylan Wonnacott, Westview Middle, 2013
Michael Yagi, Faith Christian, 2012
Erik Young, Hill School of Arts and Sciences, 2014
Brian Zenk, Arapahoe HS, 2010
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree Elementary, 201
Two Balls, Pick the Worst
5. To be the type of golfer you envision, you need to have a respected short game. Use this game every time you practice and you’ll develop into just that. This game is called Two Balls Pick the Worst: Drop two balls just off the green. Proceed to chip/pitch both balls one at a time to one of the holes on the green. As an example, let’s say your first chip hangs on the lip and your second chip ends up five feet away. You will pick up your better ball and place it next to the five-footer. Now roll two putts from there. If one goes in and the other goes two feet past the hole, you must again pick up the better ball, which in this case is in the hole, and place it next to the two-footer. Proceed until you roll in both balls from the same spot. Play 9-holes, log your score in a notebook and try to beat it tomorrow.
Trent Wearner, PGA
Trent Wearner Golf Academy at Meridian
This year turned out to be a perfect storm of sorts in Colorado’s amateur golf ranks.
