Hirsch and Davis posted a better-ball score of 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, which gives them a one-stroke lead.
But eight opposing teams are within five strokes of the lead going into the final day, including three former champions in this event.
Hirsch and Davis made six better-ball birdies and one bogey in the second round, giving them an 11-under 133 total in the scratch four-ball event.
One back of the leaders are Guy Mertz and Tony Workman of The Fox Hill Club, who carded a 68 on Tuesday.
In third place, at 135, are 2003 champions Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe of The Club at Rolling Hills, who shot a second-round 70. For the second straight day, Forey contributed an eagle to the cause.
Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and Bill Fowler of Rolling Hills, the 2016 winners, are in fourth place, three out of the lead, after a 71 on Tuesday.
In the super-senior division, for players 62 and older, Forey and Radcliffe retained their three-stroke lead.
Bill Stevens and Dave Merritt of Meridian Golf Club hold down second place with a 138 total following their second-round 70. John Applegate and Keith Masters, the 2011 CGA Senior Four-Ball champs, are in third place at 139.
Wednesday’s round will conclude the 54-hole event, the first championship of the CGA season.
For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.
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The duo from Lone Tree Golf Club overcame the trying conditions to go bogey-free for the second consecutive day, giving them a wire-to-wire victory in the 36th CGA Senior Four-Ball, the association’s first championship of 2017.
Moore and Kelley fired a 1-under-par 71 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play format on Wednesday to post a 12-under 204 total, good for a two-stroke victory at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.
Jeff Slupe of Highland Meadows Golf Course and Steve Scheffel of Ptarmigan Country Club closed with a 68 to earn the runner-up spot at 206.
Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills and Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, the defending champions, tied for third place at 207 with 2016 CGA Senior Match Play champion Jeff Oneth and Tim Kneen of Colorado Golf Club.
Moore and Kelley (pictured holding their trophies) went progressively higher with their scores each day of the tournament — 65-68-71 — but kept the mistakes to a minimum and covered for each other when one player was in trouble on a given hole.
“I looked at (the three days) like a triathlon,” said the 55-year-old Moore. “We got out of the pool and we were doing well. We got off the bike and we were still leading. It’s like, ‘OK, we’ve got to go run a marathon — and it was going to be a marathon in bad weather.’
“It was tough conditions, but when one would take a hole off, the other one would pick it up. We didn’t make a bogey so that kind of saved our day.”
Added Kelley, 53: “We’re a solid team. We’re good partners together, so I thought we had a real good chance.”
About the closest the two Colorado natives came to making a bogey in the final two rounds was on the last hole of the tournament, where, after being way right with his tee shot, Moore drained a 15-foot par putt to close things out.
“We just save par really well,” Moore said. “We saved par in bad weather, and we didn’t really stress about it. Everybody misses a lot of birdies; we missed ours too today. But somebody was always in the hole to get the par.”
Wednesday marked the second time Kelley and Moore have been in contention to win the CGA Senior Four-Ball title. Two years ago, they finished runner-up.
This wasn’t the first CGA title for Moore or Kelley as both helped Lone Tree Golf Club win season-long CGA Team Interclub championships in 2011 and ’12.
“I think that’s a little more stressful actually,” Kelley said of the Team Interclub. “This here is just me and Doug and if we lose it’s me and Doug. Lone Tree is a group of guys who are real tight and everybody roots for everybody (so) you’re letting down the whole club (if you’re not winning).”
Play in the open division of the CGA Senior Four-Ball was limited to golfers 51 and older as the CGA is looking to eventually match the age criteria the USGA uses for the U.S. Senior Amateur (55 and older).
Netherton/Crone Chalk Up Another Title: It took three extra holes, but Larry Netherton and Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club added another team title to their golf resumes.
Netherton and Crone (pictured in black and blue, respectively) prevailed in a four-team playoff by making three straight pars to earn their second championship in the super-senior division of the CGA Senior Four-Ball. The pair has also captured two open-division Senior Four-Ball titles and a win in the senior division of the since-discontinued CGA Two-Man.
“It’s really not where you play golf, it’s who you play golf with,” said Netherton, who like Crone is 65 years old. “We’ve traveled all over the country and played in senior partner events and we’ve had success everywhere we’ve gone. We really enjoy playing with each other. When I make a mistake, he picks it up and (vice-versa). We’ve played a lot of events and it really helps to know each other that well.”
Netherton two-putted from 8 feet for par on the third playoff hole to prevail over Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club and Stephen Bell of Denver Country Club, who both made bogey.
The two other teams that made the playoff — Kary Kaltenbacher of Glenmoor Country Club and Rod Walters of Indian Tree Golf Club, and Bill Stevens and David Merritt of Meridian Golf Club — had been eliminated from contention for the super-senior title with bogeys on the first extra hole.
Netherton and Crone would have won the super-senior championship in regulation had it not been for a one-stroke penalty incurred when they failed to catch a marker’s error on their scorecard, leaving them with a final-round 73 instead of the 72 they actually shot. All four of the teams in the playoff carded three-day totals of 2-under-par 214.
“Justice prevailed, but it’s our fault because we didn’t really check” each individual scrore, just the team score, Crone noted.
For CGA Senior Four-Ball scores:
OPEN DIVISION
SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION
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.
Robert Polk, who on Wednesday won his third CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship with his third different partner, joked with 2016 teammate Bill Fowler that he soon may be switching him out too.
“He keeps trading down, getting somebody younger,” said Fowler, who just turned 53.
“I’m not stupid,” the 60-year-old Polk said with a hearty laugh. “You better watch yourself.”
“I turned 53 yesterday,” Fowler noted. “He’s looking for somebody 50.”
All joking aside, the Polk-Fowler team has certainly proven effective. Besides being runner-up together in the 2013 CGA Senior Four-Ball and winning this year, they qualified for the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, where a year ago they were the third-oldest team in the field.
And on Wednesday, in the first CGA championship of 2016, Polk and Fowler appeared close to mid-season form, despite the tournament being decided over 36 holes in a single day due to the snow left by a weekend storm.
Polk, from nearby Colorado Golf Club, and Fowler, from the Club at Rolling Hills, ham-and-egged it Wednesday for a one-stroke victory in the CGA Senior Four-Ball.
The two made an eagle, 10 birdies and a bogey Wednesday at Black Bear Golf Club. The eagle came from Polk (left), who drove the green on the 304-yard par-4 11th hole in the morning round, then drained a 60-foot putt. Fowler and Polk carded rounds of 66-67 for an 11-under-par 133 total.
The victory marked the ninth CGA championship for Polk and the fourth for Fowler, a former CGA president who claimed the CGA Senior Stroke Play title last fall, meaning he’s won two consecutive CGA senior championships.
So what makes Fowler and Polk such a formidable golf duo? Apparently, it’s considerable determination to go along with a fair amount of talent.
“We try on every shot,” Fowler noted. “Neither one of us gives up on any shot. Not until the ball is in the hole do I give up on that hole.”
Added Polk: “We try to figure out a way to birdie every hole. That’s the way we think. We’re scrappers.”
And it doesn’t hurt that they seem to complement each other on the course. For instance, on their 31st hole Wednesday, when Polk was out of the hole after hitting his ball in the hazard, Fowler proceeded to birdie the par-5 by holing a 12-foot putt.
Then they saved a par from 4 feet on the 32nd hole, and Fowler (left) birdied the 33rd. With a one-stroke margin of victory, all proved crucial.
“Bill played great, especially the last nine,” said Polk, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year. “He played really solid on the way in. We ham-and-egged it real well.”
For his part, Fowler has now finished second, second and first the last three times he’s competed in the CGA Senior Four-Ball, playing twice with Polk and once with Jim Reynolds. As for Polk, his previous Senior Four-Ball victories came with Jim Pierce and Steve Murphy.
Four teams tied for second place Wednesday at Black Bear: Dave Brown and Pat Bowe (67-67), who missed a 30-inch putt on their final hole; Tom Krystyn and Mike Larson (68-66); Jeff Oneth and Tim Kneen (67-67); and Jeff Slupe and Steve Scheffel (67-67).
Rick Kelly and Bob Beiersdorf, the 2015 champions, tied for 11th place on Wednesday at 1-under 141.
The open-division CGA Four-Ball Championship, normally also held early in May, was postponed by the weather over the weekend. It has been rescheduled for Oct. 7-9 at Legacy GC in Westminster. Registration for that event will re-open on Friday.
CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Black Bear GC in Parker
Robert Polk,Colorado GC/Bill Fowler,Rolling Hills, the Club at 66-67–133
Tom Krystyn,Commonground GC/Mike E Larson,Boulder CC 68-66–134
Pat Bowe,Commonground GC/Dave Brown,Rmgcsa Golf League 67-67–134
Jeff Oneth,Colorado GC/Tim Kneen,Colorado GC 67-67–134
Steve Scheffel,Ptarmigan CC/Jeff Slupe,Highland Meadows GC 67-67–134
Guy Mertz,Fox Hill Club, the/Tony Workman,Ptarmigan CC 68-68–136
Gary Driber,Ridge at Castle Pines North/Brian Woody,Ridge at Castle Pines North 69-70–139
Tom Lawrence,Lakewood CC/Phil Lane,Broadmoor GC 68-72–140
Mike Campbell,Aurora Hills GC/John Evans,Commonground GC 73-67–140
Joe Distefano,Telluride Ski & GC/Scott Mortimer,Flatirons GC 72-68–140
Robert West,Cherry Creek CC/Paul Edwards,Meridian GC 71-70–141
David Delich,Broadmoor GC/Bruce Hogg,Patty Jewett GC 71-70–141
Kary Kaltenbacher,Glenmoor CC/Rod Walters,Heritage at Westmoor 71-70–141
Sean Forey,Bear Creek GC/Scott Radcliffe,Rolling Hills, the Club at 67-74–141
Richard Kelly,Foothills GC/Bob Beiersdorf,Ridge at Castle Pines North 70-71–141
Louie Lee,CC at Castle Pines/Mike Giarratano,Highlands Ranch GC 70-72–142
Dennis Fields,Heritage at Westmoor/Thomas Roos,Spring Valley GC 67-75–142
David Merritt,Meridian GC/Bill Stevens,Raccoon Creek GC 68-74–142
Brent Timm,Pinery CC/Glynn Hopkins,Pinery CC 68-74–142
Terry Lorenz,Pinehurst CC/Pat Bucci,West Woods GC 71-72–143
Lance Balthaser,Englewood Men’s GC/Rob McLelland,Clubcorp Colorado 76-67–143
Robert Sherrill,CC of the Rockies/Gary Keogh,Pinehurst CC 69-75–144
Tom Sweetman,Omni Interlocken Resort/Andy Callahan,Lakewood CC 74-70–144
Steve Sullivan,Lone Tree GC/Brian Crocker,Patty Jewett GC 76-68–144
Mark Brown,Highlands Ranch GC/Wyck Brown,Lakewood CC 75-69–144
Jim Reynolds,Bear Creek GC/Bob Cloud,Commonground GC 73-72–145
Randy Kippes,Saddle Rock GC/David Draper,Green Valley Ranch GC 75-70–145
Doug Jones,Tiara Rado GC/Frank Wilkinson,Lincoln Park GC 71-74–145
Shane Unfred,Highland Meadows GC/James Pullin,Collindale GC 75-71–146
Mark Runyan,Canongate Colorado/Mark Barkley,Clubcorp Colorado 72-74–146
Jay Gomer,Indian Peaks GC/Troy Tomsick,Indian Peaks GC 73-73–146
Terry Hymans,Clubcorp Colorado/Jay Ferrare,Clubcorp Colorado 72-74–146
Jeff Sweet,Murphy Creek GC/Daryl Fengler,Murphy Creek GC 73-74–147
Gary Albrecht,Commonground GC/Bob Chandler,Foothills GC 72-75–147
Bobby Ortega,Hyland Hills/Mike Otis,Broadlands GC 73-74–147
Steve Kass,Aurora Hills GC/Bradley Becker,Plum Creek GC 68-79–147
Mark Inboden,Raccoon Creek Men’s Club/Andy Schroeder,Raccoon Creek Men’s Club 78-70–148
Bill Bolgar,Ridge at Castle Pines North/Jeffrey English,Commonground GC 72-77–149
Lee Leatherman,South Suburban GC/Charlie Davis,South Suburban GC 73-76–149
Scott Crone,Pinehurst CC/Joe Morrill,Eagle Ranch GC 72-78–150
Bill Weinman,Clubcorp Colorado/Kevin Sharp,Clubcorp Colorado 72-78–150
Richard Lund,CC at Castle Pines/Don Toller,Pinehurst CC 73-78–151
Larry Wood,Perry Park CC/Jeff Anderson,Perry Park CC 79-72–151
Jim LeMar,Meadows GC/John Applegate,Meadow Hills GC 74-78–152
David Dines,Highlands Ranch GC/Steve Bailey,Green Valley Ranch GC 78-75–153
Todd Beckman,Indian Peaks GC/Curtis Confer,Indian Peaks GC 72-82–154
Bruce Hayes,Heritage at Westmoor/Bob Sims,Clubcorp Colorado 77-78–155
Tony Tormey,Inverness GC/Tim Kromer,Inverness GC 77-78–155
John Beauchamp,Antler Creek GC/Dennis Johnson,Breckenridge GC 82-74–156
Scott Burroughs,Foothills GC/Eric Nelson,Foothills GC 80-78–158
Joe Patrick,Four Mile Ranch Club/Rex Gilbert,Shadow Hills GC 82-80–162
David Delich said he doesn’t drink much alcohol — and very rarely partakes while playing golf. But he was compelled to make an exception on Saturday during the CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.
When partner — and fellow Colorado Springs resident — Bruce Hogg birdied five times in a 10-hole stretch at the beginning of Saturday’s second round, Delich was taken aback.
“He had me so pumped up yesterday I had to have a beer at the 9 just to settle down because my adrenaline was pumping so hard,” said Delich, a former Colorado College hockey standout and the 2012 CGA Senior Player of the Year. “I needed something to quiet the adrenaline. I said, ‘Hoggie, I can’t even keep the ball on the green when I’m putting I’m so excited for you. Then I had the beer and I birdied three of the next four holes. I settled down. I needed some alcohol.”
Said Hogg: “That’s kind of a funny thing because I’ve never seen him act like that. He was jumping out of his skin. I said, ‘Calm down.'”
The 9-under-par 62 the twosome shot on Saturday was the tournament’s best score by three strokes. They followed it up on Sunday with a 66 to win the Senior Four-Ball title by three.
Delich, from the Broadmoor Golf Club, picked up his fifth CGA championship and first team title, while Hogg, from Patty Jewett Golf Course, won a CGA crown for the first time. They rallied from one down on Sunday to earn the win. (Delich, in blue shirt, is pictured with Hogg above.)
“This is my first team win anywhere,” Delich said. “I bet I’ve been runner-up a dozen times in four-ball. I kept telling Bruce it’s hard to win these things if both players don’t really contribute. And he did such a great job the last three days covering me when I was down, making a birdie at a critical time when we needed a lift. We both ham-and-egged really well. He played outstanding and that’s what it took. You can’t win these things as an individual. You have to have two guys really doing a job.”
After Bill Fowler of the Club at Rolling Hills birdied Nos. 10 and 11 to pull even on Sunday, Hogg chipped in from 60 feet for birdie on No. 13 to take the lead on Fowler and partner Jim Reynolds of Bear Creek Golf Club. Then Hogg holed a 6-foot birdie at No. 17 to provide some cushion.
He and Delich were bogey-free in playing their final 45 holes in 15 under par. The 57-year-old partners went 71-62-66 for a 14-under 199 total and a three-shot victory margin over Fowler and Reynolds, who had led after each of the first two days.
So what got Delich and Hogg going after playing the first nine holes of the tournament in 1 over par?
“I said to Bruce (early in Saturday’s round), ‘We can play this golf course with blinders on.’ We just need to trust ourselves,” Delich said.
Whatever the catalyst was, Hogg was very happy with the results.
“This is very special to me,” Hogg said of his first CGA title. “I’ve played in a lot of CGA events since turning 50; I’ve tried not to miss any of them. I’m very appreciative of Dave and the way he plays golf. I’m just glad I was part of it and contributed in a big way on a few holes.
“It’s a big deal for me to win a CGA championship. I look at the CGA as a one of the best organizations in the country when it comes to golf, and it’s very nice to put my name on a trophy.”
Three teams tied for third place at 203, including defending champions Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton of Highlands Ranch Golf Club. Those two closed with a 67 for a three-stroke win in the super-senior division for players 60 and older. Earning second place, following a final-round 66, was Kary Kaltenbacher of Glenmoor Country Club and Rod Walters of Heritage at Westmoor. (Netherton and Crone are pictured at left.)
For the CGA Four-Ball Championship story, CLICK HERE.
For CGA Senior Four-Ball score details, CLICK HERE.
CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship
At Par-71 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster
David Delich,Broadmoor GC/Bruce Hogg,Patty Jewett GC–71-62-66–199
Bill Fowler,Club at Rolling Hills/Jim Reynolds,Bear Creek GC–66-66-70–202
Guy Mertz,Fox Hill CC/Tony Workman,Fox Hill CC–71-65-67–203
Larry Netherton,Highlands Ranch GC/Kelly Crone,Highlands Ranch GC–70-66-67–203
Tad Willenbrock,Glenmoor CC/Eric Hoos,Highlands Ranch GC–69-65-69–203
Owen Ellis,Flatirons GC/Robin Bradbury,Legacy Ridge GC–66-72-66–204
Mike Lohse,West Woods GC/Len Mize,West Woods GC–69-67-68–204
Robert Burke,Twin Peaks GC/John Sostmann,Raccoon Creek Men’s Club–70-69-65–204
Grant Porter,CommonGround GC/Jim LeMar,The Meadows GC–70-67-69–206
Rod Walters,Indian Tree GC/Kary Kaltenbacher,Glenmoor CC–70-70-66–206
Randal Gaddis,Lone Tree GC/Jerry Beren,Lone Tree GC–67-70-70–207
Scott Radcliffe,Club at Rolling Hills/Sean Forey,Club at Rolling Hills–68-69-70–207
Lance Balthaser,Broken Tee Englewood/Rob McLelland,Blackstone CC–70-70-67–207
Carter Mathies,GC at Redlands Mesa/Frank Wilkinson,Lincoln Park GC–72-70-67–209
Pat Bowe,CommonGround GC/Dave Brown,RMGCSA GL–74-67-68–209
Tom Ritchie,Meridian GC/David Merritt,Meridian GC–66-71-72–209
Richard Kelly,Fox Hollow GC/Bob Beiersdorf,Ridge at Castle Pines North–69-68-72–209
Robert Sherrill,Columbine CC/Gary Keogh,Columbine CC–69-72-69–210
Brent Timm,Pinery CC/John Boyles,Pinery CC–68-72-70–210
Dennis Lucero,Lincoln Park GC/Phil Herrera,Lincoln Park GC–71-71-69–211
Jim Collins,CC at Castle Pines/Joe Morrill,Eagle Ranch GC–72-68-71–211
Rick George,Castle Pines GC/Chuck Delich,Eisenhower GC–71-71-70–212
John Applegate,Meadow Hills GC/Keith Masters,Meadow Hills GC–69-72-71–212
Mark Hirsch,Lone Tree GC/Michael Davis,Meadow Hills GC–70-72-70–212
Brian Harris,Denver CC/Reed Myer,Denver CC–70-72-70–212
Gary Albrecht,CommonGround GC/Bob Chandler,CommonGround GC–73-68-71–212
Thomas Roos,Spring Valley GC/Dennis Fields,CommonGround GC–73-69-70–212
Doug Moore,Lone Tree GC/Raymond Kelley,Lone Tree GC–71-71-71–213
Mark Franz,Saddle Rock GC/Charlie Post,Colorado GC–69-73-71–213
Thomas McGeary,Highlands Ranch GC/Mark Brown,Highlands Ranch GC–72-72-69–213
Ken Sady,Eagle Ranch GC/Harry Johnson,Eagle Ranch GC–74-70-70–214
Jerry Kidney,Overland Park MC/Daniel Dymerski,Columbine CC–69-71-74–214
Larry Wood,Perry Park CC/Ken Tai,Perry Park CC–72-71-72–215
Bradley Becker,Plum Creek G & CC/Steve Kass,Meadow Hills GC–71-71-73–215
Craig Gardiner,Denver CC/Steve Bell,Denver CC–69-71-75–215
Al Sellers,Pine Creek GC/Ken Schweitzer,Eisenhower GC–73-72-70–215
Jeffrey English,Avid Golfer Passport/Bill Bolgar,The Ridge at Castle Pines North–74-74-68–216
Bob Kubiak,South Suburban GC/Tom Coates,South Suburban GC–72-70-74–216
Tim Kromer,Inverness GC/Tony Tormey,Inverness GC–70-72-74–216
Art Cudworth,Raccoon Creek MC/Scott Crone,Pinehurst CC–73-70-73–216
John Ingram,Colorado GC/Daniel Scherman,Colorado GC–73-72-71–216
Steve Bailey,Legacy Ridge GC/David Dines,Highlands Ranch GC–72-72-74–218
Daryl Fengler,Murphy Creek GC/Jeff Sweet,Murphy Creek GC–74-72-73–219
Chuck Fisher,Riverdale GC/Glenn Hyde,Riverdale GC–70-73-76–219
Bob Sims,Canongate Colorado/Bruce Hayes,Heritage at Westmoor–76-71-72–219
Bob Cloud,Bear Creek GC/Lawrence Covell,CC at Castle Pines–71-78-70–219
Ed O’Gallagher,Silver Spruce GC/Tony Goodman,Silver Spruce GC–72-77-71–220
Jake Jacobson,Lakewood CC/Wyck Brown,Lakewood CC–74-71-75–220
Louie Lee,The CC at Castle Pines/Mike Giarratano,The CC at Castle Pines–78-72-71–221
Dave Bell,Hiwan GC/Jack Egender,Hiwan GC–71-75-75–221
Frank Carson,Meridian GC/Scott Anderson,Harmony GC–74-76-72–222
Andy Callahan,Lakewood CC/Tom Lawrence,Lakewood CC–76-73-74–223
Tom Warren,Fossil Trace GC/Bartley Corfee,Fossil Trace GC–74-75-74–223
Mark Barkley,Canongate Colorado/Mark Runyan,Canongate Colorado–76-74-74–224
John Wilkinson,CommonGround GC/Robert Mandeau,CommonGround GC–77-71-76–224
William Kinn,Colorado Springs CC/Paul Yoon,Colorado Springs CC–75-76-74–225
Bill Peterson,Highlands Ranch GC/Doug Lair,Highlands Ranch GC–75-76-77–228
Bob Harris,Lake Arbor GC/Don Berthiaume,Bear Creek GC–77-76-76–229
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He even felt some of that on Sunday in the final round of the CGA Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster. But as a practical matter, he had a couple of dogs in the fight.
Hoos didn’t end up winning the tournament, but the University of Denver men’s golf coach finished second to two of his players, senior Jordan Burgess and junior Ole Ramsnes. So even though Hoos might catch a little friendly grief about that, it was kind of a win-win situation for him.
“Being pretty competitive, I really don’t ever like to lose, but I’d rather lose to them than anybody else,” Hoos said with a little chuckle. “My job now is to make them better. It gives me great pride to do that.”
Ramsnes and Burgess, who just completed their college season, overcome their head coach — and his partner, Tom Krystyn of Meridian Golf Club — on Sunday thanks to the round of the tournament, a 10-under-par 61 in the scratch two-man best-ball format. That gave the Pioneers teammates a two-stroke victory over Hoos and Krystyn.
(In the photo above, Burgess, left, congratulates Ramsnes after the latter made a birdie on the 18th hole Sunday.)
Meanwhile, 60-year-olds Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton — who like Burgess and Ramsnes play out of Highlands Ranch Golf Club — claimed the CGA Senior Four-Ball title for the second time in five years, this time at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton. (Netherton is pictured at left in the accompanying photo.)The two four-ball tournaments, held concurrently, marked the first championships of the 2013 season for the CGA.
At the Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge, Ramsnes and Burgess each captured his first CGA championship after posting a 15-under-par 127 total. But just as important was beating Hoos.
“It was a tournament within the tournament for all of us,” said Burgess, the runner-up in the CGA Stroke Play Championship last year.
“They knew it was a big competition between us,” said Hoos, the low amateur in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open two years ago. “It was fun to get out there and battle. But I’m very proud of them. Both Jordan and Ole worked so hard during the year and they haven’t had the success they probably would have liked. I’m so happy for them that (the win) showed the work ethic is paying off and they’re going in the right direction.”
Ramsnes, a Norwegian who just completed his junior season at DU, made an eagle and seven birdies on his own ball Sunday. Playing his first CGA championship, he didn’t putt out everything in the team format, but if he had he probably would have shot a 62 individually. Meanwhile, Burgess, a resident of Windsor, birdied their final hole to give the teammates the two-stroke victory.
“That was my best round (ever),” said Ramsnes, who eagled the par-5 third hole by hitting driver-4 iron to 12 feet and draining the putt. “I just had one of those days where putts were dropping and I felt really good. We had a great time, and that just made us play good. (Hoos and Krystyn) played really well. It was kind of fun to see that it actually mattered that we shot 10 under to beat them by two.”
The “just have fun attitude” obviously paid off in the end for Burgess and Ramsnes (pictured at left with their trophies).“It feels good to win,” said Burgess, who tentatively plans to turn professional sometime next year. “It’s nice just to come out here and have fun the last couple of days after just finishing up our college season. Obviously we definitely wanted to win too, so it worked out.”
Hoos, of Bear Creek Golf Club, and Krystyn were the only team closer than five shots to Ramsnes and Burgess. The elder twosome carded a 7-under-par 64 on Sunday and likewise went bogey-free for 36 holes, finishing at 129.
First-round leaders Eric Hallberg and Connor Klein closed with a 68 to be one of four teams tied for third place at 132.
At the Senior Four Ball, 2009 champions Crone and Netherton won by two at Todd Creek after consecutive rounds of 4-under-par 68. They made five birdies and one bogey each day en route to their 8-under 136 total.
Besides previously winning the Senior Four-Ball, Crone and Netherton paired up to claim the CGA Senior Two-Man Team Championship in 2007.
“We’re both super-seniors (over 60) now, so it’s fun beating ‘the kids’,” Netherton said.
The key this time, said Crone, was ham-and-egging it.
“When one of us was in trouble, the other stepped up,” said Crone, a past champion in both the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play. “That really helps. You’ve got to have a good partner when you need it.”
Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a two-time winner of the Senior Four-Ball, teamed with Bill Fowler of Bear Creek to finish second as a closing 67 left them at 138.
Both the Four-Ball and Senior Four-Ball were originally scheduled to be 54-hole events, but the snowstorm earlier in the week led to them being shortened to two rounds each.
CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-71 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster
View Leaderboard and Scorecards
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC / Ole Ramsnes, Highlands Ranch GC 66-61–127
Tom Krystyn, Meridian GC / Eric Hoos, Bear Creek GC 65-64–129
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour / Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC 66-66–132
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle-Vail GC / David Harris, Eagle Vail GC 68-64–132
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC / Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC 64-68–132
Rocky Ariano, Dalton Ranch GC / Ben Hayes, CommonGround GC 67-65–132
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC / Pat Diaz, Meridian GC 68-65–133
Danny Hahn, CommonGround GC / Matthew Neam, City Park GC 67-66–133
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC / Steve Kass, CommonGround GC 65-68–133
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club / Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC 68-66–134
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC / Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC 67-67–134
Alex Buecking, Columbine CC / Paul Robinson, Columbine CC 67-67–134
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC / Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC 65-69–134
Jared Bickling, Glenwood Springs GC / Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek GC 72-62–134
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC / Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC 68-67–135
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC 68-68–136
Christopher Good, Lone Tree GC / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 67-70–137
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC / Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC 73-64–137
Dean Siskowski, CommonGround GC / Eric Tabanico, CommonGround GC 67-70–137
Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills / Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC 69-69–138
Tim Fitzgerald, Meridian GC / James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC 70-68–138
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC / Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC 71-67–138
Jeremy Thibault, Heritage at Westmoor / Alan Boyko, Heritage at Westmoor 67-71–138
Perry Rickel, Colorado GC / Chris Egan, Colorado GC 69-69–138
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC / Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek CC 70-69–139
Shawn Mccaskey, South Suburban GC / Stu Allen, Fox Hollow GC 71-68–139
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC / Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club 69-70–139
Doug Moore, Lone Tree GC / James Tatro, Lone Tree GC 70-71–141
Don Stoner, Indian Tree GC / Patrick Wethington, Indian Tree GC 72-69–141
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor / Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC 69-72–141
Henry Bissell, Meadows GC / Kevin Burke, CommonGround GC 72-69–141
Timothy Nowak, Ute Creek GC / Daniel Price, Murphy Creek GC 70-72–142
Bob Athey, CC of Colorado / Chris Pratz, Springs Ranch GC 75-67–142
Roger Chivukula, Omni Interlocken GC / Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC 72-70–142
Levi Fladebo, CommonGround GC / Brian Edelman, Raccoon Creek GC 68-74–142
Sam Solomon, Broadlands GC / Mitchel Solomon, Broadlands GC 72-71–143
Alex Leonida, Inverness GC / Brian McCloy, Saddle Rock GC 72-72–144
John Perry, Highland Meadows GC / Richard Brown, Raccoon Creek GC 72-72–144
Erich Weiss, The Ranch CC / Patrick Mansfield, The Ranch CC 72-73–145
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC / Michael Love, The Club at Pradera 72-73–145
Andy Brooks, CommonGround GC / Eric Butler, CommonGround GC 74-72–146
Stephen King, Green Valley Ranch GC / Faraj Elmagbari, Canongate Colorado 76-71–147
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC / Adam Benshoof, CommonGround GC 76-72–148
Wyck Brown, Lakewood CC / Brian Ohara, Lakewood CC 73-76–149
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge Golf Course / Brock Voss, Riverdale GC 79-71–150
Matt Reinick, Todd Creek GC / Mike Cordell, Buffalo Run GC 73-77–150
Tom Gysin, Lakewood CC / Tom Mesch, Lakewood CC 77-74–151
Garrett Farnsworth, Lone Tree GC / Dale Chavez, CommonGround GC 76-77–153
Chuck Scheinost, Boomerang GL / Jim Turk, Boomerang GL 78-77–155
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC / David Ramsey, Lakewood CC 79-76–155
Taylor Osieczanek, Broadlands GC / Ed Connors, Legacy Ridge GC 81-79–160
Matt Keeler, Broadlands GC / Mark Ury, Heritage at Westmoor 78-83–161
CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Todd Creek GC in Thornton
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Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC / Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC 68-68–136
Bill Fowler, Bear Creek GC / Robert Polk, Colorado GC 71-67–138
Mr Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC / Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC 71-69–140
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC / Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor 70-70–140
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC / Rick George, Castle Pines GC 70-70 140
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC / Dave Brown, Rmgcsa GL 73-67–140
Bob Dameron, The Courses at Hyland Hills / Bobby Ortega, The Courses at Hyland Hills 73-67–140
Randal Gaddis, Lone Tree GC / Jerry Beren, Coal Creek GC 72-69–141
Guy Mertz, The Fox Hill Club / Mike Larson, Boulder CC 72-69–141
Dennis Fields, CommonGround GC / Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC 74-67–141
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor / Gary Albrecht, CommonGround GC 71-70–141
Jeffrey English, AvidGolfer Passport Club / Bill Bolgar, The Ridge at Castle Pines North 70-72–142
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC / Len Mize, West Woods GC 71-71–142
Bob Kubiak, South Suburban GC / Allen Phelon, South Suburban GC 71-71–142
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek GC / Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC 68-75–143
Jeff Sweet, Saddle Rock GC / Daryl Fengler, Murphy Creek GC 69-74–143
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC / Carter Mathies, The GC at Redlands Mesa 69-74–143
Phil Herrera, Lincoln Park GC / Dennis Lucero, Lincoln Park GC 71-73–144
Mark Hirsch, Lone Tree GC / Michael Davis, Meadow Hills GC 75-70–145
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC / Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 72-73–145
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC / Terry Kunz, Applewood Golf Club 72-73–145
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC / Charlie Post, Colorado GC 73-72–145
Robert Blayney, Highlands Ranch GC / Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch GC 75-70–145
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC / Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 69-76–145
Keith Masters, Meadow Hills GC / John Applegate, Meadow Hills GC 72-74–146
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines / Steve Stultz, CC at Castle Pines 76-70–146
Tom Coates, South Suburban GC / Pete Perry, South Suburban GC 75-72–147
Mark Runyan, Blackstone CC / Mark Barkley, Blackstone CC 72-75–147
Robert Sherrill, Columbine CC / Gary Keogh, Columbine CC 71-76–147
Bradley Smith, Ptarmigan CC / Richard Sabo, Ptarmigan CC 72-75–147
Jerry Kidney, Overland GC / Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC 75-74–149
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC / Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC 74-75–149
John Sostmann, Raccoon Creek GC / Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC 73-76–149
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC / David Delich, Broadmoor GC 78-72–150
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC / Rick Pirog, The Club at Cordillera 77-73–150
Darin O’Shea, Raccoon Creek GC / Bob Rognmoe, Raccoon Creek GC 76-74–150
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace GC / Bartley Corfee, Fossil Trace GC 74-76–150
Mike Campbell, Aurora Hills GC / Steve Kosarek, CommonGround GC 74-76–150
Frank Carson, Meridian GC / Scott Anderson, Harmony GC 74-77–151
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC / Ken Bailey, Telluride GC 77-74–151
Bill Stevens, Raccoon Creek GC / Jerry Molitor, Colorado Springs CC 76-76–152
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC / Perry Umlauf, CommonGround GC 76-76–152
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor / Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC 75-77–152
Jim Brown, The Fox Hill Club / Bob Bauers, Boulder CC 76-77–153
Richard Harrison, Ptarmigan CC / Mark Hailey, The Olde Course at Loveland 79-75–154
Paul Yoon, Pueblo CC / Roger Larsen, Pueblo CC 77-78–155
Mark Davidson, Hiwan GC / Dave Bell, Hiwan GC 81-74–155
Tim Kromer, Inverness GC / Tony Tormey, Inverness GC 75-81–156
Bill Boyd, Highland Hills GC / Bob Heiny, Highland Hills GC 78-82–160
Bill Lundquist, The Club at Pradera / Mike Gilbert, The Club at Pradera 83-77–160
John Leamon, Littleton GC / Don Gaines, Littleton GC 87-78–165
Art Pitman, Golfweek Amateur Tour / Rick Newberg, Hiwan GC 80-86–166
John Chahbandour, Denver CC / Steve Bell, Denver CC 76-NS
Reed Myer, Denver CC / Craig Gardiner, Denver CC 76-WD