(NOTE: The original version of this story said that Jon Lindstrom was the only three-time winner of the CGA Four-Ball, but Steve Irwin has also won the event three times — in 2004, ’09 and ’16.)
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Jon Lindstrom went where just one man has gone before in the CGA Four-Ball Championship, and he and Richard Bradsby established a new team standard for the event.
Lindstrom became the second person to win the CGA Four-Ball at least three times — joining Steve Irwin with a trio of victories — and Lindstrom and fellow Lakewood Country Club member Bradsby posted the lowest total score by the winners of the championship since it went to 54 holes in 2011.
A day after scorching CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora with a tournament-best 11-under-par 60 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play format, Lindstrom and Bradsby prevailed in a playoff on Sunday, with Lindstrom pitching to 2 1/2 feet and draining the winning birdie putt on the first extra hole. (The champions are pictured, with Bradsby in light blue.)
“I’ve spent the last two weeks working with my instructor on shots just like that (pitch),” Lindstrom said. “I couldn’t wait to hit it, to be honest with you.”
Lindstrom, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Amateur titles and three Mid-Ams overall, and Bradsby finished at 22-under-par 191 after a closing 65. Also at that figure were 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers Jeff Chapman from Inverness Golf Club and Andrew Tapia from The Ridge at Castle Pines North.
Chapman made a hole-in-one on his first hole of the day, the 148-yard second, with a 9-iron. It was his second career ace. Then five holes later, on the par-5 seventh, Tapia added an eagle of his own as the team shot a 10-under-par 61 in regulation on Sunday. But in the playoff, neither Chapman nor Tapia could birdie the par-5 18th. Tapia was in deep rough off the tee and settled for par. And, after a very long drive, Chapman was just off the green in two, but his chip stopped 20 feet short of the hole and he missed his birdie attempt. (The runners-up are pictured at left, with Chapman in yellow shirt.)
“I didn’t hit a very good chip there; it just didn’t release,” Chapman said.
Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano, of Glenmoor Country Club, and Blake Cannon finished in third place, one out of the playoff. They birdied the last four holes — and nine of their last 12 — to shoot 64.
Sunday’s CGA title was the eighth for the 49-year-old Lindstrom, who has three Mid-Ams, three Four-Balls and two Two-Mans with Dean Clapp to his credit. Lindstrom’s previous Four-Ball championships came with Clapp (2012) and Rick Larson (2002). Lindstrom and Clapp also finished second in a playoff in 2009.
“I just like doing (team events),” Lindstrom said. “If we make a bogey, I take ownership. It’s just a lot of fun. You’re strategizing around the shots and what to hit.”
Meanwhile, the 48-year-old Bradsby claimed his first CGA title on Sunday, though he has won two other four-ball championships in the last year — The Broadmoor Invitation in 2016 with Irwin and the The Gallery Invitational in Marana, Ariz., two weeks ago with Brian Dorfman, the 2012 CGA Match Play champion.
“It feels great (to break through in a CGA championship),” Bradsby said. “I was close on this one a few years ago (in 2014, when he and Lindstrom finished second), so it was nice to get across the line.
“Four-ball events have been good to me. I tend to be pretty steady. I can be in play quite a bit and am comfortable with the pressure when you really need to get something done and your partner is in trouble.”
On Sunday, Bradsby helped get himself and Lindstrom into a playoff with a 4-foot eagle on the 11th hole — after a 7-iron approach from 190 yards — and a 15-foot birdie on No. 15 after the team had suffered a bogey on the previous hole.
Lindstrom, who had shot 64 on his own ball in Saturday’s round, carded five birdies between holes 5 and 13 on Sunday, in addition to the winner in the playoff.
The champions were paired in the final round with Staiano and Cannon, who are their juniors by more than a quarter-century.
“I’ve played with those guys (college golfers) enough times that I don’t try to hit it up there with them,” Lindstrom noted. “I have a game plan. Once in a while you notice they’re 60 yards by you. That’s cool. In the end (it may or may not make a difference).
“There’s a challenge to it knowing you’ve got 7-iron in (for an approach shot) and they’ve got wedge and you try to beat them. It kind of motivates you.”
For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
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The defending champion, who also won the Mid-Am title in 2008, was the only player to match or break par in very windy conditions during the first round.
Lindstrom (pictured) had a stellar start to his round, making six birdies in his first seven holes (with a bogey thrown in at No. 3) and shooting a 5-under-par 31 on the front nine. But he gave some back down the stretch, playing his final six holes in 4 over par and closing with a double bogey.
The only players with more CGA Mid-Amateur titles than Lindstrom — and fellow Lakewood CC member Steve Irwin — are Rick DeWitt (seven wins) and Keith Humerickhouse (four).
Jeff Slupe of Highland Meadows Golf Course sits in second place after round 1, using an eagle-birdie stretch on his 10th and 11 holes (Nos. 1 and 2 at Saddle Rock) to shoot a 73. Slupe finished with an eagle, three birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Chris Thayer of Bear Creek Golf Club, the 2014 champion, is among four players who share third place at 74. Also at that figure are Andrew Tapia of The Ridge at Castle Pines North, Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course and Mark Zbrzeznj of Eagle Vail Golf Club. Erwin overcame a quaduple-bogey 8 on the 10th hole.
Irwin, who won his two Mid-Amateur titles in 2003 and ’05, opened with a 75 and is tied for seventh place.
All told, seven former champions are in the field for this event, which is limited to players 25 and older.
The original 84-man field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after 36 holes. The 54-hole championship will conclude on Sunday.
To access interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
CGA Mid-Amateur Championship
At Par-72 Saddle Rock GC in Aurora
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC, 31-40–71
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 36-37–73
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 38-36–74
Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek GC, 36-38–74
Andrew Tapia, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 37-37–74
Chris Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 38-36–74
Michael Love, Colorado GC, 38-37–75
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 38-37–75
Ben Sherlund, Colorado GC, 38-37–75
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 39-36–75
Matt Evelyn, Bear Creek GC, 37-38–75
Brandon J Shupick, Broadlands GC, 37-38–75
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 37-39–76
Sean Griswold, Dalton Ranch GC, 38-38–76
Kyle Sullivan, Meridian GC, 36-40–76
Josh Thomas, Green Valley Ranch GC, 36-40–76
Danny Riskam, Omni Interlocken Resort, 38-39–77
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 39-38–77
Dave Johnson, Collindale GC, 40-37–77
Wes Heusel, Desert Hawk GC, 39-38–77
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 39-38–77
Ryan Axlund, Inverness GC, 39-38–77
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 37-40–77
Brion After, River Valley Ranch GC, 41-36–77
Jeff Tyrrell, Collindale GC, 39-38–77
Nicholas Engen, Colorado GC, 39-38–77
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 40-38–78
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek, 41-37–78
Ryne J Scholl, Breckenridge GC, 41-37–78
Kenny Burnham, Fossil Trace GC, 38-40–78
Brian McCloy, Colorado GC, 40-38–78
Joel Atkinson, Pelican Lakes G & CC, 41-37–78
Nigel Harris, Indian Peaks GC, 40-38–78
Brad Rowe, Ute Creek GC, 42-37–79
Joey Haack, Ironbridge GC, 41-38–79
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 41-38–79
Joel Perez, Colorado National GC, 39-40–79
Matthew Armetta, Murphy Creek GC, 39-40–79
Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC, 38-41–79
Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC, 41-39–80
Jeff Ruden, Highlands Ranch GC, 42-38–80
Michael Abrams, Lake Valley GC, 42-38–80
Bryan Rusin, Green Valley Ranch GC, 42-38–80
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 39-41–80
Bryan Cannon, Raccoon Creek GC, 42-38–80
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 41-39–80
Michael Slutzky, Cherry Hills CC, 39-41–80
Calum White, Murphy Creek GC, 41-39–80
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 41-40–81
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 39-42–81
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 38-43–81
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC, 42-39–81
Brandon McElhiney, Highlands Ranch, 42-39–81
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 41-41–82
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch GC, 41-41–82
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 45-37–82
Robert Bedan, Todd Creek GC, 39-43–82
Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 42-40–82
Jeff Chapman, Inverness GC, 40-42–82
Jon Lopez, Meadow Hills GC, 37-45–82
Travis Tomlin, Harmony Club, 43-39–82
Scott Crawford, Murphy Creek GC, 41-41–82
Rob Glucksman, Commonground GC, 41-42–83
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 42-41–83
Zack Neiditz, Aspen GC, 39-44–83
Bryce Babcock, Thorncreek GC, 43-40–83
Joe Frey, Willis Case GC, 42-42–84
Michael Ventimiglia, Legacy Ridge GC, 39-45–84
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 44-40–84
Taylor Osieczanek, Legacy Ridge GC, 41-43–84
John Buccos, Riverdale GC, 42-42–84
Josh Whitney, Aspen GC, 43-41–84
Patrick R Manning, Pinehurst CC, 43-41–84
Corey Davidson, Omni Interlocken, 40-44–84
Andy Dannewitz, Club at Ravenna, 41-44–85
Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC, 41-45–86
Pete Severson, Elmwood GC, 44-42–86
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC, 44-43–87
Jonathan Doern, City Park GC, 47-40–87
Dan Jones, Fox Hollow at Lakewood, 41-46–87
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC, 39-49–88
Arnold Hoy, Colorado GC, 43-47–90
John Skelton, Silver Spruce GC, 43-48–91
Dewey Burke, Lakewood CC, WD
That attraction is likely primarily twofold — it’s a two-person team event, which has proven a popular format; and so far it’s been scheduled at some great venues. It’s already been held at the Olympic Club (2015) and Winged Foot (2016), and upcoming are Pinehurst (2017), Jupiter Hills (2018), Chambers Bay (2019) and Philadelphia Cricket Club (2020).
Given the spring dates for the national championship, qualifying is currently taking place for the 2017 tournament, which will be held May 27-31 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.
In Colorado, qualifying for the event will occur Tuesday (Aug. 30) at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. There, 60 two-man teams will compete for three berths in the national championship.
Four intact teams that have already competed in the U.S. Four-Ball will be in the field at CommonGround: Jonathan Marsico and Tom Hart (2016), Zach Fowlds and Ben Sherlund (2016), Bill Fowler and Robert Polk (2015), and Jeff Chapman and Andrew Tapia (2015). In addition, Alex Kephart (2015) and Alex Buecking (2016) are qualifiers who are competing with different teammates this time around (Kephart with Kurtis Lucas, and Buecking with Jon Lindstrom). In fact, Buecking went to the quarterfinals of the national championship in May while pairing up with Jason Enloe of Dallas.
Also competing at CommonGround will be Chris Korte and Nick Nosewicz, who each won major CGA championships in 2015 at CommonGround — Korte the CGA Amateur and Nosewicz the CGA Match Play.
For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
A total of 82 players — all age 25 and older — will be going for five spots in the national Mid-Am, which this year is scheduled for Sept. 10-15 at Stonewall Links in Elverson, Pa.
Among those in the qualifying field at Eisenhower is David Delich of Colorado Springs, who last year competed in his fourth U.S. Mid-Am. Others entered this week who qualified last year for the national championship at the Colorado site are Andrew Tapia of Castle Rock, Alan Boyko of Greenwood Village and Barry Erwin of Aurora.
Also in the field at Eisenhower are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Village, 2015 CGA Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz of Aurora, 2011 U.S. Open qualifier Steve Irwin of Arvada, 2015 and 2008 CGA Mid-Amateur champion Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, 2014 CGA Mid-Am winner Chris Thayer of Denver, and 2016 CoBank Colorado Senior Open low-amateur Tom Krystyn of Denver.
]]>The 36-hole tournament, which features both an open and senior division, will take place Saturday and Sunday (July 16-17) at Eagle Ranch Golf Club in Eagle.
Humerickhouse, who lives in the area, won the third of his four consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur titles (2010-13) at Eagle Ranch. Also the among 67 competitors in the open division is Rohrbaugh, the former 3A state high school champion and current Boise State golfer who won the Western Chapter title by two last year.
Also scheduled to play are Andrew Tapia, who has qualified for multiple USGA championships; Kyler Dunkle, a former 5A state high school champ who recently transferred from Colorado State to Utah; and former University of Louisville golfer and former 5A state champ Gus Lundquist.
Among the 37 players set to compete in the senior division are current or former CGA Senior Players of the Year David Delich, Robert Polk and Harry Johnson, along with 2014 CGA Senior Match Play champ Tom Musselman. Eagle Ranch is Johnson’s home course.
For Saturday pairings, CLICK HERE.
In some respects, these are unprecedented times for the amateurs in the Colorado Cup Matches they play against professionals from the Colorado PGA.
To wit:
— On Tuesday, when the matches were contested for the 46th year overall, and the 11th year with a women’s division, the CGA and CWGA amateurs swept the titles in the open, senior and women’s competitions for the first time.
— The eight-point winning margin in the open division (13-5) was the largest since the pros won 13.5-4.5 in 2002. (The CGA’s open team is pictured above.)
— With Tuesday’s victory at Valley Country Club, the amateurs have now won the open division three straight years, something they had never done before since the Cup Matches began in 1971. In fact, the last time the amateurs had won two straight before this current run was 2000-01, when their teams included a current PGA Tour player (Kevin Stadler), the winners of four Colorado Opens (Derek Tolan, Stadler and Ben Portie) and a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (Rick DeWitt).
— And, of course, the CWGA amateurs continue to own a remarkable unblemished record, having gone 11-0 against the professionals.
— Even in the senior division, where the amateurs had won just once since 2005, they eked out a victory on Tuesday. (They’re pictured at left.)
“Obviously as amateurs we want to beat the pros, and the pros obviously want to beat us, so there is a good rivalry between the two of us,” said CGA amateur open-division captain Nick Nosewicz, winner of the 2015 CGA Match Play. “It’s pretty special. Anytime you can get your name on the trophy that’s state-related and be part of a team, it’s fun.”
On Tuesday, the CGA amateurs defeated the Colorado PGA professionals 13-5 in the open division and 9.5-8.5 in the seniors, while the CWGA amateurs (below) kept their record unblemished against the pros, winning 6-3.
“That was a relief,” said Deb Hughes, who served as CWGA amateur captain and won both her four ball and singles matches, the latter thanks to carding an eagle and three birdies. “(The pressure to keep the perfect record intact) was no joke. I told the girls, ‘Don’t worry about it, just go out and play and enjoy yourselves.
“But I was worried because I didn’t expect to be appointed the captain. I came in this morning and all the girls were sitting at the table and I sat down thinking I was just going to join in. They all looked at me and said, ‘You’re the captain.’ I said, ‘What?’ I thought they were kidding. I’ve never done anything like this before. But it worked out OK.”
As it did for the seniors, whose only previous win against the pros in the last decade came in 2012. This time around, Tom Roos served as senior amateur captain.
“I think it’s great (to notch the victory),” said 2015 CGA Senior Stroke Play winner Bill Fowler, who won his singles match and halved his four-ball while teaming with Sean Forey. “We obviously played well. It’s kind of a cobbled-together team, but I think everyone went out to do the best they could, and at the end of the day we got one more point than them.”
The professionals still handily lead the all-time open series, 30-14 with two draws. With Tuesday’s victory, senior amateurs took the overall lead in their series 16-15 with three draws. And, after a one-year hiatus in the women’s competition, the women’s amateurs continued their Colorado Cup win streak.
Eight players — all amateurs — won both their four-ball and singles matches on Tuesday: Chris Thayer, Andrew Tapia, Connor Klein and Tristan Rohrbaugh in the open division; Hughes, Taylor Dorans and Sarah Hankins in the women’s competition; and Art Cudworth in the seniors. (Hughes and Dorans are pictured at left.)
Suffice it to say there was some pretty good golf played on Tuesday.
Nosewicz noted that he was 5 under par on his own ball in the morning four ball, and teammate Chris Korte, winner of the 2015 CGA Stroke Play, was 5 under on his. But the future U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifying team still lost 3 and 2 to professionals Geoff Keffer and Blake Sharamitaro.
But both CGA champions notched singles victories against former Colorado PGA Players of the Year, with Korte edging Keffer 3 and 1 and Nosewicz defeating Caine Fitzgerald 2 and 1. As captain, Nosewicz arranged to face Fitzgerald as the former plays out of Meadow Hills Golf Course and the latter is an assistant professional there.
“I wanted to make sure somebody from Meadow Hills won today,” Nosewicz said with a smile. “But I think I had six birdies and an eagle and won with a hole left to play. It was a battle, but a fun one indeed.”
As for his four-ball pairings, Nosewicz said, “I kind of knew the players I wanted to pair together. I know a couple of the amateurs’ games and I knew which ones could play this course really well. I asked Chris Thayer and Korte for a little input. I had six solid squads that we wanted to play. Then I got in and (almost everyone else) won. I did OK. Dustin (Jensen from the CGA) said I could stay.”
While Nosewicz is a relative newcomer to the Colorado Cup Matches — Tuesday was his second — Hughes and Fowler are veterans, Hughes having competed in five and Fowler in enough that he doesn’t remember the exact number.
“I haven’t won very many (titles with the amateur team), so this is historic for me too,” Fowler said. “I haven’t seen my name on the trophy on the open side but I’m going to look for it because I’m hoping to have my name on (for both the open and senior divisions).
“It took me a long time to realize I’m good enough to play against some of these pros, and to actually go and beat them once in a while is certainly an accomplishment that I’m proud of. The professionals obviously play at a very high level so that’s kind of a barometer for us to be able to compete and be successful at that level. I respect them. It’s always fun to compete and see how we compare.”
(Above, amateur Colin Prater putts as professionals Kyle Voska and Rob Hunt look on.)
Colorado Cup Matches
At Valley CC in Centennial
OPEN DIVISION
Overall Score: CGA Amateurs 13, Colorado PGA Professionals 5
Four Ball: CGA Amateurs 4, Colorado PGA Professionals 2
Jimmy Makloski/Andrew Tapia (A) def. Chris Johnson/Scott Ough, 5 and 4
Lamar Carlisle/Connor Klein (A) def. Ryan Wroblewski/Peter Norwood, 2 and 1
Geoff Keffer/Blake Sharamitaro (P) def. Nick Nosewicz/Chris Korte, 3 and 2
Chris Thayer/Kyle Danford (A) def. Kyle Voska/Rob Hunt, 4 and 2
Barry Milstead/Caine Fitzgerald (P) def. Colin Prater/Jake Staiano, 3 and 2
Tristan Rohrbaugh/Sam Marley (A) def. Dan O’Shaughnessy/Tray Shehee, 3 and 2
Singles: CGA Amateurs 9, Colorado PGA Professionals 3
Connor Klein (A) def. Barry Milstead, 3 and 2
Tristan Rohrbaugh (A) def. Chris Johnson, 1 up
Kyle Voska (P) def. Lamar Carlile, 4 and 2
Colin Prater (A) def. Rob Hunt, 1 up
Nick Nosewicz (A) def. Caine Fitzgerald, 2 and 1
Chris Korte (A) def. Geoff Keffer, 3 and 1
Blake Sharamitaro (P) halved with Sam Marley (A)
Peter Norwood (P) def. Kyle Danford, 1 up
Andrew Tapia (A) def. Scott Ough, 2 and 1
Chris Thayer (A) def. Ryan Wroblewski, 3 and 2
Jimmy Makloski (A) halved with Tray Shehee (P)
Jake Staiano (A) def. Dan O’Shaughnessy, 5 and 4
SENIOR DIVISION
Overall Score: CGA Amateurs 9.5, Colorado PGA Professionals 8.5
Four Ball: Colorado Colorado PGA Professionals 3, CGA Amateurs 3
Robin Bradbury/Scott Sullivan (A) def. Rudy Castaneda/Doug Perry, 3 and 2
Scott Hart/Dave Detweiler (P) def. Owen Ellis/Bob Beiersdorf, 2 and 1
Ron Vlosich/Perry Holmes (P) halved with Mike Larson/Kelly Crone (A)
Bill Fowler/Sean Forey (A) halved with Scott Walter/Scott Sommers (P)
Pat Bowe/Art Cudworth (A) def. Russell Aragon/Vance Pollock, 2 up
Rick Ellefson/Tom Krause (P) def. Tom Roos/Gary Driber, 2 up
Singles: CGA Amateurs 6.5, Colorado PGA Professionals 5.5
Art Cudworth (A) def. Russell Aragon, 4 and 2
Vance Pollock (P) def. Robin Bradbury, 1 up
Ron Vlosich (P) def. Scott Sullivan, 2 and 1
Perry Holmes (P) def. Kelly Crone, 3 and 2
Scott Walter (P) def. Owen Ellis, 4 and 3
Bill Fowler (A) def. Scott Sommers 4 and 3
Mike Larson (A) def. Rick Ellefson, 5 and 4
Gary Driber (A) def. Tom Krause, 1 up
Dave Detweiler (P) halved with Tom Roos (A)
Bob Beiersdorf (A) def. Scott Hart, 3 and 1
Doug Perry (P) def. Pat Bowe, 5 and 4
Sean Forey (A) def. Rudy Castaneda, 5 and 4
WOMEN’S DIVISION
Overall Score: CWGA 6, Colorado PGA 3
Four Ball: CWGA 3, Colorado PGA 0
Taylor Dorans/Delaney Elliott (A) def. Patti Marquis/Sherry Andonian-Smith, 2 and 1
Kylee Sullivan/Megan Vernon (A) def. Casey Brittain/Courtney Rudolph, 5 and 4
Deb Hughes/Sarah Hankins (A) def. Katie Milstead/Erin Diegel, 1 up
Singles: CWGA 3, Colorado PGA 3
Taylor Dorans (A) def. Erin Diegel, 7 and 5
Deb Hughes (A) def. Patti Marquis, 4 and 3
Sarah Hankins (A) def. Katie Milstead, 4 and 3
Sherry Andonian-Smith (P) def. Kylee Sullivan, 5 and 4
Casey Brittain (P) def. Delaney Elliott, 3 and 2
Courtney Rudolph (P) def. Megan Vernon, 5 and 3
Keith Humerickhouse of Gypsum and David Delich of Colorado Springs are friends who have each won multiple CGA championships over the years.
And on Monday, they shared more than the 3-under-par 69s they shot at Valley Country Club in Centennial.
They each qualified for their fourth U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship — for players 25 and older — and they both did so with some medical issues hanging over their heads.
Delich, 58, faces heart surgery on Sept. 14. Humerickhouse, 39, has been battling yet-to-be-identified problems in his “gut” which have limited the four-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion to a handful of 2015 tournaments instead of the usual 15 or so he normally would have competed in by this time of year.
But those issues didn’t keep them from earning two of the five spots at stake Monday for the U.S. Mid-Am, which will be contested Oct. 3-8 in Vero Beach, Fla.
“I’m stoked. I can’t tell you how excited I am,” said Humerickhouse, who has twice made match play in the U.S. Mid-Am, advancing as far as the round of 16. “I’m the most proud of this one because I haven’t been playing, I haven’t been competing, I haven’t been able to practice. So this is awesome. This means so much to me — that I battled it out and got it done.”
As for Delich, who earlier this year won the CGA Senior Match Play and qualified for the U.S. Senior Open, he hopes to have recovered well enough from his heart surgery in mid-September to be competing in his 11th USGA championship come early October.
“I’m excited to make it,” said the former Colorado College hockey standout. “As long as the procedure goes well, I’ll have a couple weeks of rest and I think I’ll be fine. If it interferes with playing in the (CGA) Senior Stroke Play or the U.S. Mid-Amateur, it’ll interfere. I will argue with the doctor, but at the end of the day you’ve got to listen to what they say.
“Hopefully I’ll be able to go back. It’s always a great experience even if I don’t get into match play. I look forward to it. I’m glad to be going one more time. It feels good.”
In all, five Coloradans, including two left-handers, qualified for the U.S. Mid-Am out of a field that originally numbered 82 at Valley CC.
Andrew Tapia, a longtime resident of New Mexico who recently moved to Castle Rock, earned medalist honors with a 4-under-par 68. Humerickhouse and Delich had their 69s. And Barry Erwin of Aurora — a southpaw like Humerickhouse — and Alan Boyko of Denver fired 70s and survived a playoff to advance.
(Pictured above are the top three qualifiers, from left: Delich, Tapia and Humerickhouse.)
Tapia, a former New Mexico state high school champion who played college golf at Colorado State University-Pueblo, will be playing his second U.S. Mid-Am and his third USGA championship overall. Both Tapia and Humerickhouse competed — with different partners — in the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball this spring.
“Once you play in one USGA event, you always want to go back because they treat you so well and the venues are absolutely fantastic,” said Tapia, 36. “It’s a treat to play.”
Tapia made five birdies and a bogey to claim the medal on Monday.
Meanwhile, it will be the first U.S. Mid-Am for Erwin and Boyko. In fact, this will be the first USGA championship of any sort for the two.
“It’ll just be amazing just to have that experience,” said Erwin, 34, a lifelong Coloradan who grew up in Montrose. “I’ve really never played outside of Colorado competitively, so it’ll be awesome.”
As for Boyko (left), 35, he’s looking forward for the chance to re-introduce himself to Nathan Smith, the four-time U.S. Mid-Am champion against whom he played college golf in Pennsylvania about 15 years ago.
“It means a lot to me” to qualify, Boyko said. “I work pretty hard on my golf game as a weekend golfer. I used to play against Nathan Smith in college. He’s the kind of guy everyone wants to model themselves after. It would be nice to see him again and shake his hand since I haven’t seen him in close to 20 years now.”
Erwin and Humerickhouse are former pros who regained their amateur status. They both competed on Monday without ever having played Valley CC before.
Delich and Humerickhouse were both coming off poor performances by their standards in their last tournaments. Delich shot a 78 at the U.S. Senior Amateur qualifier on Friday at Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder, while Humerickhouse (left) went 83-76 in a tournament at Eagle Ranch.
“I’m trying to change my swing a little bit. I’m kind of halfway between where I used to be and where I should be,” said Delich, who made six birdies on Monday en route to his 11th USGA championship berth. “Today was the first time I hit a golf ball since Boulder, but I just felt right on with the set-up and the position on the range. I drove it beautifully all day.”
Said Humerickhouse: “I came into this thing with no confidence. My caddie said you have the game to be there. You need to go. I wasn’t even going to come down.
“It’s been a rough summer. For me to even get through is awesome. I was in control all day. I hit the ball great tee to green, really solid. Hopefully we can figure this (medical) thing out and get on the road to recovery.”
U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Valley CC in Centennial
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Andrew Tapia, Castle Rock, N.M., 34-34–68
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 32-37–69
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum, Colo., 36-33–69
Barry Erwin, Aurora, Colo., 35-35–70
Alan Boyko, Denver, Colo., 35-35–70
ALTERNATES (in order)
Michael Larson, Longmont, Colo., 38-32–70
Jeff Chapman, Centennial, Colo., 36-35–71
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., 37-34–71
Derek Brown, River Oaks, Texas, 33-38–71
Joel Perez, Denver, Colo., 37-34–71
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 34-37–71
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 37-34–71
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-37–72
Jason Vedadi, Williston, N.D., 38-34–72
Jason Poppenhagen, Aurora, Colo., 34-38–72
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 33-39–72
Kyle Sullivan, Parker, Colo., 35-37–72
Michael Passananti, Fort Collins, N.Y., 34-38–72
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 36-36–72
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 36-36–72
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 35-38–73
Troy Anderson, Scottsdale, Ariz., 36-37–73
Tony Bagneschi, Scottsdale, Ariz., 39-34–73
David Harris, Avon, Colo., 35-38–73
Christopher Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-37–73
Jeremy Lederer, Eagle, Colo., 38-36–74
Owen Ellis, Boulder, Colo., 39-35–74
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 36-38–74
Thomas Roos, Centennial, Colo., 36-38–74
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 32-42–74
Jonathan Kuzava, Littleton, Colo., 40-34–74
Christopher Thayer, Denver, Colo., 35-39–74
Michael Slutzky, Littleton, Colo., 37-37–74
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 40-35–75
Jeff Tyrrell, Casper, Wyo., 37-38–75
James Kackley, Denver, Colo., 38-37–75
John Luoma, Parker, Colo., 38-37–75
Doug Manske, Littleton, Colo., 37-38–75
Mark Zbrzeznj, Edwards, Colo., 38-37–75
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 36-39–75
Brodie Hullinger, Denver, S.D., 40-36–76
Scott Shore, Littleton, Colo., 35-41–76
Jay Orris, Boulder, Colo., 40-36–76
Mark Mance, Whitefish, Mont., 38-38–76
Anthony Komatz, Eagle, Colo., 36-40–76
Adam Pladson, Aurora, Colo., 40-36–76
Michael Young, Cheyenne, Wyo., 39-38–77
David Yergert, Thornton, Colo., 39-38–77
Brian Harris, Denver, Colo., 40-37–77
Chase Chaldekas, Lakewood, Colo., 37-41–78
Dustin Box, Fort Collins, Colo., 39-39–78
John Sostman, Littleton, Colo., 39-39–78
Nick Burns, Denver, Colo., 39-39–78
Brian Dorfman, Denver, Colo., 40-38–78
Zachary Warner, Littleton, Colo., 40-38–78
Ben Von Drehle, Denver, Colo., 37-42–79
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 40-39–79
Rob Glucksman, Denver, Colo., 42-37–79
Scott Brozena, Denver, Colo., 39-40–79
Jim Broderick, Jackson, Wyo., 40-39–79
Pete Mangold, Denver, Colo., 36-43–79
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 37-42–79
Jason Owenby, Birmingham, Ala., 39-40–79
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 43-37–80
Ryne Scholl, Breckenridge, Colo., 41-39–80
Nathan Wilson, Sheridan, Wyo., 42-39–81
Brett Housman, Pueblo, Colo., 38-43–81
Ryan Bent, Evergreen, Colo., 38-43–81
Pat Diaz, Parker, Colo., 41-40–81
Andrew Kennedy, Denver, Colo., 41-41–82
Brian Key, Louisville, Texas, 42-40–82
Zach Florence, Denver, Colo., 40-45–85
Jared Polivka, Denver, Colo., 42-45–87
William Veith, Larkspur, Colo., 39-50–89
Kwasi Lee, Aurora, Colo., 48-41–89
Bryan Cannon, Columbine Valley, Colo., WD
Chris Strouse, Greenwood Village, Colo., WD
Ross Liggett, Fort Collins, Colo., NS-NS
Dewey Burke, Denver, Colo., WD
Zac Frazier, Las Vegas, Nev., WD
Sean Crowley, Littleton, Colo., WD
The Denver resident qualified for the U.S. Amateur on July 23 — earning a spot in a USGA championship for the first time in the new millennium — so he figured it only made sense to go with a similar look for Monday’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifying.
Chapman therefore sported the same colors for his shirt and shorts that he did two weeks earlier. And, for good measure, he wore an orange U.S. Amateur cap his girlfriend gave him after he qualified. Actually, it was one of nine such caps that she gave him.
Whether it was the wardrobe or simply more good golf, Chapman was able to add a second USGA championship to his 2012 schedule by earning a berth in the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Monday.
Chapman shot a 3-under-par 69 in Mid-Amateur qualifying at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City, sharing medalist honors with Tom Hart of Denver and Andrew Tapia of Raton, N.M. (The co-medalists are pictured, from left: Chapman, Hart and Tapia.) Also advancing to the national tournament were Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield and Brian Richmeier of Aurora, who carded 70s and prevailed in a six-man playoff for the final two berths.
The U.S. Mid-Amateur, which is limited to players 25 and older, will be contested Sept. 8-13 at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill.
“I’m pleased,” the 36-year-old Chapman said. “After having qualified for the Amateur two weeks, that’s been all that I could think about. I’m ready for it to get here, but I’m pleasantly surprised with how I played today.
“It’s a pretty special summer. In 1999 I qualified for the U.S. Publinks, played in Pacific Coast Amateur and got invited to play in the USGA State Team. That was a special summer, but 13 years later at 36 years old and still competing with young kids that play every day, that’s fun.”
Chapman, who works in sales, eagled the 532-yard second hole — his 11th — from 3 feet, and added three birdies on Monday. It was just his third round in the 60s this year, but two of them have come in USGA qualifiers; he had a 67 in the U.S. Amateur Sectional at Inverness.
“We had a sales conference and went to San Diego for New Year’s,” Chapman said. “I played Torrey Pines and La Costa, and after walking off Torrey Pines I said, ‘I’m going to rededicate myself to my game this summer. I’m going to work on my game and try to play and see if I can be competitive.’ And I’m almost there.”
Lindstrom will be competing in his fourth U.S. Mid-Am, and roughly his 14th USGA championship. He made it to the round of 16 at the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur.
“It’s awesome,” said the 44-year-old, the CGA’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year in 2008. “I feel like I play in all of the other state events just as a warmup to try to qualify for these things (USGA championships).”
Meanwhile, the other four qualifiers will be making their national Mid-Am debuts. In fact, Hart, Tapia and Richmeier will be playing in their first USGA championship of any sort.
Monday’s qualifier, which originally featured a field of 80 golfers, saw its final two berths decided in a playoff. Lindstrom advanced with a 4-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, a par-4. And Richmeier earned the final spot when his punch 7-iron rode the wind and finished 2 1/2 feet from the cup on the par-3 second playoff hole, and he drained the putt.
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very very long time,” said the 38-year-old Richmeier. “I’ve tried for a while. I’m super ecstatic. I knew that I had it in me and that eventually it would come through. Today it just worked out. This by far is my biggest accomplishment yet in golf, no doubt about it.”
Hart is a former University of Denver golfer whose family owns Cherry Creek Country Club, Plum Creek Golf Club and Deer Creek Golf Club. He teamed up with former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway to win the 2009 Trans-Mississippi Four-Ball, a tournament that draws a national field.
But this will be Hart’s first time competing at a USGA championship. In fact, he’d never before tried to qualify for any USGA events other than the U.S. Open.
“I just told myself to do it,” said Hart, who was 4 under par through six holes on Monday. “The past few years I got busy. I was playing good, but bailed on it. I just wanted to make sure I showed up today. That was the win for me — showing up.
“Playing in this will be awesome.”
Falling short in Monday’s playoff were Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs, Pete Mangold of Denver, Rob Clever of Firestone and Alex Buecking of Littleton, all of whom shot 70. Kephart and Mangold are the first and second alternates, respectively.
Buecking also was one of the odd men out in the U.S. Amateur qualifying playoff two weeks ago. As was the case then, he three-putted the first playoff hole to lose out.
U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City
ADVANCE TO U.S. MID-AMATEUR
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 33-36–69
Tom Hart, Denver, Colo., 33-36–69
Andrew Tapia, Raton, N.M., 35-34–69
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 35-35–70
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 33-37–70
ALTERNATES (In order)
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-35–70
Pete Mangold, Denver, Colo., 36-34–70
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Rob Clever, Firestone, Colo., 35-35–70
Alex Buecking, Littleton, Colo., 35-35–70
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 35-36–71
Stephen Summers, Dallas, Texas, 36-35–71
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-35–71
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 34-38–72
Richard Bradsby, Denver, Colo., 35-37–72
Chad Hess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-35–73
Dean Clapp, Centennial, Colo., 36-37–73
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 35-38–73
Paul Mohr, Scottsbluff, Neb., 37-37–74
Thomas Roos, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 38-37–75
Kristofer Anderson, Chandler, Ariz., 36-39–75
Robert Bedan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-40–75
Justin Borzych, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-37–75
Billy Day, Pueblo West, Colo., 36-39–75
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 38-37–75
Michael Slutzky, Littleton, Colo., 39-36–75
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Steve Sullivan, Castle Rock, Colo., 36-39–75
Dewey Burke, Denver, Colo., 35-40–75
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 36-40–76
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 38-38–76
Michael Love, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-39–76
Mark Zbrzeznj, Avon, Colo., 39-37–76
Daniel Honer, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
E. Stephen Holstein Jr, Basalt, Colo., 39-37–76
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 38-38–76
Danny Hahn, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
Kent Moore, Littleton, Colo., 38-39–77
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 39-38–77
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 38-39–77
Jason Coffin, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 40-37–77
John Luoma, Parker, Colo., 39-38–77
Andrew Rapp, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Reginald Kellum, Windsot, Colo., 38-39–77
Stephen Reister, Littleton, Colo., 39-38–77
Troy Duerr, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-37–77
Ben Haselbauer, Minneapolis, Minn., 39-38–77
Bryan Doyea, Peyton, Colo., 41-36–77
Craig Kirscht, Thornton, Colo., 41-36–77
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 38-40–78
Chad Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Colby Anderson, Rapid City, S.D., 42-36–78
Jason Eagan, Castle Rock, Colo., 41-38–79
Stephen Fernandes, Denver, Colo., 39-40–79
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver, Colo., 37-42–79
Benjamin Burke, Denver, Colo., 40-39–79
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 39-41–80
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 37-43–80
Arnold Hoy, Castle Rock, Colo., 42-38–80
Owen Ellis, Boulder, Colo., 40-41–81
Daniel Tripp, Bloomfield, N.J., 39-42–81
Jeff Weiss, Boulder, Colo., 39-42–81
Greg Bollefer, Centennial, Colo., 42-39–81
Andrew Rathbun, Westminster, Colo., 40-41–81
Russell Branzell, Fort Collins, Colo., 44-37–81
Steve Summers, Dallas, Texas, 39-43–82
James Hillary, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 43-39–82
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 42-40–82
Rick Kelly, Golden, Colo., NS
Chris Melcher, Colorado Springs, Colo., NS
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., NS
Mark Matthews, Colorado Springs, Colo., NC