Colorado University Athletics
Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Edwards Signs Two State Champions In '26 Recruiting Class
November 12, 2025 | Men's Golf
Both also have strong amateur resumes
BOULDER —University of Colorado men's head coach Roy Edwards has added two of the nation's top recruits to the Buffalo program, as both signed financial aid agreements Wednesday to attend CU beginning next fall.
Gavin Amella, the Colorado High School 5A state champion as a junior from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, and Colt Farrow from Andover Central School in Andover, Kan., the defending Kansas state 5A champion, are the newest Buffaloes.
"We are very excited about both Gavin and Colt joining our team next fall," Edwards said. "They are both top players in the class of 2026. Gavin has long been one of the top players in Colorado, is very accomplished, and keeps getting better and better. He is part of one of the strongest graduate classes in Colorado as we have ever seen and we look forward to his career as a Buff. Colt has really jumped on the national scene this summer and fall. We believe he is the best player in the state of Kansas and we are fortunate to add him. He is a very hard-working and dedicated young man who is very well-rounded.
"Both are quite impressive as students and people," Edwards added. "We pride ourselves on having great kids in our program and these two are no different - they are great additions on and off the course. Both Gavin and Colt will be cornerstones of our program in the years to come."
GAVIN AMELLA (uh-mell-ah)
A three-time, first-team all-state 5A performer as selected by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), 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).
The 6-0, 165-pound left-hander was a four-year varsity letterman at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, under coach Perry Villanueba, where he was also a three-time, first-team All-Continental League performer (second-team as a freshman). A two-time conference medalist as a sophomore and junior, he holds 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).
As one of the youngest competitors in the field, he placed fifth in CGA's Western Championship in August at Battlement Mesa Golf Club (75-70-73—217, +1). He missed making the cut in the Inspirato Colorado Open by one stroke in July (68-73—141, -1); he qualified with a 3-under 69 at Eagle Ranch Golf Club. He tied for 19th in The Wyndham Clark presented by the Colorado Golf Association (72-74-73—219, +3) and tied for 22nd in the AGJA Colorado Springs Junior (72-68-73—213, -3). Other top finishes included a tie for 32nd in the K.J. Choi Foundation Seattle Junior Championship (234, +18) and a tie for 37th in the Mizuno West Coast Classic (222, +6). He has fared well in the Notah Begay III Boys Junior Golf National Championship (held in Kinder, La.); in 2023, he was seventh (out of 88) with a 68-69-72—209 (-4) scorecard, and was 13th in the '24 event (70-34-70—174, -9; weather reduced the second round to nine holes). His career best round in competition – a 9-under 63 – was recorded in the '24 Begay qualifier in Salt Lake City (where his 12-under 63-69—132 was good for second place).
The USGA launched state-level team initiatives in 2024, and Amella was named to the inaugural Team Colorado (and was again selected for the United States National Development Program this past summer).
"I chose the University of Colorado because of its amazing coaching staff, whose experience and dedication to player development align perfectly with my goals," Amella said. "The program's competitive environment and commitment to excellence make it the best place for me to grow both athletically and academically." He presently owns a 4.1 grade point average at Castle View; he committed to CU last fall.
COLT FARROW
The defending Kansas 5A state champion will be looking to repeat this spring, as he earned medalist honors in the state meet as a junior after two previous top five finishes. His 11-under par 67-64—131 earned him medalist honors by three strokes at Emporia Municipal Golf Club. He pulled away from the pack by going birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to open the back nine in the second round, in which he hit 17 of 18 greens with no three-putts. He finished fourth as a sophomore (72-74—146, +2) and fifth as a freshman (69-68—137, -3).
The 5-8. 140-pound Farrow has been a three-time, first-team All-State selection his freshman through junior years; Kansas high schools have their championships in the spring. A three-time Wichita Eagle All-Metro honoree, he is also a three-time, first-team Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League (AVCTL) performer under coach Doug Snyder with a 70.13 stroke average as a junior (71.90 as a freshman. A three-year letterman, he won the league title as a sophomore, with top three finishes as a freshman and junior.
His results in junior and amateur events are even more impressive. Since April 2024 alone, he has competed in 36 such events, or 83 rounds including AJGA, TJGT, OJGT and Kansas state tournaments. He has four wins, five runner-up efforts with 18 top 5 and 24 top 10 finishes (missing just one cut), altogether that computes to a 70.6 scoring average (with 37 subpar rounds). The wins included the TJGT Flower Mound Classic (70-71—141, -3), the Central Links Kansas Junior Tour Championship (66-64—130, -10) in the summer of 2024, last May's state 5A title meet and this past September's OJGT Page Belcher Junior Championship (67-66—133, -9), an event he won by seven strokes thanks to 10 birdies and a single bogey. He finished second by a stroke in September's prestigious AGJA Bass Pro Shops/Payne Stewart Junior Championship (65-72-68—205, -8). He won one match in the '25 Kansas Amateur after finishing sixth in stroke play portion (67-69—136, -8). He will compete in the Jones Cup Junior Invitational at Sea Island, Ga., Dec. 18-21.
"I chose CU Boulder because I wanted to play for the best coaches and be surrounded by teammates who will push me to be the best player I can be," Farrow said. "This has been my goal – my dad (Jeff) slapped a golf grip in my hands within the first seven seconds of him seeing me after I was born."
Farrow will be just the fifth Kansas high schooler to appear on the all-time CU roster, the first since 2013. An excellent student, he has carried a 4.0 grade point average since middle school (with a current weighted GPA of 4.42 as a high school junior). He committed to CU on March 19.
Gavin Amella, the Colorado High School 5A state champion as a junior from Castle View High School in Castle Rock, and Colt Farrow from Andover Central School in Andover, Kan., the defending Kansas state 5A champion, are the newest Buffaloes.
"We are very excited about both Gavin and Colt joining our team next fall," Edwards said. "They are both top players in the class of 2026. Gavin has long been one of the top players in Colorado, is very accomplished, and keeps getting better and better. He is part of one of the strongest graduate classes in Colorado as we have ever seen and we look forward to his career as a Buff. Colt has really jumped on the national scene this summer and fall. We believe he is the best player in the state of Kansas and we are fortunate to add him. He is a very hard-working and dedicated young man who is very well-rounded.
"Both are quite impressive as students and people," Edwards added. "We pride ourselves on having great kids in our program and these two are no different - they are great additions on and off the course. Both Gavin and Colt will be cornerstones of our program in the years to come."
GAVIN AMELLA (uh-mell-ah)
A three-time, first-team all-state 5A performer as selected by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA), 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).
The 6-0, 165-pound left-hander was a four-year varsity letterman at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, under coach Perry Villanueba, where he was also a three-time, first-team All-Continental League performer (second-team as a freshman). A two-time conference medalist as a sophomore and junior, he holds 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).
As one of the youngest competitors in the field, he placed fifth in CGA's Western Championship in August at Battlement Mesa Golf Club (75-70-73—217, +1). He missed making the cut in the Inspirato Colorado Open by one stroke in July (68-73—141, -1); he qualified with a 3-under 69 at Eagle Ranch Golf Club. He tied for 19th in The Wyndham Clark presented by the Colorado Golf Association (72-74-73—219, +3) and tied for 22nd in the AGJA Colorado Springs Junior (72-68-73—213, -3). Other top finishes included a tie for 32nd in the K.J. Choi Foundation Seattle Junior Championship (234, +18) and a tie for 37th in the Mizuno West Coast Classic (222, +6). He has fared well in the Notah Begay III Boys Junior Golf National Championship (held in Kinder, La.); in 2023, he was seventh (out of 88) with a 68-69-72—209 (-4) scorecard, and was 13th in the '24 event (70-34-70—174, -9; weather reduced the second round to nine holes). His career best round in competition – a 9-under 63 – was recorded in the '24 Begay qualifier in Salt Lake City (where his 12-under 63-69—132 was good for second place).
The USGA launched state-level team initiatives in 2024, and Amella was named to the inaugural Team Colorado (and was again selected for the United States National Development Program this past summer).
"I chose the University of Colorado because of its amazing coaching staff, whose experience and dedication to player development align perfectly with my goals," Amella said. "The program's competitive environment and commitment to excellence make it the best place for me to grow both athletically and academically." He presently owns a 4.1 grade point average at Castle View; he committed to CU last fall.
COLT FARROW
The defending Kansas 5A state champion will be looking to repeat this spring, as he earned medalist honors in the state meet as a junior after two previous top five finishes. His 11-under par 67-64—131 earned him medalist honors by three strokes at Emporia Municipal Golf Club. He pulled away from the pack by going birdie-eagle-birdie-birdie to open the back nine in the second round, in which he hit 17 of 18 greens with no three-putts. He finished fourth as a sophomore (72-74—146, +2) and fifth as a freshman (69-68—137, -3).
The 5-8. 140-pound Farrow has been a three-time, first-team All-State selection his freshman through junior years; Kansas high schools have their championships in the spring. A three-time Wichita Eagle All-Metro honoree, he is also a three-time, first-team Ark Valley Chisholm Trail League (AVCTL) performer under coach Doug Snyder with a 70.13 stroke average as a junior (71.90 as a freshman. A three-year letterman, he won the league title as a sophomore, with top three finishes as a freshman and junior.
His results in junior and amateur events are even more impressive. Since April 2024 alone, he has competed in 36 such events, or 83 rounds including AJGA, TJGT, OJGT and Kansas state tournaments. He has four wins, five runner-up efforts with 18 top 5 and 24 top 10 finishes (missing just one cut), altogether that computes to a 70.6 scoring average (with 37 subpar rounds). The wins included the TJGT Flower Mound Classic (70-71—141, -3), the Central Links Kansas Junior Tour Championship (66-64—130, -10) in the summer of 2024, last May's state 5A title meet and this past September's OJGT Page Belcher Junior Championship (67-66—133, -9), an event he won by seven strokes thanks to 10 birdies and a single bogey. He finished second by a stroke in September's prestigious AGJA Bass Pro Shops/Payne Stewart Junior Championship (65-72-68—205, -8). He won one match in the '25 Kansas Amateur after finishing sixth in stroke play portion (67-69—136, -8). He will compete in the Jones Cup Junior Invitational at Sea Island, Ga., Dec. 18-21.
"I chose CU Boulder because I wanted to play for the best coaches and be surrounded by teammates who will push me to be the best player I can be," Farrow said. "This has been my goal – my dad (Jeff) slapped a golf grip in my hands within the first seven seconds of him seeing me after I was born."
Farrow will be just the fifth Kansas high schooler to appear on the all-time CU roster, the first since 2013. An excellent student, he has carried a 4.0 grade point average since middle school (with a current weighted GPA of 4.42 as a high school junior). He committed to CU on March 19.
The Buffaloes currently have an eight-man roster, with one senior, two juniors and a graduate student with two years of eligibility remaining.
Colorado finished the fall season ranked as the 45th program in the country with a 68-10-2 record against Division I competition, the third-most wins nationally behind West Virginia (72-14) and Long Beach State (69-6). The Buffaloes resume play with the start of the spring season in The Prestige at PGA West, Feb. 16-18, in Palm Desert, Calif.
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