BERTHOUD — The roller coaster ride has come to an end for 18-year-old Miles Kuhl.

But the recent Fairview High School graduate and accomplished junior golfer enjoyed the excitement at The Blue Championship at TPC Colorado.

“It was a crazy roller coaster,” Kuhl said after his second-round 70 on Friday when he missed the cut by one. “I missed U.S. Junior by one last week and I got the call that I was playing in this field, so it kind of cheered me up. I was so pumped and excited to be playing this week.”

Kuhl played as an amateur in his first professional event. As a junior player, he won the 2025 CHSAA state title and won the AJGA Colorado Junior at Walnut Creek — which is now named The Wyndham Clark Presented by the Colorado Golf Association.

He said the experience the last two days was much “different” from the tournaments he is used to playing in, but it was in a good way.

“Everyone treated me amazing, all nice guys,” he said. “But the way you got a locker room, you don’t really have that in a lot of junior golf tournaments. The Titleist Pro V1s on the range. And just the way they do everything is just a little more elevated than junior golf.”

Going into his 17th hole, which was the 194-yard par-3 No. 8, he had a chance to play the weekend at TPC Colorado. He was sitting at 4 under, which was inside the cut line, but went bogey-bogey on his last two holes to fall below.

“On No. 8’s tee shot, you just don’t know what the wind’s doing and it’s the skinniest green,” Kuhl said. “I made a really good bogey there and then on No. 9 I just let it kind of get to me. I knew I needed to hit one close and I tried to get, I just got a little quick and out of rhythm and just hit a bad shot.”

The soon-to-be San Diego State freshman, who played in the 2024 U.S. Amateur as a 16-year-old, said he will take a much-needed week off before representing the Colorado Golf Association at the Pacific Coast Amateur and the Junior Americas Cup.

“I think my junior career helped me a lot. Kind of put my name on the radar of people so I can get the exemption,” he said. “I’m super grateful I got the exemption. And it prepared me for this week. I knew it’s just golf at the end of the day. I’ve played millions of rounds, so it was just golf out there.”

Four players with Colorado ties made the cut, including Air Force Academy graduate Kyle Westmoreland, who finished the day at 8 under after a 66.

Littleton’s Chris Korte made the weekend at 5 under, and another AFA graduate, Tom Whitney, finished at 4 under. Former CU Buff star Justin Biwer made the cut on the number at 3 under.

Four tied at top of leaderboard

Players go low every year at TPC Colorado, and this week has been no different.

Jackson Buchanan, who made the Round of 32 at the 2023 U.S. Amateur, played at Cherry Hills Country Club, fired a 66 during the morning wave to sit at 12 under, tied with three other players.

“I feel like everyone says this when they’re playing well, just keep doing the same thing. I’ve been in this position in college,” Buchanan said. “Not as much pro, but it’s golf. Keep the same swing feels, keep the same mindset, just have fun with my caddie. Just grateful to be out here and to be able to do this.”

Cole Sherwood, Tommy Morrison and Luke Gutschewski played in the afternoon and tied Buchanan at 12 under going into the weekend.

Ross Steelman, who had the lead going into last year’s final round before falling back, is at 11 under after shooting 66. He is joined by Noah Goodwin, RJ Manke and Phichaksn Maichon at one stroke back.