Tom Kensler, a highly respected sports writer who covered golf at the Denver Post for more than two decades, passed away on Friday after suffering a brain aneurysm on July 6. He was 64.
Kensler was the lead reporter for the Post’s coverage of many major golf events held in Colorado in the 21st century, including the 2014 BMW Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club, the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club and the 2011 U.S. Women’s Open at The Broadmoor Golf Club.
Kensler also wrote a regular golf notes column during the season and covered events such as the Colorado Open, which is in progress this week at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. Several longtime regulars at the Colorado Open who knew Kensler, including Gunner Wiebe and his dad Mark, expressed disbelief and sorrow at the news.
Kensler also staffed numerous major championships for the Post, most notably the Masters and U.S. Open. He retired in June 2015 after more than 25 years at the newspaper.
The Ohio State University alumnus previously served on the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame board of directors and received a distinguished service award from the Hall in 2013 (pictured; CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO). He also earned the Colorado Open’s Ralph Moore Golf Journalism Award in 2006, and the CGA’s and Colorado PGA’s golf media honors.
The ever-upbeat Arvada resident also covered many other sports, mostly at the college level, both at the Post and at his previous newspaper stops, dating back to the 1970s — the Pampa (Texas) News, the Amarillo Globe-News and the Daily Oklahoman.
(July 24 Update: A service for Kensler will be held Aug. 6 at 11 a.m., at the Archdiocese of Denver Mortuary Chapel at 12801 W. 44th Ave., in Wheat Ridge.)
