For each of the last 13 years, the CGA Amateur — or CGA Stroke Play, as it was previously known — has been held at courses along the Front Range Corridor. But this summer, it’s time for a change.
For the first time since 2003 — when Kane Webber won the second of his two consecutive CGA Amateurs, this one at River Valley Ranch Golf Club in Carbondale — the championship will be contested west of the Continental Divide.
Specifically, the Sonnenalp Club (pictured) in Edwards, west of Vail, will host the 72-hole event Thursday through Sunday (Aug. 3-6). The course is where Kevin Stadler won the CoBank Colorado Open in his pro debut in 2002.
A field of 84 players is expected for arguably the most prestigious amateur golf championship held annually in Colorado. The top 40 players and ties after two rounds will advance to the final 36 holes.
The champions from the last two years will return, with Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club defending his title, and Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club back after winning in 2015. Korte will be trying to become the first player since Steve Ziegler in 2009 to win both the CGA Amateur and the CGA Match Play in the same year as he prevailed in the Match Play at The Club at Ravenna earlier this season.
Also scheduled to compete at Sonnenalp are Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club, a two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier who finished eighth at the recent Colorado Open, taking low-amateur honors by seven strokes; Kyler Dunkle of The Club at Pradera, the CGA Player of the Year in 2016; Jon Lindstrom of Lakewood Country Club, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Amateurs; and Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs Country Club, a runner-up to Prater last year.
Likewise in the field are 2015 CGA Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course; U.S. Amateur qualifiers (along with Staiano) AJ Ott of Ptarmigan Country Club and Li Chen of Legacy Ridge Golf Course; 2017 CGA Match Play runner-up Kyle Pearson of Meridian Golf Club; and CGA Match Play medalist Jake Kelley of Columbine Country Club.
For Thursday’s tee times at Sonnenalp, CLICK HERE.
For a feature story on 2001 CGA Amateur champion Marty Jertson, who’s now the director of product development at Ping, CLICK HERE.
