Smigelsky (pictured), the PGA director of golf at Collindale Golf Course, fired a 1-over-par 73 in Sunriver, Ore., putting him in 34th place heading into Wednesday’s final round. A three-birdie, four-bogey day left him at 2-over-par 217 overall, nine strokes behind leader Rod Perry of Port Orange, Fla., who posted a 70 on Tuesday.

The top 20 finishers on Wednesday will earn spots in the PGA Championship — set for Aug. 10-13 in Charlotte, N.C. — and as of the close of play on Tuesday, the competitors at even-par 215 would be playing off for PGA Championship berths.

If Smigelsky can rally to earn one of those 20 spots, he’d have berths in both the U.S. Senior Open and the PGA Championships in the summer of 2017.

Meanwhile, the other Coloradan who made the 36-hole cut, Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle-Vail, fell just short of surviving the 54-hole cut to the low 70 players and ties. Papadopoulos finished 72nd at 221 after a third-round 74 that featured an 18th-hole bogey.

Arizonan Marty Jertson, winner of the 2001 CGA Amateur, made the 54-hole cut on the number as a 74 left him at 220 and in a tie for 62nd place.

Here are all the scores for players with significant Colorado connections who competed in the 312-man tournament:

34. Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 75-69-73–217
62. Former CGA Amateur champion Marty Jertson, 72-74-74–220

Missed 54-Hole Cut
72. Ari Papadopoulos, Eagle-Vail 75-72-74–221

Missed 36-Hole Cut
190. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood 74-78–152
209. Caine Fitzgerald, Parker 78-75–153
226. Mike Northern, Colorado Springs 75-79–154
226. Eric Bradley, Parker 78-76–154
240. Kirk Trowbridge, Castle Rock 82-73–155
250. Joseph Carlton, Golden 81-75–156

For all of the scores from the PGA Professional Championship, CLICK HERE.

After playing his final 13 holes on Sunday in 1 under par, Smigelsky (pictured) shot a 3-under-par 69 on Monday to vault into 36th place out of 312 players at the halfway point of the tournament.

Smigelsky (pictured), who earlier this month qualified for the U.S. Senior Open, made four birdies and one bogey on Monday to check in at 1-over-par 144.

Smigelsky and Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle-Vail were the two Coloradans — out of the eight competing in the event — to make the 36-hole cut by being among the top 90 players and ties. Papadopoulos shot a 1-over-par 72 on Monday — making two birdies and three bogeys in the process — to check in at 4-over-par 147, good for 84th place.

Also making the cut was Arizonan Marty Jertson, winner of the 2001 CGA Amateur, who shares 65th spot at 146.

The next step will be to make it to Wednesday’s final round as there will be a 54-hole cut to the low 70 players and ties. Then there’s the goal of finishing in the top 20, which would qualify players for the PGA Championship, set for Aug. 10-13 in Charlotte, N.C.

Jamie Broce of Ottawa Hills, Ohio and Rich Berberian Jr., of Hooksett, N.H., lead the way after two rounds as they’re at 6-under 137.

The eight Coloradans who competed in the national tournament earned spots in the field thanks to their finishes last September in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship at Cherry Creek Country Club.

Here are all the scores for players with significant Colorado connections:

36. Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 75-69–144
65. Former CGA Amateur champion Marty Jertson, 72-74–146
84. Ari Papadopoulos, Eagle-Vail 75-72–147

Missed 36-Hole Cut
190. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood 74-78–152
209. Caine Fitzgerald, Parker 78-75–153
226. Mike Northern, Colorado Springs 75-79–154
226. Eric Bradley, Parker 78-76–154
240. Kirk Trowbridge, Castle Rock 82-73–155
250. Joseph Carlton, Golden 81-75–156

For all of the scores from the PGA Professional Championship, CLICK HERE.

Geoff Keffer has long been an unmistakable presence on Colorado golf courses.

His colorful outfits, punctuated by knickers, have been a mainstay for him since his dad, Don Keffer, passed away in 2012. You see, Don was a big fan of Payne Stewart, who sported knickers for many years on the PGA Tour, and he liked their look.

Don was an outstanding player for many years, as a professional and later in the Colorado amateur ranks. Twice he finished runner-up in the CGA Match Play during the 1980s, losing to current Colorado Golf Hall of Famers in the finals each time (Ron Moore and Brandt Jobe).

And, not surprisingly, it was Don who introduced Geoff to the game. In fact, the first time Don took Geoff out to a golf course, the younger Keffer holed about a 50-yard shot from the fairway, showing great promise from the get-go. Geoff Keffer would go on to win the 1997 CGA Junior Amateur (then called the CGA Junior Stroke Play) in Fort Morgan.

“My dad first brought me out when I was 5,” Geoff recounted on Wednesday. “He won a junior set of clubs in some tournament. We went out, and in my first round I knocked one in from the fairway for a par. It was the first time I ever played. He was only planning on walking nine, but he walked 18 that day and 18 the next day — three or four days in a row.”

Don Keffer may be gone now, but his son did the old man proud on Wednesday by winning the Colorado PGA Professional Championship, the Section’s top tournament.

After being the Colorado PGA’s Player of the Year three of the past four seasons, the one thing Geoff Keffer had yet to accomplish in Section events was winning this tournament. And at Cherry Creek Country Club, he checked that off his bucket list.

Keffer (left and above), a Lakewood resident who now works at the PGA Learning Center at Park Hill, matched the best score of the tournament — a 5-under-par 67 — in Wednesday’s final round to rally for the title and the $8,000 that goes with it.

“For all the Section tournaments, this was the one I was missing,” he said. “It was definitely on the list to get, and I got it, so I couldn’t be happier.”

The lifelong Coloradan, now 38, finished at 6-under-par 210 to prevail by three strokes over Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, the 53-year-old who won the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship last month. Northern, winner of this event a decade ago, played his final seven holes in 4 under par en route to a 69.

Ari Papadopoulos of Red Sky Golf Club was the only other player to finish under par, placing third at 214 after a final-round 69.

Doug Rohrbaugh of Ironbridge, who was attempting to win an unpredented fourth consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championship, saw his winning streak end as he finished 10th, 11 back of Keffer.

Keffer, Northern and Papadopoulos, along with five other players, qualified Wednesday for the PGA Professional National Championship, set for June 18-21 at Sunriver Resort in Oregon, based on their finishes at Cherry Creek CC. Also advancing to nationals were Eric Bradley of The Pinery (217), Kirk Trowbridge of the Country Club at Castle Pines (217), Joseph Carlton of Legacy Ridge (218), Caine Fitzgerald of Meadow Hills (218) and Dale Smigelsky of Collindale (219).

It will be the second PGA PNC for Keffer and roughly the 10th for Northern, who parlayed his trip to the 2001 PNC into qualifying for his first PGA Championship that year.

“It’s a special place for that reason,” Northern said of Sunriver. “That’s like my second home. I think this will be my fourth (PGA PNC) there.”

On Wednesday, Northern (left) put the most pressure on Keffer down the stretch, but he still got no closer than two strokes during the final nine holes.

Northern birdied four holes in a five-hole stretch starting at No. 12 — including a nifty downhill chip-in at No. 13 — but he made very little headway against Keffer, who carded three straight birdies starting with a 30-footer on No. 14.

“Geoff played good,” said Northern, a four-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year. “He played solid all day long. I think I got within two at 13, then he birdies 14, 15 and 16. I birdied 15 and 16 as well. He played good and I was just glad to finish second.”

It didn’t hurt that Keffer played all three rounds alongside Fitzgerald, a good buddy with whom he worked about five years at Murphy Creek Golf Course. (The two are pictured together below.)

“We’re really good friends,” Keffer said. “Anytime we travel to the same place, we usually stay together. We worked together. Playing with him, we just kind of feed off each other. It’s more a fun round. We don’t get down on ourselves too much when we play with each other.”

But Wednesday wasn’t Fitzgerald’s day. The left-hander, who won the Colorado PGA Professional title at Cherry Creek CC in 2012, took a two-stroke lead into Wednesday, but struggled to a 77 and tied for seventh place.

Keffer, though, was virtually flawless after bogeying the first hole on Wednesday. The next hole, he just missed a 10-foot eagle putt and made birdie — the first of six for the day.

“Some of the best rounds I’ve ever had came after bogeying the first hole,” Keffer noted. “My whole goal this week was not to leave myself second putts (of any significant length). And I didn’t three-putt all week. I made a few really good ones, but I was really trying not to shoot myself in the foot.”

Keffer managed to do that — and a lot more — at Cherry Creek Country Club.

Notable: Among those working the Colorado PGA Professional Championship was Rich Langston, a longtime rules official in Colorado who last year moved to Oklahoma. … The 2017 Colorado PGA Professional Championship will be held at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott, site of the 2013 tournament.

Colorado PGA Professional Championship
Sept. 12-14, 2016 (final) at Par-72 Cherry Creek CC in Denver

Top 10 Finishers — 1. Geoff Keffer 73-70-67–210; 2. Mike Northern 70-74-69–213; 3. Ari Papadopoulos 74-71-69–214; 4. (tie) Ron Vlosich 71-73-73–217; Kirk Trowbridge 70-75-72–217; Eric Bradley 73-77-67–217; 7. (tie) Caine Fitzgerald 72-69-77–218; Joseph Carlton 72-72-74–218; 9. Dale Smigelsky 75-70-74–219; 10. (tie) Doug Rohrbaugh 74-71-76–221; Blake Sharamitaro 75-74-72–221; Ryan Wroblewski 75-72-74–221. For complete scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Rohrbaugh shot a 3-under-par 69 on Monday and reached the halfway point of the tournament at 1-under 143, leaving him in 23rd place and eight strokes behind leader — and former PGA Tour player — Omar Uresti, who has posted 68-67.

Rohrbaugh (pictured) made an eagle and five birdies on Monday, offset by four bogeys.

Other Coloradans making the 36-hole cut to 90 and ties were Caine Fitzgerald of Parker (73-71–144, 36th place) and Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle Vail (71-75–146, 61st place.)

There will be another cut after three rounds, to the low 70 players and ties.

The top 20 finishers on Wednesday out of the original field of 312 will earn spots in next month’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

Here are the scores for the Coloradans at the PPC:

23. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale 74-69–143
36. Caine Fitzgerald of Parker 73-71–144
61. Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle Vail 71-75–146
Missed 36-Hole Cut
127. Kyle Voska of Highlands Ranch 74-75–149
151. Rob Hunt of Highlands Ranch 80-70–150
209. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 77-76–153
209. Erik Billinger of Highlands Ranch 78-75–153
243. Barry Milstead of Centennial 77-78–155
Doug Wherry of Littleton 78-NC

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Papadopoulos, from Red Sky Golf Club, made four birdies and three bogeys on Sunday, leaving him four strokes behind co-leaders Ryan Helminen of Menasha, Wis., and Craig Bowden of Bloomington, Ind., with three rounds remaining.

Papadopoulos was one of nine Coloradans who qualified for the national tournament by virtue of their performances last September in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship. Next best Sunday out of the group was former PGA Championship qualifier Caine Fitzgerald of Parker, who posted a 73 and shares 61st place.

Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, winner of the last three Colorado PGA Professional Championships, opened with a 74.

The top 20 finishers on Wednesday out of the original field of 312 will earn spots in next month’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol.

Here are the scores for the Coloradans at the PPC:

20. Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle Vail 71
61. Caine Fitzgerald of Parker 73
95. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale 74
95. Kyle Voska of Highlands Ranch 74
200. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 77
200. Barry Milstead of Centennial 77
230. Erik Billinger of Highlands Ranch 78
230. Doug Wherry of Littleton 78
278. Rob Hunt of Highlands Ranch 80

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

He’s beaten senior players, junior players, mid-amateurs and everything in between.

In short, it’s been a rip-roaring good year for Doug Rohrbaugh, the head professional at Ironbridge Golf Club.

Already the winner of the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open and the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship, co-champion of the U.S. Senior Open qualifier in Colorado, and a third-place finisher in the HealthOne Colorado Open, Rohrbaugh added the Colorado PGA Professional Championship on Wednesday.

As Barry Milstead of Valley Country Club, president of the Colorado PGA, noted, “I’ve signed a lot of checks for you this year.”

And at 51, Rohrbaugh became one of the oldest winners — and perhaps the oldest — of the Colorado PGA’s top tournament. Fred Wampler, for one, also won the title after turning 50, doing so in 1974.

“The only thing I keep saying is, ‘Why did it take me 50 years to figure this out?'” said Rohrbaugh (pictured above and below). “There’s definitely something to be said for older and wiser, but who knows?”

After taking a four-stroke lead into the final round, the Carbondale resident shot a second consecutive 1-under-par 71 and won by five shots at the Fazio Course at Red Sky Golf Club in Wolcott. He didn’t lose the lead all day and finished at 6-under-par 210. The victory — Rohrbaugh’s first in the event after competing in it for two decades — was worth $7,500.

Rob Hunt of The Links Golf Course, winner of the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in both 2009 and ’11, tied for second at 215 Wednesday after a final-round 69. Micah Rudosky of Conquistador (72 Wednesday) and Jerry Smith of Three Crowns Golf Club in Casper, Wyo. (70) also shared second place. Rudosky won the title in 2001.

“Without Doug, it was a close race,” Hunt said with a laugh.

The top eight finishers, plus PGA Championship qualifier Caine Fitzgerald, earned spots in the 2014 PGA Professional National Championship, which will be played June 22-25 in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Besides the aforementioned, advancing were Ari Papadopoulos of Red Sky, Milstead, University of Denver women’s assistant coach Erik Billinger, and Matt Schalk of Colorado National.

Schalk landed the final national berth when he prevailed over John Ogden of Cherry Hills on the third hole of a sudden death playoff.

But the main story Wednesday was Rohrbaugh and the continuation of his sensational summer.

“It’s incredible,” Hunt said. “I don’t know what the records would show, but I don’t know if (what he’s done in all those tournaments) has ever happened. It certainly hasn’t happened very often.”

Even Rohrbaugh himself is a little dumbfounded at the success he’s enjoyed in 2013.

“Oh my gosh, what can you say, other than ‘wow’,” he said. “I’m blown away. I’m obviously thrilled. You dream about every tournament you play in you want to win, but God, I’ve never had a year remotely like this.”

On Wednesday, while Rohrbaugh never relinquished the lead, Rudosky (pictured at left) moved within two strokes when Rohrbaugh bogeyed No. 8. And he was still within three after Rohrbaugh made his second bogey, at No. 14.

But the par-5 15th proved pivotal. There, Rohrbaugh pushed his tee shot and it ended up in a bush. Though he had to take an unplayable lie penalty, he was able to drop in a spot that gave him a chance to advance his ball a considerable distance.

After Rudosky elected to lay up from the fairway — which surprised Rohrbaugh — the latter took a 3-wood from the rough, 280 yards from the pin, and faded his ball around some tree limbs. It hit in front of the green and rolled to within 30 feet of the cup. Despite taking the unplayable, Rohrbaugh two-putted for par. Rudosky, meanwhile, missed his 7-foot birdie attempt, meaning there was no blood on the hole.

“I couldn’t have drawn it up any better,” Rohrbaugh said. “That was the shot of the day for me. If I had made bogey and he made birdie (it’s down to a one-stroke difference). My whole attitude changed the rest of the way. Not that I wasn’t feeling confident before that, but I had a lot more.”

Rohrbaugh played the last three holes in 1 under par, not giving his closest competitors any openings.

And now, like last year, Rohrbaugh has his sights set on his big goal for the fall — trying to qualify for the Champions Tour. Time will tell how he fares, but the roll he’s on has him thinking big.

“I feel confident. This just keeps building the confidence,” he said.

Here are the top 10 finishers from the Colorado PGA Professional Championship: 1. Doug Rohrbaugh 68-71-71–210; 2. (tie) Rob Hunt 72-74-69–215; Jerry Smith 74-71-70–215; Micah Rudosky 70-73-72–215; 5. Ari Papadopoulos 71-75-70–216; 6. (tie) Barry Milstead 75-73-69–217; Erik Billinger 74-71-72–217; 8. (tie) Matt Schalk 73-77-69–219; John Ogden 78-68-73–219; 10. (tie) Eric Bradley 73-80-67–220; Mike Northern 77-70-73–220.

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.