One Last Trophy for 2026: Kelly and Dorsey Close Out the Season in Style

Colorado Springs, CO – The Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGA JR) capped off an exciting 2026 season with its final Major Championship, the Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational, held October 10–11 at the stunning Kissing Camels Golf Club in Colorado Springs. The championship featured the top 38 boys and 21 girls from the 2026 COPGA JR Cup Series Points List, all competing for the prestigious Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational title, valuable COPGA Player of the Year (POY) points, AJGA points, JGS rankings, and, of course, bragging rights heading into the offseason. The weekend kicked off with a welcome dinner on Friday evening, setting the stage for two days of exciting competition.

Saturday morning, players were greeted with StrackaLine yardage books, Mizuno hoodies, and Mizuno golf mittens before heading out for their opening rounds. Under sunny skies, players teed off on the North and West courses. As the round progressed, a light breeze rolled in, adding to the challenges Kissing Camels had to offer. By the end of the opening round, 10 boys had finished at even par or better. Levi McDowell sat atop a tightly contested leaderboard after firing a 4-under-par 68, with Ash Edwards and Cooper Kelly close behind at 3-under par. In the girls' division, Henley Wilson held the opening-round lead with a 2-over-par 74, followed closely by Chloe Johnson at 76 and Emma Nguyen at 77.

Sunday's final round arrived quickly, bringing cloudy skies that eventually gave way to sunshine and windy conditions. For the final round, players faced a different course setup, taking on the West and South courses. The change presented a new challenge for the field and added another layer of excitement to the competition. As the day progressed, spectators witnessed plenty of movement on the leaderboards, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion to the final Major Championship of the season.



In the boys' division, those following the final group were treated to a battle of birdies and lead changes throughout the round. Edwards came out firing with birdies on his opening two holes, while McDowell bounced back from an opening bogey with an eagle to move into a tie for the lead. Kelly quickly joined the mix with birdies on holes 2 and 3. By the turn, Edwards had secured a one-stroke advantage over Kelly.

Kelly wasted little time closing the gap, making birdie on the 10th to pull even with Edwards. A bogey by Edwards on the 11th gave Kelly a one-stroke lead. Both players continued to battle down the stretch, each recording two bogeys and one birdie over their final seven holes. Kelly held his ground to secure the victory and was crowned the 2026 Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational Boys Champion. Kelly finished with rounds of 69 and 68 for a two-day total of 137 (6-under par), earning his first Colorado PGA Junior Major title.

On the girls' side, first-round leader Wilson opened her final round with a bogey and birdie on her first two holes. A few groups ahead, defending Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational Champion Addison Dorsey began the day five strokes off the lead but wasted little time making her move. Dorsey birdied her second hole to begin climbing the leaderboard, while Wilson made the turn at 3-over par for the day. Despite a bogey on the par-3 fourth, Dorsey responded with birdies on the par-4 seventh and ninth holes to make the turn at 2-under par for the day, pulling into a share of the lead with nine holes remaining.

The battle continued on the back nine as Dorsey recorded four bogeys and one birdie. Despite the challenging conditions, she did enough to take the lead and ultimately defend her title, becoming the back-to-back Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Invitational Girls Champion. Dorsey finished with rounds of 79 and 72 for a two-day total of 151, capturing her second Colorado PGA Junior Major title.

When asked what worked well throughout the weekend, Kelly shared, “I feel like my ball control was really good this weekend, and missing in the right spots to leave myself with some easy up & downs.”



Dorsey reflected on the mindset that helped her secure another Major title, saying, “One shot at a time, you can only do so much. You are going against competitors but mainly yourself and doing better than I did yesterday and I think that is what kept me motivated.”

Kelly also reflected on the level of competition and challenging conditions, stating, “The field was really strong this week, and we played in some pretty tough conditions on a great golf course, so the good field, tough golf course it brought out the best in my game."

The Colorado PGA Junior Golf team would like to extend a sincere thank you to all of our partners for their continued support of this championship. A special thank you to Josh Knipp and Mizuno Golf for providing hoodies and mittens to all participants. We are also grateful to Scott Walter, PGA, and The Winston Collection for gifting custom Major Champion headcovers to our winners.


Additional thanks go to StrackaLine for providing yardage books, Gatorade for keeping players hydrated throughout the championship, TUGR for ranking our events, and NCSA College Recruiting for offering valuable recruiting resources to our junior golfers. Their continued support plays an important role in creating a first-class championship experience for our players and families.

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Director of Golf Rich Parker, PGA, Golf Course Superintendent Nick Lang, the entire staff, and the membership at Kissing Camels Golf Club for hosting this year's championship. Their hospitality, dedication, and hard work helped make the final Major Championship of the 2026 season a memorable one for everyone involved.



As the 2026 season comes to a close, the Colorado PGA Junior Golf team would like to congratulate all of our junior golfers on an incredible year of competition, growth, and accomplishments. From outstanding performances to unforgettable moments on the course, this season showcased the talent, dedication, and passion of our junior golfers. We are incredibly proud of all they have achieved and look forward to building on this year's success in 2027!

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Battling Through the Brackets: Dorsey and Fitzgerald Capture Major Championship Titles

By Sam Crawford • July 31, 2026
Johnstown, CO – The Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) hosted its third Major Championship of the summer, the Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Match Play Championship, July 20–22 at Bella Ridge Golf Club. Over three days, 57 of Colorado's top junior golfers battled through head-to-head match play in pursuit of one of the state's most prestigious junior titles. As they advanced through their respective brackets, each round brought them one step closer to a Major Championship title. From the opening matches to the final putts, the championship delivered plenty of memorable moments as the field worked its way through the competition.

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

By Sam Crawford • July 10, 2026
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Cary Breaks Through, Fitzgerald Charges Back at the Mizuno Aurora Junior Championship

By Sam Crawford • June 19, 2026
Aurora, CO – The Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its first Major Championship of the summer early this week at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora, Colorado. Both boys and girls showcased their talent and determination, battling for three straight days in a championship where birdies were plentiful and the leaderboard remained crowded with red numbers throughout the week. The field began with 90 juniors—60 boys and 30 girls—teeing it up on Monday. The weather and course conditions provided an excellent test throughout the championship. Players were greeted by sunny skies, warm temperatures, and only a light breeze over the three days, creating ideal scoring conditions. The dry, firm playing surfaces rewarded solid ball-striking and strategic course management, allowing many competitors to take advantage of scoring opportunities while still demanding precision around Murphy Creek. 

PGA REACH Colorado Foundation Announces New NIL Education Partnership with Influential Athlete

By Steven Bartowski • January 27, 2026
DENVER, CO - The PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is proud to announce a new partnership with Influential Athlete , the nation’s leading Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) education and coaching company, to provide comprehensive NIL education to junior golfers and their families across Colorado, Eastern Wyoming, and South Dakota. As the NIL landscape continues to evolve, PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is committed to ensuring young athletes are equipped with the knowledge, guidance, and tools necessary to navigate this new era of sports safely, responsibly, and successfully. “At PGA REACH Colorado Foundation, our mission is to positively impact lives through the game of golf by expanding access and opportunity for youth,” said Erinn Lopez, Colorado PGA’s Business Development & Strategic Partnerships Director. “Partnering with Influential Athlete allows us to extend that mission into NIL education, giving our junior golfers and families the proactive guidance they need to understand NIL, protect eligibility, and prepare for future opportunities with confidence and integrity.” Influential Athlete partners with organizations nationwide to deliver turnkey NIL education designed for athletes, parents, coaches, and administrators. Its curriculum provides clarity and confidence, equipping youth athletes with the tools to understand what NIL is, what to do (and not do), and how to navigate opportunities successfully. “NIL is changing the path for young athletes, and PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is taking a leadership role in making sure families are educated, prepared, and empowered,” said Stephanie Grady, CEO of Influential Athlete. “We’re honored to support their mission and help junior golfers across Colorado build the skills that create opportunities on and off the course.” Through this partnership, Colorado junior golfers will gain access to NIL workshops, on-demand education, and golf-specific resources designed to meet the unique needs of the sport, while aligning with PGA REACH Colorado Foundation’s pillars of youth development, inclusion, and community impact. About Influential Athlete Influential Athlete provides turnkey NIL education for athletes, parents, and institutions nationwide. Co-founded by Stephanie and Joe Grady, the company equips athletes with a clear pathway to NIL success by teaching communication skills, personal branding tools, and NIL knowledge needed to succeed in sports, with NIL, and in life after competition. About PGA REACH Colorado Foundation PGA REACH Colorado Foundation is the 501(c)(3) charitable arm of the Colorado PGA. Its mission is to positively impact the lives of youth, military, and diverse populations by enabling access to PGA of America Golf Professionals, PGA Sections, and the game of golf. Through its core pillars of Youth Development, Supporting Our Military, and Inclusion, PGA REACH Colorado Foundation works daily to expand access to the game and ensure cost is never a barrier to participation. Media Contacts: Stephanie Grady | CEO, Influential Athlete stephanie@influentialathlete.com influentialathlete.com Erinn Lopez | Business Development & Strategic Partnerships, Colorado PGA elopez@pgahq.com reach.coloradopga.com

Through the Wind and Into the Winner’s Circle: Dorsey and Hunt Shine

By Sam Crawford • October 24, 2025
October 19 – Castle Rock, CO – Championship season reached its grand finale as the Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGA JR) hosted its fourth and final Major on October 18–19 at Plum Creek Golf Club. The exclusive field of 59 juniors—39 boys and 20 girls—earned their invitations through standout performances across the Cup Series season, setting up a weekend filled with elite competition and pride on the line.  True to Cup Tour tradition, the weekend kicked off with a Friday night dinner at The Golf Club at Bear Dance, bringing players, families, and staff together for a memorable start to the championship. When players arrived Saturday morning, they were greeted with Mizuno hoodies and beanies, plus custom StrackaLine yardage books—a perfect blend of style, preparation, and excitement for the rounds ahead.

Five Rounds, Two Champions: A Match Play Showdown at Lake Valley

By Sam Crawford • July 30, 2025
Niwot, CO – Colorado PGA Junior Golf (COPGAJR) held its third Major Championship of the season Monday through Wednesday, July 21–23, at Lake Valley Golf Club in Niwot, Colorado. Thirty-two of the Colorado Section’s top boys and 27 top girls arrived at the course ready to compete head-to-head in hopes of being the last player standing in our match play bracket at the Mizuno Colorado PGA Junior Match Play Championship. Upon arrival, players were greeted with a selection of Mizuno hats, a co-branded Mizuno/Colorado PGA Junior Golf fairway wood headcover, and a StrackaLine yardage book. The atmosphere of a major championship set the stage for an exciting week—but it was the juniors who brought the drama as play began. 

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

By Sam Crawford • July 30, 2024
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