University of Colorado Athletics
2026-27 Men's Golf Roster
Gavin Amella
- Height:
- 6-0
- Weight:
- 165
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Castle Rock, Colo.
- High School:
- Castle View
- Major:
- Undecided (Business or Sports Management)
High School—A four-year letterman at Castle View High School under coach Perry Villanueba, a three-time, first-team all-state 5A performer as selected by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) and also a three-time, first-team All-Continental League performer (second-team as a freshman) … Team captain … He finished fourth in the state meet as senior (66-72—138, -4), with his opening round 66 tied for the second-lowest score in the event at Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction … He was the 5A state champion as a junior, with a 9-under par 66-67—133, claiming the title by a stroke, the difference being his first round 66 the low score of the event at Aurora’s CommonGround Golf Course … He placed eighth in the state meet as a sophomore at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins (70-77—147, +5; developed bronchitis between rounds) and tied for 29th as a freshman at Denver’s City Park Golf Course (74-73—147, +7) … A two-time conference medalist as a sophomore and junior, he set the school record for low score with a 66, which he recorded four times … His stroke average steadily improved throughout his prep career: 74.6 (as a freshman), 72.82 (sophomore), 71.67 (junior) and 71.37 (senior) … He also played baseball (left-handed pitcher, first base, catcher) on the freshman and junior varsity teams.
Other—2026: Qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur by virtue of his claiming the CGA State Junior Championship at CommonGround Golf Club; he was seeded ninth after fashioning a 2-under 70-68—138 in the stroke play, and then won five straight in match play, including the title match with a birdie on the 18th hole … He finished second on July 30 in the AJGA Junior Open at The Bridges presented by City of Montrose with a 17-under par 196 score (64-62-70), one off the lead … Tied for sixth in the CGA’s Four Ball Championship, posting an 18-under total teaming with Ash Edwards … Tied for eighth in the Colorado Amateur with a 6-over par effort at Sonnenalp (69-71-71-73—286) … Carded an even-par 72 at Colorado National to tie for 38th in trying to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour’s The Blue Championship … Tied for 21st with a 1-over 73 in the U.S. Open Qualifier at Thorncreek Golf Course (90 were in the field) … Selected to Team Colorado (one of eight boys on the 16-member team) competed nationally in the summer. 2025: As one of the youngest competitors in the field placed fifth in CGA’s Western Championship in August at Battlement Mesa Golf Club (75-70-73—217, +1) … Just missed making the cut in the Inspirato Colorado Open by one stroke (68-73—141, -1); he had qualified with a 3-under 69 at Eagle Ranch Golf Club … Tied for 19th in The Wyndham Clark presented by the Colorado Golf Association (72-74-73—219, +3) … Tied for 22nd in the AGJA Colorado Springs Junior (72-68-73—213, -3) … Tied for 32nd in the K.J. Choi Foundation Seattle Junior Championship (234, +18) … Tied for 37th in the Mizuno West Coast Classic (222, +6).
2024: Finished second in the Notah Begay Qualifier in Salt Lake City (63-69—132, -12); was 13th in the main event (70-34-70—174, -9; weather reduced the second round to nine holes) … Finished second in the AGA Colorado Springs at Cheyenne Shadows GC (71-64-70—205, -8) … Placed 14th in the Colorado Junior Mizuno Championship at Highland Meadows GC (70-76-69—215, -1) … Tied for 14th in the U.S. Open Qualifer at Valley View GC in Layton, Utah (71, -1) …
Named to the inaugural Team Colorado (USGA launched state-level team initiatives that year) …
2023: Finished seventh (out of 88) with a 68-69-72—209 (-4) scorecard in the Notah Begay III Boys Junior Golf National Championship (held in Kinder, La.) …
Best Career Round in Competition —63 (-9, Noah Begay National Junior Championship Qualifier, Glendale Golf Course, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 14, 2024).
Academics —He is interested in Business or Sports Management as his major at Colorado … Member of the Principal’s Honor Roll every semester from his freshman through senior years … Grade point average of 3.93 (4.1 weighted) … Member of the Castle View Leadership Society and the National Honor Society.
Personal —He was born July 24, 2007, in Pueblo, Colo. … His family moved to Castle Rock in 2018 … Hobbies include playing baseball … The second left-handed golfer at CU in recent memory (Dylan McDermott, 2021-25) … Played baseball from when he was 7 through his sophomore year in high school … Active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … His personal swing coach is Ed Oldham, whose clients include former Wake Forest All-American and current LPGA Tour star Jennifer Kupcho … He committed to CU in the fall of his junior year. (Last name is pronounced um-ell-uh.)
Other—2026: Qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur by virtue of his claiming the CGA State Junior Championship at CommonGround Golf Club; he was seeded ninth after fashioning a 2-under 70-68—138 in the stroke play, and then won five straight in match play, including the title match with a birdie on the 18th hole … He finished second on July 30 in the AJGA Junior Open at The Bridges presented by City of Montrose with a 17-under par 196 score (64-62-70), one off the lead … Tied for sixth in the CGA’s Four Ball Championship, posting an 18-under total teaming with Ash Edwards … Tied for eighth in the Colorado Amateur with a 6-over par effort at Sonnenalp (69-71-71-73—286) … Carded an even-par 72 at Colorado National to tie for 38th in trying to qualify for the Korn Ferry Tour’s The Blue Championship … Tied for 21st with a 1-over 73 in the U.S. Open Qualifier at Thorncreek Golf Course (90 were in the field) … Selected to Team Colorado (one of eight boys on the 16-member team) competed nationally in the summer. 2025: As one of the youngest competitors in the field placed fifth in CGA’s Western Championship in August at Battlement Mesa Golf Club (75-70-73—217, +1) … Just missed making the cut in the Inspirato Colorado Open by one stroke (68-73—141, -1); he had qualified with a 3-under 69 at Eagle Ranch Golf Club … Tied for 19th in The Wyndham Clark presented by the Colorado Golf Association (72-74-73—219, +3) … Tied for 22nd in the AGJA Colorado Springs Junior (72-68-73—213, -3) … Tied for 32nd in the K.J. Choi Foundation Seattle Junior Championship (234, +18) … Tied for 37th in the Mizuno West Coast Classic (222, +6).
2024: Finished second in the Notah Begay Qualifier in Salt Lake City (63-69—132, -12); was 13th in the main event (70-34-70—174, -9; weather reduced the second round to nine holes) … Finished second in the AGA Colorado Springs at Cheyenne Shadows GC (71-64-70—205, -8) … Placed 14th in the Colorado Junior Mizuno Championship at Highland Meadows GC (70-76-69—215, -1) … Tied for 14th in the U.S. Open Qualifer at Valley View GC in Layton, Utah (71, -1) …
Named to the inaugural Team Colorado (USGA launched state-level team initiatives that year) …
2023: Finished seventh (out of 88) with a 68-69-72—209 (-4) scorecard in the Notah Begay III Boys Junior Golf National Championship (held in Kinder, La.) …
Best Career Round in Competition —63 (-9, Noah Begay National Junior Championship Qualifier, Glendale Golf Course, Salt Lake City, Utah, September 14, 2024).
Academics —He is interested in Business or Sports Management as his major at Colorado … Member of the Principal’s Honor Roll every semester from his freshman through senior years … Grade point average of 3.93 (4.1 weighted) … Member of the Castle View Leadership Society and the National Honor Society.
Personal —He was born July 24, 2007, in Pueblo, Colo. … His family moved to Castle Rock in 2018 … Hobbies include playing baseball … The second left-handed golfer at CU in recent memory (Dylan McDermott, 2021-25) … Played baseball from when he was 7 through his sophomore year in high school … Active member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes … His personal swing coach is Ed Oldham, whose clients include former Wake Forest All-American and current LPGA Tour star Jennifer Kupcho … He committed to CU in the fall of his junior year. (Last name is pronounced um-ell-uh.)
Thursday, March 26
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Tuesday, February 06