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.
]]>Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club and Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course, along with Alex Buecking of Columbine Country Club and Trent Isgrig of CommonGround Golf Course stayed in a share of the lead as they matched 6-under-par 66s to go into Sunday’s final round with 14-under 130 totals. Irwin and Buecking won the CGA Four-Ball title together in 2009.
Buecking and Isgrig have yet to make a bogey through 36 holes as they posted six birdies on Saturday. Irwin, a two-time champion, and Erwin have made two bogeys total to go alone with 16 birdies.
Meanwhile, Macdonald and Schmitz, from the Country Club at Castle Pines and Colorado Golf Club, respectively, carded the best round of the tournament so far — by two strokes — in following up a 69 with a 62. They trail the leaders by one after racking up 11 birdies best-ball on Saturday, posting 11 3s on their card.
Dallas Massey of South Suburban Golf Course and John Hayes of Commonground are the only other team at 135 or better as they hold fourth place at 132.
Sunday’s final round will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.
For interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster
Alex Buecking, Columbine CC / Trent R Isgrig, Commonground GC 64-66–130
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC / Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek GC 64-66–130
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines / Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC 69-62–131
Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC / John Hayes, Commonground GC 67-65–132
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC 70-66–136
Ben Sherlund, Colorado GC / Zach Fowlds, Colorado GC 66-70–136
Joel Perez, Colorado National GC / Ben Gibson, Fox Hollow at Lakewood 69-67–136
Brooks Ferring, Lakewood CC / Carey Sullivan, Lakewood CC 70-66–136
Wesley Martin, Commonground GC / Adam Muhleisen, City Park GC 70-67–137
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC / Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC 72-65–137
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC / Michael Bartley, Meadow Hills GC 70-67–137
Andy Dannewitz, The Club at Ravenna / Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC 70-68–138
Dean Siskowski, Ptarmigan CC / Bill Severin, Ptarmigan CC 69-69–138
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek GC / Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek 71-68–139
Gregory Pattison, Heritage at Westmoor / Eric Miller, Heritage at Westmoor 69-70–139
Garrett Mortimer, Boomerang Golf Links / Jake Jacobs, Flatirons GC 69-71–140
Tristan Sanders, Commonground GC / Tim Kratz, Commonground GC 69-71–140
Arnold Hoy, Colorado GC / Nicholas Engen, Colorado GC 68-72–140
Michael Love, Colorado GC / Brian McCloy, Colorado GC 72-70–142
Bryan Pieper, Boulder CC / Greg Stringari, Meridian GC 74-68–142
Chace Nathe, Collindale GC / Andrew Sinner, Collindale GC 75-67–142
Chris Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs CC / Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines North 73-70–143
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC / Gary Albrecht, Commonground GC 73-70–143
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC / Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor 73-70–143
Jeff Woods, Meadow Hills GC / Kevin Walden, Meadow Hills GC 69-75–144
Eddie Lee, Broadlands GC / Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC 76-69–145
Andy Brooks, Commonground GC / Sam Solomon, Todd Creek GC 73-73–146
Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club / Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins CC 75-71–146
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League / Pat Bowe, Commonground GC 77-69–146
James Richardson, South Suburban GC / Justin Gold, South Suburban GC 73-73–146
Bret Ludwick, Olde Course at Loveland / Richard Schneider, Olde Course at Loveland 75-72–147
Jack Huffman, Eagle Ranch GC / Cory Nolan, Gypsum Creek GC 72-75–147
Mr Cole M Campbell, Lake Arbor GC / Kyle Shinkle, Lake Arbor GC 73-74–147
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 70-77–147
Chris Didonato, Broadlands GC / Joe Larsen, Riverdale GC 74-74–148
Kevin Welch, Thorncreek GC / Chad Lounsbury, Adobe Creek National GC 74-74–148
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC / Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC 73-75–148
Todd Beckman, Indian Peaks GC / Curt Confer, Indian Peaks GC 75-76–151
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC / Troy Tomsick, Indian Peaks GC 76-75–151
Raphael Martorello, Cherry Creek CC / Shane Thomas, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C 78-75–153
Jayson Holland, Springhill GC / Matt Conger, Saddle Rock GC 78-76–154
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC / Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC 82-73–155
Scot Mortimer, Flatirons GC / Mike Bretzke, 78-77–155
Bob Cloud, Commonground GC / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 80-78–158
Phil Lane, Broadmoor GC / Scott A Blackmun, Broadmoor GC 79-82–161
Irwin and Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course made nine birdies in opening with an 8-under-par 64. And that total was matched by Buecking and Trent Isgrig of CommonGround Golf Course, who had eight birdies in a bogey-free round.
Irwin also won this event in 2004 with Pat Diaz. As for Buecking, he and Jason Enloe of Dallas advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in May.
Two other players who competed in that national four-ball tournament in the spring, Ben Sherlund and Zach Fowlds of Colorado Golf Club, are in third place after shooting a 66 on Friday. Dallas Massey of South Suburban Golf Course and John Hayes of CommonGround hold down the fourth spot at 67 after making an eagle on the 18th hole in round 1.
A total of 45 two-person teams are competing in the scratch best-ball stroke-play event. The 54-hole tournament continues through Sunday.
The CGA Four-Ball was originally scheduled for early May, but a snowstorm caused it to be postoned.
For interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster
Trent R Isgrig, Commonground Golf Course / Alex Buecking, Columbine Country Club — 33-31–64
Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek Golf Course / Steven Irwin, Lakewood Country Club — 30-34–64
Ben Sherlund, Colorado Golf Club / Zach Fowlds, Colorado Golf Club — 30-36–66
Dallas Massey, South Suburban Golf Course / John Hayes, Commonground Golf Course — 35-32–67
Nicholas Engen, Colorado Golf Club / Arnold Hoy, Colorado Golf Club — 36-32–68
Garrett Mortimer, Boomerang Golf Links / Jake Jacobs, Flatirons GC — 35-34–69
Dean Siskowski, Ptarmigan Country Club / Bill Severin, Ptarmigan Country Club — 34-35–69
Joel Perez, Colorado National Golf Club / Ben Gibson, Fox Hollow at Lakewood — 34-35–69
Tristan Sanders, Commonground Golf Course / Tim Kratz, Commonground Golf Course — 35-34–69
Gregory Pattison, Heritage at Westmoor / Eric Miller, Heritage at Westmoor — 33-36–69
Ross Macdonald, Country Club at Castle Pines / Ryan Schmitz, Colorado Golf Club — 34-35–69
Jeff Woods, Meadow Hills Golf Course / Kevin Walden, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-33–69
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood Country Club / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood Country Club — 36-34–70
Wesley Martin, Commonground Golf Course / Adam Muhleisen, City Park GC — 34-36–70
Andy Dannewitz, The Club at Ravenna / Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-34–70
Brooks Ferring, Lakewood Country Club / Carey Sullivan, Lakewood Country Club — 33-37–70
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Jim LeMar, Meadows Golf Club — 33-37–70
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills Golf Course / Michael Bartley, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-34–70
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek / Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek Golf Course — 37-34–71
Michael Love, Colorado Golf Club / Brian McCloy, Colorado Golf Club — 36-36–72
Cory Nolan, Gypsum Creek Golf Course / Jack Huffman, Eagle Ranch GC — 34-38–72
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club / Curt Jenkins, Lakewood Country Club — 36-36–72
Andy Brooks, Commonground Golf Course / Sam Solomon, Todd Creek Golf Club — 36-37–73
Chris Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs Country Club / Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines North — 37-36–73
James Richardson, South Suburban Golf Course / Justin Gold, South Suburban Golf Course — 35-38–73
Bob Chandler, Foothills Golf Course / Gary Albrecht, Commonground Golf Course — 35-38–73
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf Club / Steve Kass, Aurora Hills Golf Club — 35-38–73
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club / Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor — 34-39–73
Kyle Shinkle, Lake Arbor Golf Club / Mr Cole M Campbell, Lake Arbor Golf Club — 35-38–73
Joe Larsen, Riverdale Golf Club / Chris Didonato, Broadlands Golf Club — 35-39–74
Bryan Pieper, Boulder Country Club / Greg Stringari, Meridian Golf Club — 35-39–74
Kevin Welch, Thorncreek Golf Club / Chad Lounsbury, Adobe Creek National Golf Club — 38-36–74
Bret Ludwick, Olde Course at Loveland / Richard Schneider, Olde Course at Loveland — 37-38–75
Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club / Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins Country Club — 38-37–75
Chace Nathe, Collindale Golf Club / Andrew Sinner, Collindale Golf Club — 38-37–75
Curt Confer, Indian Peaks Golf Club / Todd Beckman, Indian Peaks Golf Club — 38-37–75
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks Golf Club / Troy Tomsick, Indian Peaks Golf Club — 36-40–76
Eddie Lee, Broadlands Golf Club / Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC — 38-38–76
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League / Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course — 39-38–77
Shane Thomas, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Raphael Martorello, Cherry Creek Country Club — 40-38–78
Matt Conger, Saddle Rock Golf Course / Jayson Holland, Springhill Golf Course — 40-38–78
Scot Mortimer, Flatirons Golf Course / Mike Bretzke, — 41-37–78
Phil Lane, Broadmoor Golf Club / Scott A Blackmun, Broadmoor Golf Club — 41-38–79
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club — 38-42–80
Dan Deppen, Broadlands Golf Club / Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC — 42-40–82
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
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
CGA championships have been played since 1901, and until this weekend a grand total of two golfers had ever won the same CGA tournament four consecutive years.
On Sunday, Keith Humerickhouse joined the party.
The golfer who lives in Eagle and plays out of Glenwood Springs Golf Club matched a record by winning his fourth consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur, which is limited to players 25 and older.
But the feat goes beyond that. Looking at all CGA championships, Humerickhouse became just the third to “four-peat”. Now, only Humerickhouse, Walter Fairbanks (1902-05 CGA Match Play) and Rick DeWitt (1999-2002 Mid-Am) have won the same CGA championship four straight years.
Hale Irwin and Bob Byman — both of whom would go on to win on the PGA Tour — are among those who have earned three consecutive CGA championships, but only the aforementioned threesome have taken it to the next level.
On Sunday, the 37-year-old Humerickhouse had to fend off two other former CGA Mid-Am champs to earn the trophy at the Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills in Westminster. Humerickhouse played the final seven holes of the Gold Course in 3 under par Sunday — making an eagle and a birdie — to card a 3-under-par 69, which gave him a two-stroke victory.
Since the former pro (pictured at left and above) regained his amateur status in 2009, his finishes in the CGA Mid-Amateur have gone third, first, first, first and first. Do you suppose Humerickhouse has this Mid-Am thing down pat?
“I feel like it’s my niche,” the left-hander said after winning his fifth CGA championship (including the 2011 Western Chapter). “I really like it. I feel comfortable out here. I feel like I can actually compete. The Publinks and the Stroke Play, it’s not that I don’t feel I can compete, but basically I’m playing a college golf tournament. These (college-age) kids are playing every day. You feel like you’re going to have to shoot 10 to 15 under to even sniff the lead. That’s how good they are.”
On Sunday, Humerickhouse finished at 6-under-par 210, while 2009 champion Michael Harrington of Kissing Camels tied Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course at 212. Both Harrington and Erwin likewise closed with 69s, Harrington despite bogeying two of his last three holes Sunday.
The only other player to break par for the tournament was two-time Mid-Am winner Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club, who placed fourth at 214 after an even-par 72.
Brian Richmeier of Meadow Hills Golf Course, who held the lead after the first two rounds, struggled on the final day, playing his first 10 holes in 7 over par en route to a 5-over 77 and a share of seventh place at 217.
So while DeWitt still owns the record for number of CGA Mid-Amateur titles with seven, Humerickhouse has matched the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer in consecutive championships.
“We all know what kind of amateur Rick was (DeWitt is a professional now),” Humerickhouse said. “His name in Colorado golf history will be there forever. To be mentioned in the same category as him is pretty special.”
Unlike last year, when Humerickhouse won the Mid-Am by 12 shots, this one went right down to the wire. Harrington (pictured at left), playing a couple of groups ahead of Humerickhouse, led in the middle of the back nine, standing 6 under par overall through 15 holes.
But Harrington bogeyed 16 and 18 coming in.
“I bogeyed 18 (hitting his approach into the hazard fronting the green) because I was trying to fire at the pin,” he said. “I felt like I needed to make birdie to have a chance — which is exactly what it turned out I did need. I made bogey but it doesn’t bother me because I’d rather make bogey playing aggressive than hit it to the back of the green, two putt and find out I lose by one.”
The Colorado Springs resident also paid the price for a balky putter throughout his round.
“I hit it phenomenal, but putted terrible,” Harrington said. “You’re trying to charge, but I had 10-footers for birdie all day long and I left them short. I was shaping the ball the way I wanted to, I was ‘puring it’ all day long, hitting it long all day, but I just couldn’t make any putts.”
Unlike Harrington, Erwin (pictured at left) got about as much out of his round as he could on Sunday.
“I knew I was going to have to shoot about a 67 and that was exactly what I would have had to shoot to tie,” he said. “I really didn’t leave too many shots out there. I had one short birdie putt I missed coming in, but I’m really happy. This is my best finish in a CGA event.”
Also in the hunt on the back nine were Irwin and Ryan Axlund of CommonGround Golf Course. Irwin turned at 4 under for the tournament, but bogeyed three of his first four holes on the back nine. And Axlund still had a chance before finishing double bogey-bogey.
Meanwhile, Humerickhouse came on strong after bogeying Nos. 9 and 11. He eagled the 532-yard 12th hole for the second consecutive day, this time hitting a wedge from 170 yards to 10 feet and draining the putt.
“That was a huge putt for that to go down,” Humerickhouse said. “It turns out I really needed to make that. It got me back in charge of my round. I wouldn’t say it was a must make, but it was a huge make.”
Then on the 18th hole, after pushing his tee shot into the right rough, Humerickhouse was faced with a precarious 148-yard approach (pictured at left) to a pin tucked just over a canal that fronts the green. Again using a wedge, he cozied his second shot to 6 feet from the cup and finished with a birdie.
“I wasn’t trying to aim right at the flag,” he admitted. “It was a mistake, but it came off perfect. … It was a scary shot, no doubt.”
All in all, Humerickhouse was getting a big kick out of the competition — especially since he emerged in the top spot.
“It was so fun out there,” he said. “It’s awesome to win this thing, no matter how many there are in a row.”
CGA Mid-Amateur Championship
At Par-72 Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills (Gold Course)
Keith Humerickhouse, Glenwood Springs GC, 73-68-69–210
Michael Harrington, Kissing Camel GC, 72-71-69–212
Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek GC, 75-68-69–212
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 71-71-72–214
Jared Bickling, Glenwood Springs GC, 74-69-73–216
Ryan Axlund, CommonGround GC, 73-69-74–216
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC, 67-73-77–217
Jeffrey Gravina, Pinehurst CC, 78-70-69–217
Christopher Thayer, CommonGround GC, 72-72-74–218
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 75-71-73–219
Nicholas Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 72-73-76–221
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC, 75-70-77–222
Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 71-75-76–222
Steve Galko, Patty Jewett GC, 78-72-72–222
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 73-77-73–223
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-76-75–225
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 70-76-79–225
Rick Kelly, CommonGround GC, 78-77-70–225
Jeff Chapman, Inverness GC, 78-73-74–225
Adam Gorjiyan, Wellshire GC, 74-76-76–226
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 70-79-78–227
Ken Cosper, Ptarmigan CC, 74-76-77–227
Wes Martin, Hyland Hills GC, 79-72-77–228
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC, 81-75-72–228
Alan Boyko, Heritage at Westmoor, 82-74-72–228
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC, 78-75-76–229
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC, 79-77-74–230
Chad Bell, Riverdale GC, 78-77-76–231
Robert Bedan, Wellshire GC, 78-77-76–231
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC, 76-75-80–231
Justin Kruger, Inverness GC, 75-76-80–231
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 78-77-77–232
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 75-77-81–233
Bryan Cannon, Columbine CC, 76-74-84–234
Greg Michaels, Heritage at Westmoor, 80-72-83–235
Damon Dageenakis, Flatirons GC, 75-81-80–236
Michael Abrams, Lake Valley GC, 78-78-82–238
Brion After, River Valley Ranch GC, 77-78-84–239
Bryan Hawthorne, Lakewood CC, 81-75-86–242
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 77-76-WD
FAILED TO QUALIFY FOR FINAL ROUND
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 76-81–157
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 81-77–158
Michael Knoll, The Club at Crested Butte, 77-81–158
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC, 79-79–158
Aki Okamoto, Legacy Ridge GC, 82-76–158
Steven Fausset, Hyland Hills GC, 75-83–158
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC, 77-82–159
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC, 79-80–159
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 81-78–159
Steven Linnemeyer, Hillcrest GC, 84-76–160
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek GC, 83-77–160
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera, 79-81–160
Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance GC, 84-76–160
Chris Sellitto, Fox Hollow GC, 76-84–160
Jim Fucillo, Eisenhower GC, 82-78–160
Ryan Prew, Indian Tree GC, 83-77–160
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor, 82-79–161
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 81-80–161
Nick Simmons, CommonGround GC, 83-78–161
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 82-80–162
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 77-85–162
Jeffrey Johnson, Lone Tree GC, 81-81–162
Shane Houska, Collindale GC, 81-82–163
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado, 80-83–163
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 79-84–163
Bert Sartori, Green Valley Ranch GC, 82-81–163
Chris Tenan, Harmony Club, 82-82–164
Nick Pederson, Coal Creek GC, 86-78–164
Steve Duran, Commonground Golf Course, 80-85–165
Scott Schoelzel, Cherry Hills CC, 85-81–166
Joel Perez, Broadlands GC, 85-81–166
Thomas Bacsanyi, Eagle Ranch GC, 84-83–167
Eric Scholl, Ironbridge GC, 84-83–167
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 85-83–168
David Ramsey, Lakewood CC, 83-87–170
Jake Firkins, Glenwood Springs GC, 88-83–171
Matt Mangold, Broadlands GC, 85-87–172
Paul Bersagel, Eagle Vail GC, 89-88–177
Joe Frey, Willis Case GC, 86-92–178
Gary Driber, Denver Amateur Golf Tour, 93-89–182
Arnold Hoy, CommonGround GC, 77-WD
Andy Brooks, CommonGround GC, 80-WD
Heath Andersen, Meadow Hills GC, 77-WD
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