But claiming team championships is a different animal than winning major individual titles. On Sunday, the University of Denver golfer added the latter to his expanding golf resume.

After turning 19 less than a week ago, Korte won arguably Colorado’s most prestigious amateur golf title on Sunday. The player from Lone Tree Golf Club put on a show with his irons in the final round, firing a 6-under-par 65 and overcoming a four-shot deficit to capture the 79th CGA Stroke Play Championship at CommonGround Golf Course.

“This is incredible,” he said. “The field is so strong here. I’ve been dreaming about it pretty much all summer. This has been my focus. I’ve been working really hard to get to this point. I was really glad I could pull it off today.

“This is definitely my biggest win for sure, and it feels awesome.”

Sunday marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Stroke Play champion has posted a 66 or better on the final day to win the amateur title.

Korte (pictured at left, below and also above, getting congratulated by DU coach Erik Billinger) made eight birdies in the final round, six of them coming after approach shots settled within 10 feet of the pin.

“The irons did feel great,” he said. “They were some of the best shots I’ve hit for a while.

“I was lucky I had my swing coach, Richard Olshock, come out and watch me on the range before the round. He told me to keep the tempo slow because I was getting a little bit quick. That tends to happen when you get a little nervous. (During the round) I felt like I was swinging it great and I picked small targets, and fortunately hit a few of them.”

Korte made a major surge in the middle of his round Sunday, carding six birdies in a seven-hole stretch. Still, he trailed third-round leader Nathaniel Goddard, a Colorado Christian University golfer, by two with four holes remaining.

Goddard, who had shot a tournament-best 63 on Saturday, had kept his advantage mainly thanks to his putter. He had three putts in a four-hole stretch from No. 11 through 14, chipping in for birdie from 65 feet on No. 12.

But the 21-year-old from Ptarmigan Country Club paid the price for an errant driver down the stretch and he bogeyed each of the last four holes, with two of them attributable to poor drives.

“The driver, it just left,” said Goddard (left). “I was hitting it great yesterday and at the beginning of today. It just happened to leave me. At least the putter stayed around for a little bit. It kept me in it.

“I’m disappointed, but it’s just golf at the end of the day. I’m not too mad. I played well, he just played better.”

After Goddard kept Korte at bay much of the day, it was on the par-4 16th where the DU golfer overtook his CCU counterpart by making a 2-foot birdie. That was good for a two-shot swing as Goddard’s approach went well over the green and he posted a bogey.

Korte, the Summit League Newcomer of the Year last season as a DU freshman, finished with 20 birdies for the week, and nothing worse than a bogey, in capturing the N.C. “Tub” Morris Trophy. He posted a 15-under-par 269 total for his first CGA championship title.

Goddard, a semifinalist in the CGA Match Play held last month — also at CommonGround, closed with a 72 Sunday to place second at 272.

In a tournament in which the top six finishers play golf for Colorado-based college teams, Jimmy Makloski (Colorado State) and Ethan Freeman (University of Colorado) tied for third at 276. Colin Prater (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs) was fifth at 277 and Ross Macdonald (CU) was sixth at 279. Makloski (pictured at left, in white, with Freeman) has been second and third in the last two CGA Stroke Plays.

Korte’s 15-under-par tally was the best total relative to par in the CGA Stroke Play since Ryan Stephens won at 18-under-par 270 at Murphy Creek Golf Course in 2007.

“I just needed to keep making birdies because pars weren’t going to close the gap,” Korte noted. “I felt like I needed to stay aggressive. Nathaniel played great all the way through. I felt like I needed to be spot on to get the trophy.

“Honestly (going into the week) I would say I was expecting a great finish,” Korte added. “I’ve been hitting it great lately and since the Colorado Open I’ve found something in the putting. I’ve just been rolling it great. And I’ve just been hitting it awesome lately and really minimizing the misses. The biggest thing was keeping the bogeys down — and not making any doubles.”

Though Korte had a two-shot lead while playing the 18th hole, he threw a curve-ball by asking if he could use a caddie for the final half of the hole. After Billinger double checked that it was allowed, Korte put friend — and University of Louisville golfer — Gus Lundquist on the bag. (The two are pictured together at left.)

Lundquist was also competing in the tournament — he ended up finishing 15th — but a rules official approved the move.

Joked Lundquist after the round, “I think I made all the difference.”

But Korte said it helped to have a sounding board while completing his round — which he did with a routine par. Goddard closed with a bogey after his drive ended up against a tree and he took an unplayable lie.

“We’ve been practicing a ton together lately,” Korte said of Lundquist, a two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier. “We work with the same coach, and I just feel really comfortable around him. I was a bit nervous. I knew I had a couple-shot cushion. I didn’t want to go for the green (on the par-5 18th in two), even though I was in position to. I wanted to hit a lay-up shot and leave myself with an easy wedge, which I did. I was lucky to have (Lundquist). I was going to hit 6-iron up there and he convinced me to hit 8-iron and just keep it short of that bunker, which is perfect. So I was lucky to have him come out.”

As for Goddard (left), the finish obviously wasn’t what he was looking for after shooting the low round of his life a day before, but he tried to look for the positives.

“At least I put myself there,” he said. “I know it didn’t end well, but it’s another learning experience, I guess. It’s just golf. It happens sometimes.”

Not surprisingly, given that the CGA Match Play was held at the same course as the Stroke Play, both Goddard and Korte fared well in that championship last month. In fact, both lost to eventual champion Nick Nosewicz, with Korte falling in the quarterfinals and Goddard in the semis.

Nosewicz finished 15th in the Stroke Play on Sunday after tying for second last year.

Next year’s 80th CGA Stroke Play is scheduled for Boulder Country Club.
CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-71 CommonGround GC in Aurora

Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 68-66-70-65–269
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 70-67-63-72–272
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC, 68-70-69-69–276
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC, 67-69-71-69–276
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC, 69-72-66-70–277
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines, 70-68-69-72–279
Braden Baer, Legacy Ridge GC, 67-69-75-70–281
Chris Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 72-70-70-71–283
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC, 67-73-71-73–284
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC, 69-73-73-70–285
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC, 67-72-74-73–286
Zach Svendsen, CommonGround GC, 69-72-71-74–286
Taylor Mackay, Black Hawk CC, 70-71-74-71–286
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 71-71-72-73–287
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC, 68-72-77-71–288
Brendan Connolly, The Ridge at CPN, 64-75-75-74–288
Jeff Chapman, Inverness GC, 72-71-73-72–288
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 75-69-72-72–288
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 67-74-75-72–288
Conner Barr, S. Suburban GC, 70-73-75-70–288
Steven Kupcho, Heritage at Westmoor, 70-74-75-70–289
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC, 76-71-73-69–289
Behrod Keshtavar, Colorado Natl. GC, 66-72-71-81–290
Ryan Axlund, CommonGround GC, 75-73-72-71–291
Brodie Hullinger, CommonGround GC, 75-73-70-73–291
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 71-76-73-72–292
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 75-72-71-74–292
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club, 73-73-75-71–292
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC, 71-73-71-78–293
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 73-74-76-70–293
Pierce Aichinger, CJGA Club, 69-73-73-78–293
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch, 71-75-71-77–294
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken, 71-77-75-73–296
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC, 71-76-75-75–297
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 71-77-75-76–299
Brad Rowe, Ute Creek GC, 71-77-74-77–299
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor, 72-70-76-81–299
Keegan Sheard, Applewood GC, 71-74-80-75–300
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC, 76-72-76-76–300
Sam Marley, S. Suburban GC, 71-76-80-75–302
Cody Kent, Club at Ravenna, 72-76-80-75–303
Bill Parker, Meadow Hills GC, 75-70-85-77–307
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC, 71-75-78-83–307

Missed 36-Hole Cut

Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC, 74-75–149
John Gorell, Patty Jewett GC, 74-75–149
Tim Amundson, Columbine CC, 75-74–149
Cameron Berndt, Spring Valley GC, 73-76–149
Griffin Barela, Fox Hollow GC, 69-80–149
Brian Hawk, Riverdale GC, 72-77–149
Sam Nichamin, Red Sky GC, 77-73–150
Emerson Wood, CommonGround GC, 78-72–150
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-78–151
Drew Vance, Fox Hollow GC, 74-77–151
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Club, 74-77–151
Hayden Nicholaides, S. Suburban GC, 77-74–151
Chris Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 77-74–151
Marc Shirazi, Greeley CC, 76-76–152
Jon Kuzava, Columbine CC, 76-76–152
Dylan Jirsa, Estes Park GC, 73-79–152
Blake Young, Trinidad GC, 70-83–153
Bob Beiersdorf, The Ridge at CPN, 79-74–153
Collin Tedesco, Plum Creek GC, 73-80–153
Josh McLaughlin, Olde Course at Loveland, 74-80–154
Jared Tedesco, Plum Creek GC, 76-79–155
Cole Evans, Vail GC, 78-77–155
Chris Dillon, CommonGround GC, 75-81–156
Kenny Burnham, Colorado Natl. GC, 79-77–156
Ben Lanting, Bear Creek GC, 78-78–156
Ryan Bent, CommonGround GC, 73-84–157
Alan Boyko, Heritage at Westmoor, 80-77–157
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery CC, 82-78–160
Shane Elliot, Indian Tree GC, 81-79–160
Jeff Slupe, Ptarmigan CC, 79-82–161
Davis Bonner, Meridian GC, 78-83–161
Garrett Jones, West Woods GC, 80-82–162
Eric Mccreesh, Saddle Rock GC, 82-83–165
Cody Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse, 80-85–165
Webb Henderson, CommonGround GC, 83-82–165
Daniel Mastrobuono, Clubcorp Colorado, 82-88–170
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 71-NC
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC, 78-WD
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons GC 78-WD

The records aren’t complete — the sites of the CGA Stroke Play are only noted back through 1978 — but what records are accessible indicate that never before have both the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play been conducted at the same course in a single year.

Until this summer, that is.

CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA, will host the 79th CGA Stroke Play Thursday through next Sunday (Aug. 13-16). Four weeks ago, the 115th CGA Match Play concluded at CommonGround, with Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course claiming the title.

Though CommonGround is the home course of the CGA, the association didn’t plan to have both of its “state amateurs” at the course in 2015. Originally, CommonGround was going to host the Stroke Play, while the Mountain Course at The Broadmoor was to be the site of the Match Play. But heavy rains in the spring caused enough damage to the Mountain Course that officials at The Broadmoor said it wouldn’t be ready in time for the Match Play. So, two weeks before the championship was scheduled to start, the CGA moved it to CommonGround, the Tom Doak-designed course that opened in 2009 and that served as the second stroke-play course for the 2012 U.S. Amateur that Cherry Hills Country Club hosted.

“That’s where owning a golf course is helpful,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA, which otherwise would have had to do considerable last-minute scrambling to find a suitable venue.

So we’ll have a little history made this summer with the two state amateurs taking place at the same site five weeks apart.

There were two years in the last four decades that the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play were held in very close proximity — both geographically and date-wise.

In 1982, the two events were linked and played in one seven-day period in July. After four days of the Stroke Play — which competitor Kent Moore remembers being contested at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs — the top 16 finishers advanced to the Match Play, which was held at the nearby West Course at The Broadmoor. In the 36-hole Match Play final, former University of Colorado All-American Rick Cramer defeated Moore, 3 and 2, completing a sweep of the Stroke Play and Match Play in 1982. Will Nicholson Jr., of Denver, just a half a year after completing his term as president of the USGA, officiated the Cramer-Moore final.

The next year, a similar format was used, though the top 32 in the Stroke Play at The Broadmoor’s South Course advanced to the Match Play at the Country Club of Colorado.

This year, with both the Match Play and Stroke Play at the same course, the situation would seem to favor Nosewicz. After all, he won the Match Play at CommonGround last month with a 4 and 3 final victory over Connor Klein. At 31, Nosewicz became the oldest winner of the Match Play since 1994. (Nosewicz is pictured above during the Match Play final.)

And besides winning the Match Play at CommonGround, Nosewicz tied for second last year in the CGA Stroke Play after leading through three rounds at Lakewood Country Club. And it should be noted that the player who won last year’s Stroke Play, David Oraee of Greeley, won’t defend his title as he’ll be playing practice rounds next weekend in preparation for the U.S. Amateur at Olympia Fields in suburban Chicago.

The other runner-up from last year, Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club, will be in the field at CommonGround, as will Klein.

The only former CGA Stroke Play champion entered — as of Friday — was 2012 winner Steven Kupcho of Heritage at Westmoor.

Other notable players in the Stroke Play field are 2014 CGA Match Play winner Cody Kent of The Club at Ravenna and four-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Country Club.

Whoever is crowned champion come Aug. 16 will join an illustrious list of winners of the Stroke Play. That list includes Babe Lind (1941, ’42 and ’48), who was part of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame’s inaugural class of inductees; Hale Irwin (1963, ’64 and ’65); Bob Byman (1971, ’72 and ’73); Steve Jones (1981); and Brandt Jobe (1985). Irwin, Jones and Byman all went on to win on the PGA Tour, and Jobe has also had a long run on the world’s top golf circuit. And between them, Irwin and Jones have won four U.S. Opens.

Next week will mark the second CGA Stroke Play CommonGround has hosted. Zahkai Brown won there in 2011 before claiming the HealthOne Colorado Open title in 2013 and placing second in that event in 2012 and ’15.

In all, 84 players will compete next week at CommonGround, with a cut to the low 40 and ties coming after two rounds.

For living scoring starting on Thursday, CLICK HERE.

Oraee remembers it well five years after the fact. And why not? It isn’t often that a guy — especially a 15-year-old — wins a tournament by 18 strokes, setting an AJGA victory-margin record in the process.

And no doubt Oraee’s second 64 in competition likewise will make an indelible impression. This time around, the University of Colorado golfer carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 64 in Sunday’s final round of the 78th CGA Stroke Play to win by four at Lakewood Country Club.

“I’ve shot 60 in casual play, but to do it in a tournament is something else,” said the 21-year-old (above and below) from Colorado National Golf Club. “Out here I did it bogey-free, and my goal today was to stay bogey-free no matter how many birdies I made. If I did, I thought I had a good shot at it. I did that, and the rest took care of itself.”

Oraee’s 64 Sunday marked the lowest final round by a CGA Stroke Play champion back through at least the year 2000, before which records are incomplete.

“I figured if I shot 63, I was pretty sure I’d get a win,” said Jimmy Makloski, who started the day two behind Oraee. “Apparently that wasn’t even enough. So it’s not that disappointing.”

With Sunday’s victory, Oraee becomes just the third player since 1990 to complete a career sweep of the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play tournaments.

Oraee won the CGA Match Play last year. He’s the 20th player to claim both the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play titles, but only Pat Grady and Steve Ziegler have done so since 1990. Longtime PGA Tour players Hale Irwin, Steve Jones and Brandt Jobe are among those who accomplished the feat in earlier decades.

“It means a lot” Oraee said. “These are the two top tournaments in Colorado, so to win both in a year’s span is good. I would have loved to win the Match Play this year and have them both in one year. But I had to play pretty solid this whole week. Knowing that you played that solid to win the tournament means a lot.”

A senior-to-be at CU, Oraee finished with a 12-under-par 268 total at Lakewood CC. Makloski, a Colorado State University golfer from Pueblo Country Club, shared second place at 272 with Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course. Makloski — whose dad Ray, the 2012 CGA Senior Match Play champion, caddied for him (left) — closed with a 66 despite bogeying his final two holes Sunday. As for 54-hole leader Nosewicz, he carded a 69 Sunday to go sub-par in each round.

“My goal was to shoot in the 60s all four days and I did that,” said the 30-year-old Nosewicz, who works for his dad, who owns Lenny’s Golf in southeast Aurora. “Other than that, it would have been nice to get my name on the trophy. But there’s a few more years left.”

Steve Irwin, who was attempting to win the title at his home course of Lakewood CC, battled an uncooperative putter on Sunday en route to a 68. Irwin (left) missed four putts inside of 5 feet on Sunday, including two on No. 3, where he three-putted from 3 1/2 feet. But he still shot 2 under for the day, which left him in a tie for fourth place at 273 with former CSU golfer Parker Edens, who posted a final-round 65.

The low round of the tournament (63) was carded on Sunday by former Colorado Christian University golfer Minkyu Jeon, of Raccoon Creek Golf Course, who placed seventh at 276. In all, 10 players finished under par for the tournament.

Makloski held the outright lead briefly on Sunday after getting up and down from a greenside bunker, sinking a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 12. But Oraee took control for good when he reeled off three straight birdies starting on No. 12. He 2-putted for the birdie on 12, pitched to 1 foot for his birdie on 13, and drained a 7-foot putt for complete the trifecta on No. 14. And he added another on No. 16, where he holed a 15-foot putt from the fringe after Nosewicz had chipped in for birdie.

“That was a big putt obviously but I didn’t feel threatened at all going into it,” Oraee said. “I knew if I just played well (on Sunday), I didn’t have to worry about what other people did. I was 6 under through 16, so I really wasn’t too worried about it. If (someone) was going to beat me, that’s fine. I played as well as I could have.”

All told, Oraee was only in significant danger of making a bogey once in Sunday’s final round, and that came on the 260-yard, par-3 first hole. There, he needed to sink a 15-foot putt for his 3.

Certainly Oraee’s playing partners were duly impressed by his performance on Sunday.

“The dude is solid. He’s good,” said Nosewicz (left). “I knew he was good. I got beat by him last year in the Match Play (3 and 2 in the round of 32), so I kind of knew what he was going to bring to the table.”

CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Lakewood CC

David Oraee, Colorado National GC, 68-68-68-64–268
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC, 72-65-69-66–272
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 67-69-67-69–272
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 68-71-66-68–273
Parker Edens, Greeley CC, 69-69-70-65–273
Braden Baer, The Ranch CC, 68-69-69-69–275
Minkyu Jeon, Raccoon Creek GC, 65-76-72-63–276
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC, 73-70-67-68–278
Cameron Harrell, Collindale GC, 70-69-74-66–279
Keith Humerickhouse, Glenwood Springs GC, 69-72-67-71–279
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC, 76-70-67-67–280
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC, 71-67-72-70–280
Tanner Jenson, Ridge at Castle Pines N., 70-68-72-71–281
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines GC, 69-72-71-69–281
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 65-72-75-70–282
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC, 66-75-71-70–282
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC, 74-70-68-71–283
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines N., 72-74-68-69–283
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC, 73-73-70-67–283
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 70-76-70-67–283
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 70-72-73-69–284
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 70-71-72-71–284
A.J. Morris, River Valley Ranch GC, 71-71-71-71–284
Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC, 71-64-78-72–285
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons GC, 75-71-68-71–285
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 70-74-69-73–286
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-72-70-71–286
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC, 70-72-70-75–287
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-68-74-71–287
Cody Kent, CC at Castle Pines, 68-73-75-72–288
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC, 70-73-72-73–288
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 75-71-73-70–289
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 69-77-71-73–290
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 72-74-71-75–292
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 70-75-73-75–293
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 77-70-70-77–294
James Banyas, CommonGround GC, 70-77-72-75–294
Behrod Keshtavar, CJGA Club, 71-75-75-74–295
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC, 72-75-76-73–296
Michael McNulty, Fossil Trace GC, 72-73-78-73–296
Ryan Sturm, Buffalo Run GC, 73-74-82-73–302

MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75–148
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 76-72–148
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC, 73-75–148
Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 74-74–148
Sam Marley, South Suburban GC, 75-73–148
Josh Gardella, Highlands Ranch GC, 72-77–149
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 70-79–149
Tyler Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse, 76-74–150
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 79-71–150
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 74-76–150
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 77-73–150
Drew Trujillo, The Bridges, 73-78–151
Michael Passananti, Desert Hawk GC, 76-75–151
Wesley Martin, CommonGround GC, 77-75–152
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC, 81-71–152
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 75-77–152
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-74–152
Jack Adolfson, Colorado National GC, 76-77–153
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek GC, 75-78–153
Adam Pladson, Aurora Hills GC, 75-78–153
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-75–153
Will Myer, Denver CC, 77-76–153
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC, 80-74–154
Mitch Shinkle, Lake Arbor GC, 82-72–154
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club, 77-77–154
Kevin Liao, CJGA Club, 76-78–154
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC, 79-76–155
Jared Tedesco, Plum Creek G&CC, 76-79–155
James Adam Jones, South Suburban GC, 82-74–156
Trevor McKune, Pinehurst CC, 78-79–157
Brent Modak, City Park GC, 75-82–157
Cameron Berndt, Spring Valley GC, 80-77–157
Matthew Weiss, Highlands Ranch GC, 80-78–158
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch GC, 79-79–158
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor, 81-78–159
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 78-83–161
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 80-81–161
Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch GC, 79-82–161
Chris Jones, CC at Castle Pines, 81-83–164
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery Country Club, 86-78–164
Matt Lazzeri, Lakewood CC, 81-85–166
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 78-WD–WD
Jeffrey Gravina, Pinehurst CC, WD

Three years ago in the 4A state high school tournament, he beat Wyndham Clark head to head — when Clark was ranked among the top 10 junior players in the country — to win the title.

That same year, Ahern went five holes of sudden death to win the CJGA Tournament of Champions.

Then there was Sunday. Despite working full-time at an oil and gas company this summer, the 20-year-old from Bear Creek Golf Club rallied to not only overcome two reigning CGA state champions, but prevailed in a playoff despite seemingly being behind the 8-ball.

Minutes after missing almost the same putt on the 72nd hole of regulation, Ahern made the only birdie of the day on the 18th hole at Pinehurst Country Club — in the first hole of sudden death — to win the 77th CGA Stroke Play Championship.

Ahern, a junior-to-be on the Colorado School of Mines golf team, drained a 16-foot putt from the fringe (pictured above) to overcome Andrew Cornella of the Club at Flying Horse in the playoff.

“This is huge,” Ahern said. “I’ve never won anything this big at the men’s level. I’ve been working a lot so I didn’t really expect to come out and play that well. I haven’t played a lot of golf (recently), but sometimes that’s a good thing. It felt great.”

The victory was the second CGA championship for Ahern, who won the 2011 CGA Junior Match Play as well as the 2010 4A state high school title.

The left-hander trailed by four early in the final round, but rallied by playing his final seven holes in 3 under par, including the playoff. Ahern fired an even-par 70 on Sunday to finish at 5-under 275.

Cornella, a Colorado Springs resident who is transferring from Nevada to Texas-Arlington to continue his college golf career, went 67-67 on the weekend to force the playoff. Then he gained the upper hand on the extra hole by hitting a 400-yard drive — with the help of a cart path bounce — on the 419-yard, par-4 18th hole at Pinehurst.

That blast put Cornella (pictured at left) about 120 yards closer to the hole than Ahern. But the Mines golfer hit a 50-degree wedge from 138 yards to the fringe to the right and short of the hole, 16 feet away. Cornella had a tough chip shot from just in front of the green and ran it 15 feet past the cup. And after Ahern coaxed in his birdie, Cornella missed his, ending the tournament.

“I was about 2 inches (from where he putt in regulation on No. 18),” Ahern said. “It was really close. It was the same line, the same putt. I got a pretty good read from the first one. The first time, I thought it was breaking a ton. I probably missed it 6 or 7 inches out. Coming back the second time, I hit it a little lower and it stayed on line and caught the edge.”

Cornella, who has been playing golf with Ahern since the age of 7, did think his huge drive in the playoff gave him an edge, but he certainly didn’t take anything for granted.

“I felt I had the advantage,” Cornella said. “I actually didn’t feel I hit a bad chip. That was actually a straight putt and it was the easiest putt to make. (The chip) was a little too hard but I was trying to hit it 5 feet past the hole. I just hit one too many clubs for the run.”

Derek Fribbs (pictured at left) of Colorado National Golf Club, a former teammate of Ahern at the University of Colorado before Ahern transferred, finished third on Sunday, two behind Ahern and Cornella. Fribbs, who won the 2013 CGA Public Links Championship, closed with a 71.

“I didn’t make any putts and that’s what killed me,” said Fribbs, who made the final 32 at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship last month. “I didn’t have the right reads or the right speed.”

Fribbs, a regular contender at CGA championships in recent years, said that the Stroke Play was “probably my last amateur tournament. We’ll see, though. But I’m excited to start something new. Hopefully I’ll be on a bigger stage soon.”

Another of Ahern’s Sunday playing partners, defending champion Steven Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course, had held at least a share of the lead after rounds 2 and 3. But the University of Northern Colorado golfer couldn’t find his form from the previous two days, shot 75 and settled for fourth place at 278.

“I just stopped hitting greens,” said Kupcho (pictured at left), who hit just six in regulation on Sunday. “And I had missed only one up-and-down until today. My chipping had been really good all week. The greens are firm and your game has to be on if you’re going to give yourself birdie opportunities, and I just wasn’t able to do that.”

Kupcho was attempting to become the first back-to-back winner of the CGA Stroke Play since Kane Webber managed the feat in 2002 and ’03. But he was derailed on Sunday.

“That would have been cool,” he said. “Just having your name on that (Tub Morris Trophy) is an honor when you look back and see some of the names who have won it. To be able to go back-to-back would have been awesome, but hopefully it’s not my last time contending.”

Kupcho started Sunday with a 1-foot birdie and led by four early in the final round. But three straight birdies by Fribbs, including a 35-foot chip-in at No. 5, tied things up.

It wasn’t until a 35-foot birdie on No. 13 that Ahern (pictured at left) earned a share of the lead on Sunday. Both he and Cornella birdied the par-5 16th to get to 5 under and in line for a playoff.

“I’m happy I lost to a birdie and to one of my best friends in this game,” Cornella said. “I’ve known John for years. It stings to lose, but he’s a good guy. It was a good week for me. You can never complain when you shoot 67-67 on the weekend.”

It was the third time in the last eight years that the CGA Stroke Play champion has been decided in a playoff. The last time was when Clark defeated Jim Knous in 2010 following Knous’ course-record 60 in the final round at Boulder Country Club.

CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Pinehurst CC in Denver
x-won playoff

x-John Ahern, Bear Creek GC, 71-66-68-70–275
Andrew Cornella, Club at Flying Horse, 70-71-67-67–275
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC, 69-72-65-71–277
Steven Kupcho, CommonGround GC, 70-67-66-75–278
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 67-71-68-74–280
Minkyu Jeon, Meadows GC, 67-71-69-73–280
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club, 69-72-72-70–283
Parker Edens, Greeley CC, 67-74-70-74–285
Ben Krueger, Patty Jewett GC, 70-70-73-73–286
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC, 71-72-72-71–286
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 71-70-71-75–287
Michael Lee, Greeley CC, 73-73-70-71–287
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 72-73-71-72–288
Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC, 74-68-71-75–288
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC, 78-71-69-70–288
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 74-72-72-71–289
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 67-72-78-73–290
Matthew Weiss, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-76-73-68–291
Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 74-71-71-75–291
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon GC, 74-74-73-70–291
Cole Nygren, Colorado National GC, 71-69-71-80–291
Nicholas Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 76-73-70-73–292
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC, 73-78-75-67–293
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 73-74-72-74–293
Jeffrey Gravina, Pinehurst CC, 76-74-70-73–293
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-75-74-71–294
Josh Gardella, The Ridge at Castle Pines North, 76-70-76-73–295
David Oraee, Highland Hills GC, 73-71-75-76–295
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 78-73-72-72–295
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC, 74-71-74-77–296
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC, 75-73-76-73–297
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC, 72-75-72-78–297
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC, 70-72-76-80–298
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 79-72-70-77–298
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 74-77-78-70–299
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 70-73-79-77–299
Cody Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 78-73-78-71–300
Andrew Romano, Colorado GC, 76-75-78-72–301
Lamar Carlile, City Park Associates Club, 74-74-83-71–302
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 80-69-75-80–304
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC, 78-71-77-78–304
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 72-74-79-79–304
Cameron Connor, Boulder CC, 76-75-74-81–306
Will Myer, Denver CC, 75-76-77-80–308
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 77-72-83-77–309

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill CC, 79-73–152
Scott Guetz, Pinehurst CC, 79-73–152
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC, 74-78–152
Brandon Barron, South Suburban Family Sports, 78-74–152
Nick Berry, Meadows GC, 78-74–152
Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC, 78-74–152
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-74–152
Ken Cosper, Ptarmigan CC, 77-76–153
Davis Kigin, Legacy Ridge GC, 79-74–153
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 77-77–154
Barry Erwin, CommonGround GC, 76-78–154
Will Logsdon, Patty Jewett GC, 78-76–154
Wes Martin, Hyland Hills GC, 78-77–155
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 78-77–155
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 77-78–155
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 79-76–155
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC, 78-77–155
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 76-79–155
Joey Haack, Aspen GC, 80-75–155
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 79-77–156
Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC, 78-79–157
Terry Lorenz, Pinehurst CC, 78-79–157
Kevin Koelbel, Pinehurst CC, 79-78–157
Jacob Allenback, Elmwood GC, 80-77–157
Trevor Mckune, Pinehurst CC, 81-77–158
Heath Andersen, Meadow Hills GC, 77-81–158
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 76-83–159
Adam Pladson, Aurora Hills GC, 80-79–159
Jakob Rudosky, Conquistador GC, 76-83–159
Nicolas Karavites, Glenmoor CC, 78-82–160
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC, 79-81–160
Andrew Howe, Fox Hill CC, 77-84–161
Darren Rowell, Canongate Colorado, 83-78–161
Justin Goldsberry, South Suburban GC, 80-83–163
Samuel Toillion, Ute Creek GC, 84-81–165
Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch GC, 82-87–169
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC, 82-88–170
Stephen King, Green Valley Ranch GC, 76-WD
Kyle Schulte, Highlands Ranch GC, 90-NS

 Go to full CGA Stroke Play Results

Go to CGA Stroke Play Results Archive

Two years ago, Jim Knous came from 10 shots behind on the final day to shoot 60 and force a playoff, which Wyndham Clark won.

Last year, Zahkai Brown rallied from six strokes down to overcome third-round leader David Schroeder and claim the Stroke Play title.

Then on Sunday in the 76th edition of the Stroke Play, it was more of the same.

Steven Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course went into the final round nine strokes behind and in 16th place. He teed off in the sixth-to-the-last group of the day.

Not even he thought he had a chance to win. In fact, it didn’t even enter his mind, even at the end of Sunday’s stellar round. But Kupcho learned a very pleasant lesson as he put together one of the biggest final-round rallies ever by a winner of the Stroke Play Championship, overcoming that nine-stroke deficit to claim the title at Fort Collins Country Club.

“I had no idea I could really win it from that far back today,” the 19-year-old from Westminster said. “I honestly didn’t know how far back I was. My goal was to go as low as I possibly could and maybe give the top five a run.”

The University of Northern Colorado golfer wasn’t even considering overtaking Jordan Burgess of Highland Hills Golf Course, who led after each of the first three rounds. But Kupcho, the low amateur at this summer’s HealthOne Colorado Open, shot the best round of the tournament — a 4-under-par 66 — to overtake the University of Denver golfer and win by one.

Kupcho birdied his final three holes Sunday, while Burgess bogeyed five of his last seven to shoot a 76.

“I’m pretty upset about (letting the lead slip away),” said Burgess, a U.S. Amateur qualifier last year. “… This is my first time in this position in one of these tournaments, and I didn’t handle it as well as I would have liked to, and it looked like Kupcho played a great round today.” (Burgess is pictured at left in light blue while getting a ruling Sunday.)

Kupcho, the CGA Junior Stroke Play champion last year, won the Stroke Play on Sunday with a 3-over-par 283 total after going 69-66 on the weekend. Burgess three-putted the final hole for a bogey, missing a 5-foot par attempt that would have forced a playoff.

Keith Humerickhouse of Gypsum Creek Golf Course, who won the first of his two CGA Mid-Amateur titles at Fort Collins CC two years ago, was paired with Kupcho Sunday and fired a 68 to share third place at 285. Also at that figure were 2009 CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year Michael Harrington (70 Sunday), Gonzaga University golfer Brendan Connolly (76) and Chris Hyten of Silver Spruce Golf Course (75).

Only three players broke par in the final round: Kupcho, Humerickhouse and University of Kansas golfer Alex Gutesha (68 for a 289 total).

Burgess was in solid shape through 11 holes Sunday, standing 1 over par for the day and 1 under for the tournament. However, a pitch shot didn’t clear the bunker right in front of him on No. 12, resulting in a bogey, then he three-putted the next two holes for two more bogeys.

After a great drive on No. 16, Burgess pushed his approach into a bunker, leading to another bogey. Then he three-putted No. 18.

“I think the speed started getting off a little on my putts,” said the senior-to-be at DU. “I realize I was a little bit nervous; that could have contributed to that.”

Burgess didn’t know that Kupcho had posted a 66, but he realized that his bogeys down the stretch had opened up a door of opportunity.

“I knew being 5 over (for the day) going into the last hole that I was going to be pretty close with the guys up ahead,” he said.

Kupcho, who tee off almost an hour before Burgess, didn’t know he was making a run at the lead, but some nifty work with his putter down the stretch proved pivotal. He birdied No. 16 from 5 feet, then drained difficult 12-foot birdies on each of the last two holes.

“They were two nasty sliders on the last two (holes),” said Kupcho (pictured at left smiling after Sunday’s round). “I still don’t know how they went in. The one on 17 broke about a foot and a half, and the one on 18 was as slick as could be.

“This is a sneaky tough golf course. You barely miss a shot and you end up in a tough spot. It takes a ton of patience out here.”

Kupcho was deservedly proud of his strong final-round showing Sunday — as he was with the 69 he shot last summer at Greeley Country Club in winning the Junior Stroke Play.

“If there’s been one part of my game I’ve always struggled with, it’s been finishing a tournament,” he said. “Since last summer, to win these two titles finishing strong the last day means so much. It’s something to build on.”

The victory caps a stellar summer for Kupcho. He finished second in the CGA Public Links, made it to the quarterfinals of the CGA Match Play and led the Colorado Open outright after two rounds before settling for low-amateur honors. Then came Sunday’s victory.

“This was always a goal — to win (the CGA Stroke Play) at some point — but I just didn’t think it was going to be this summer. So this is pretty cool,” he said.

And though the tournament season isn’t over, Kupcho is definitely very high on the short list for CGA amateur Player of the Year honors.

“I went into every tournament just wanting to have fun,” he said. “I kind of took this one too serious (in the early rounds of the Stroke Play). I knew that Player of the Year was kind of on the line. I put a lot of pressure on myself, and that showed the first two rounds (73-75). Once I was what I thought was out of it, I just came out and had some fun the last two days. I should have just stuck with the game plan that was working all summer.

“But winning this means a lot. A lot of (college) coaches counted me out coming out of high school, so for me to have this kind of a summer — a Northern Colorado golfer to have this kind of a summer — it’s great. It shows that hard work pays off. And no matter what anyone says, don’t count yourself out.”
CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Fort Collins CC

Steven Kupcho, Commonground GC, 73-75-69-66–283
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC, 68-68-72-76–284
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 69-73-67-76–285
Michael Harrington, Kissing Camels at Ga, 69-72-74-70–285
Chris Hyten, Silver Spruce GC, 69-68-73-75–285
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek GC, 73-70-74-68–285
Kirby Pettitt, Harmony Club, 73-75-68-71–287
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC, 77-68-69-73–287
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC, 76-67-73-72–288
Kory Harrell, Pine Creek GC, 72-72-69-75–288
C.J. Kim, CommonGround GC, 73-71-72-72–288
Alex Gutesha, Meridian GC, 75-70-76-68–289
Aj Morris, Maroon CC, 72-71-71-75–289
Ben Krueger, Pine Creek GC, 72-70-71-76–289
Michael Lee, Greeley CC, 72-71-73-74–290
David Oraee, Highland Hills GC, 76-67-77-70–290
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-73-71-72–290
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 69-77-71-73–290
George Bollinger III, Red Rocks CC, 71-71-75-73–290
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC, 71-79-69-72–291
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines GC, 74-72-70-76–292
Taylor Stamp, Broadmoor GC, 74-71-71-76–292
Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek GC, 78-71-74-70–293
Eric Parish, Commonground GC, 75-71-76-71–293
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 70-76-74-74–294
Nick Berry, Meadows GC, 71-71-73-79–294
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC, 72-71-79-72–294
Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC, 77-71-72-75–295
Minkyu Jeon, The Meadows GC, 74-70-76-75–295
Gus Lundquist, The Club at Pradera, 73-75-76-73–297
Joshua Mathis, Colorado Springs CC, 78-71-72-76–297
Blair Matthews, Commonground GC, 74-76-73-75–298
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 73-77-73-75–298
Sean Robbins, Commonground GC, 77-70-71-81–299
Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club, 70-73-75-81–299
Lanny Cameron, Mariana Butte GC, 76-74-74-76–300
Kaleb Mahanes, Coal Creek Mens GC, 71-74-77-78–300
Cody Kent, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 76-73-75-78–302
Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 75-73-74-80–302
Joseph Schwark, Colorado National GC, 76-74-77-77–304
Alex Buecking, Columbine CC, 75-74-74-82–305
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC, 74-76-81-75–306
Stephen Fernandes, Meridian GC, 75-75-79-78–307
David Holtgrewe, Cherry Hills CC, 68-79-78-83–308
Ken Cosper, Ptarmigan CC, 74-76-WD

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC, 76-75–151
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 76-75–151
Adam Vasilakis, CC of Colorado, 77-75–152
Will Roth, Omni Interlocken Resort, 72-80–152
Connor Rakowski, Ironbridge GC, 75-78–153
Dillon Mcdonald, Red Sky GC, 79-74–153
Wlad Colmenares, Legacy Ridge GC, 74-80–154
Chun-Ji Kim, Highlands Ranch GC, 75-79–154
Jim Fucillo, Eisenhower GC, 80-74–154
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 76-78–154
Christopher Good, Lone Tree GC & Hotel, 76-79–155
Drew Trujillo, Bridges G&CC, 82-73–155
Jason Coffin, Colorado National GC, 80-75–155
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC, 80-75–155
John Ahern, Bear Creek GC, 77-78–155
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf, 77-79–156
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 80-76–156
Tyler S Winslow, Lake Valley GC, 79-77–156
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver Athletic Club, 82-75–157
Damon Dageenakis, Flatirons GC, 78-79–157
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 80-77–157
Jordan Gallacher, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-81–157
Grant Porter, Commonground GC, 76-82–158
Geoff Nuwash, Commonground GC, 77-81–158
Jeremy W Deems, Lake Valley GC, 83-78–161
Grant Suggs, Collindale GC, 83-78–161
Zachary Coe, Eagle Ranch GC, 77-84–161
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC, 85-78–163
Nathan Johnson, Fort Collins CC, 81-84–165
Patrick Griffin, Flatirons GC, 86-79–165
Casey Hannen, CommonGround GC, 84-81–165
Bill Parker, Avid Golfer Passport, 80-91–171
Josh Ostmeyer, Estes Park GC, 86-90–176
Chris Beabout, South Suburban GC, 81-WD
Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse, 78-NS
Cameron Freeman, Collindale GC, 79-WD
Rick Kelly, Commonground GC, 84-NS
Jeff Gravina, Pinehurst CC, 81-NS
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 78-WD
Go to full CGA Stroke Play Results

Go to CGA Stroke Play Results Archive