The Bridges Golf & Country Club (left) in Montrose will host the 36-hole stroke-play event, which runs Saturday and Sunday. Ninety-nine players are signed up for the competition.
Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines, who won last year’s open division by three strokes, will be back to defend his title. The University of Colorado golfer has put up some notable finishes in the last few months, placing second individually in the Pac-12 Conference Championship and being runner-up in the CGA Match Play.
Also in the open field are Chris Carlson of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, a former CGA Mid-Amateur champion who placed third in the Western Chapter last year, and former CGA Four-Ball champion Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course.
Defending his senior division championship this weekend will be Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North. Likewise competing among the seniors are Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, and 2017 Senior POY Keith Atkins of Highland Meadows Golf Course.
For Saturday’s pairings in the Western Chapter Championship, CLICK HERE.
]]>It’s been a long time since Ross Macdonald tasted victory in a golf tournament, but a trip out west worked wonders.
The University of Colorado golfer ended the drought on Sunday with a three-shot win in the 35th CGA Western Chapter Championship at Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction. It was the first victory in almost three years for the golfer from the Country Club at Castle Pines — since he claimed two significant Colorado junior titles in 2014.
“It’s been a while,” said the 21-year-old, who won the 2013 and ’14 Colorado Junior Amateur. “So this means everything. It’s awesome to be able to finally get it done. That feeling of winning a tournament is really cool.”
This weekend marked Macdonald’s first time competing in the Western Chapter Championship.
“I know I’ve been close to winning a tournament,” he said. “That’s actually why I went out here. I wanted to get a win. Obviously I got that done, so it feels good. That gets the confidence up.”
Macdonald, who redshirted last season at CU, put together two very strong rounds at Tiara Rado, going 67-66 for a 9-under-par 133 total. Only one other player — University of Denver golfer Isaac Petersilie from Colorado Springs Country Club — finished under par for two rounds.
Macdonald made a dozen birdies over 36 holes and his 66 on Sunday matches his low tournament score ever.
“I was hitting the ball in really good spots off the tee,” he said. “My wedges were really dialed in and I was making some solid putts. I didn’t ever do anything erratic the whole week(end), so I think that helped out a lot.”
Petersilie, who followed up Macdonald’s Junior Amateur wins with a victory in that event in 2015, matched Macdonald’s 66 on Sunday to check in at 136. Petersilie also had a seven-birdie, two-bogey day in round 2.
Petersilie, a former state high school champion, started round 2 three back of Macdonald, but he caught the CU golfer with his seventh birdie of the day, at No. 14. Macdonald pulled back in front — for good — with a birdie on No. 15, then a Petersilie bogey on 16 and a Macdonald birdie on 18 accounted for the three-shot margin of victory.
Claiming third place on Sunday was Chris Carlson of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, who carded back-to-back 71s for a 142 total. Barrett Jones of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, runner-up in the CGA Junior Am earlier this week, ended up fourth at 143 after a closing 73.
In the senior division, Brian Woody (left) of the Ridge at Castle Pines North went wire-to-wire for the title. He shot a 4-over-par 75 on Sunday, giving him a 5-over 147 total and a two-stroke victory. Woody’s second round was highlighted by an eagle on the 455-yard par-5 second hole.
Keith Atkins of Highland Meadows Golf Course placed second at 149 after posting a 73 on Sunday. Former CGA Senior Player of the Year Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch tied for third at 151, along with Owen Ellis of Flatirons Golf Course, Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club, Shane Unfred of Highland Meadows and Gary Driber of the Ridge at Castle Pines North.
For scores from the Western Chapter Championship, 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
Now that’s what you call a hat trick.
And how appropriate for a former hockey standout at Colorado College.
David Delich of the Broadmoor Golf Club ended defending champion Tom Musselman’s 11-match win streak in the CGA Senior Match Play, and in the process captured his third title in the event and put himself into very elite company.
With his victories in 2007, ’11 and ’15, Delich became the sixth player to win at least three Senior Match titles, joining Colorado Golf Hall of Famers John Olive (four), Larry Eaton (four), Ed Nosewicz Sr. (four) and Les Fowler (three), along with Bert Welz (four).
“I don’t know if I deserve to be in that company,” Delich said. “I’m just a hockey player that masquerades as a part-time golfer. I know most of the names on that list, and most are Colorado Golf Hall of Famers and have done a lot for the (CGA) over the years. Les Fowler and Eaton really contributed a lot to Colorado golf.
“To be part of any group like that is kind of humbling because hockey is kind of where I got my lists made, so it’s a special thing to have happen. I’ve been on the short end of this thing too (in the finals), so it feels special when you can get it done. They’re so hard to win.”
On Saturday, Delich (above and left) scratched his every-four-year itch in the event by defeating Musselman, from Telluride Ski & Golf Club, 2 and 1 in the championship match at the Club at Ravenna.
Delich battled back from being 2 down for several holes on the front nine. In fact, Musselman missed a 3 1/2-foot birdie putt on No. 4 that would have put him 3 up.
Delich didn’t take his first lead until No. 13, where Musselman missed a 5-foot par putt. Musselman likewise bogeyed the next hole after hitting it into the water, with Delich’s conceded birdie putting him 2 up.
Musselman, who was playing in the Senior Match Play finals for the third consecutive year, cut the deficit to 1 down as he sank an 8-foot par putt on No. 16 while Delich three-putted for bogey.
But the 58-year-old Delich closed things out on No. 17 when he drained an 18-foot downhill birdie putt and Musselman left his 5-footer for birdie short of the cup.
“I wasn’t going to take the chance that he was going to miss,” Delich said, “My putt was 5 feet by the hole if it doesn’t hit the hole. I was not going to leave it short. I had the line and it held the line because of the speed and it went into the center. I was due.”
Musselman (left), meanwhile, felt like the putter let him down as he missed five putts inside of 10 feet in the title match.
“This one I didn’t deserve,” he said. “I putted very poorly all week. If you can’t putt well, if you can’t read the greens, then you shouldn’t win.
“In this match, I was totally in control of my game, then I let the putting woes get the best of me. Mentally, it was almost like it didn’t matter how well I hit the ball. I wasn’t going to get it in the hole so … It just irritated me all day.”
Musselman was 3 under par through seven holes, with 6-inch birdies on Nos. 6 and 7. But a poorly struck approach shot on 8 seemed to get him out of rhythm. That shot left him with a long bunker shot, which he thinned over the green and immediately conceded the hole. Musselman would manage just one other birdie the rest of the match.
“I had it dialed in the first six or seven holes. I mean, I felt it,” said Musselman, who will turn 55 next week. “Then I hit that errant shot — that was odd — then the putting woes.
“I hit two good chip shots and 10 and 13. When I missed those little putts I knew that it wasn’t going to happen.”
Meanwhile, Delich finished the final 4 under par through 17 holes.
For Delich (left), it was his fifth individual CGA championship as he’s claimed a Mid-Amateur and a Senior Stroke Play to go along with his three Senior Match Plays. He’s been a finalist in the Senior Match Play four times in his nine years competing in the event.
“It’s emotional,” said Delich, who also has captured two Southern California senior titles. “You don’t know how many chances you’re going to get. You just don’t know when the last one is; you really don’t.”
So far, it’s been a good golf season for Delich, the 2012 runner-up in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open. Besides Saturday’s victory, he and partner Ben Hargis won the senior title at the Charlie Coe Invitational, and Delich is an alternate for the U.S. Senior Open later this month.
Earlier in the day on Saturday, Delich was pushed to the 18th hole in the semifinals by Robin Bradbury of Heritage at Westmoor. Delich hit a stellar flop shot for a gimme birdie with little green to work with for a halve on 18 to post a 1-up win. Musselman beat Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North in the other semi, 3 and 2.
Delich’s victory gave the Broadmoor a sweep of the titles at Ravenna. On Thursday, John Olive of the Broadmoor captured the CGA Super-Senior Match Play championship when he defeated Roger Gunderson of CommonGround Golf Course in the final, 1 up. For that story, CLICK HERE.
“I was very happy for John,” said Delich, who defeated Olive in the Senior Match Play final in 2007, denying Olive a record fifth title. “For him to get another notch and keep playing at a high level for as many decades as he has done (is special). Yeah, he and I will celebrate. I’m really happy we can share this. We’ll have a good laugh when we get down to the Springs.”
CGA Senior Match Play
At Par-71 Club at Ravenna in Littleton
SENIOR DIVISION
Round of 64
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1) def. David Draper, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club (64), 2 and 1
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club (32) def. Todd Vaughn, Willis Case Golf Course (33), 1 up
Rob McLelland, Clubcorp Colorado (16) def. Jim LeMar, Meadows Golf Club (49), 19 holes
Paul Karsen, Meridian Golf Club (17) def. Louie Jardon, Springs Ranch Golf Club (48), 4 and 2
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (8) def. Pat Bucci, West Woods Golf Club (57), 1 up
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (40) def. Terry Lorenz, Pinehurst Country Club (25), 4 and 3
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (9) def. James Pullin, Olde Course at Loveland (56), 1 up
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (24) def. Randall Dolan, Commonground Golf Course (41), 4 and 2
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour Denver (4) def. Doug Jones, Tiara Rado Golf Course (61), 6 and 5
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League (29) def. Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (36), 3 and 1
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor (13) def. Jim Dawson, Hyland Hills (52), 5 and 3
Dan Reedy, Boulder Country Club (45) def. Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (20), 2 and 1
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor (5) def. Mark Bedinger, Rolling Hills, the Club at (60), 4 and 3
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (28) def. Stan Woodworth, Cherokee Ridge GC (37), 19 holes
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club (53) def. Rick George, Castle Pines Golf Club (12), 1 up
Greg Thiesen, Columbine Country Club (21) def. Chuck Delich, Eisenhower Golf Club (44), 5 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2) def. Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills Golf Course (63), 6 and 5
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club (31) def. Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club (34), 1 up
Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance Golf Club (50) def. Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course (15), 5 and 4
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (18) def. Frank Wilson, Lakewood Country Club (47), 6 and 4
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf Club (7) def. Andy Schroeder, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club (58), 2 up
Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club (39) def. Bob Kubiak, South Suburban Golf Course (26), 6 and 5
Robert West, Cherry Creek Country Club (10) def. Peter O’Connell, Commonground Golf Course (55), 3 and 1
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (42) def. Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club (23), 4 and 3
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course (3) def. Bart Barnett, The Club at Cordillera (62), 4 and 3
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett Golf Course (30) def. Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s (35), 1 up
Paul Edwards, Meridian Golf Club (14) def. Charlie Post, Colorado Golf Club (51), 3 and 2
Jerry Beren, Lone Tree Golf Club (46) def. Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor (19), 2 and 1
Lance Balthaser, Englewood Men’s Golf Club (6) def. Carl Merkel, Riverdale Golf Club (59), 4 and 3
Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (27) def. Randy Kippes, Saddle Rock Golf Course (38), 3 and 1
Richard Kelly, Foothills Golf Course (54) def. Bob Filer, Club at Flying Horse (11), 3 and 2
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. John Sostman, Meadows Golf Club (22), 8 and 6
Round of 32
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1) def. Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club (32), 1 up
Paul Karsen, Meridian Golf Club (17) def. Rob McLelland, Clubcorp Colorado (16), 1 up
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (40) def. Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (8), 4 and 3
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (24) def. Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (9), 2 and 1
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour Denver (4) def. Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League (29), 20 holes
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor (13) def. Dan Reedy, Boulder Country Club (45), 5 and 4
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (28) def. Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor (5), 1 up
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club (53) def. Greg Thiesen, Columbine Country Club (21), 2 and 1
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2) def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club (31), 3 and 2
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (18) def. Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance Golf Club (50), 6 and 4
Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club (39) def. Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf Club (7), 2 and 1
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (42) def. Robert West, Cherry Creek Country Club (10), 3 and 1
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course (3) def. Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett Golf Course (30), 2 and 1
Paul Edwards, Meridian Golf Club (14) def. Jerry Beren, Lone Tree Golf Club (46), 4 and 3
Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (27) def. Lance Balthaser, Englewood Men’s Golf Club (6), 1 up
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. Richard Kelly, Foothills Golf Course (54), 2 and 1
Round of 16
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1) def. Paul Karsen, Meridian Golf Club (17), 3 and 2
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (24) def. Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (40), 1 up
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour Denver (4) def. Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor (13), 1 up
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (28) def. Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club (53), 6 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2) def. Mr. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (18), 5 and 4
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (42) def. Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club (39), 3 and 2
Paul Edwards, Meridian Golf Club (14) def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course (3), 3 and 2
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (27), Withdrew
Quarterfinals
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1) def. Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (24), 6 and 5
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (28) def. Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour Denver (4), 2 and 1
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (42) def. Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2), 2 up
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. Paul Edwards, Meridian Golf Club (14), 4 and 3
Semifinals
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1) def. Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (28), 3 and 2
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (42), 1 up
Final
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club (43) def. Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (1), 2 and 1.
Stroke Play Qualifying
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course 32-37–69
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club 34-35–69
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour Denver 34-36–70
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor 37-35–72
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf Club 33-40–73
Lance Balthaser, Englewood Men’s Golf Club 35-38–73
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor 36-38–74
Bob Filer, Club at Flying Horse 38-36–74
Robert West, Cherry Creek Country Club 37-37–74
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club 36-38–74
Rick George, Castle Pines Golf Club 34-41–75
Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course 36-40–76
Paul Edwards, Meridian Golf Club 38-38–76
Paul Karsen, Meridian Golf Club 36-40–76
Rob McLelland, Clubcorp Colorado 36-40–76
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor 40-36–76
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club 35-42–77
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor 37-40–77
Greg Thiesen, Columbine Country Club 38-39–77
John Sostman, Meadows Golf Club 34-43–77
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club 39-38–77
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course 36-41–77
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club 35-42–77
Bob Kubiak, South Suburban Golf Course 35-43–78
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North 38-40–78
Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines 37-41–78
Terry Lorenz, Pinehurst Country Club 41-37–78
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 38-41–79
Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course 38-41–79
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett Golf Course 41-38–79
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League 39-40–79
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club 38-41–79
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club 38-41–79
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s 38-41–79
Stan Woodworth, Cherokee Ridge GC 39-40–79
Todd Vaughn, Willis Case Golf Course 37-42–79
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club 41-39–80
Randy Kippes, Saddle Rock Golf Course 37-43–80
Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club 35-45–80
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower Golf Club 40-41–81
Dan Reedy, Boulder Country Club 37-44–81
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club 38-43–81
Randall Dolan, Commonground Golf Course 42-39–81
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 39-42–81
Frank Wilson, Lakewood Country Club 40-42–82
Jerry Beren, Lone Tree Golf Club 37-45–82
Jim LeMar, Meadows Golf Club 41-41–82
Louie Jardon, Springs Ranch Golf Club 39-43–82
Charlie Post, Colorado Golf Club 40-43–83
Jim Dawson, Hyland Hills 39-44–83
Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance Golf Club 42-41–83
Andy Schroeder, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 40-44–84
Carl Merkel, Riverdale Golf Club 45-39–84
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club 41-43–84
James Pullin, Olde Course at Loveland 41-43–84
Pat Bucci, West Woods Golf Club 40-44–84
Peter O’Connell, Commonground Golf Course 43-41–84
Richard Kelly, Foothills Golf Course 41-43–84
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado Golf Course 42-43–85
Mark Bedinger, Rolling Hills, the Club at 40-45–85
Bart Barnett, The Club at Cordillera 43-43–86
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills Golf Course 38-48–86
David Draper, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club 45-42–87
The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer proved that again on Thursday.
Just a couple of months shy of his 70th birthday, Olive defeated Roger Gunderson of CommonGround Golf Course, another winner of multiple CGA titles, 1 up in Thursday’s final of the CGA Super-Senior Match Play at the Club at Ravenna in Littleton.
Asked what another state title means to him, Olive said, “It means that it might be the last one. I don’t know how many more I’ll have to play in. Roger and I are very fortunate that we’re not only still upright but that we still do pretty well (golf-wise).”
Indeed, this Super-Senior Match Play reflected well on the older competitors. Even though anyone age 60 and up who meets the playing standard can compete, the final featured one guy 69 (Olive) and another 71 (Gunderson).
Olive two-putted for par from long range at No. 18, then watched as Gunderson missed a 10-foot birdie putt that would have forced extra holes.
“I breathed a sigh of relief,” Olive said. “We both played some very nice golf at times.”
In a match that was all square after 10, Olive had a 2-up advantage through 16 — after the players halved No. 15 with birdies. But Olive three-putted No. 17 for par — as Gunderson birdied — to force the match to the 18th hole.
The end result was a reverse of last year’s Super-Senior semifinals, when Gunderson defeated Olive. Gunderson has finished second in the last two Super-Senior Match Plays.
For Olive, it was his 11th individual CGA championship, but his first in the Super-Senior Match Play. He’s also won five Senior Stroke Plays, four Senior Match Plays and the 1977 Stroke Play. Olive also has the distinction of being the only amateur to prevail in the Colorado Senior Open (in 1999), and he’s won state senior amateur titles in California and Arizona.
Though Thursday’s final — which was played a day earlier than scheduled because of the threat of bad weather on Friday — went down to the wire, that was the exception for Olive this week. He won his previous matches by large margins: 5 and 4, 7 and 6, 4 and 3, and 7 and 6. The Air Force Academy graduate was 4 under par in his 7-and-6 semifinal victory Thursday morning over top-seeded Jim Reynolds of Bear Creek Golf Club.
“I had to focus,” said Olive, a seven-time CGA Senior Player of the Year. “I slipped back into tournament mode and was very pleased with how played. It was very nice.
“It feels very good to win again.”
Meanwhile, in the CGA Senior Match Play for competitors 50 and older, two former champions won two matches on Thursday to advance to Friday’s semifinals.
That includes 2014 winner Tom Musselman of Telluride Ski & Golf Club, who posted 3 and 2, and 6 and 5 victories on Thursday. And David Delich of the Broadmoor, who’s captured Senior Match Play titles in 2007 and ’11, prevailed 4 and 3 in the quarterfinals after his round-of-16 opponent withdrew.
In Friday morning’s semifinals, Musselman will face Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North, and Delich will take on Robin Bradbury of Heritage at Westmoor, who defeated former champion Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club 2 up in the quarterfinals. Bradbury won the last three holes of that match, going par-birdie-birdie.
The winners of the semifinals will square off for the Senior Match Play title beginning late in the morning on Friday.
For the Senior bracket, CLICK HERE. For the Super-Senior bracket, CLICK HERE.
CGA Senior Match Play
At Club at Ravenna in Littleton
SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION
Round of 32
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club (1) def. John Leamon, Littleton Golf & Tennis Club (32), 5 and 4
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (17) def. Dan Birnley, Conquistador Golf Course (16), 3 and 1
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (8) def. Gary Guilford, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (25), 3 and 2
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf & CC (9) def. Ken Tai, Perry Park Country Club (24), 2 and 1
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (4) def. Marc Sims, Eisenhower Golf Club (29), 5 and 4
Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado (20) def. Roger Lawson, Wellshire Golf Course (13), 1 up
Gary Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club (5) def. Ron Crowder, Broadmoor Golf Club (28), 6 and 5
John Callahan, South Suburban Family Sports (12) def. Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park Golf Course (21), 4 and 3
Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan Country Club (2) def. Danny Wyrick, West Woods Golf Club (31), 1 up
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (15) def. Steven Humphrey, Legacy Ridge Golf Course (18), By Default
Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course (7) def. Vance Adler, Country Club at Castle Pines (26), 3 and 2
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (10) def. Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan Country Club (23), 3 and 2
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course (3) def. John Warkentin, Inverness Golf Club (30), 3 and 2
Fredrick Steffers, Eisenhower Golf Club (14) def. Randy Miller, Boulder Country Club (19), 19 holes
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (6) def. Lawrence Covell, Country Club at Castle Pines (27), 1 up
Craig Stephenson, Saddle Rock Golf Course (22) def. Mark Barkley, Canongate Colorado (11), 6 and 5
Round of 16
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club (1) def. Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (17), 3 and 2
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf & CC (9) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (8), 2 and 1
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (4) def. Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado (20), 7 and 6
Gary Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club (5) def. John Callahan, South Suburban Family Sports (12), 5 and 3
Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan Country Club (2) def. Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (15), 3 and 2
Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course (7) def. Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (10), 19 holes
Fredrick Steffers, Eisenhower Golf Club (14) def. Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course (3), 1 up
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (6) def. Craig Stephenson, Saddle Rock Golf Course (22), 3 and 1
Quarterfinals
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club (1) def. Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend Golf & CC (9), 2 and 1
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (4) def. Gary Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club (5), 4 and 3
Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course (7) def. Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan Country Club (2), 3 and 2
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (6) def. Fredrick Steffers, Eisenhower Golf Club (14), 2 and 1
Semifinals
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (4) def. Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club (1), 7 and 6
Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course (7) def. Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (6), 4 and 3
Finals
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (4) def. Roger Gunderson, Commonground Golf Course (7), 1 up