As chairman of the CGA Tournament Committee, Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club often has the duty of presenting trophies to winners of CGA championships, particularly when it’s a senior or super-senior event in which he’s competed.

On Thursday, that could have been a dilemma.

You see, Polk won the 47th CGA Senior Amateur at Eisenhower Golf Club, so it would have been a little awkward for him to give the trophy to himself.

Fortunately, another member of the CGA board of directors, Gary Albrecht, was also on hand, so he did the honors.

“We always try to have a board member on hand,” Polk said. “I’ve handed out trophies way too many times. I wanted to win. That was always painful.

“The older I get, the winning is wonderful but it means you didn’t lose. I take losing so much harder now, and I lose obviously a lot more than I win. It takes me a while to get over it. I think, ‘I left so many shots out there.’ You’d think I wouldn’t take it so hard. But to get it done is very exciting.”

Thursday’s victory marked Polk’s fourth in the CGA Senior Amateur, which puts him in some elite company. Only three other players have captured the title at least four times —
Larry Eaton (a seven-time champion), John Olive (five) and Les Fowler (four). All three are members of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

“It feels wonderful to have won this again,” said Polk (above and left), who has captured 11 CGA championships in all. “Those are great players (who have claimed four or more Senior Am titles), and to be mentioned with them is very, very pleasing and satisfying.”

Bill Fowler, who has won CGA Senior Four-Ball titles with Polk two of the last three years and who finished third on Thursday, can appreciate what Polk has accomplished in the Senior Am.

“He’s a great player,” said Fowler, a former CGA president. “He could have won way more than four (titles in this event). He sometimes gets in his own way. Today he stayed out of his own way. He played really well and I’m really proud of him and I’m happy to be his Four-Ball partner.”

Polk won this event previously in 2005, ’07 and ’09, meaning he ended a nine-year drought on Thursday. In doing so at age 63, he became one of the oldest champions of the CGA Senior Amateur. Les Fowler won at age 65 in 1989, Jerry Kidney at 63 in 2011 and Harry Johnson at 63 in 2013.

“It has been so long since I’ve won this thing — it seems like forever — so I’m extremely pleased,” Polk said in accepting the trophy on Thursday.

“It’s wonderful, just wonderful. For the last nine years I didn’t know if it was going to happen again. I came close a couple of times and had a good chance last year, then couldn’t get it done. Today I just said, ‘I’m going to get it done.'”

Polk was technically a wire-to-wire winner this week, but despite his five-stroke victory margin, the tournament was deceptively close down the stretch. In fact, with three holes remaining, he was tied with 2017 champion Steve Ivan (left) of Patty Jewett Golf Course. But Ivan bogeyed two of his last three holes and Polk finished with a flurry.

He hit the par-5 16th in two with a 7-iron from 197 yards and sank a 7-foot putt for eagle. Then on the next hole, a par-3, he hit a 9-iron from 164 yards, with his ball landing right next to the hole and ending up less than 6 inches from the cup for a birdie. That stellar two-hole stretch, plus making three 5-foot par putts, left him 3 under for his final six holes.

“It’s just fun and gratifying” to finish strong for the victory. “It means an awful lot. Last year I gave away the Florida Senior Stroke Play (title). I had it won, but shot 41 on the back and lost by one. I said, ‘I’m not going to let that happen this year. I’m going to bear down and play a decent back side.'”

On the formidable Blue Course at Eisenhower that was made tougher by wind much of the week, Polk closed with a 2-under-par 70 — the low round of the tournament — to post a winning total of 1-over 217. Only two sub-par rounds were carded at the Senior Am, and Polk had both of them.

Ivan recorded a 72 on Thursday to place second at 222. That means he’s been runner-up in both CGA senior majors in 2018 — the Senior Match Play and Senior Amateur — and that’s he’s finished first-second-second in the last three senior majors.

“I played well today, but I bogeyed two of the last three. You can’t do that,” the 56-year-old Ivan said. “What I really wanted to do today — and I did it for a long time — is because I wasn’t in that last group, I wanted to have them see me making putts after putts after putts. It worked until I ran out of gas at the end. But (Robert) deserves it.”

Fowler (left), the 2015 Senior Amateur champion, recorded a 76 on Thursday to check in third at 224. John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo., the 2018 CGA Senior Match Play champ, placed fourth at 225, also after a 76.

“I didn’t have my ‘A’ game the whole tournament so it was going to be a struggle to beat Robert, who obviously played very well,” Fowler said. “So to finish third and play as well as I did while not really hitting it the way I wanted, I’m very pleased.

“(Robert) birdied 2, 3 and 4 today and I knew there was no catching him. He made a couple of mistakes in the middle, then finished strong.”

Thursday’s victory by Polk looked improbable as recently as a few weeks ago, when he finished a distant fourth in the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play. But in the interim, a short break from the game seemed to work wonders.

“I was so dejected after the Super-Senior Stroke Play at Perry Park. I was hitting some really good ones and getting nothing out of them,” Polk said. “My mind wasn’t right. I needed to take some time off. I took four or five days off and kind of got cleared out again. I played with Jim Pierce — I won my first (CGA Senior) Four-Ball with Jim (in 2005) — last Saturday, and the light kind of went on. I felt good coming into this tournament for the first time in I can’t remember when.”

And though there were some hiccups in the middle of Thursday’s round — a double bogey on No. 9 after a bogey at No. 8, then a missed par putt after a stellar drive at No. 12 — but he righted the ship and more down the stretch.

“I missed that putt (on 12) and said, ‘God bless it. It’s those par putts that you have to make on the back nine. You look at all the major championships and all the amateur events, whoever makes par putts on the back nine wins — every time.'”

And sure enough, Polk drained par putts of 5 feet on 14, 15 and 18, sandwiched around the eagle on 16 and the tap-in birdie at 17.

And judging by the way he bombed some drives on Thursday, you’d never guess that Polk is 63 years old.

“I’ve been very fortunate health-wise,” he said. “I do an awful lot of working out. I have a great workout guy, Dee Tidwell, who’s kept me stronger and flexible. I went to him five years ago and said I don’t care about hitting it any further. I just don’t want to start hitting it shorter. Let’s fight this as long as we can. And I’m as long as I’ve ever been — still. But I hadn’t been able to put anything together.”

Until this week, that is.

For all the scores from the Senior Am, which is limited to players 52 and older, CLICK HERE.
 

On Thursday, the two will be in the lead group at the 47th CGA Senior Amateur, but they’ll be competing against one another — and the field — rather than as partners.

On a formidable Blue Course at Eisenhower Golf Club that seems to be getting the best of everyone in the field, Polk retained the lead in his quest for a fourth CGA Senior Amateur title. The 63-year-old shot a 4-over-par 76 on Wednesday to check in at 3-over 147, one stroke ahead of Fowler. (Polk and Fowler are pictured earlier this year, with Fowler at left.)

Polk, winner of the event in 2005, ’07 and ’09, made one birdie and five bogeys in round 2. He’s trying to become just the fourth player to win this championship at least four times, joining Larry Eaton (a seven-time champion), John Olive (five) and Les Fowler (four).

But Bill Fowler, the 2015 CGA Senior Am champion, made up four strokes on Polk on Wednesday with an even-par 72. The former CGA president eagled the 550-yard par-5 ninth hole and added a birdie and three bogeys in round 2. Fowler and Jay Orris of Boulder Country Club tied for the best rounds of the day with their 72s.

But Polk and Fowler are far from the only ones in contention for the title on Thursday. Eight players are within six strokes of Polk.

In third place at 149 is 2018 CGA Senior Match Play champion John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo., who matched Polk’s 76, triple-bogeying his first hole but also making five birdies.

Defending champion Steve Ivan of Patty Jewett Golf Course also carded a 76 and sits in fourth place at 150. Ivan was the runner-up to Hornbeck at this year’s CGA Senior Match Play.

Orris, with his 72, trails Polk by four. He double eagled the 530-yard, par-5 fifth hole for the highlight of the tournament to this point.

The field was cut from 84 to the low 40 players and ties (44 specifically) after Wednesday’s second round.

The CGA Senior Amateur is limited to players 52 and older.

For all the scores from the Senior Am, CLICK HERE.
 

Fifty-five players will be in the field, with the top three finishers earning spots in the Senior Am, which will be contested Aug. 25-30 at Eugene Country Club in Oregon.

Of those 55, almost one-fifth have competed in the U.S. Senior Am just in the last five years.

The list includes Wyoming resident John Hornbeck, the 2018 CGA Senior Match Play champion who has played in three U.S. Senior Amateurs, going to the quarterfinals in 2016. Also, there’s three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk (round of 64 in 2017), Guy Mertz (2017), Robin Bradbury (round of 64 in 2016), Gary Albrecht (2016), Jim Reynolds (2016), Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (2015), Thomas Roos (2015), and David Delich and Harry Johnson (both 2013 and ’14).

Also competing on Tuesday are Steve Ivan, winner of the 2017 CGA Senior Amateur and runner-up in the 2018 CGA Senior Match Play; Charlie Post, who played in the 2017 U.S. Senior Open; 2015 CGA Senior Amateur winner Bill Fowler; 2014 CGA Senior Match Play champ Tom Musselman and Sean Forey.

For Tuesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

If the way the first CGA championship of 2018 ended is any indication, it could be one memorable season.

The 37th CGA Senior Four-Ball culminated in spectacular fashion on Wednesday at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada.

With his partner out of the hole and his two opponents less than half the distance from the cup, former CGA president Bill Fowler drained a 60-foot-plus birdie putt on the second hole of sudden death to give he and Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club their second Senior Four-Ball title in the last three years.

“It was probably one of the most exciting finishes of golf I’ve had in a long time,” Fowler said at the trophy presentation. “I’ll be celebrating that for a while.”

Fowler, from The Club at Rolling Hills, and Polk handed Guy Mertz and Tony Workman of The Fox Hill Club their second similar playoff loss in the CGA Senior Four-Ball. In 2012, Jerry Kidney and Daniel Dymerski defeated Mertz and Workman on the fifth hole of a playoff when Dymerski sank a 15-foot birdie putt.

“Did you see it bounce up when it hit the hole?” Mertz said of Fowler’s putt. “If he misses that (and it goes by quite a bit), we probably win with a 4. At worst we go on. That was twice as long as any putt I saw go in the whole tournament. It’s one of those turnarounds that you just … But that’s golf. It happens. But it’s happened to us twice now.”

Said Workman: “It was a hell of a putt.”

On a cold and sometimes rainy final day, Polk and Fowler shot the best score on Wednesday — a 4-under-par 68 — to rally from three strokes down going into the final round. With Polk getting up and down for birdie on the final hole of regulation, they finished with a winning total of 12-under-par 204. (The winners are pictured, with Fowler at right above and at left below.) 

It was the fourth CGA Senior Four-Ball title for Polk, who won with different partners in 2005 and ’07 before earning the trophy with Fowler in 2016. Only Bert Welz, with five, has won this tournament more, while Kidney has also captured four titles. Polk and Fowler also qualified for the first U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, played in 2015, and were one of the older twosomes in the field.

In the CGA Senior Four-Ball, Polk and Fowler have finished in the top three five of the last six years.

“I hope he has me back next year,” Fowler said with a smile. “I didn’t have my A game for the whole three days. He’s always looking on the free-agent market for somebody better.”

Said Polk, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year: “We are a good team. Bill is real steady. I tend to make some birdies, but I tend to knock it off the golf course every now and then. Bill covers me when I take leave.”

That includes the second hole of the playoff, the par-4 11th. There, teeing off before Fowler as usual, Polk put two tee shots out of bounds right leaving his partner on his own for the hole. Fowler, who turns 55 on Thursday, responded with a nice drive, but pulled his 8-iron approach a little, leaving his ball on the far left side of the green while the pin was on the right side. Mertz and Workman both had makeable birdie putts in the 25-foot range.

“I was tending the flag because I couldn’t do anything else,” said Polk, 62. “I had a real peaceful feeling. The greens were slow and they were hard to putt. We had so many that we thought we made that didn’t go in. But I’m sitting there holding the flag and going, ‘I think he’s going to make this.’ Halfway, I go, ‘Oh my!’ That sucker was right in the middle for a long time. It was a great putt.

“They had two (good looks) with putts, but after something like that the hole looks like a thimble.”

Both Workman and Mertz ended up two-putting for par.

As for Fowler’s thinking on his birdie putt:

“I was back there and I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose. I really don’t,'” he said. “They’re up there for a two-putt par. I’ve got to just not three-putt. I wanted to get up there in the 3- or 4-foot range for a two-putt par. I just kept my head still, hit a really solid putt and hit my line. About halfway there, I said, ‘That’s on line, it’s not going to be very far away, it looks like it’s the right speed.’ As it got closer and closer and closer, I thought, ‘Man, that has a chance.’ Then all of a sudden, it was not on the green anymore. I just had this overwhelming feeling. I could not believe that I just did what I did.

“If you look at the scorecard, Robert played really well for three days and I played OK. It was really, really fun for me to contribute in that big way at the very end.”

In falling for the second time in a playoff in this event, Mertz and Workman (left, with Mertz in gray) carded scores of 66-68-70 and didn’t make a better-ball bogey in the tournament.

Tying for third place, one out of the playoff, were second-round leaders Mark Hirsch of Lone Tree Golf Club and Michael Davis of Meadow Hills Golf Course, and Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe of The Club at Rolling Hills. Forey and Radcliffe closed with a 70 and Davis and Hirsch with a 72.

Forey and Radcliffe, who won the CGA Senior Four-Ball together in 2003 — Forey also won with a different partner in 2008 — on Wednesday earned the super-senior division title, which is limited to partners who are both 62 or older. The two 65-year-olds lapped the field in that division, winning by six strokes.

“I’ve been out of action (on the state scene competitively) for quite a while, so it feels really good to me,” said Radcliffe, the president of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. “Winning never gets old — anything — so I’m happy as heck. It’s renewed my interest in playing more golf.”

Said Forey: “We’ve won or tied for the super-seniors a few times. It’s always fun to win. But it’s always hard to come up one short (of the playoff for the overall title). Today was tough conditions and we just didn’t get it done.”

Finishing second among the super seniors were Dave Merritt and Bill Stevens of Meridian Golf Club, who shot a final-round 73.

For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.

Thirteen teams broke 70 in round 1 of the scratch better-ball competition at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, with 2016 champs Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills, and 2003 winners Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe, both also from Rolling Hills, sitting atop the leaderboard.

Polk also won the Senior Four-Ball title in 2005 and ’07, while Forey also won in 2008.

Polk and Fowler, a former CGA president, made a better-ball eagle, six birdies and a bogey on Monday. Polk carded a 67 on his own ball. (Polk and Fowler are pictured, with Polk at left.)

Radcliffe, the president of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, and Forey also recorded a better-ball eagle, six birdies and a bogey in round 1.

Sharing third place at 66 with two rounds remaining in the Senior Four-Ball are Guy Mertz and Tony Workman from The Fox Hill Club, and Mark Hirsch of Lone Tree Golf Club and Michael Davis of Meadow Hills Golf Course. Hirsch posted a 68 on his own ball and Mertz a 70.

Defending champions Doug Moore and Raymond Kelley of Lone Tree Golf Club opened with a better-ball 73.

In the super-senior division, for players 62 and older, Forey and Radcliffe’s 65 is good for a three-stroke advantage over Bill Stevens and Dave Merritt of Meridian Golf Club.

The CGA Senior Four-Ball will continue through Wednesday.

For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.

The Porters made eight birdies on Saturday in the modified Chapman format. They reeled off four straight birdies beginning on the sixth hole, their fifth of the day.

Nick Nosewicz, the 2015 CGA Match Play champion, and Lenny Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course trail by one heading into Sunday’s final round, which will feature foursome stroke play (alternate shot). The Nosewiczes eagled the par-5 17th hole and added five birdies in a bogey-free round of 65 on Saturday. Their 13-under 59 leads the net division of the championship.

Bill Fowler, the 2015 CGA Senior Amateur champion, and son Will of The Club at Rolling Hills checked in at 66 to stand in third place in the gross division.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Gary Potter of Denver Country Club and Matt Potter of CommonGround, who won the first two CGA Parent/Child titles — in 1983 and ’84 when the tournament was known as the Father/Son — share fourth place at 67 with Bradley and Daniel Becker of Plum Creek Golf Club.

Defending champions Ray and Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club opened with a 68 in Jimmy’s final tournament as an amateur.

For all the gross and net scores from Saturday, CLICK HERE. 

The CGA Senior Four-Ball will be contested for the 36th time when Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield hosts the 54-hole two-man scratch best-ball stroke-play event Monday through Wednesday (May 1-3).

In all, 47 teams are scheduled to compete.

Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and former CGA president Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills (pictured together last year) are set to defend their title. Polk has won the Senior Four-Ball three times with three different partners.

The team champions from five Senior Four-Balls since 2009 return intact for this year’s tournament. In addition to Polk/Fowler (2016), there’s David Delich and Bruce Hogg (2014), Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton (2009 and 2013), and John Applegate and Keith Masters (2011). Other former champions who are entered this year are Sean Forey (2003 and ’08, with Kevin Ott) and Bob Beiersdorf (2015, with Ed Spenner).

Among the other teams in the field are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore and Stephen Bell, 2016 CGA Senior Match Play champion Jeff Oneth and Tim Kneen, 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier Tom Krystyn and Michael Larson, former CGA Senior Match Play champ Guy Mertz and Tony Workman, and 2016 U.S. Senior Amateur match-play qualifier Robin Bradbury and Owen Ellis,

One wrinkle for this year’s CGA Senior Four-Ball is that no one under 51 will be in the field. In an effort to eventually match the age criteria for the U.S. Senior Amateur, which is limited to players 55 and older, each year beginning in 2017 the eligibility for CGA senior events will rise one year. So next year, for instance, the minimum age will be 52. From 2021 and beyond, competitors must be at least 55.

Meanwhile, CGA super-senior tournaments will similarly feature age adjustments, going to 61 and older in 2017 before leveling off at 65 and up in 2021.

For pairings for the Senior Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

When Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore was apprised of who stood atop the leaderboard with nine holes left in the 45th CGA Senior Amateur Championship, he noted, “It’s like a club championship.”

Indeed, with Club at Rolling Hills members Kevin Ott and Bill Fowler setting the pace throughout much of the CGA Senior Am — which just happened to be played at Rolling Hills — it had some of the flavor of an intraclub tournament.

And the final outcome on Thursday further bore that out. Ott and Fowler battled it out through the final round and ended up finishing 1-2, with Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club tying Fowler for the runner-up spot.

“This is definitely a home-course advantage, for sure,” Ott said after celebrating his 51st birthday with the victory. “… It’s got to be a couple strokes a day (advantage). It just is. It’s not an accident that (Fowler) and I were so high up (the leaderboard). It just helps. I’ve played these greens so much, I know how they’re going to break. But you still have to hit good putts.”

Ott (left and above) went wire-to-wire and fended off Fowler and Roos in claiming his first CGA championship. But it was definitely an eventful final few holes, with Ott going double bogey-double bogey-birdie, and Fowler going birdie-triple bogey-birdie.

“I tell you what: It was a rollercoaster,” Ott said of final stretch.

Ott took a three-stroke lead into the 16th hole Thursday, but a tee shot that went into the right trees, resulting in a pitch-out, led to a double bogey after he three-putted. And Fowler, last year’s champion, rolled in a 10-foot birdie to erase all of his three-shot deficit in one hole.

“I felt like I was going to do it,” Fowler said of winning a second straight title. “After I got even on 16, I thought, ‘You know what? I can do this.’ I thought it was my tournament to win, and that didn’t happen.”

Amazingly, Ott regained the lead on the 17th hole despite taking another double bogey. Both he and Fowler (left) missed the green on the par-3, and the defending champion mishit his short pitch shot from a tight lie and his ball ended up in the bunker that was between him and the hole. Fowler left his next shot — from a plugged lie — in the sand and ended up with a very costly triple bogey. Meanwhile, Ott couldn’t hold the green with his pitch, then took three to get down from there for his double bogey.

“I lost my focus,” said Fowler, a former CGA president. “After I pulled even with him through 16, I just didn’t gather myself and collect myself and play a smart 17th hole. That’s where you need a caddie to settle you down a little bit. I didn’t do what I needed to do.

“I had a little adrenaline, so I took one less club, then I mis-hit it. Then I had the tight lie, and the ball plugged in the bunker. It was a comedy of errors. “

All of which left Ott tied with Roos and one up on Fowler going into the final hole. There, Fowler hit the pin with his third shot on the par-5 and had just a foot left for his birdie. “It went down, half into the hole,” Ott said of Fowler’s approach shot. “I thought it was in. Somehow it just kind of rimmed out.”

Ott, who had driven over a ditch that crosses the 18th fairway then hit a hybrid to the front of the green, two-putted from about 70 feet for a birdie of his own. He knocked in a 3 footer and signaled the victory with a fist pump.

“I thought I gave it away after 16,” said Ott, who has competed in just a handful of CGA championships in his life. “Then Bill helped me out on 17, then I finished strong.

“This is the best win I’ve ever had by far. It’s unbelievable really. I never thought I’d pull it off.”

Ott, who also led after the first two days, closed with a 5-over-par 76 on Thursday, leaving him with a winning total of 6-over 219. “I made 10 birdies the first two days. I only made two today — and I needed those two,” Ott noted with relief.

Fowler ended up runner-up the year after winning, shooting a final-round 75. Tying him at 220 was Roos (left), who closed with a 72, matching the best round of the day on a Rolling Hills course that features very formidable greens.

Though Roos lamented parring the 18th hole — he put a 54-yard approach shot into a bunker, but got up and down for a 5 — his showing was a career-best of sorts.

“I feel good,” he said. “It’s the best finish I’ve ever had in a (CGA) major.”

Brian Woody of The Ridge at Castle Pines North placed fourth at 225, while three-time champion Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club ended up fifth at 226 as both carded 78s on Thursday.

Interestingly, while it wasn’t hard to predict that Rolling Hills members would do well at the Senior Amateur — given how confounding the greens can be for players unfamiliar with them — Ott (left) didn’t seem likely to head the local contingent. After all, Fowler was the defending champion in the event, Scott Radcliffe has won two CGA senior majors and Sean Forey was the 2010 CGA Senior Player of the Year.

But that’s part of the beauty of golf and other sports. There’s always a level of unpredictability that keeps things interesting.

After moving around as a youth — he lived in Australia and Indonesia, along with Colorado and Wyoming — Ott has resided in Colorado continuously since 1992. The Arvada resident joined Rolling Hills about 15 years ago, but interestingly, has never won an open-division club championship there.

“I’ve been second a lot,” Ott said. “Bill Fowler, Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe — they’re three of the best amateur golfers in the state. But this year I won the senior club championship with those three guys (in the field).”

And now, like those three players, Ott has earned statewide golf acclaim.
 

CGA Senior Amateur Championship
At Par-71 The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden

Kevin Ott, Club at Rolling Hills, 70-73-76–219
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75-72–220
Bill Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 72-73-75–220
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 75-72-78–225
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 73-75-78–226
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-73-79–228
Michael Smith, Rifle Creek GC, 74-74-80–228
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 75-76-78–229
Michael Larson, Boulder CC, 74-78-78–230
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 81-78-72–231
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 74-81-76–231
Lance Balthaser, Englewood GC, 77-79-76–232
Scott Radcliffe, Club at Rolling Hills, 75-79-78–232
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 76-73-83–232
Randy Dolan, CommonGround GC, 76-76-80–232
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 82-75-76–233
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 77-73-83–233
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 77-77-80–234
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills, 78-75-81–234
Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 73-82-79–234
Keith Atkins, Harmony Club, 79-77-78–234
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC, 78-75-81–234
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 80-77-78–235
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 75-79-81–235
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 79-76-80–235
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC, 75-79-82–236
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor, 78-76-82–236
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 72-78-87–237
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-76-82–237
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 76-80-81–237
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC, 75-78-84–237
Jay Orris, Boulder CC, 78-81-79–238
James Pullin, Collindale GC, 74-85-81–240
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines, 82-76-82–240
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 81-75-85–241
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 80-77-85–242
John Meredith, Indian Peaks GC, 78-81-83–242
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 84-75-85–244
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 81-78-DQ
Tom Musselman, Telluride GC, 75-78-WD
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 77-79-WD

Missed the 36-Hole Cut
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 80-80–160
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 77-83–160
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 82-78–160
Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC, 80-80–160
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club, 81-80–161
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 78-84–162
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 82-80–162
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC, 81-81–162
Doug Phelps, Foothills GC, 82-80–162
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 83-80–163
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-79–163
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC, 87-76–163
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 88-76–164
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC, 80-84–164
Mark Bedinger, Club at Rolling Hills, 81-83–164
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-80–164
Eugene Cahill, West Woods GC, 80-84–164
Mark Dunivan, Silver Spruce GC, 78-86–164
Dave Mittan, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 84-80–164
Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC, 85-81–166
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood CC, 85-81–166
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 86-81–167
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor, 84-84–168
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC, 80-88–168
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC, 87-81–168
Bob Rennick, Ironbridge GC, 86-82–168
Dan Grigsby, Todd Creek GC, 87-83–170
John Sostman, Meadows GC, 88-83–171
Scott Woodrum, Twin Peaks GC, 88-83–171
Paul Casey, Club at Rolling Hills, 82-89–171
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 87-85–172
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC, 83-89–172
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek GC, 82-90–172
Mark Breese, Indian Peaks GC, 84-88–172
Richard Kelly, Foothills GC, 87-87–174
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace GC, 88-87–175
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 88-92–180
Mark Lundquist, Fox Hollow GC, 101-92–193
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 80-WD
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer, 83-NC
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 80-WD
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 82-WD
Scott Fullmer, Colorado GC, 79-WD

First-round leader Kevin Ott retained his two-stroke lead by shooting a 2-over-par 73 on Wednesday, which left him at 1-over 143 going into Thursday’s final round. Like on Tuesday, Ott gave back three strokes in his final four holes Wednesday. He finished the day with four birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey on No. 15.

Holding down second place, just as he did after round 1, is defending champion Bill Fowler, also a Rolling Hills member. Like Ott, Fowler carded a 73 on Wednesday, leaving the 2015 winner at 145. After a first-nine 40 in round 2, Fowler closed strong, going 3 under par in his final five holes.

Fowler is attempting to become the first player since John Olive in 2001 and 2002 to win the CGA Senior Amateur in consecutive years.

Four other players are likewise within five strokes of the lead heading into the final round. Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North carded a 72 — the best score recorded on Wednesday — to stand in third place at 147. And three-time champion Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club (75 Wednesday), Michael Smith of Rifle Creek Golf Course (74) and Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club (75) share fourth place at 148.

The field was cut to the low 40 players and ties — which turned out to be the 41 golfers at 159 or better — after two rounds.

Ott, Fowler and Woody will tee off for Thursday’s final round at 9:57 a.m.

CGA Senior Amateur Championship
At Par-71 The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden

Kevin Ott, Club at Rolling Hills, 70-73–143
Bill Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 72-73–145
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 75-72–147
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 73-75–148
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75–148
Michael Smith, Rifle Creek GC, 74-74–148
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-73–149
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 76-73–149
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 72-78–150
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 77-73–150
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 75-76–151
Randy Dolan, CommonGround GC, 76-76–152
Michael Larson, Boulder CC, 74-78–152
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor, 78-74–152
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills, 78-75–153
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC, 75-78–153
Tom Musselman, Telluride GC, 75-78–153
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC, 78-75–153
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 77-77–154
Scott Radcliffe, Club at Rolling Hills, 75-79–154
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 75-79–154
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC, 75-79–154
Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 73-82–155
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-76–155
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 79-76–155
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 74-81–155
Lance Balthaser, Englewood GC, 77-79–156
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 77-79–156
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 76-80–156
Keith Atkins, Harmony Club, 79-77–156
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 81-75–156
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 80-77–157
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 82-75–157
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 80-77–157
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines, 82-76–158
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 81-78–159
James Pullin, Collindale GC, 74-85–159
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 84-75–159
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 81-78–159
John Meredith, Indian Peaks GC, 78-81–159
Jay Orris, Boulder CC, 78-81–159

Missed the 36-Hole Cut
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 80-80–160
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 77-83–160
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 82-78–160
Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC, 80-80–160
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club, 81-80–161
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 78-84–162
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 82-80–162
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC, 81-81–162
Doug Phelps, Foothills GC, 82-80–162
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 83-80–163
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-79–163
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC, 87-76–163
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 88-76–164
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC, 80-84–164
Mark Bedinger, Club at Rolling Hills, 81-83–164
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-80–164
Eugene Cahill, West Woods GC, 80-84–164
Mark Dunivan, Silver Spruce GC, 78-86–164
Dave Mittan, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 84-80–164
Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC, 85-81–166
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood CC, 85-81–166
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 86-81–167
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor, 84-84–168
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC, 80-88–168
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC, 87-81–168
Bob Rennick, Ironbridge GC, 86-82–168
Dan Grigsby, Todd Creek GC, 87-83–170
John Sostman, Meadows GC, 88-83–171
Scott Woodrum, Twin Peaks GC, 88-83–171
Paul Casey, Club at Rolling Hills, 82-89–171
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 87-85–172
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC, 83-89–172
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek GC, 82-90–172
Mark Breese, Indian Peaks GC, 84-88–172
Richard Kelly, Foothills GC, 87-87–174
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace GC, 88-87–175
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 88-92–180
Mark Lundquist, Fox Hollow GC, 101-92–193
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 80-WD
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer, 83-NC
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 80-WD
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 82-WD
Scott Fullmer, Colorado GC, 79-WD
 

Kevin Ott of Rolling Hills posted the only subpar round on Tuesday, firing a 1-under-par 70 for a two-stroke lead. And that was despite playing his final four holes in 3 over par. Overall for the day, Ott made six birdies and five bogeys.

And sharing second place, at 72, is another Rolling Hills member, defending Senior Amateur champion Bill Fowler. Fowler likewise tailed off at the end of his round, going 4 over on his last seven holes after being 3 under through 11.

Joining Fowler at 72 was Mike Lohse of West Woods Golf Club, who had a four-birdie day.

Three-time champion Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club shares fourth place at 73 with Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club and Dave R. Brown of Highlands Ranch Golf Club.

The 84-man field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after two rounds. The 54-hole tournament, known previously as the CGA Senior Stroke Play, will conclude on Thursday.

CGA Senior Amateur Championship
At Par-71 The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden

Kevin Ott, Club at Rolling Hills, 38-32–70
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 38-34–72
Bill Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 35-37–72
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 37-36–73
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 37-36–73
Dave R Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 37-36–73
James Pullin, Collindale GC, 35-39–74
Michael E Larson, Boulder CC, 33-41–74
Michael Allan Smith, Rifle Creek GC, 39-35–74
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 38-36–74
Scott Radcliffe, Club at Rolling Hills, 41-34–75
Mr. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 37-38–75
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC, 36-39–75
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 35-40–75
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC, 37-38–75
Tom Musselman, Telluride GC, 39-36–75
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 39-36–75
Mark W Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 37-39–76
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 40-36–76
Randy Dolan, CommonGround GC, 39-37–76
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 35-41–76
Lance Balthaser, Englewood GC, 36-41–77
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 37-40–77
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 38-39–77
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 36-41–77
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 37-40–77
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 40-38–78
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills, 37-41–78
John Meredith, Indian Peaks GC, 40-38–78
Jay Orris, Boulder CC, 35-43–78
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC, 40-38–78
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor, 37-41–78
Mark Dunivan, Silver Spruce GC, 37-41–78
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 39-40–79
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 36-43–79
Keith Atkins, Harmony Club, 35-44–79
Scott Fullmer, Colorado GC, 38-41–79
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 38-42–80
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 40-40–80
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 37-43–80
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 39-41–80
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 42-38–80
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC, 39-41–80
Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC, 36-44–80
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC, 40-40–80
Eugene Cahill, West Woods GC, 38-42–80
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 39-42–81
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club, 37-44–81
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 40-41–81
Mark Bedinger, Club at Rolling Hills, 41-40–81
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 40-41–81
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC, 42-39–81
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines, 41-41–82
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 38-44–82
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 41-41–82
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 40-42–82
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 39-43–82
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek GC, 40-42–82
Doug Phelps, Foothills GC, 42-40–82
Paul Casey, Club at Rolling Hills, 38-44–82
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC, 41-42–83
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 41-42–83
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer, 42-41–83
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 39-45–84
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor, 42-42–84
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 41-43–84
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 41-43–84
Dave Mittan, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 45-39–84
Mark Breese, Indian Peaks GC, 38-46–84
Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC, 41-44–85
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood CC, 43-42–85
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 43-43–86
Bob Rennick, Ironbridge GC, 43-43–86
Dan Grigsby, Todd Creek GC, 38-49–87
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 46-41–87
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC, 43-44–87
Richard Kelly, Foothills GC, 46-41–87
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC, 45-42–87
John Sostman, Meadows GC, 48-40–88
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 42-46–88
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 43-45–88
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace GC, 44-44–88
Scott Woodrum, Twin Peaks GC, 40-48–88
Mark Lundquist, Fox Hollow GC, 49-52–101