After all, with the venue’s very challenging greens, course knowledge could play a large role in determining who is handed the trophy come Thursday. And considering two members who are CGA Senior Amateur champions are entered, the Rolling Hills contingent definitely should not be overlooked at the 54-hole championship, which will start on Tuesday.
Former CGA president Bill Fowler (pictured), who’s part of that contingent, will be looking to parlay his home-course advantage into a second straight Senior Amateur title after having prevailed at Colorado Golf Club last year. Among the other entrants from Rolling Hills are Scott Radcliffe, winner of the 2010 CGA Senior Amateur and the 2004 CGA Senior Match Play; and Sean Forey, the 2010 CGA Senior Player of the Year and recent runner-up in the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play.
Joining Fowler and Radcliffe among the past champions entered are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (2014), winner of the 2016 CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play; Harry Johnson (2013); David Delich (2012); and Robert Polk (2005, ’07 and ’09). Other winners of CGA senior individual titles who will compete at Rolling Hills include Tom Musselman, Ray Makloski, Guy Mertz and Jeff Oneth, who won the 2016 CGA Senior Match Play. Robin Bradbury, who last month qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur and was low senior amateur in the Rocky Mountain Open, is also entered.
The field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after two rounds.
Worth noting: Until this year, the CGA Senior Amateur was known as the CGA Senior Stroke Play.
For Tuesday’s first-round pairings, CLICK HERE.
]]>Gone, after a run of just four years, is the CGA Mid-Amateur Match Play, which was won twice by Michael Harrington of Colorado Springs. Filling the 24-man field with the top mid-amateur players proved difficult, so the CGA opted to discontinue the championship, which was limited to players 25 and older.
Meanwhile, two longstanding CGA championships will undergo name changes. What had been the CGA Stroke Play will become the CGA Amateur. And what was the CGA Senior Stroke Play will become the CGA Senior Amateur.
The CGA tournament committee wanted to designate major championships in three divisions — open-age, mid-amateur and seniors — which led to the decision, said Dustin Jensen, managing director of operations for the CGA. Those CGA majors going forward will be the CGA Amateur, the CGA Mid-Amateur and the CGA Senior Amateur.
The CGA Amateur, set to be played for the 80th consecutive year in 2016, is set for Aug. 4-7 at Boulder Country Club. The 30th Mid-Am will be Sept. 23-25 at Saddle Rock Golf Course in Aurora. And the Senior Amateur will be contested for the 45th time Sept. 6-8 at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden.
It should be noted that the CGA Match Play, the association’s oldest championship, will continue its long run, having been held every year since 1901. In 2016 it will be played a little earlier than normal, June 20-24 at Lone Tree Golf Club.
Also still intact is the CGA Senior Match Play, which dates back to 1970. Next year it will be May 23-26 at The Fox Hill Club in Longmont. One tweak is that the Super-Senior Match Play will be the same dates but at a different site, West Woods Golf Club in Arvada.
One championship that will be tweaked is what was previously known as the CGA Father/Son. The tournament will become the CGA Parent/Child and will be open not only to teams including father/sons, but to father/daughters, mother/sons and mother/daughters. In 2016 the Parent/Child is set for June 4-5 at Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club in Steamboat Springs.
In addition, CGA leadership set up the 2016 championship schedule — along with those in 2017 and ’18 — so as to avoid date conflicts with USGA championships, which has been an issue on occasion in the past.
To view all the dates and sites for CGA championships and USGA qualifiers for 2016, CLICK HERE.
As for the big changes in the works for the 2016 junior golf schedule, CLICK HERE.
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Back in the mid-1980s, Bill Fowler received a rough initiation to the highest level of amateur competition in Colorado. Brandt Jobe was a contemporary of his, and given that Jobe has gone on to a PGA Tour career in which he’s won more than $9 million, that’s pretty stout company.
In 1985, Fowler finished second and third, respectively, in the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play — behind Jobe on each occasion. In that year’s 36-hole Match Play final, Fowler ran into the buzzsaw that was Jobe, who won 12 and 11. Fowler remembers Jobe being 13 under par for the 25 holes that they played.
Coincidentally, a CGA banner featuring a likeness of Jobe was flying next to the 18th green Thursday at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. Only this time, that was where Fowler was winning another CGA championship of his own, the Senior Stroke Play.
Fowler (left and above), a former CGA president who plays out of the Club at Rolling Hills, made the Senior Stroke Play his third CGA championship title, coming 26 years after his first (the 1989 Mid-Amateur) and 10 after his second (the 2005 Western Chapter).
“It means a lot to me,” the 52-year-old said of Thursday’s victory. “I won the Mid-Am in 1989. That was a long time ago. It’s hard to stay competitive for a long time, as you know, but I’ve tried. I love to play in competition because that tells you how good you are.”
Fowler broke a tie and pulled away in the middle of the back nine Thursday, then held on for a two-stroke victory.
He shot a 6-over-par 78 in the final round at Colorado Golf Club, which proved one of the most difficult venues ever to host the Senior Stroke Play. Indeed, Fowler’s winning total of 8-over-par 224 was the highest at the Senior Stroke Play since Larry Eaton claimed the title with a 226 total in 1991 at Gleneagle Golf Club.
The fact that the course played so hard this week suited Fowler just fine. Not coincidentally, he also qualified for the 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball — with Robert Polk — at Colorado Golf Club.
“I play very hard golf courses very well,” Fowler said. “I tend to focus more when the course is difficult. I do like hard golf courses.”
“I’ve played this golf course a lot and I feel very comfortable here. I love the course; it suits my eye. I’ve played very well here over the years.”
Another thing that played into Fowler’s hands were the very challenging green complexes at Colorado Golf Club, which has hosted the 2013 Solheim Cup and the 2010 Senior PGA Championship. In some respects, his home club of Rolling Hills trained him very well for the situation. Interestingly, Fowler will be defending his Senior Stroke Play title next year at Rolling Hills.
“You have to visualize things here (at Colorado Golf Club) that you probably don’t at other clubs,” he said. “Playing at Rolling Hills my whole life, that has given me a way to see things that other people don’t see. So I love the greens (at Colorado Golf Club) and can read them generally.”
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (left, and above with Fowler) of Cherry Hills Country Club placed second at 226 after closing with a 75 on Thursday. Moore has finished second, first and second in the last three CGA Senior Stroke Plays.
Jeff Oneth (below) , playing his home course, came in third at 228 after a final-round 76. Robin Bradbury (bottom) of Heritage at Westmoor, the leader after the first two rounds, struggled to an 88 on Thursday, which left him at 233. That fourth-place showing gave him top-four finishes at both the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play in 2015. David Delich of The Broadmoor Golf Club, winner of this year’s CGA Senior Match Play, came in fifth at 234.
Moore, who was 1 under par for the day through 12 holes, shared the lead at that point with Fowler. But his approach shot on No. 13 landed in a bunker right of the green, which left him with a brutally fast downhill shot to the pin, and his ball trickled into the bunker below the hole. Eventually, he posted a double bogey, while Fowler parred to gain a two-stroke lead.
“I hit the bunker shot as good as I could hit it and didn’t even think (his ball going into the opposite bunker) could happen,” Moore said. “I couldn’t hit it much softer and it still went in.”
Fowler birdied the next two holes — from 12 and 4 feet, respectively — accounting for a five-stroke swing in three-hole stretch. From there, even a bogey-bogey-double bogey finish left him with a little cushion to spare. On No. 18, a second shot that finished left of the bushes bordering the green complex resulted in an unplayable lie, but a good recovery shot kept things from getting real interesting on the final hole.
As for Moore, he pointed to the sometimes-confounding par-5 16th as his downfall. There, he went 4 over par in three days — bogey, double bogey, bogey — while going into the water twice.
“I should have played another practice round,” said Moore, fresh off the U.S. Senior Amateur in New Jersey. “I made 6-7-6 on No. 16 and I played it three different ways — and I really only hit one bad shot. (After today’s bogey it was like) ‘I just cannot play this hole.’
“I lost it not thinking well enough and not knowing the course. It was my mistake.”
But Moore was quick to credit Fowler’s solid play on a very demanding layout.
“Bill played great,” he said. “He hit nothing but solid shots until the last one, which really didn’t matter. He really played well.”
Fowler, a member — or the son of members — at Rolling Hills since age 12, has been competing in CGA (or CJGA) tournaments for the last 40 years. He estimates he’s played in between 50 and 80 all told, which makes victories like Thursday’s all the more sweet.
“Even when I had little kids, that was my hall pass to go play a CGA championship,” he said.
CGA Senior Stroke Play
At Par-72 Colorado GC in Parker
Bill Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 71-75-78–224
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 74-77-75–226
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 76-76-76–228
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 69-76-88–233
David Delich, The Broadmoor GC, 84-73-77–234
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 79-85-71–235
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 77-76-82–235
Michael Smith, Rifle Creek GC, 77-80-78–235
Bob Beiersdorf, The Ridge CPN, 77-81-77–235
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor, 80-79-76–235
John Olive, The Broadmoor GC, 78-77-81–236
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 82-77-77–236
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC, 84-73-80–237
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-81-78–238
Keith Atkins, Harmony Club, 84-77-77–238
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club, 81-80-78–239
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 83-77-79–239
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 77-77-86–240
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC, 78-75-87–240
Brian Harris, Denver CC, 80-83-77–240
John Sostman, Meadows GC, 83-80-79–242
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 85-78-80–243
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 80-84-79–243
Charlie Post, Colorado GC, 81-81-82–244
Gary Driber, The Ridge CPN, 79-84-81–244
Lance Balthaser, Englewood GC, 85-80-80–245
Jeff Slupe, Ptarmigan CC, 80-86-79–245
Bill Bolgar, The Ridge CPN, 80-83-82–245
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC, 79-83-84–246
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor, 80-79-87–246
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 83-83-81–247
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC, 85-79-84–248
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 87-79-82–248
Dave Runberg, CommonGround GC, 83-80-86–249
John Williams, Colorado GC, 83-80-86–249
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC, 83-80-87–250
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC, 82-83-85–250
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 84-80-87–251
James Pullin, Olde Course at Loveland, 83-78-91–252
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 86-80-88–254
Tim Kneen, Colorado GC, 77-74-WD–WD
Missed 36-Hole Cut
Brian Woody, The Ridge at CPN, 85-82–167
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC, 84-84–168
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 91-78–169
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor, 83-87–170
Steve Ivan, Patty Jewett GC, 81-89–170
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek GC, 86-84–170
Don Mayo, Legacy Ridge GC, 90-80–170
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 86-85–171
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 86-86–172
Kirk Blaszyk, Glenwood Springs GC, 92-80–172
Red Cunningham, Aspen Glen Club, 87-85–172
Randy Kippes, Saddle Rock GC, 88-84–172
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC, 83-89–172
Joe Distefano, Telluride Ski & GC, 92-81–173
John Applegate, Meadow Hills GC, 86-87–173
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 84-89–173
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC, 87-86–173
Steve Bell, Denver CC, 85-89–174
Pat Bucci, West Woods GC, 88-86–174
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC, 86-89–175
Jerry Beren, Lone Tree GC, 88-87–175
Bob Maggard, CommonGround GC, 88-87–175
Ken Bailey, Telluride Ski & GC, 92-83–175
Louie Jardon, Springs Ranch GC, 85-90–175
Laird M Middleton, Coal Creek GC, 86-91–177
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC, 87-90–177
Steve Mace Feder, Cherry Creek CC, 97-80–177
Greg A Thiesen, Columbine CC, 82-98–180
Bob Utberg, South Suburban FSC, 92-88–180
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 90-91–181
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 94-87–181
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 102-81–183
David Draper, Green Valley Ranch, 96-87–183
Randy Miller, Boulder CC, 93-93–186
Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado, 93-95–188
Frank Wilson, Lakewood CC, 106-88–194
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor, 89-DQ
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 92-WD
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC, 85-WD
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor, 85-NS
David Comeau, Fox Hollow GC, 88-WD
A month shy of his 64th birthday, the Vail resident this week added another chapter to his impressive book of accomplishments this golf season.
Johnson, who plays out of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, made a 4-foot par putt on the final hole Friday despite a penalty stroke and completed a rare single-season sweep of major CGA senior championships.
Three months after winning the Senior Match Play for his first CGA individual championship, Johnson held off Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club to claim the title in the 42nd CGA Senior Stroke Play at The Club at Pradera in Parker.
“These guys (his fellow competitors) make me play better than I can play,” Johnson said. “It’s really an interesting phenomenon. It’s one reason I play in these events. I don’t have that type of game when I play Saturday with my friends, but in a tournament the focus is there and I can make it happen.”
Johnson (pictured above and at left) became just the fifth person to win the Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in the same calendar year. Previously accomplishing that feat were Robert Polk (2009), John Olive (1997, 2001 and 2002), John Golden (1993 and ’95) and Larry Eaton (1981 and ’85).
And Johnson, who will turn 64 next month, became one of the oldest CGA Senior Stroke Play champions. Former state senator Les Fowler was 65 when he won in 1989.
Age “is not even a factor,” Johnson said. “I don’t even think about my age right now. I’m in pretty good shape. I spend some time working on it. I do a lot of Pilates and I work out quite a bit and my flexibility is good.”
Johnson, who shared the lead with Moore heading into the final round, closed with a 2-under-par 70, giving him a 7-under 209 total. That was one better than Moore, who birdied two of the last three holes for a 71. Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club fired a 68 on Friday to place third at 213.
After hitting a 6-iron from 187 yards on the par-3 17th and holing a 3 1/2-foot birdie putt, Johnson took a two-stroke lead into the final hole Friday. But he hit his second shot on the par-5 into a hazard that fronts the green. However, he rebounded to place his fourth shot within four feet of the cup. By draining his 14-foot birdie attempt, Moore forced Johnson to make his four-footer to avoid a playoff, and Johnson did just that.
“I’m not good enough to play safe,” Johnson said of his strategy on the final hole, where he had 228 yards into the green for his second shot. “At my level I just have one speed. Two times through that hole in practice rounds, then in two rounds of (tournament) golf, I hit that green every time. I just had to go with what my instincts told me. There was no other thought than I was going to hit that green.”
The way Johnson was going, it didn’t seem like anything would keep him from winning.
“I played really well. Normally I think that would win,” said Moore (pictured at left), winner of major CGA championships at the junior, open and senior levels. “Harry just played great. He could have had a 66 real, real easy. (To lose by) one shot is tough, but I really can’t complain.”
Moore, the men’s golf coach at Wheaton College in Illinois, flew back to Colorado specifically to compete in the Senior Stroke Play because his game was in very good form. Part of his thinking was that, at age 57, he didn’t know how many more good opportunities he’d have to win a state title. But little did he know that a guy six years his senior would get the best of him.
“I felt like I was playing really well or I wouldn’t have come back,” Moore said. “I was like, ‘You might as well go.’ Although Harry is (almost) 64, it’s harder and harder (to contend for titles) it seems like, so I thought I better give it a try.”
Moore was tied for the lead with Johnson through five holes Friday, but after a birdie by Johnson at 6 and a double bogey by Moore at 7, Moore was playing catch-up the rest of the day. After being down by four with seven holes left, Moore crept within one with a 5-foot birdie on 16, then again with his final putt of the day.
“For some reason, now when I need a good shot I can make it a good shot,” Johnson said. “It was the same thing in (the Senior Match Play). When I needed something, I reach back and I got it. It’s pretty amazing.”
As if sweeping the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play wasn’t enough in 2013, Johnson also recently won the Colorado-based qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. That national tourney, the first USGA championship for Johnson, will take place Sept. 21-26 in Cashiers, N.C.
CGA Senior Stroke Play
At Par-72 Club at Pradera in Parker
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 69-70-70–209
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 72-67-71–210
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 75-70-68–213
Bill Fowler, The Club at Rolling Hills, 74-72-68–214
Mike Larson, Boulder CC, 72-73-69–214
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 68-73-74–215
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill CC, 73-73-70–216
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 73-71-73–217
Eric Hoos, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-72-71–217
Tom Musselman, Bridges G & CC, 71-76-70–217
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC, 67-77-74–218
Mark Hirsch, Lone Tree GC, 74-69-75–218
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 75-73-71–219
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 71-75-73–219
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 78-71-72–221
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-75-73–221
Mick Maillot, The Club at Rolling Hills, 71-78-72–221
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 76-74-72–222
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 72-73-77–222
David Comeau, Highlands Ranch GC, 73-71-78–222
Lance Balthaser, Meadows GC, 73-74-76–223
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor, 74-71-78–223
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 74-75-74–223
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek G & CC, 75-77-71–223
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC, 70-80-74–224
Frank Hernandez, Pelican Lakes G & CC, 73-77-74–224
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 75-74-76–225
Pat Bucci, West Woods GC, 77-72-76–225
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 73-75-78–226
Steven Linnemeyer, Hillcrest GC, 72-76-79–227
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace GC, 76-76-75–227
Stuart Holland, The Club at Pradera, 73-77-78–228
Bo Powell, West Woods GC, 77-74-77–228
Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC, 73-78-78–229
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek GC, 74-77-78–229
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills GC, 79-72-78–229
Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor, 74-78-79–231
John Ingram, Colorado GC, 74-74-83–231
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 79-72-82–233
Ronald Swartzwelder, CommonGround GC, 75-77-81–233
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 77-74-83–234
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 73-78-83–234
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-73-89–241
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 77-76–153
Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-79–153
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC, 72-81–153
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 78-75–153
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 77-76–153
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 75-78–153
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC, 80-74–154
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado, 77-77–154
Michael Davis, Meadow Hills GC, 80-74–154
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 80-74–154
Steve Kass, CommonGround GC, 79-75–154
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC, 75-79–154
Mark Boon, The Club at Pradera, 75-79–154
Steve Bell, Denver CC, 80-75–155
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor, 79-76–155
Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC, 75-80–155
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC, 76-79–155
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC, 77-79–156
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC, 77-79–156
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC, 78-78–156
Todd Novak, Vail GC, 79-78–157
Jim Pierce, Saddle Rock GC, 82-76–158
John Vanderbloemen, Haymaker GC, 77-81–158
Greg Thiesen, Columbine CC, 82-77–159
Matt Hall, Bookcliff CC, 84-76–160
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 77-83–160
John Sostmann, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club, 78-82–160
Chris Pennels, Highlands Ranch GC, 79-81–160
Lonnie Miller, Lincoln Park GC, 82-78–160
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 84-76–160
Bob Rognmoe, Raccoon Creek GC, 80-81–161
Dennis Fields, CommonGround GC, 83-79–162
Cliff Damato, Meridian GC, 80-82–162
Steve Summers, Broadmoor GC, 81-83–164
Mark Armistead, CommonGround GC, 81-84–165
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills GC, 84-82–166
Dennis Hartman, Wellshire GC, 87-80–167
Gary Custer, Patty Jewett GC, 87-84–171
Michael Clark, Heritage at Westmoor, 87-89–176
Louie Lee, CC at Castle Pines, 79-NC
Dan Birnley, Conquistador GC, 82-NC
Go to full results
The CGA Senior Stroke Play Championship, which seldom features a tight finish, got one and then some on Friday.
The event not only produced its first sudden-death playoff in the new millennium, but it was of the three-man variety. David Delich of the Broadmoor Golf Club made a 4-foot birdie on the third extra hole at Haymaker Golf Course in Steamboat Springs to overcome Tom Musselman of Cornerstone Club for the title.
Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course was also in the playoff, but dropped out with a bogey on the first extra hole. Johnson likewise placed second in last year’s CGA Mid-Amateur Championship.
Since 2000, only three previous Senior Stroke Plays have been decided by fewer than three strokes — and only one by a single shot. The average margin of victory in the event from 2000 to 2011 was 4.5 strokes.
But Friday was anything but a runaway, with the top three players finishing at 2-over-par 218.
Both Delich and Musselman parred each of the first two playoff holes before Delich nestled a wedge shot from 125 yards close to the pin on No. 3. After Musselman missed a 30-foot birdie attempt, Delich drained his short birdie putt for the victory.
For Delich, it was his second straight week in contention at a major Colorado senior tournament. Last Friday, the 55-year-old finished second in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, the highest showing by an amateur in that event since 1999.
Friday’s victory marked the fourth CGA championship for Delich, who’s also captured two CGA Senior Match Play titles and the 1997 CGA Mid-Amateur, in addition to the 2012 Southern California Senior Amateur.
“This feels pretty good,” Delich said while driving home Friday. “It’s been a long time since I won a stroke-play event in Colorado — since the (1997) Mid-Am. It’s a different style of golf. That felt really good. The Southern Cal (win) was also stroke play, though, so I knew I had it in me.”
Delich (pictured at left) missed an 8-foot eagle putt on the 18th hole that could have won it in regulation, but both he and Musselman birdied the par-5 to earn a spot in the playoff. In fact, after making a double bogey on No. 12, Delich played his final six holes in 3 under par to post a 71. For Musselman, it was his third consecutive day of carding a birdie on No. 18, this time leaving him with a 73. Johnson shot the same score after playing his final 12 holes of regulation in 2 under par.
Delich, a former Colorado College hockey standout, made five birdies in his final 10 holes of regulation, then the tournament winner in the playoff. That gives him state senior titles in both California and Colorado in the last two-plus months, in addition to low-amateur honors in last week’s Colorado Senior Open.
“This was a long, hard-fought week, especially on heels on last week.” said Delich, who works in commercial real estate. “But I can’t complain about the summer I’ve had.”
Robin Bradbury of the Heritage at Westmoor almost made it into the playoff at Haymaker as he tied the low round of the tournament with a bogey-free 4-under-par 68. That left him at 219, one shot behind Delich, Johnson and Musselman.
The next-best finisher was Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, who posted a 223 total after a final-round 77.
Second-round leader Guy Mertz of The Fox Hill Club, who went bogey-free on Thursday, struggled on Friday, shooting an 81 and dropping back to share sixth place at 224.
CGA Senior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Haymaker GC in Steamboat Springs
x-indicates won playoff on third hole
x-David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 75-72-71–218
Tom Musselman, Cornerstone Club, 74-71-73–218
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 72-73-73–218
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 77-74-68–219
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-72-77–223
Guy Mertz, The Fox Hill Club, 72-71-81–224
Pat Bucci, West Woods GC, 77-68-79–224
Bob Chandler, CommonGround GC, 78-70-76–224
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75-77–225
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 78-77-70–225
Mike Larson, Boulder CC, 72-74-79–225
John Vanderbloemen, Haymaker GC, 77-77-72–226
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 78-72-76–226
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-78-76–227
Todd Novak, Vail GC, 77-78-72–227
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 78-72-78–228
Dave Comeau, Kennedy GC, 78-72-78–228
Mick Maillot, The Club at Rolling Hills, 78-72-78–228
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 75-74-79–228
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 76-77-76–229
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 76-75-78–229
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 76-74-79–229
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC, 76-77-76–229
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC, 80-76-74–230
Lonnie Miller, Lincoln Park GC, 79-73-78–230
Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC, 76-76-78–230
Butch Boucher, Haymaker GC, 74-77-80–231
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 73-79-79–231
Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC, 77-77-78–232
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 77-76-79–232
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 76-76-80–232
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 79-77-77–233
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 78-78-77–233
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 79-77-77–233
John Sostmann, Columbine CC, 76-78-79–233
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 78-73-83–234
Jerry Beren, Coal Creek GC, 75-80-81–236
Jeff Sweet, Saddle Rock GC, 78-76-82–236
Steve Kass, CommonGround GC, 80-76-80–236
Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch GC, 71-80-85–236
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-73-85–237
Pete Perry, South Suburban GC, 76-80-82–238
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 79-77-83–239
Charlie Ogren, Collindale GC, 80-75-85–240
Art Pitman, Denver Amateur Golf Tour, 74-81-88–243
Gary Fox, The CC at Castle Pines, 75-81-WD
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jerry Kidney, Overland Park GC, 81-76–157
John Perry, Highland Meadows GC, 76-81–157
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 79-79–158
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC, 85-73–158
Rick Tarasiewicz, Eisenhower GC, 80-78–158
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills CC, 78-82–160
Steve Dodson, Haymaker GC, 81-79–160
Mark Barkley, Canongate at Blackstone, 79-81–160
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 80-80–160
Mark Runyan, Blackstone CC, 76-84–160
Bo Powell, West Woods GC, 83-78–161
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills GC, 81-80–161
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC, 85-77–162
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC, 84-78–162
James Pullin, The Olde Course at Loveland, 80-82–162
Dennis Fields, Commonground Golf Course, 82-80–162
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 84-79–163
Jeffrey English, AvidGolfer Passport Club, 82-82–164
Steven Coyer, Eagle Springs GC, 84-80–164
Greg Symons, Valley CC, 80-84–164
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC, 81-84–165
Jeff Salter, Ranch CC, 85-81–166
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk GC, 85-82–167
Danny Wyrick, AvidGolfer Passport Club, 84-83–167
Steve Summers, Broadmoor GC, 81-86–167
Todd Binns, Commonground Golf Course, 82-85–167
Scott Schoelzel, Cherry Hills CC, 82-86–168
Marc Sims, Eisenhower GC, 83-85–168
Vince Laurita, Legacy Ridge GC, 85-84–169
John Leamon, Littleton Golf and Tennis Club, 88-82–170
Gary Custer, Patty Jewett GC, 81-91–172
Ken Bailey, Telluride GC, 89-89–178
Gregg Mueller, Adobe Creek National Golf Club, 96-82–178
Robert Laro, Tiara Rado GC, 102-88–190
Dave Bell, Hiwan GC, 83-WD
Bob Perry, Eisenhower GC, 81-NC