Fitzgerald & Smith Come Out On Top At The Mizuno Aurora Junior Championship

Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its first Major Championship of the summer earlier this week at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. Both boys and girls showcased their unwavering resilience, battling it out for three straight days in tough conditions that tested their playing ability. Despite the challenging weather conditions, the players demonstrated their mental toughness, adding an extra layer of challenge to our Major Championship.

The tournaments started with a full field of 90 juniors, with 60 boys and 30 girls teeing it up on Monday. After play on day two, a cut was made that advanced 30 boys and 16 girls to the final round. Our boy's Champion was Johnathon Smith, shooting 75-75-76, totaling 226 for the three days. “The course played tougher,” stated Smith when discussing the course conditions. “I hit the ball really good, especially off the tee, just couldn’t really score and I just had to be patient and know that I was still in the tournament no matter what.” Smith attributes his mental game to what helped him this week. Smith stated that the key to his success was “staying in the moment, stay present, just not let anything hold me back. If I make a mistake, move on, be patient, and just stay in the tournament and know that I could still win.”

Our girls Champion was Scout Fitzgerald, shooting 74-85-75, totaling 234. “I like how far we played from. I have played this course tons and tons of times and never played it like it was this week.” Fitzgerald not only chipped in for a birdie on her final hole but also chipped in to win the playoff against Macy Kleve, who also finished the tournament with a three-day total of 234.

The COPGA Junior Golf team would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all of our partners for this event. Josh Knipp and Mizuno Golf provided all the wonderful tee gifts this week, along with backpacks for our two Major Champions. Thank you to Scott Walter, PGA, and the Winston Collection for gifting the two Champions with a custom Major Champion headcover! Thank you to Prime for providing Prime Hydration Drink on the course, NCSA College Recruiting for providing college recruiting services for our junior golfers, UCCS PGA PGM Golf Management, and Citywide Banks, a division of HTLF Bank. 


We extend our heartfelt thanks to Grant Jackson, PGA, golf course superintendent Eric Strasheim, GCSAA, and the entire golf course staff for hosting us at Murphy Creek Golf Course. Your dedication and hard work made this championship possible. The Colorado PGA’s next Junior Major will be the Colorado Junior PGA Championship hosted at Highland Meadows Golf Course on July 8-10.

Our Partners

History Rewritten in Windsor: Edwards Fires 64, Lee Captures Another Crown

By Sam Crawford • July 11, 2025
July 11 – Windsor, CO – Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) hosted its second Mizuno Major Championship of the summer from July 7–9 at Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf in Windsor, Colorado. A field of 62 boys and 26 girls arrived full of excitement, each having qualified for a chance to advance to the 49th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championships, to be held later this month at the Birck Boilermaker Golf Complex in Indiana.  Throughout the week, players battled scorching temperatures, tight fairways, and greens guarded by strategically placed bunkers—conditions that demanded precision off the tee and smart course management, making for a true test of skill. After round one, CheyAnne Schrick rose to the challenge, finishing atop the girls’ leaderboard with an impressive 1-under-par 71. On the boys’ side, Dalton Sisneros, Brayden Destefano, and Wyatt Isgrig shared the lead, each carding a strong 2-under-par 70.

Grit, Focus, & Victory: White and Lee Lead the Way at the Mizuno Aurora Junior Championship

By Sam Crawford • June 23, 2025
Aurora, CO – The Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its first Major Championship of the summer last week at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. Both boys and girls showcased their talent and determination, battling for three consecutive days in a tournament that truly tested their playing ability. The field began with 87 juniors—59 boys and 28 girls—teeing it up on Monday. The weather played a notable role throughout the week. Monday featured blistering heat and perfect playing conditions to kick off the championship. Tuesday brought a different challenge, as significant rainfall softened the course just before players teed off. Despite two weather delays due to lightning, the players displayed impressive mental toughness.

Hand & Lee Triumph at the 2024 Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational!

By Sam Crawford • October 23, 2024
October 20th - Colorado Springs, Co. - The Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGA JR) electrified the weekend of October 19-20 with its thrilling final Major Championship of the 2024 season at the stunning Kissing Camels Golf Club in Colorado Springs. The event drew the top 38 boys and 20 girls from the 2024 COPGA JR Cup Series Points List, all vying for the prestigious Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational Trophy, valuable COPGA POY Points, AJGA Points, JGS rankings, and, of course, bragging rights heading into the offseason. In Cup Tour style, as they stepped onto the property, players were greeted with exciting gifts, and a welcome dinner on Friday night, setting the stage for an unforgettable competition.

Edwards & Torres Come Out Victorious at The 2024 Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Match Play Championship

By Sam Crawford • July 30, 2024
July 24th - Longmont, CO - Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its third Major of the season Monday through Wednesday, July 22-24, at The Fox Hill Club in Longmont, Colorado. When arriving at the course, players were presented with the choice of shoes courtesy of Mizuno, choosing their favorite style. Additionally, they received a StrackaLine yardage book, a sleeve of Mizuno golf balls, a Gatorade towel, and a Gatorade water bottle. After being hit by a big thunderstorm just days before our event, the maintenance team at The Fox Hill Club worked tirelessly to get the course in shape for our championship.

Houska & Hale's Unwavering Determination Leads Them to Victory at the Mizuno Colorado Junior PGA Championship and a Spot Into The 48th Junior PGA Championship

By Sam Crawford • July 15, 2024
July 10th - Windsor, CO - Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its second Major Championship of the summer on Monday through Wednesday, July 8th - July 10th at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor, Colorado. As players arrived to the course they were greeted with a Mizuno t-shirt, a Mizuno bucket hat, a StrackaLine yardage book, and a putting cup that doubled as a keychain. The competitors were vying for a spot into the 48th Boys and Girls Junior PGA Championship to be held at Congressional Country Club later this month.

THE COLORADO PGA JUNIOR GOLF TOUR, POWERED BY CITYWIDE BANKS, A DIVISION OF HTLF BANK

By Erinn Lopez • February 6, 2024
Citywide Banks, A Division of HTLF Bank, Signs Three Year Commitment 

Colorado Launches State Team as Part of the USGA's U.S. National Development Program

January 25, 2024
Seven states will participate in the initial pilot phase beginning in 2024

Walker & Higgins Claim Victory at the Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational

By Sam Crawford • October 12, 2023
Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its final Major Championship of the season Saturday and Sunday, October 7-8, at Denver Country Club in Denver, Colorado. 39 of the Colorado Section's top boys and 20 of its top girls arrived this weekend in hopes to be crowned the Mizuno Colorado Junior Invitational Champion. While players were entering the beautiful grounds of Denver Country Club they were also greeted with tee gifts from Josh Knipp of Mizuno including a sweatshirt, umbrella, and a sleeve of golf balls.

Big Game, Small World at Castle Pines

September 29, 2023
Girls 10-11 overall winner Anna Midyett is congratulated by George Solich after her win during the 2023 Drive, Chip and Putt Regional Qualifier at Castle Pines Golf Club on September 24, 2023 in Castle Rock, Colorado. The win eas her second age class overall win. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images for Drive, Chip & Putt)

Back-To-Back Major Victories for Wilson & Kuhl

By Sam Crawford • September 29, 2023
Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its third Major Championship of the season Tuesday through Thursday, July 25-27, at Lake Valley Golf Club in Niwot, Colorado. 32 of the Colorado Section's top boys and 30 of its top girls arrived Tuesday to battle head-to-head in hopes of being the last player standing atop our match play bracket at the Mizuno Colorado PGA Jr. Match Play Championship. Players walking onto the property were greeted with tee gifts from Mizuno and Josh Knipp including both a duffle bag perfectly suited for traveling the junior circuit and a COPGA Jr. Golf bucket hat. The pageantry of a major championship set the stage for a fantastic week, but it was the juniors who would provide the spectacle as the tournament began.
More Posts