BOULDER | Eaglecrest High School senior-to-be Jamie Griffin was one of eight girls in the 15-18 age group to make the 2012 Optimist International Junior Golf Championships out of a qualifying tournament Wednesday at Flatirons Golf Course.
Griffin — who tied for 18th overall at the Class 5A girls state golf tournament on May 21-22 — shot an 8-over-par 78 to earn her way to the Optimist tournament, which is scheduled for July 24-29 at the PGA National Resort and Spa in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. The annual tournament typically features qualifiers from around the world and a significant number of states.
Rounding out the group that will play with Griffin are Hannah Wood (Arapahoe), Megan McCambridge (Fairview) and Jennifer Kupcho (Jefferson Academy) — who each shot 72 — plus Legacy’s Sarah Hankins (73), Broomfield’s Taylor Dorans and Fairview’s Kelly Moran (75) and Loveland’s Kelsey Petersen (79).
Aurora golfers have a fine recent tradition at the Optimist tournament, as Overland graduate Somin Lee took 2nd out of 81 golfers in the girls 16-18 category in 2010.
Regis Jesuit junior-to-be Chris Korte is an alternate in the boys 14-15 age group after shooting a 74.
Grandview graduate Eric McCreesh, a 2011 5A boys state golf tournament qualifier, carded a 76 to earn alternate status in the boys 16-18 division, while former teammate and Grandview senior-to-be Randy Urso — who played in the Optimist championship tournament in 2009 — missed the cut after shooting a 78. Overland’s Von Owen and Joseph Slocum rounded out the city players in the age group, shooting 81 and 84, respectively.
Younger golfers get their chance to qualify on June 18 at a tournament at Fitzsimons Golf Course in Aurora.
The tournament — which features boys 10-11 and 12-13 and girls 10-12 and 13-14 age groups — begins at 7:30 a.m. with a shotgun start. The golfers who advance from that qualifier play in Florida July 19-24.
Reach Sports Editor Courtney Oakes at sports@aurorasentinel.com or 303-750-7555
COLORADO-WYOMING DISTRICT OPTIMIST JUNIOR GOLF QUALIFYING TOURNAMENT
June 13, Flatirons Golf Course (Boulder)
BOYS 14-15 (Par 70, 6,445 yards)
Qualifiers: Donny Kinnamon 70; Behrod Keshtavar 71; Li (Eric) Chen 72
Alternates: Justin Allenback 73; Cole Anderson 73; Christopher Korte 74; Alec Poorman 75; Greg Gibson 75; Taylor Rodriguez 75; Isaac Petersilie 79; Trevor Glen 79; Cole Edwards 79; Leo Heuttel 80; Jackson Vacek 81
Others: Kobe Padilla 83; Austin Burgess 84; Austin Hardman 85; Andrew Schoemaker 86; Nicholas Inslee 89; Josh Hill 92; Warren Turner 100; Joe Douglas (withdrew injury)
BOYS 16-18 (Par 70, 6,814 yards)
Qualifiers: Connor Klein 67; Kevin Klatman 69; Benjamin Moore 69; Mitchell Smith 70; Joshua Seiple 71; Colin Prater 72
Alternates: Braden Baer 72; Hayden Nicholaides 72; Andrew Romano 73; Andrew Howe 73; Ryan Smith 74; Jacob Allenback 74; Jack Cavanaugh 75; Matthew Vacek 75; Glenn Workman 75; Ryan Burke 75; Grant Rogers 75; Garrett Jones 75; Kevin Wohlfarth 75; Adam Griffith 75; Dylan Mitchell 75; Jesse Beethan 76; Eric McCreesh 76; Ethan Yamada 76; Nathan Johnson 76; Jack Pedersen 76; Austin Nonte 76
Others: Jackson Burke 77; Todd Millard 77; Keegan Sheard 77; Drew Vance 77; Erik Young 77; Josh McLaughlin 78; Randy Urso 78; Alex Freimuth 79; Ross Galmon 79; Dalton Haase 80; Justin Watson 80; Jack Adolfson 81; John Hadfield 81; Von Owen 81; Bridger Ryan 81; Samuel Toillion 81; Carson Jones 82; Logan Bryson 84; Rio Moore 84; Austin Preiss 84; Joseph Slocum 84; Brett Yates 87; Tyler Smiens 89; Dalton Anderson 90; Matt Jensen 92; Luke Schroeder 97; Garrett Reagan 101
GIRLS 15-18 (Par 70, 5,910 yards)
Qualifiers: Hannah Wood 72; Megan McCambridge 72; Jennifer Kupcho 72; Sarah Hankins 73; Taylor Dorans 75; Kelly Moran 75; Jamie Griffin 78; Kelsey Petersen 79
Alternates: Alexandria Trask 80; Jordan Sunset 80; Michelle Romano 81; Kylee Sullivan 82; Shanon Spinuzzi 82
Others: Karli Denk 84; Kendall Lovato 86; Katy Dyachkova 88; MaryKate Nelson 88; Shelby Bledsoe 91; Jenni Chun 91; Kendra Bellman 93; Colleen Casey 99; Nicole Thompson 99; Morgan Stacks 102; Amanda Rios 105; Faith Kjosa 128; Alyssa Rios 140