The second edition of Team Colorado, which was introduced at the CGA’s Medal of Excellence festivities, is quite an accomplished bunch. Let’s count the ways
By Gary Baines – 11/23/2025
ENGLEWOOD — This might be the off-season for golf in Colorado, but November has been anything but uneventful for the top junior golfers in the state.
— Earlier this month, the CGA named the golfers who will comprise the second edition of Team Colorado, the elite junior squad that’s part of the USGA’s National Development Program.
— Also this month, the CGA introduced the first official coach for Team Colorado, Parker-based instructor Kelli McKandless.
— And starting on Nov. 12, high school seniors from Colorado and elsewhere began formalizing their college golf commitments. More than two-dozen junior players from Colorado put pen to paper during this early signing period, setting the stage for their college athletic careers.
— Then on Sunday at its Medal of Excellence event at The Inverness Denver, the CGA not only celebrated the 2025 season and recognized various award winners, but it publicly introduced the 16 players that make up Team Colorado heading into the 2026 season.
The current edition of Team Colorado. Back row, from left: Brayden Destefano, Brayden Forte, Gavin Amella, Austin Hunt, Gregory White, Ashley Chang and Landry Frost. Front row, from left: Zoe Bar-Or, Ella Scott, Sophia Lee, Addison Dorsey, Tess Morris and Miles Kuhl. Not pictured: Ash Edwards, Addison Hines and Nicholas Brooks.
It certainly is an accomplished bunch, as you might expect. But just how accomplished? To put a finer point on it, we decided to compile a partial list of their accomplishments — mainly focused on 2025, but with a few items from previous years thrown in. We’re talking tournament victories, big-time honors in the state, and some top national and regional championships for which they’ve qualified.
To wit:
STATE HIGH SCHOOL INDIVIDUAL TITLES
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (2025, 5A)
— Nicholas Brooks of Parker (2025, 3A)
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock (2025, 5A)
— Landry Frost of Colorado Springs (2025, 4A)
— Sophia Lee of Columbine Valley (2025, 2A)
— Gavin Amella of Castle Rock (2024, 5A)
— Brayden Destafano of Peyton (2024, 4A)
CGA BOYS OR GIRLS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
— Ash Edwards of Boulder (2025)
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock (2025)
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (2024)
COLORADO GOLF HALL OF FAME FUTURE FAMERS
— Nicholas Brooks of Parker (2025)
— Brayden Forte of Aurora (2025)
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock (2025)
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (2024)
Forte (left) and Kuhl will be teammates — and roommates — at San Diego State next season.
AJGA VICTORIES IN 2025
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (The Wyndham Clark presented by the CGA)
— Nicholas Brooks of Castle Rock (AJGA Colorado Springs Junior)
CGA STATE JUNIOR TITLES
— Brayden Forte of Aurora (2025)
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock (2025)
— Ashley Chang of Lone Tree (2024)
COLORADO JUNIOR PGA CHAMPIONSHIP TITLES
— Ash Edwards of Boulder (2025)
— Sophia Lee of Columbine Valley (2025)
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (2023)
COLORADO PGA JUNIOR MATCH PLAY TITLES
— Ash Edwards of Boulder (2024)
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (2023)
COLORADO PGA JUNIOR INVITATIONAL TITLES
— Austin Hunt of Highlands Ranch (2025)
— Addison Dorsey of Colorado Springs (2025)
— Sophia Lee of Columbine Valley (2024)
QUALIFIED FOR U.S. JUNIOR AMATEUR OR U.S. GIRLS’ JUNIOR IN 2025
— Nicholas Brooks of Parker (became first Coloradan to make match play at the U.S. Junior Am since 2017)
— Brayden Forte of Aurora (also in 2024)
— Ash Edwards of Boulder
— Austin Hunt of Highlands Ranch
— Gregory White of Aurora
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock
REPRESENTED COLORADO IN BOYS OR GIRLS JUNIOR AMERICAS CUP IN 2025
— Ash Edwards of Boulder
— Brayden Forte of Aurora
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder
— Ella Scott of Castle Rock
— Sophia Lee of Columbine Valley
— Landry Frost of Colorado Springs
HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS WHO HAVE SIGNED WITH NCAA DIVISION I PROGRAMS
— Gavin Amella of Castle Rock (University of Colorado)
— Zoe Bar-Or of Greenwood Village (Montana)
— Nicholas Brooks of Parker (Butler)
— Brayden Forte of Aurora (San Diego State)
— Addison Hines of Arvada (UNLV)
— Austin Hunt of Highlands Ranch (University of Denver)
— Miles Kuhl of Boulder (San Diego State)
— Tess Morris of Franktown (William & Mary)
— Gregory White of Aurora (Radford)
And just this month, the aforementioned Ella Scott from Castle Rock tied for fifth out of 38 players in the prestigious Notah Begay III Girls National Championship in Louisiana. She went 79-71-69 and ended up nine strokes behind the winner, Angela Nip of Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Suffice it to say it’s an impressive group.
All told, eight boys and eight girls — comprise the latest Team Colorado, with 10 players returning from the inaugural squad. Colorado was one of seven states that launched the USGA’s State Team Program in 2023. By next year, there will be 31 Junior State Teams in place throughout the nation, with two of those in California.
Among the numerous perks and opportunities available to members of Team Colorado — or to any USGA State Team — are apparel and gear, statistical tracking software, access to coaching and mentorship and competitive opportunities — all at no cost to them. This year, for instance, Team Colorado traveled to Arizona to play as a group. They also received Vision54 and on-course training during athlete development team camps.
It’s possible, should a member of Team Colorado especially excel, that he or she could be selected for the U.S. National Junior Team.
Helping guide Team Colorado is a committee consisting of Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Crabtree, Chris Nordling, Steve Ivan and Roger Prenzlow — all in volunteers roles — along with the CGA’s Ed Mate, Ashley Harrell and Cayla Regnery, plus Samantha Crawford from the Colorado PGA.
“Being on this team, it gave me the chance to grow both as a golfer and also as a person,” Amella, a second-year Team Colorado participant, noted during Sunday’s Medal of Excellence event. “I’ve played on a lot of teams in a lot of different sports, and this one has challenged me in the best ways possible. The competition, the coaching and the support pushed me to be my best self every single day. What I enjoyed most was traveling and competing with my teammates to make me better. … The team environment has meant a lot to me. I’ve built friendships and learned from my teammates and grown more confident. Being part of this team has truly helped me for what comes next. … It’s been an honor to be part of the team.”
A large group gathered Sunday at the CGA’s Medal of Excellence festivities at The Inverness Denver.
(NOTE: Stories on some of the people and groups honored during Sunday’s Medal of Excellence festivities have been featured on ColoradoGolf.org earlier this month. Other such stories will appear on the CGA website in the coming weeks.)
About the Writer: Gary Baines has covered golf in Colorado continuously since 1983. He was a sports writer at the Daily Camera newspaper in Boulder, then the sports editor there, and has written regularly for ColoradoGolf.org since 2009. The University of Colorado Evans Scholar alum was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2022. He owns and operates ColoradoGolfJournal.com