Say hello to new golf bylaws

New state-wide high school golfing rules for the 2025-2026 school year

Lincoln McQuade, Managing Editor • September 4, 2025

The fall 2024 GJHS boys’ golf team poses for a photo taken shortly after state, holding the second place trophy in the Tiara Rado Golf at Grand Junction, CO. Since the qualifications for state are different this year, it is possible that only a few golfers play in the state tournament this year.

Colorado high schools will no longer have regional golf tournaments to qualify for state.

Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has opted out of regional qualifying tournaments in favor of golfer’s individual rankings to qualify for state. The golfers’ rankings will be measured on https://www.iwanamaker.com/, and this applies to Grand Junction High School boys’ and girls’ golf teams.

“I do like the change, because I think having the regular season having a [much] more important role in determining who goes to state is better than it being one 18-hole event. I would rather have the regular season have more importance than one 18-hole tournament at the end of the season,” said GJHS boys golf coach and Dean of Students Tom Lefebre.

With the new bylaws, the top 84 high school golfers in Colorado will automatically be qualified for the state tournament. The next highest-ranked golfers become alternates for state, meaning that if a top 84 golfer cannot go to the tournament, an alternate can take his or her place. This goes for each class, including Class 4A with GJHS.

“The change was made to make the regular season matter and more relevant. In the past, golfers would qualify for state by playing one 18-hole round at regionals at the end of the regular season. The whole season came down to that tournament,” said Lefebre.

As of Aug. 29, the GJHS boys’ golf team has won four tournaments out of the six played in, and the team has six more before the end of the regular season on Sept. 22. The state tournament will take place on Oct. 6 and 7 at Fox Hill Golf Club at Longmont, CO. Standout golfers on this year’s team include GJHS senior Hunter Simmons, GJHS junior Graysen Mathis and GJHS sophomore Will Simpson.

“It’s a different concept, I like how the whole normal season counts and it’s not just one tournament for state,” said Simmons.

The GJHS boys’ golf team finished second in state in both their 2023 and 2024 seasons. These were the last two seasons to employ the use of regional qualifying tournaments to enter the state tournament.

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About the Contributor

Lincoln McQuade, Managing Editor

Lincoln McQuade is a GJHS senior and this year’s Managing Editor. This is his second year on the staff and his first as an editor. Lincoln enjoys playing the guitar and bass, and he is very excited to be a prominent editor this year.