Team Colorado players Ella Scott and Brayden Forte dominated the 2025 CGA State Junior Championship.
AURORA – The CGA State Junior Championship wrapped up on Thursday at CommonGround Golf Course.
Ella Scott, who won the 5A CHSAA Girls State Championship, can now add more hardware to her collection after winning the 2025 CGA State Junior Championship. Also, added to his collection is Team Colorado player Brayden Forte.
The morning started with a showdown in the semifinals, which included five players (three girls and two boys) who are currently on the inaugural Team Colorado, and Rylee Salome, the newly crowned 2025 CGA Women’s Match Play Champion.
Salome continued her dominance from the Women’s Match through her semifinal match against defending CGA State Junior Champion, Ashley Chang. The match ended in 4&3 in Salome’s favor.
The match between Ella Scott and Sophia Lee came down to the 18th green. Lee had been leading throughout the match until Scott came back in the final holes. Scott won the match one-up.
On the boys’ side, Elijah Johnson defeated Jesse Hand 2 & 1, while Brayden Forte defeated Ash Edwards two-up.
In the final match, Scott continued to hit her stride, finishing the match 3 & 2 against Salome. “My putting has been really good this week and especially today, as I made more putts than I expected,” said Scott. “I played against Rylee earlier in the week, so I knew her game and was a little nervous as she is an awesome competitor.”
On the boys’ side, Brayden Forte ended his winning drought by defeating Elijah Johnson 2 & 1. “This week, my mental game has been the strongest it has been. Physically, I have been playing well, but now with my mental game, I’m stronger,” said Forte.
Both Scott and Forte received exemptions to the U.S. Junior Amateur and the U.S. Girls’ Junior, which will be held in July.
For Scott, this will be her first time playing in the U.S. Girls’ Junior. “I’m excited to go play in the Girls’ Junior, but now I need to find a caddie!” said Scott.
Forte punched his ticket a year ago and is excited to return to the U.S. Junior Amateur. “Last year I learned a lot at the Junior Amateur, so I ‘m excited to go back,” said Forte.
The CGA State Junior Championship began on Sunday with two rounds of stroke play to narrow the field to round of 32 match play brackets for both the boys’ and girls’ divisions. The format mirrors that of the U.S. Junior Amateur. Previously, the CGA ran the CGA Junior Stroke and Match play for boys and girls, but four years ago, it changed to the new format. Some notable names on the trophy include Colorado Golf Hall of Famers, Hale Irwin, Jennifer Kupcho, Wyndham Clark, Jill McGill, Kent Moore, and Bill Loeffler.
State Junior Championship at CommonGround GC in Aurora
Boys
Wednesday Quarterfinals
Jesse Hand, Littleton, def. Austin Barry, Fort Collins, 1 up
Elijah Johnson, Denver, def. Henry Starr, Englewood, 1up
Brayden Forte, Aurora, def. Jackson Stewart, Carbondale, 3 & 2
Ash Edwards, Boulder def. Anthony Lore, Aurora, 4 &3
Thursday Semifinals
Elijah Johnson, Denver, def. Jesse Hand, Littleton, 2 & 1
Brayden Forte, Aurora, def. Ash Edwards, Boulder, 2 up
Thursday Finals
Brayden Forte, Aurora, def. Elijah Johnson, Denver, 2 up
For all the boys’ results, CLICK HERE
Girls
Wednesday Quarterfinals
Rylee Salome, Los Lunas, NM, def. Francie Martin, Austin, TX, 8 & 6
Ashley Chang, Lone Tree, def. Landry Frost, Colorado Springs, 2 up
Isabella Scott, Castle Rock, def. Addison Hines, Arvada, 2 & 1
Sophia Lee, Columbine Valley, def. Addison Dorsey, Colorado Springs, 3 & 2
Thursday Semifinals
Rylee Salome, Los Lunas, NM, def. Ashley Chang, Lone Tree, 4 & 3
Isabella Scott, Castle Rock, def Sophia Lee, Columbine Valley, 1 up
Thursday Finals
Isabella Scott, Castle Rock, def. Rylee Salome, Los Lunas, NM, 3 & 2
For all the girls’ results, CLICK HERE
For photos, CLICK HERE