Colorado Golf Honors Its Stars

Jon Rizzi | Colorado AvidGolfer

The Colorado Golf Association and Colorado Women’s Golf Association will honor their players of the year and recognize their junior golf All-stars this Sunday, November 24, at the 2013 Colorado Golf Awards Brunch at Pinehurst Country Club.

The CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year is former University of Colorado player Derek Fribbs (pictured avove) of Colorado National Golf Club. Fribbs won the final edition of the CGA Public Links Championship with 17-under-par 193, setting the competitive course record at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont with a 62 in the final round.

Fribbs also finished first in the U.S. Amateur Public Links qualifying, third in the CGA Stroke Play, and advanced to the semifinals of the CGA Match Play, losing in 21 holes to eventual champion David Oraee.

For the second time in three years, Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Club will receive the CGA’s Senior Player of the Year. Johnson, 63, won the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play, as well as the Colorado-based qualifying tournament for the U.S. Senior Amateur.

Another repeat winner is Mid-Amateur Player of the Year Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club, who won the award for the third time in four years on the strength of his fourth consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur championship and advancing to the round of 16 at the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

Green Valley Ranch player Spencer Painton—winner of the 5A State high school championship, CJGA Tournament of Champions and CJGA Collegiate High School Invitational—earned Junior Player of the Year Honors.

On the women’s side, the CWGA named Christina Spinzig of Hiwan Golf Club its Player of the Year. The Colorado State University senior’s victory in the CWGA Match Play—a 10 and 9 defeat of Michaela Breit in the 36-hole final—was the most decisive in the event’s history.

“Decisive” also describes CWGA Senior Player of the Year Kim Eaton’s performances in the CWGA Senior Match Play (6 and 5 in the final) and Senior Stroke Play (10-shot margin of victory). This marks the fifth consecutive time the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame member—who now has 21 CWGA Championships to her credit—has received the award.

And for the second consecutive year, Jennifer Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course earned CWGA Junior Player of the Year honors. She won the Colorado Junior PGA and the Big I Junior Classic state tournament and competed in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links and the USGA Women’s State Team, where she helped Colorado tie its best finish in the event: sixth place.

Speaking of juniors, the Colorado Junior Golf will also officially recognize the accomplishments of boys and girls at Sunday’s brunch by naming its annual All-Stars, as selected by the CGA Youth Programs Committee and determined from the final CJGA Tournament Players’ Point Lists.

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com. Jon Rizzi is the founding editor and co-owner of this regional golf-related media company producing magazines, web content, tournaments, events and the Golf Passport.