Grit, Focus, & Victory: White and Lee Lead the Way at the Mizuno Aurora Junior Championship
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.
After 36-holes, Gregory White surged to the top with a second-round 65 (7-under-par), giving him a 4-under total of 140 and the lead heading into the final round. On the girls’ side, Sophia Lee led the way with a two-day total of 3-under-par 141.
Wednesday’s final round saw perfect, sunny conditions for the 29 boys and 15 girls who made the cut. The boys’ championship came down to the wire, with Gregory White and Jack Brayman both finishing at 6-under-par (210), forcing a playoff. The two battled through nine extra holes in an intense showdown, with White ultimately emerging victorious to claim his first Colorado PGA Junior Major Championship.
“It feels really good—super fulfilling. Everyone here in the field is just so good,” said White after winning his first junior major championship. When asked about how he stayed mentally strong throughout the event, he added, “I just reminded myself what my dad would always tell me—stay one shot at a time.”
In the girls’ championship, Sophia Lee claimed her third Colorado PGA Junior Major title and her second Aurora Junior Championship, having also won the event in 2023. Lee finished the week at 6-under-par (210). “Last year, I didn’t finish the way I wanted to, so I had this tournament circled on my calendar as a chance to prove to myself that I could improve and close,” Lee reflected.
The COPGA Junior Golf team would like to extend a huge thank you to all our partners for supporting this event. Thank you to Josh Knipp and Mizuno Golf for providing gloves, belt bags for all players, and Den Caddies for our champions. A special thanks to Scott Walter, PGA, and The Winston Collection for gifting custom Major Champion headcovers to our winners. We also appreciate StrackaLine for supplying yardage books, Gatorade for providing hydration on-course, and NCSA College Recruiting for offering recruiting services to our junior golfers.
Finally, a heartfelt thank you to Head Professional Grant Jackson, PGA, Golf Course Superintendent Eric Strasheim, and the entire staff at Murphy Creek Golf Course for their exceptional hospitality and dedication in hosting this championship.
The Colorado PGA’s next Junior Major will be the Mizuno Colorado Junior PGA Championship, hosted at Pelican Lakes Resort & Golf on July 7–9.
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