Gavin Amella

Photo by: Tony Harman

Photo by: Scott Tan

Photo by: Scott Tan

Height:
6-0
Weight:
165
Class:
Freshman
Hometown:
Castle Rock, Colo.
High School:
Castle View
Major:
Undecided (Business or Sports Management)

College—2026-27 (Fr.): He played in three fall tournaments, all as an individual with a 70.89 stroke average (the second-lowest by a freshman for the fall in program history) … His highlight in his first semester as a collegian was earning co-medalist honors the Air Force Miranda Individual, where he recorded an 11-under 205. A first round 65 included five straight birdies at one point, and in the final round, he was seven behind the leaders after three holes but birdied seven of the last 13 to tie atop the leaderboard (his 19 birdies were the most in the field and the most by a Buff in any fall tournament) … His eight birdies in round one were the most by a Buff in a single fall round as well … He was under par on all three par configurations … The 7-under 65 tied the lowest score ever by a Buff freshman, previously done three times also at 7-under par (Jeremy Paul in 2013, Morton Toft Hansen in 2016 and Jack Hughes in 2021) and three other occasions on par-70/71 courses … The 11-under effort tied the ninth best for a 54-hole tournament on a par-72 course (and for 13th on all three) … He had solid percentages of holes under par (22.2, 36 of 162) and those of par or better (128, 81.5) … Best run of 15 consecutive holes without a bogey during the AFA meet.

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.)