Just two players broke par in Saturday’s opening round of the 36th CGA Western Chapter Championship, with Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course leading the way with a 2-under-par 69 at The Bridges Golf & Country Club in Montrose.
Erwin (left), a left-hander who teamed with Steve Irwin to win the 2016 CGA Four-Ball Championship, had an eventful first round, making seven birdies, five bogeys and only six pars.
Also carding a sub-par total on Saturday was Kelby Breidel of Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction, who posted a 70 after making five birdies.
Among those tied for third place at 71 going into Sunday’s final round is defending champion Ross Macdonald, a University of Colorado golfer who plays out of the Country Club at Castle Pines. Also sharing third place are Jason Browder of Dos Rios Golf Club, Sean Thomas of Meridian Golf Club and Cameron Barnhardt of Dalton Ranch Golf Club.
Meanwhile, leading the senior division is Owen Ellis of Flatirons Golf Course, who fired an even-par 71, making five birdies and five bogeys.
Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, is a shot back after a five-birdie day. Matt Hall of Redlands Mesa Golf Club sits in third at 73.
The 36-hole championship will conclude on Sunday.
For scores from the Western Chapter Championship, click on the following: OPEN, SENIOR.
