Ball's Breakthrough, Lee's Legacy: A Championship Week to Remember in Colorado Springs

July 10 – Colorado Springs, CO – Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) hosted its second Mizuno Major Championship of the summer, the Mizuno Colorado Junior PGA Championship, from July 6–8. The 54-hole championship was contested across two of Colorado Springs' premier venues, with the first and final rounds played at Country Club of Colorado and the second round at Colorado Springs Country Club.


A field of 62 boys and 24 girls earned their spots through qualifying and arrived ready to compete for four coveted spots (2 boys and 2 girls) into the 50th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships, to be held later this month at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas.


The championship got underway on Monday at the Country Club of Colorado, where soaring temperatures and demanding conditions quickly tested the field. Jack Brayman wasted no time making his presence known in the Boys Division, opening his championship with three consecutive birdies to seize the early momentum. He maintained that pace throughout the day, carding a 3-under 68 to take a two-shot lead into the second round over Hayden Dorsey and Leo Roennau. In the Girls Division, Sophia Lee put together a composed round, navigating the challenging conditions to post a 1-over 72 and earn a one-shot advantage over Henly Wilson heading into Tuesday's second round.

Tuesday’s second round shifted over to Colorado Springs Country Club, where players faced a tighter layout that demanded precision off the tee and thoughtful course management throughout the day. As the field adjusted to the new challenge, several players made their move up the leaderboard. In the Boys Division, Cayden Besler and Parker Shaw posted the low rounds of the day, each firing a 4-under 67. Shaw’s strong performance propelled him into the tournament lead at 4-under 138, while Braylon Ball, who entered the second round at even par, made his move up the leaderboard with a 3-under 139 total, positioning himself just one shot back heading into the final round.



In the Girls Division, the battle at the top remained tight as Lee and Wilson each carded 1-under 71s to keep the pressure on. Lee held onto the lead at even par 143, carrying a one-shot advantage over Wilson into the final round.

The third and final round returned to the Country Club of Colorado, setting the stage for a dramatic finish as players battled for the title on one of the biggest stages of the summer. With a Colorado PGA Junior Major Championship title and a place in the championship history books on the line, the final round brought out some of the best golf of the week as competitors looked to finish strong.

The Girls Division provided another exciting finish as the top players continued to battle for position. Emma Nguyen posted the lowest round of the day, firing a 2-under 69 to make a charge up the leaderboard and put pressure on the leaders. Sophia Lee entered the final round with a one-shot advantage and faced the challenge of protecting her lead against a talented field. Despite a final-round 3-over 75, Lee remained composed under the pressure of championship golf, closing out the championship to capture her second consecutive Colorado Junior PGA Championship title. The victory marked Lee’s fifth Colorado PGA Junior Major Championship win, adding another milestone to her impressive junior golf career and further solidifying her place among the most successful players in COPGAJR history.


“I am just so excited. This is one of my favorite tournaments because it qualifies me for another one of my favorite tournaments. I’ll be going to the Junior PGA for the third year in a row, and I’m just so excited to go back,” said Lee after her victory.

In the Boys Division, the leaderboard remained crowded throughout the final round, with seven players finishing the day under par. After entering the final round just one shot off the lead, Braylon Ball wasted no time making his move. Ball came out firing, carding five birdies and just one bogey on his opening nine holes to erase the deficit, climb into the lead, and seize control of the championship. He remained steady on the back nine, closing with the lowest round of the day, a 4-under 67, to post a 7-under 206 total and capture his first Colorado PGA Junior Major Championship title. Parker Shaw, who carried the 36-hole lead into the final round, battled throughout the day and remained within striking distance, finishing the championship at 5-under 208 to earn runner-up honors.


“I’m most proud of my ability to move on to the next hole after making a bogey or even a birdie—whatever happened, happened. Especially after the rain delay, even after making a bogey when we came back, just my ability to bring it back and still get it done,” said Ball when asked what he was most proud of during the championship. Ball added that he is most looking forward to sharing the victory with his mom, who has been one of his biggest supporters throughout his junior golf journey.

In addition to championship winners Sophia Lee and Braylon Ball, Parker Shaw and Henly Wilson also earned the opportunity to represent the Colorado PGA at the 50th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships, held July 28–31 at Fields Ranch East and Fields Ranch West at PGA Frisco in Frisco, Texas, the Home of the PGA of America.

The Colorado PGA Junior Golf team would like to extend its sincere appreciation to all of our championship partners for their continued support in helping create a premier experience for our junior golfers and families.


A special thank you to Josh Knipp and Mizuno Golf for providing hats and slides for all participants, Den Caddies for supplying prizes for our champions, and Scott Walter, PGA, and The Winston Collection for gifting custom Major Champion headcovers to our winners. We also appreciate StrackaLine for providing yardage books, Gatorade for keeping players hydrated, TUGR for supporting our event rankings, and NCSA College Recruiting for providing valuable recruiting resources to our junior golfers. These partnerships play a vital role in the success of our championships.

The Colorado PGA Junior Golf team would like to extend its sincere gratitude to our host facilities, the Country Club of Colorado and Colorado Springs Country Club, for their outstanding hospitality, course conditions, and support throughout the championship. A special thank you to PGA General Manager Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA, and Superintendent Glenn Samuelson at Country Club of Colorado, along with PGA Head Professional Beau Smith, PGA, and Superintendent Tom Dimberio at Colorado Springs Country Club, for their leadership and dedication in helping provide an exceptional championship experience. We are also incredibly grateful to the staffs and memberships at both clubs for welcoming our players, families, and tournament staff while continuing to support the growth of junior golf in Colorado.


The Colorado PGA’s next Junior Major will be the Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Match Play, hosted at Bella Ridge Golf Club from July 20–22.

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