Miles Kuhl and Ashleigh Wilson holding their finish. The pair of most recent Major Champions got off to a good start winning their matches Tuesday and Wednesday.

Thompson was unable to hold her distinction for largest victory for long, as Wednesday’s Girl’s Round of 16 opened with 2023 Girls CO Jr. PGA Champion Ashleigh Wilson marking a 9 & 8 victory over Lizzy Malcolm in her first match of the week after receiving a first-round bye. In the Boys Round of 16 Caleb Michaels and Luke Blankinship, both from Louisville, CO took victories in their matches pitting them against each other in the Quarterfinals. Wednesday was the first of two long days of back-to-back matches for our juniors, competing against each other through 90-degree temperatures and the scorching summer sun. Aided by BioSteel’s healthy hydration, winners of the Round of 16 carried on into the afternoon for their Quarterfinals Matches. Caleb Michaels would end up taking the Battle for Louisville with a 4 & 2 victory, while Tyler Long took his match with Gavin Amella to the 18th where he would cement his Semifinals pairing with Michaels. On the other side of the bracket, 2023 Boys CO Jr. PGA Champion Miles Kuhl finished his match early for the only time in the Championship, beating Rylen Caldwell 3 & 2. Squaring off against Kuhl in Boys Semifinal match #2 would be Landon Houska after winning his second playoff of the week, taking Brayden Forte to the 20th hole. The Girls Quarterfinals produced the same excitement, with first and second-ranked players Sophia Lee and Ashleigh Wilson playing their way into Thursday’s matches as the favorites to meet in the Championship. Macy Kleve would continue her dominant performance throughout the event, winning her Quarterfinal to take on Lee in the morning. Addison Hines was able to cement her place across from Ashleigh Wilson in her toughest match of the week thus far, winning 2 & 1 against Kya Shatzer. 

Caleb Michaels holds his finish as he takes on Miles Kuhl in the Boys Championship Match

Championship Thursday had a special feeling in the air as the eight semifinalists arrived onsite to prepare for their matches. Without a cloud in the sky or a puff of breeze, the Semifinals matches were underway. With the Girls matches out first, it was Addison Hines who jumped out to a quick start, gaining a 2-up lead through the first 5 holes. Hines was quickly matched by a determined Ashleigh Wilson who fought to get the match to extra holes where she would win on hole 20. Meanwhile, Macy Kleve and Sophia Lee held a tight back-and-forth battle that was tied through the front nine, but ultimately Macy Kleve took control, winning the match on 18 after Lee applied pressure on 16 and 17. Match #3 of Michaels v. Long was similarly close as the players made the turn but would be the earliest match to finish as Michaels won 2 & 1 to place himself in the Championship Match. Miles Kuhl looked as though he was about to run away with his 3-up lead through nine holes but things began to change as Landon Houska wouldn’t relent under Kuhl’s pressure. Houska would manage to keep himself alive until the 18th where Kuhl would win the match 1 up solidifying himself against Caleb Michaels in the Boys Championship match. 

Macy Kleve chips on to try to gain momentum vs. Ashleigh Wilson in the Girls Championship.

The Boys and Girls Championship Matches provided quite a spectacle as the afternoon began. At the request of both matches, both were played simultaneously within the same group. This offered a unique opportunity to showcase the depth of competition within both of our fields, as well as the camaraderie of the juniors playing on the COPGA Jr Tour. Teeing off first was Caleb Michaels watched intently by Miles Kuhl as the pressure of the penultimate match mounted. Macy Kleve would tee off first of the Girls, hoping to take advantage of the hour of rest she’d had while Ashleigh Wilson fought through a playoff in the Semifinals. It would be Ashleigh Wilson taking swift control though, grasping and maintaining her lead as the match progressed, failing to relent and ground to Kleve. The Boys match remained a close battle after Kuhl jumped out to an early start, but with Michaels refusing to quit, the match hovered near tied as it reached its later holes. After Macy Kleve made two consecutive match-saving putts on 15 and 16, she was unable to hold off the charge by the exhausted Wilson who would tap in on 17 for a 2 & 1 victory. It took Michaels and Kuhl longer to decide the Boys Championship, however, as Michaels drained a birdie on 17 from just inside ten feet to tie the match headed to the 18th hole. After Kuhl narrowly missed match-closing birdies on both the 18th and 19th holes, he would close out his second consecutive major with a wedge to tap in range for a birdie on the 20th. 

After their matches were complete, Kuhl and Wilson were presented with certificates from COPGA Jr. Golf Partner Pure Grips, as well as a 2023 Major Champion headcover, and their name on the inaugural COPGA Jr. Match Play trophy. The duo are also surely excited about the prospect of their victory attracting attention from college coaches on Junior Golf Hub.

The Colorado PGA Junior Golf Tour would like to take another opportunity to thank our partners; Mizuno, BioSteel, Pure Grips, Junior Golf Hub, and UCCS for their continued support of our 2023 Major Championships. We would also like to thank Lake Valley Golf Club, PGA Head Professional Cameron Morton, his staff, and the Lake Valley Membership for hosting our event this week. 

With one more major remaining on the 2023 calendar, will it be our consecutive major champions Ashleigh Wilson and Miles Kuhl continuing their dominance? Or will we see a new face atop the leaderboard as the season comes to a close? Find out October 7-8 during the COPGA Jr. Invitational hosted at Denver Country Club. We hope to see you there!