Two years ago, the Columbine Country Club member teamed up with Jason Enloe to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. In 2009, he paired with Steve Irwin to win the CGA Four-Ball. And in 2016, he and Trent Isgrig, who now plays out of Cherry Hills Country Club, finished runner-up in that same CGA event.

And this week, it appears Buecking and Isgrig will make another run at the CGA Four-Ball title.

The pair (pictured, with Isgrig at left) bolted from the gate on Friday, shooting a 10-under-par 62 at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster in the opening round of the scratch better-ball event.

Buecking and Isgrig made an eagle (by Isgrig on the par-5 11th) and eight birdies on Friday to grab a two-stroke lead in the 54-hole event.

Defending champions Jon Lindstrom and Richard Bradsby of Lakewood Country Club went bogey-free with eight better-ball birdies to shoot a 64 and hold down second place. Lindstrom, a three-time winner of this event, shot a 7-under-par 65 on his own ball in round 1, while Bradsby posted a 69.

Another team of former champions sits in third place, at 7-under 65. Sam Marley and James Richardson of South Suburban Golf Course won this title on 2015. On Friday, Marley, a University of Northern Colorado golfer, carded a 66 on his own.

Tied at 66 are 2017 CGA Player of the Year Jake Staiano and Pierce Aichinger from Glenmoor Country Club, and Alan Boyko of CommonGround Golf Course and Dean Siskowski of Collindale Golf Course.

The championship will continue through Sunday.

For all the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

So far this week, we’ve seen Colorado State University teammates Ellen Secor and Katrina Prendergast win a national title at the U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball, and Bill Fowler hole a 60-foot birdie putt in a playoff to give he and partner Robert Polk the victory at the CGA Senior Four-Ball.

And now it’s time for the open-division CGA Four-Ball Championship, which will be contested Friday through Sunday (May 4-6) at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

A full field of 60 teams is scheduled to compete in the scatch Four-Ball over 54 holes, including defending champions Jon Lindstrom and Richard Bradsby of Lakewood Country Club. Lindstrom is one of two three-time winners of the CGA Four-Ball, along with fellow Lakewood CC member Steve Irwin. Lindstrom, a three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion, has earned Four-Ball titles in 2002, 2012 and 2017.

Other former CGA Four-Ball champions in the field this weekend are Sam Marley and James Richardson of South Suburban Golf Course (2015), and Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club and Jared Bickling of Gypsum Creek Golf Course (2014). Alex Buecking of Columbine Country Club won in 2009 and will team this year with Trent Isgrig of Cherry Hills Country Club.

Polk, of Colorado Golf Club, will try to win two CGA titles in a week as he’ll team with Jeff Chapman of Inverness Golf Club, who last year was paired with Andrew Tapia and lost in a playoff to Lindstrom and Bradsby.

Among the other teams in the field are Chris Thayer (a two-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion) and Nick Nosewicz (winner of the 2015 CGA Match Play); Jake Staiano (2017 CGA Player of the Year) and Pierce Aichinger (2015 Colorado Junior Match Play champion); Kyle Danford (two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier) and David Johnson, who qualified together for the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.

For Friday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

(NOTE: The original version of this story said that Jon Lindstrom was the only three-time winner of the CGA Four-Ball, but Steve Irwin has also won the event three times — in 2004, ’09 and ’16.)

——————————————-

Jon Lindstrom went where just one man has gone before in the CGA Four-Ball Championship, and he and Richard Bradsby established a new team standard for the event.

Lindstrom became the second person to win the CGA Four-Ball at least three times — joining Steve Irwin with a trio of victories — and Lindstrom and fellow Lakewood Country Club member Bradsby posted the lowest total score by the winners of the championship since it went to 54 holes in 2011.

A day after scorching CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora with a tournament-best 11-under-par 60 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play format, Lindstrom and Bradsby prevailed in a playoff on Sunday, with Lindstrom pitching to 2 1/2 feet and draining the winning birdie putt on the first extra hole. (The champions are pictured, with Bradsby in light blue.)

“I’ve spent the last two weeks working with my instructor on shots just like that (pitch),” Lindstrom said. “I couldn’t wait to hit it, to be honest with you.”

Lindstrom, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Amateur titles and three Mid-Ams overall, and Bradsby finished at 22-under-par 191 after a closing 65. Also at that figure were 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers Jeff Chapman from Inverness Golf Club and Andrew Tapia from The Ridge at Castle Pines North. 

Chapman made a hole-in-one on his first hole of the day, the 148-yard second, with a 9-iron. It was his second career ace. Then five holes later, on the par-5 seventh, Tapia added an eagle of his own as the team shot a 10-under-par 61 in regulation on Sunday. But in the playoff, neither Chapman nor Tapia could birdie the par-5 18th. Tapia was in deep rough off the tee and settled for par. And, after a very long drive, Chapman was just off the green in two, but his chip stopped 20 feet short of the hole and he missed his birdie attempt. (The runners-up are pictured at left, with Chapman in yellow shirt.)

“I didn’t hit a very good chip there; it just didn’t release,” Chapman said.

Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano, of Glenmoor Country Club, and Blake Cannon finished in third place, one out of the playoff. They birdied the last four holes — and nine of their last 12 — to shoot 64. 

Sunday’s CGA title was the eighth for the 49-year-old Lindstrom, who has three Mid-Ams, three Four-Balls and two Two-Mans with Dean Clapp to his credit. Lindstrom’s previous Four-Ball championships came with Clapp (2012) and Rick Larson (2002). Lindstrom and Clapp also finished second in a playoff in 2009.

“I just like doing (team events),” Lindstrom said. “If we make a bogey, I take ownership. It’s just a lot of fun. You’re strategizing around the shots and what to hit.”

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old Bradsby claimed his first CGA title on Sunday, though he has won two other four-ball championships in the last year — The Broadmoor Invitation in 2016 with Irwin and the The Gallery Invitational in Marana, Ariz., two weeks ago with Brian Dorfman, the 2012 CGA Match Play champion.

“It feels great (to break through in a CGA championship),” Bradsby said. “I was close on this one a few years ago (in 2014, when he and Lindstrom finished second), so it was nice to get across the line.

“Four-ball events have been good to me. I tend to be pretty steady. I can be in play quite a bit and am comfortable with the pressure when you really need to get something done and your partner is in trouble.”

On Sunday, Bradsby helped get himself and Lindstrom into a playoff with a 4-foot eagle on the 11th hole — after a 7-iron approach from 190 yards — and a 15-foot birdie on No. 15 after the team had suffered a bogey on the previous hole.

Lindstrom, who had shot 64 on his own ball in Saturday’s round, carded five birdies between holes 5 and 13 on Sunday, in addition to the winner in the playoff.

The champions were paired in the final round with Staiano and Cannon, who are their juniors by more than a quarter-century. 

“I’ve played with those guys (college golfers) enough times that I don’t try to hit it up there with them,” Lindstrom noted. “I have a game plan. Once in a while you notice they’re 60 yards by you. That’s cool. In the end (it may or may not make a difference).

“There’s a challenge to it knowing you’ve got 7-iron in (for an approach shot) and they’ve got wedge and you try to beat them. It kind of motivates you.”

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Lindstrom, a two-time Four-Ball champion, and Bradsby, the 2016 Broadmoor Invitation winner with then-partner Steve Irwin, made 11 birdies and no bogeys in round 2 to go up by two strokes heading into Sunday’s final round. Their 60 was the best score — by three strokes — in this year’s tournament. After tallying birdies on each of their last four holes on Saturday, they stand at 16-under-par 126 after 36 holes.

Lindstrom has won the CGA Mid-Amateur title three times, including each of the past two years.

Sitting in second place going into Sunday are Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano, from Glenmoor Country Club, and Blake Cannon, who are at 128 after a second-round 65. They racked up eight birdies on Saturday, with all of them coming on the first 10 holes at CommonGround.

Two other teams in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event are also sub-130 through two days. Nick Nosewicz, the 2015 CGA Match Play champion from Meadow Hills Golf Course, and Tom Krystyn of CommonGround checked in at 129 after a bogey-free 63 in round 2. Also at that figure are Taylor Kennedy of Columbine Country Club and Alex Leonida of The Ridge at Castle Pines North, who made an eagle and five birdies in Saturday’s 64.

Sam Marley and James Richardson of South Suburban Golf Course, and Alex Buecking and Sean Crowley of Columbine Country Club, who shared the lead with Staiano and Cannon after round 1, dropped back with a 69 and a 68, respectively, on Saturday.

Lindstrom and Bradsby, and Staiano and Cannon will be paired together for Sunday’s final round.

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Also starting with 63s were 2009 champion Alex Buecking and teammate Sean Crowley from Columbine Country Club, and Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano (from Glenmoor Country Club) and Blake Cannon.

There were also four 64s in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event that will continue through Sunday: 2016 CGA Parent/Child champions Ray and Jimmy Makloski from Pueblo Country Club; 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball teammates Andrew Tapia of The Ridge at Castle Pines North and Jeff Chapman of Inverness Golf Club; John Hayes of CommonGround Golf Course and Dallas Massey of South Suburban; and Calum White and Scott Crawford of Murphy Creek Golf Course, who made two eagles on Friday (both by Crawford), including one at the 355-yard, par-4 eighth hole.

In all, 11 teams shot 65 or lower on Friday.

Marley, a University of Northern Colorado golfer, and Richardson, the 2015 champions, reeled off five consecutive birdies in the middle of their round and eight overall. (The two are pictured, with Marley in black.)

Buecking, a quarterfinalist in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball with Jason Enloe, and Crowley also chalked up eight birdies in a bogey-free day.

Staiano, who will play as an individual for CSU in the NCAA Regionals later this month, and Cannon finished with nine birdies and a bogey on the par-3 12th hole.

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

Last year’s CGA Four-Ball was conducted in October after a May snowstorm caused it to be postponed. And now the 2017 edition of the tournament is on tap Friday through Sunday (May 5-7) at CGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

A full field of 60 two-man teams is set to compete, though 2016 champions Steve Irwin and Barry Erwin are not in the field. In fact, only one team of former champions is back intact for this week’s tournament — 2015 winners James Richardson and Sam Marley.

Other former champions — competing with different partners this year than when they won — playing this week include Keith Humerickhouse (2014), Jon Lindstrom (2002 and ’12), Alex Buecking (2009) and Owen Ellis (2003). Buecking and his then-partner Jason Enloe advanced to the quarterfinals of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

This year’s CGA field in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event features impressive players from the high school, college and mid-amateur ranks.

In addition to the forementioned, they include Colorado State University golfers Jake Staiano and Blake Cannon; Alex Kephart and Kurtis Lucas, who will play in this year’s U.S. Four-Ball later this month; 2015 CGA Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz and 2016 U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifier Tom Krystyn; Lindstrom, a three-time CGA Mid-Am champ, and Richard Bradsby, winner of the 2016 Broadmoor Invitation with Irwin; NCAA Division I signees Jackson Solem and Daniel Pearson; two-time CGA Junior Amateur champ Ross Macdonald and Behrod Keshtavar; two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Kyle Danford and Dave Johnson; 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers Andrew Tapia and Jeff Chapman; and father and son Ray and Jimmy Makloski, the 2016 CGA Parent/Child champions.

For tee times for the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

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

Weather-permitting, of course.

Snow prevented the Four-Ball from being held in early May, but it’s back on the schedule for Friday through Sunday (Oct. 7-9) at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

A total of 45 two-person teams are entered in the 54-hole scratch best-ball stroke-play event.

Seven past CGA Four-Ball champions are entered, but just one intact team of past winners: Keith Humerickhouse and Jared Bickling, the 2014 champs from Gypsum Creek Golf Course. Other former winners of the Four-Ball scheduled to compete are two-time champions Steve Irwin (teaming with Barry Erwin) and Jon Lindstrom (with Richard Bradsby), along with Alex Buecking (with Trent Isgrig), James Richardson (with Justin Gold), and Michael Love (with Brian McCloy).

In May, Buecking advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, with his national teammate Jason Enloe of Dallas.

Also entered at Legacy Ridge are 2015 CGA Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz (teaming with Michael Bartley), and Ben Sherlund and Zach Fowlds, who qualifed together for the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball.

For Friday’s tee times for the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Sam Marley won his second CGA championship in less than 10 months, and he’s still only 18 years old. Meanwhile, James Richardson claimed his first CGA title at age 37.

Whatever the case, the teammates from South Suburban Golf Course were both overjoyed to strike pay-dirt Sunday at the CGA Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

“I’m 37. I should have been doing this (winning titles) when I was 18 — and I had my chances back then,” Richardson said. “This is a big one for sure.”

Marley and Richardson (pictured above), both of Centennial, reeled off five consecutive birdies Sunday in the better-ball event and chalked up nine overall in a bogey-free final round. After trailing by three entering the day, they closed with a 9-under-par 63 for a 21-under-par 195 total for three rounds.

Marley, who recently completed his freshman year on the University of Northern Colorado golf team, won the CGA Junior Match Play last July. Earning a second CGA title in less than a year was a nice bonus, especially at his young age.

“It’s exciting, definitely,” said Marley, an Arapahoe High School graduate and the son of South Suburban head professional Todd Marley. “The way we played today was pretty cool. But both of these wins are special.”

Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club, who competed in the 2011 U.S. Open, and Pat Diaz of Meridian Golf Club, who won the Four-Ball with Irwin in 2004, came in second Sunday at 197 after finishing with a 65 that featured nine birdies. (Irwin, in red shorts, and Diaz are pictured at left.)

Nick Nosewicz and Brian Richmeier of Meadow Hills Golf Course, who didn’t make a bogey for the first 36 holes and led after rounds 1 and 2, carded four bogeys Sunday and settled for a 70 and a 199 total, good for a share of third place.

“We were slow out of the gate and stumbled a bit, but we fought back,” said Richmeier, who with Nosewicz led by three going into the final day. “We’ll get ’em back next time.”

Joining Nosewicz and Richmeier at 199 were 2014 CGA Mid-Amateur champion Chris Thayer and Jadon Wiens of Bear Creek Golf Club, who closed with two consecutive 65s, and 2013 U.S. Amateur qualifier Kyle Danford of Fort Collins Country Club and Dave Johnson of Collindale Golf Club, who shot 67 on Sunday.

Though the 63 Marley and Richardson posted on Sunday was the second-best of the day — behind the 62 of 2014 champ Jared Bickling and teammate Stephen Baxter — the golfers from South Suburban initially thought it might not be good enough for the title.

“We knew it was a good round, but I didn’t think it was good enough to win it outright,” Richardson said. “Things came easy today, but my mentality was always more, more, more.”

Both teammates contributed significantly on Sunday as Marley made six birdies and Richardson four. But Richardson said Marley’s play during Saturday’s 68 made the difference.

“We would have never been in this position if he hadn’t played the way he did yesterday,” Richardson noted. “I didn’t make a single birdie and was hitting it everywhere. He made six birdies and we shot 4 under. If he doesn’t play good yesterday, we don’t have a chance.”

Richardson, brother of 1998 CGA Match Play champ Tom Richardson, teamed with Tom last year in his first CGA Four-Ball, placing 14th. James Richardson competed in the 1995 U.S. Junior Amateur, then when on to play golf at UNC.

As for Marley, it was his first time playing the CGA Four-Ball, so based on the results, he seems to have it down pat.

For the story on the CGA Senior Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

CGA Four-Ball Championship
At-Par-72 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster

Sam Marley,South Suburban GC/James Richardson,South Suburban GC 64-68-63–195
Steven Irwin,Lakewood CC/Pat Diaz,Meridian GC 66-66-65–197
Brian Richmeier,Meadow Hills GC/Nick Nosewicz,Meadow Hills GC 62-67-70–199
Christopher Thayer,Bear Creek GC/Jadon Wiens,Bear Creek GC 69-65-65–199
Kyle Danford,Fort Collins CC/Dave Johnson,Collindale GC 68-64-67–199
Alex Buecking,Columbine CC/Paul Robinson,Columbine CC 68-66-66–200
Tim Fitzgerald,Meridian GC/James Kurtenbach,South Suburban GC 66-66-68–200
Jon Lindstrom,Lakewood CC/Richard Bradsby,Lakewood CC 67-66-70–203
Gary Driber,Golfweek Amateur Tour /Dallas Massey,South Suburban GC 68-69-66–203
Brodie Hullinger,Commonground GC/Tristan Sanders,Commonground GC 70-67-69–206
Michael Harrington,Garden of the Gods Club/Jim Doidge,Pueblo CC 69-70-67–206
Sam Solomon,Todd Creek GC/Andy Brooks,Commonground GC 71-68-67–206
Blair Matthews,CommonGround GC/Wesley Martin,Commonground GC 68-70-69–207
Richard Brown,Raccoon Creek GC/Ben Gibson,Fox Hollow 69-66-72–207
Justin Headrick,Commonground GC/Jeremy Rogers,Riverdale GC 70-67-71–208
Zack Neiditz,Aspen GC/Joey Haack,Ironbridge GC 69-73-66–208
Joel Perez,Colorado National GC/Kenny Burnham,Fossil Trace GC 69-70-69–208
Jeff Philippe,Pinery CC/Daniel Mastrobuono,Clubcorp Colorado 75-65-68–208
John Luoma,Colorado GC/Ben Sherlund,Colorado GC 67-70-71–208
Ryan Prew,West Woods GC/Matthew Armetta,Meadows GC 70-68-71–209
Dean Siskowski,Ptarmigan CC/Ken Cosper,Ptarmigan CC 68-67-74–209
Eddie Lee,Broadlands GC/Taylor Osieczanek,Colorado National GC 67-69-74–210
Jeremy W Deems,Lake Valley GC/Shawn Mercer,Lake Valley GC 74-67-69–210
Jared Bickling,Gypsum Creek GC/Stephen Baxter,Gypsum Creek GC 72-76-62–210
Kyler Dunkle,Pradera, the Club at/Dr. Jason Dunkle,Pradera 70-70-71–211
Adam Thoutt,Legacy Ridge GC/Will Myer,Denver CC 72-71-69–212
Robert Glucksman,Commonground GC/Connor Cantrell,Commonground GC 68-72-73–213
Alan Boyko,Heritage at Westmoor/Kevin Boudreau,Meadow Hills GC 72-71-70–213
Danny Hahn,Commonground GC/Matthew Neam,City Park GC 72-71-71–214
Scott Shore,Meridian GC/Bryan Cannon,Columbine CC 71-74-70–215
James Richardson,CommonGround GC/Nick Simmons,Commonground GC 75-72-68–215
Chris Pratz,Springs Ranch GC/Bob Athey,CC of Colorado 73-71-72–216
Bill Parker,Meadow Hills GC/Kevin Burke,CommonGround GC 72-74-70–216
Jay Orris,Boulder CC/James McHose,Boulder CC 72-72-73–217
Dan Deppen,Broadlands GC/Aaron Spear,Broadlands GC 72-72-73–217
Perry Rickel,Colorado GC/Steve Redmond,Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 72-72-73–217
Joe Larsen,Riverdale GC/Ryan Brown,Sunset GC 77-69-71–217
Greg Michaels,Heritage at Westmoor/Casey Hannen,Heritage at Westmoor 75-72-70–217
Jason Browder,Colorado Avidgolfer Passport/Jim Browder,Dos Rios CC 72-74-72–218
Webb Henderson,Commonground GC/Adam Van Pelt,Green Valley Ranch GC 77-72-70–219
Aaron Brown,Canongate Colorado/Thomas Russo,Clubcorp Colorado 73-73-73–219
Phil Rosenbaum,Telluride Ski & GC/Ty Treacy,City Park Players Club 76-73-70–219
Josh Weber,Broadlands GC/Mike Caroselli,Todd Creek GC 77-84-75–236
Aki Okamoto,Legacy Ridge GC/Thomas Yanker,Riverdale GC 76-80-84–240