Another Title

In an extraordinarily strong start to a college career for a golfer from the Centennial State, Team Colorado’s Brayden Forte claims his 2nd NCAA Div. I individual title in his first 3 tournaments

--By Gary Baines

Less than a year ago, Brayden Forte, then a senior at Cherokee Trail High School, finished third individually at his final 5A state high school golf tournament.

That’s a very good showing, but no indication of the start to his college career the golfer from Aurora would have as a freshman at San Diego State.

On Saturday, Forte recorded his second individual NCAA Division I victory — and he’s still in his first weeks of playing college tournaments. To perhaps put that into perspective, Wyndham Clark — who grew up in Denver and has now won six times on the PGA Tour, including two U.S. Opens — didn’t claim his first individual college title until he was almost 4 1/2 years into his NCAA career.

Forte went to a playoff for the individual title with New Mexico’s Johnnie Clark on Saturday at the William H. Tucker Invitational in Albuquerque. But after things remained tied after two extra holes — and all birdies by the competitors — co-champions were declared. 

The bottom line for Forte is that gives him two individual DI titles in just over two weeks of college tournament golf. He’s captured those two victories in his first three college events, having won the Vuori Invitational in Rancho Santa Fe, Calif., on Sept. 15 after finishing 58th in his season opener.

Mind you, many very formidable golfers do not win twice individually in an entire season, yet Forte has two victories and the first month of the college season isn’t even totally in the books yet. (Though it is for his San Diego State squad, which is unusual in that it only plays three college tournaments in the fall portion of this season — and none in October or November.)

Forte — winner of the 2026 Junior America’s Cup individual title, runner-up in the CGA Amateur this year, and a Colorado Golf Hall of Fame “Future Famer” award winner —  posted rounds of 66-67-70 for a 13-under-par total in regulation, tying him with Johnnie Clark at the top of the 88-man field. 

In regulation over 54 holes, Forte carded 18 birdies and five bogeys.

And Forte also had the pleasure of winning a college team title for the first time as San Diego State prevailed by six strokes over host New Mexico.

Forte recently wrapped up his junior golf career as he spent two years on Team Colorado, an elite junior squad that’s part of the USGA’s National Development Program.

It’s been a stellar last few months for Forte on the golf course. Besides the aforementioned achievements, in July he became the first Coloradan since Wyndham Clark in 2009 to advance to the round of 16 at the U.S. Junior Amateur. 

Meanwhile, the University of Colorado, coming off a team title at the Gene Miranda Falcon Invitational at the Air Force Academy earlier this week, placed seventh as a team in the 15-school field in Albuquerque. Senior Brandon Knight led the Buffs with a 15th-place individual showing.

Forte wasn’t the only Coloradan to shine at the Tucker Invite. Thayer Plewe of Cortez, a sophomore eligibility-wise for New Mexico, placed fourth on Saturday at 10 under par (67-67-72).

Another Coloradan, freshman Miles Kuhl of Fairview High School in Boulder, also had a strong finish alongside his teammate and friend Forte on Saturday. Kuhl checked in in 29th place after rounds of 70-75-70 (-1).

For all the scoring from the Tucker Invitational, CLICK HERE.