Obviously, the main event is going to be the U.S. Senior Open that The Broadmoor Resort will host June 28-July 1.

But while the best golfers in the 50-and-older set will be in Colorado Springs, a high-profile PGA Tour player, Matt Kuchar, will be putting on an exhibition for kids on June 30 from 11 a.m. to noon at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. The event — sponsored by CoBank, the title sponsor for the Colorado Open Championships — will be open to all kids, free of charge. And junior attendees can play the GVR par-3 course after the exhibition and autograph session. The First Tee of GVR is hosting the festivities.

Kuchar (pictured), who will also participate in other functions on June 29 as part of the event, owns seven PGA Tour victories in his career, including the 2012 Players Championship, the 2013 WGC Match Play Championship and the 2013 Memorial. Last week, he made a hole-in-one at this year’s Match Play, were he advanced to the round of 16. All told, the affable 39-year-old has won more than $42 million on golf’s top circuit. Kuchar, the 1997 U.S. Amateur champion, is currently No. 20 in the World Golf Rankings.

Kuchar’s appearance will be one of two hosted in Colorado in 2018 by The First Tee of GVR and sponsored by CoBank.

Annika Sorenstam — who won the first of her 72 LPGA Tour titles (third most all-time) at the 50th U.S. Women’s Open, held at The Broadmoor in 1995 — will return to the Colorado Springs resort to participate in the “CoBank PEAK Performers” event on Aug. 23. On that day, she’ll play a round of golf at the East Course with nine selected First Tee members (six holes each with three threesomes). Sorenstam, a national spokesperson for The First Tee, also will have a breakfast meeting with the kids. Eight of those nine First Tee members will be selected from the eight First Tee regions in the continental U.S., with the final participant coming from The First Tee of GVR.

In previous years, tour players who have conducted CoBank-sponsored junior exhibitions in Colorado have included Hale Irwin, Ryan Palmer and Paula Creamer in 2016, and David Duval, Lexi Thompson and Mark O’Meara in 2017.

To register for the Kuchar exhibition, CLICK HERE.
 

The lineup in 2016 featured Hale Irwin, Ryan Palmer and Paula Creamer. Last year, David Duval, Lexi Thompson and Mark O’Meara were brought in by CoBank and The First Tee of GVR.

Put those years together and you had two World Golf Hall of Famers (Irwin and O’Meara) and the winners of 52 events on the PGA Tour, 47 on PGA Tour Champions and 19 on the LPGA Tour.

But there will be no resting on laurels in 2018. Officials expect to host at least one exhibition in Colorado — with a to-be-determined tour player — this year. But beyond that, one of the game’s all-time greats will be coming to the Centennial State to participate in an event that will be different than usual and bigger in scope.

Annika Sorenstam — who won the first of her 72 LPGA Tour titles (third most all-time) at the 50th U.S. Women’s Open, held at The Broadmoor in 1995 — has agreed to return to the Colorado Springs resort to participate in the “CoBank PEAK Performers” event on Aug. 23.

On that day, she’ll play a round of golf at the East Course with nine selected First Tee members (six holes each with three threesomes). Sorenstam, a national spokesperson for The First Tee, also will have a breakfast meeting with the kids. (Sorenstam is pictured above with two kids at the 2013 Solheim Cup at Colorado Golf Club in Parker.)

Eight of those nine First Tee members will be selected from the eight First Tee regions in the continental U.S., with the final participant coming from The First Tee of GVR. Applicants are limited to kids age 14-18.

“The impetus (for the event) came from last year with Mark O’Meara coming to The Broadmoor” for a First Tee exhibition, said Kevin Laura, CEO of The First Tee of GVR and of the Colorado Open Golf Foundation. “It made a big impact on Mark and on the kids. CoBank got great feedback and The Broadmoor is such a great setting. (CoBank officials) said afterward they want something bigger and broader after what we’ve done the last two years.

“The Broadmoor liked this idea and The First Tee thought it was a great idea. And Annika loves The Broadmoor. Besides winning a U.S. Women’s Open there, she vacations there” on occasion.

CoBank, The Broadmoor and The First Tee of GVR are co-sponsoring and hosting “CoBank PEAK Performers”.

First Tee kids from across the country — boys with handicaps of 10 or less and girls with 12 or less — can apply if they’re interested in playing with Sorenstam as part of the all-expenses-covered event, which runs Aug. 21-24. Included for the participants will be three nights at The Broadmoor. The First Tee is expecting 200 or more applications.

Participants will be chosen on the basis of an essay, their answers to various questions, their golf resume, their schoolwork and activities, and letters of recommendation. The First Tee national home office will forward worthy candidates to the Colorado Open Golf Foundation selection committee, which will pick the winners and announce them on June 27.

Besides playing with Sorenstam, the participants will spend a day visiting some of the top landmarks in the Colorado Springs area, including the Air Force Academy.
 

It may be just a coincidence, but since the year Lexi Thompson was born — 1995 — the percentage of American junior golfers who are females has doubled.

Obviously, it’s not all due to Thompson — to say the least — but it’s not an overstatement to say that the young Lexi has more than done her part to grow the game, particularly among girls.

For the record, the growth statistic, according to the National Golf Foundation, is this: In 1995, 17 percent of all junior golfers in the U.S. were female. Now, that percentage is 32.7.

Thompson knows the figures, and they bring a smile to her face. On Saturday, the No. 2-ranked female golfer in the world conducted a First Tee kids exhibition — presented by CoBank — at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. Though the event, which drew more than 200 people, wasn’t limited to girls, they were the vast majority of attendees.

Thompson wants to help golf grow on all levels, and among both females and males, but the trend among girls in the last couple of decades is particularly gratifying for players such as her on the LPGA Tour.

“It’s amazing,” the 22-year-old said. “That’s what we want. We want to see little girls pick up a club early and get involved in the game because it is an amazing sport. You learn a lot about yourself. We want to grow the game, so it’s great to see.

“The thing I’ve noticed is the number of little girls wearing the program shirts or hats that are out following us. There’s so many little girls out following us and that’s what we want to see. We want to see smiles on their faces when we sign something for them or are giving them high-fives between holes. Knowing that they play the game as well, and we have an impact on that, it means the world to us.”

Thompson points to organizations such as The First Tee, PGA Junior League and LPGA*USGA Girls Golf as key reasons the percentage of girls among junior players has grown markedly in the last couple of decades. For her part, Thompson serves as an ambassador for LPGA*USGA Girls Golf. The program features more than 400 sites around the world, reaching roughly 60,000 girls. Just in Colorado, 13 sites host LPGA*USGA Girls Golf programs. There are locations in Aspen, Pueblo, Colorado Springs, Evergreen, Loveland and Pagosa Springs, besides seven in the Denver metro area. The CWGA coordinates and helps run the LPGA*USGA Girls Golf program based at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. For all the Colorado sites, CLICK HERE.

“Obviously I want to accomplish what I do on the golf course, but I want to give back to the game and grow it as well,” Thompson said. “Being part of that program is a huge honor. To get the girls involved in the game at a young age, and to see how excited they are to be involved with it, it means a lot to me to be part of it.

“I definitely embrace it. I notice the little girls that follow me the whole day (during rounds on the LPGA Tour), and I’ll sign and give them golf balls between holes and everything because it means a lot. They took time out of their lives to come out and watch me and support me. The least I can do is give them something signed. I really embrace it because I’m following my dreams and that’s what I want to show to them.”

And, perhaps more than most LPGA Tour players, Thompson can make a connection with girls. After all, at age 22, she’s not very far removed from being a girl herself. But she definitely took a more accelerated route to considerable success in the game than most.

Thompson qualified for the 2007 U.S. Women’s Open as a 12-year-old. She won the U.S. Girls’ Junior as a 13-year-old. She turned pro at 15 and won an LPGA Tour event as a 16-year-old. Now, at the grand old age of 22, she owns eight LPGA Tour victories, including one major. Thompson has captured one title this year, with five runner-up finishes.

“My No. 1 goal is to be in the Hall of Fame,” she said. “Besides that, the people I look up to like Nancy Lopez and Juli Inkster, it’s not only because of what they’ve accomplished, but what they do for their fans, for their sponsors and how they’ve grown the game. People look up to them. That’s what I want to accomplish in life. I want people to look up to me and respect the game because they watch me play. I can accomplish all I want on the golf course, but if I give back to my fans and grow the game, that’s all I want.”

Thompson vividly remembers her first up-close interaction with LPGA Tour players, when she qualified for that first U.S. Women’s Open at age 12. And she keeps that in mind when she mixes with youngsters these days.

“At the Open I got to see Annika (Sorenstam) and Lorena (Ochoa) and Juli (Inkster); that was amazing on its own,” Thompson said. “I didn’t talk to them too much — I was a 12-year-old — but to see them on the range and the putting green, I was like, ‘I just watched you guys on TV last week or a few weeks ago.’ I looked up to them. That’s what drove me to be out there. I’m like, ‘I’m playing beside my role models.’ That’s what I want to be to the kids watching me.”

Indeed, whether she’s conversing with girls or boys, Thompson tries to provide a little inspiration to the impressionable kids.

“I always say to the little girls and boys to follow their dreams whether it’s in golf or anything they want to do in their lives — to go after what they want,” she said. “It takes a lot of hard work to achieve your goals in life, but don’t let anybody get in the way of that. Do something that you love; that’s the most important part.”

Although the LPGA doesn’t have a regular tour stop these days in Colorado, it was in this state where Thompson says she was the most nervous she’s ever been. That was at the 2013 Solheim Cup — the women’s version of the Ryder Cup — at Colorado Golf Club in Parker. Thompson was 18 at the time, and playing in the U.S. vs. Europe matches for the first time.

“I remember the first tee shot very vividly” with LPGA legend Lopez in the stands among those leading the fans in support of the U.S. team, Thompson said. “It’s pretty intense, a lot of adrenaline. It was the best feeling to hit that tee shot. Just to hear the USA chants … We didn’t play that well that week, but it was an incredible experience.

“That first tee shot there was the most nervous I’ve ever been. You’re playing for yourself, you’re playing for your team, you’re playing for your country, so there’s a lot more on the line. But I thrive on it. I love it.”

Next week in West Des Moines, Iowa, Thompson will participate in her third Solheim Cup. And if her excitment and that of the other competitors rubs off on girls — and boys and adults — perhaps golf will take another incremental step in the right direction.

Thompson’s exhibition was the second conducted by a big-time player this summer at Green Valley Ranch. David Duval did the honors in June — just as Hale Irwin, Ryan Palmer and Paula Creamer did last year. And on Aug. 25, Mark O’Meara will be putting one on for The First Tee of Pikes Peak at a Colorado Springs site to be determined.
 

Kevin Laura, the CEO of The First Tee of GVR and president of Green Valley Ranch GC, said Thompson has committed to lead the clinic, hosted by CoBank, on Aug. 12 from 11 a.m. to noon at GVR.

Thompson has notched seven victories in her LPGA Tour career, including the 2014 ANA Inspiration, the first major of the LPGA season. She’s ranked No. 5 in the world among women and is the top American.

Thompson was in position for another ANA Inspiration victory a month ago, but with six holes to play, she was penalized four shots — two for replacing her marked golf ball in the incorrect spot on the 17th green the day before, and two more for signing an incorrect scorecard because she didn’t learn about it until Sunday after the infraction was pointed out by a TV viewer. After being tied at the end of regulation, So Yeon Ryu beat Thompson in a playoff. Thompson has subsequently called the situation “a nightmare.” Last week, the USGA and R&A announced a subsequent Rules of Golf decision that limits the use of video review, effective immediately.

Thompson’s clinic — and possibly another one GVR officials are working on — will follow on the heels of three held at The First Tee of GVR last year, all hosted by prominent tour players. Hale Irwin, Paula Creamer and Ryan Palmer did the honors last year.
 

With just a few days left in the year, it’s almost time to turn the calendar page to 2016. But before we move on, it’s worthwhile to reflect on the top stories of 2015 in Colorado golf. This marks our seventh consecutive year of compiling the rankings, and for suspense sake, we like to go in reverse order, from 25 to 1, then note the honorable-mention selections.

And away we go …:

25. Delich’s Third CGA Senior Match Play Title: David Delich of Colorado Springs became the sixth golfer to win the CGA Senior Match Play at least three times. Full story: CLICK HERE. But that was hardly the former hockey standout’s only significant golf accomplishment in 2015. Delich also qualified for the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Mid-Amateur, won the senior division of the Charlie Coe Invitational (with Ben Hargis) and earned CGA Senior Player of the Year honors for the second time.

24. Another Honor for Bell: Part-time Colorado Springs resident Judy Bell, the first female president of the USGA, accepted an honorary membership at the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St. Andrews in Scotland, becoming one of the first female members at the historic club. Full story: CLICK HERE.

23. Eaton ‘Unretires’ from CWGA Play, But Falls Short of Another Win: Almost two years after “retiring” from CWGA championship play after accumulating the second-most titles in CWGA history, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton decided to return to action in an association championship in 2015. But after winning the CWGA Senior Stroke Play each of the first four times she competed in the event, Eaton had to settle for runner-up this year, as Jill Gaschler prevailed by two for the title. Full story: CLICK HERE.

22. Bertsch Wins Web.com Event, Regains PGA Tour Card: Shane Bertsch of Parker notched his third career victory on the Web.com Tour — and first in a decade — when the 45-year-old prevailed in the Rust-Oleum Championship in Westlake, Ohio. That helped Bertsch finish high enough on the season-long money list to regain his PGA Tour card for the first time since 2012. Full story: CLICK HERE.

21. Coloradans Shine at Junior America’s Cup: The CGA has been fielding teams in the Junior America’s Cup annually since 1975, and this year the Coloradans matched their best finish ever in the event that features representatives from the western U.S., Canada and Mexico. The CGA placed third in the 18-team field in Flagstaff, Ariz. The Coloradans also were third in 2011 at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen. Full story: CLICK HERE.

20. Craig Stadler, Finke to be Inducted: Former Masters champion Craig Stadler, a resident of Colorado for more than two decades, and Ann Finke of Colorado Springs, the first female member of the Colorado PGA and a national leader in junior golf, were voted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Stadler, an Evergreen resident since 2003 and a Coloradan since 1994, has won 13 times on the PGA Tour, including the 1982 Masters, plus nine times on the Champions Tour, along with the 1973 U.S. Amateur. Finke has been a fixture on the Colorado golf scene for three decades. During that time — all spent at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs, where she’s now director of instruction — she’s given about 38,000 lessons, more than 40 percent of those to juniors. Full story: CLICK HERE.

19. Moores Go Back-to-Back in USGA Qualifying: Janet Moore earned medalist honors for the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur qualifying the day after husband — and fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer — Kent Moore was medalist in U.S. Senior Amateur qualifying. And one day after the back-to-back feat, the Moores hosted a kickoff event leading up to the Century of Golf Gala, for which they served as honorary chairs. Full story: CLICK HERE.

18. Recent Skull Fracture Doesn’t Stop Saunders: Sam Saunders of Fort Collins finished tied for fourth in the Web.com Tour’s Hotel Fitness Championship for the second straight year, but that hardly was the most remarkable thing about his performance. No, it was the fact that Saunders played that well just weeks after suffering a fractured skull and an epidural hematoma in falling while riding an electric scooter in late August. He spent two nights in intensive care. Full story: CLICK HERE. Earlier in the year, Saunders posted his best finish ever on the PGA Tour, placing second after a playoff in the Puerto Rico Open. 

17. Nosewicz, 31, Oldest Winner of CGA Match Play Since ’90s: Most winners of the CGA Match Play in recent years have been college-aged. But 31-year-old Nick Nosewicz prevailed in the 115th Match Play this year, becoming the event’s oldest champion since 1994. Full story:  CLICK HERE.

16. Weinstein Makes History: Mary Weinstein of Highlands Ranch recorded the best finish ever by a Coloradan in the girls 15-17 age division of the prestigious IMG Academy Junior World Golf Championships in San Diego, placing 15th. Full story: CLICK HERE. Also in 2015, Weinstein won the CWGA Junior Stroke Play and the CJGA Junior Series Chamionship. 

15. Broken Tee Earns National Player Development Award: Broken Tee Golf Course in Englewood received a prestigious national honor, earning the 2015 Player Development Award from the National Golf Course Owners Association. The award is given to “a course which has implemented a true and tested player development program, providing effective return-on-investment and an overall welcoming atmosphere for new golfers of all ages.” Full story: CLICK HERE.

14. Record-Tying Round at Inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior: Reese Ramsey of Austin, Texas not only set a course record at CommonGround but he tied the low round in the 37-year history of the AJGA with a 10-under-par 61 that vaulted the 16-year-old to victory in the inaugural AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. Full story: CLICK HERE. Earlier in the event, competitors made three holes-in-one in a single day. And three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin held a clinic on the eve of the tournament, just days before his 70th birthday.

13. Oraee Makes Round of 16 at U.S. Amateur, Earns CGA Player of Year Award: Former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee put together a memorable U.S. Amateur, finishing second out of 312 players in the stroke-play portion of the event. Then he advanced to the round of 16 in match play before losing to Paul Dunne of Ireland, who made many headlines over the summer for sharing the British Open lead after three rounds. Also in 2015, Oraee became the first CU player since 2008 to compete in the NCAA men’s finals, and he went on to capture the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Award. Full story: CLICK HERE.

12. Fossil Trace’s Hajek Adds to Colorado PGA’s National Award Winners: The Colorado PGA and its members have made it a very pleasant habit in recent years to earn PGA of America national awards, and 2015 was no exception. Jim Hajek, the PGA head professional at Fossil Trace Golf Club in Golden, was named national Public Merchandiser of the Year. Hajek became the eighth Colorado PGA national honoree in the last nine years. Full story: CLICK HERE.

11. Littleton’s Leibold Wins National USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award: Nick Leibold of Littleton earned a prestigious national honor for leadership, being named the male recipient of the 2015 USGA-AJGA Presidents’ Leadership Award. The award was created to recognize one male and one female junior golfer who demonstrate leadership, character and community service through their involvement with the Leadership Links program, a joint initiative founded by the USGA and AJGA to further develop junior golfers through volunteerism. Full story: CLICK HERE.

10. Jobe Wins Champions Tour Q-School Finals: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jobe, who turned 50 on Aug. 1, will go into his rookie season on the Champions Tour in style after winning the Q-school tournament outright. It was a big shot in the arm for Jobe, who has had limited status in recent seasons and has competed in just six PGA Tour events in the last two years. Full story: CLICK HERE.

9. CoBank Takes Over Title Sponsorships of Colo. Open Championships: After a dozen years of being known as the HealthOne Colorado Open, the venerable tournament will undergo a name change as the third title sponsor in the history of the event comes on board. After the conclusion of the 51st Open and with Denver mayor Michael Hancock on hand, tournament officials announced that Greenwood Village-based CoBank has signed a five-year agreement to become title sponsor of the Colorado Open, Colorado Women’s Open and Colorado Senior Open. Full story: CLICK HERE. The final HealthOne Colorado Open saw Jimmy Gunn make two eagles in the final seven holes to overcome 2013 champion Zahkai Brown. Gunn went on to earn his Web.com Tour card for 2016, while Brown landed conditional status.

8. 100th CWGA Match Play is One for the Books: The CWGA Match Play Championship was contested for the 100th time, with current social media phenom Paige Spiranac (left) edging Brittany Fan for the title. In the 35-hole final, the two players combined to make 22 birdies and were 15 under par. Full story: CLICK HERE.

7. Kupcho Blows Away Field in CWGA Stroke Play: Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster continues to amaze with her periodic dominance of tournaments in Colorado. Particularly eye-catching in 2015 was her 21-shot victory in the CWGA Stroke Play Championship, making it one of the largest — if not the largest — margin of victory in an event which dates back to 1948. The 18-year-old was 16 under par for three rounds. Also this season en route to repeating as CWGA Player of the Year, Kupcho won her second straight 4A state high school title, placed third in the Big “I” National Championship, made it to the final 16 at the U.S. Women’s Amateur before falling to eventual champion Hannah O’Sullivan, and posted three top-10 finishes in the fall as a freshman at Wake Forest. Kupcho currently sits 70th in the women’s World Amateur Golf Rankings. Full story: CLICK HERE.

6. Trifecta for Rohrbaugh: Not only did Doug Rohrbaugh match a record by winning his third consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championship, but he continued to break the standard he’s previously set by claiming the title at unprecedented ages (53 in this case). Full story: CLICK HERE. Besides Rohrbaugh’s accomplishments in Colorado, the Carbondale resident competed in six events on the Champions Tour, placing as high as 15th.

5. Two More National Championships Set for Colorado: Colorado was awarded not one but two USGA championships in the final several months of 2015, marking the 32nd and 33rd USGA national championships to be set for the Centennial State. The association announced that the 2018 U.S. Senior Open will be held at The Broadmoor the same year the Colorado Springs resort turns 100 years old. Full story: CLICK HERE. Then the next year, Colorado Golf Club will host the U.S. Mid-Amateur, with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second stroke-play course. Full story: CLICK HERE.

4. Colorado Golf Greats Pass Away: There’s no getting away from the passage of time, but far more than the usual number of people who have made an indelible mark in Colorado golf passed away during the course of the year. A partial list includes Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Warren Smith (a national PGA Golf Professional Hall of Famer), Jim Bailey (a life member of the PGA of America) and Jay Morrish (a renowned golf course architect). Also passing were former CGA president Bill Waggener, highly-regarded performance coach and psychologist Denise McGuire, longtime Colorado PGA professional Marv Mazone, and respected and well-liked volunteer rules official Joe Salvo, to whom the CGA dedicated its championship season. Suffice it to say the Colorado golf community is poorer for their passing.

3. CGA, Colorado PGA Join Forces for Junior Golf: When the executive directors and the staffs from the CGA and the Colorado Section PGA met in October 2014 to determine what programs it made the most sense to team up on, junior golf ended up major priority No. 1. A year later — after plenty of brainstorming, meetings and work on all sides — the seeds bore fruit as it was announced that the CGA and Colorado PGA are joining forces in a major effort to bolster junior golf in the state. Included will be a Junior Tour, including four junior major championships, and a developmental Junior Series. Another aspect of the collaboration will be the creation of a website that acts as a clearinghouse for all things junior golf-related in Colorado, including but not limited to registration for Junior Tour and Junior Series events; the PGA Junior League; the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program, which exposes school kids to the game through P.E. classes; the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy; and the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship. Full story: CLICK HERE.

For the 2016 junior tour schedule, CLICK HERE.

2. Colorado Golf People of the Century Honored: As part of the Century of Golf festivities that marked the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CGA, six Colorado golf People of the Century were named and then honored at the Century of Golf Gala held last month at The Broadmoor. The honorees were:

Man of the Century — Will Nicholson Jr.
Woman of the Century — Judy Bell
Golf Professional of the Century — Charles “Vic” Kline
Superintendent of the Century — Dennis Lyon
Male Player of the Century — Hale Irwin
Female Player of the Century — Barbara McIntire

“This is one of those moments where you need to take it all in — to be able to say, ‘I was in the room when these people were honored.'” noted CGA executive director Ed Mate. “I mean, they’re legends of golf in Colorado. Of all the things we could have done to celebrate 100 years, I think this may be the most important, honoring these six people.” Full story: CLICK HERE.

1. Century of Golf Gala Draws 1,250 People, Raises $380,000: Choosing the Colorado golf story of the year was pretty much a no-brainer in 2015. After all, how many times do you have an event that attracts 1,250 people including a who’s who of Colorado golf, have Jack Nicklaus as a featured guest, honor six People of the Century, and raise $380,000 for the Colorado Golf Foundation — and its mission of youth development through golf — in the process? The Gala at The Broadmoor was the culmination of a year of initiatives and events built around the 100th anniversary of the CGA’s founding. “We made the most of the centennial,” Mate noted. The Gala was “the biggest golf gathering of our time. We raised a ton of money. We launched an exciting relationship with the PGA. It’s a home run. I look back on this as a special year. It’ll be a tough act to follow.” Full story: CLICK HERE. (Pictured at top are Nicklaus and Mate chatting on the 18th green of the East Course at The Broadmoor, where Nicklaus defeated Charlie Coe to win the 1959 U.S. Amateur)

Honorable Mention:

— Fort Collins HS Golfers Finish 1-2 in 5A State Meet in Their Hometown

— Welch Becomes First Player to Win All Age Divisions of Jr. Series Championship

— Former CU Golfer Talley Earns Ladies European Tour Card

— Keating, Trujillo, Chin Earn Spots in Drive, Chip & Putt Finals at Augusta

— DU’s Korte Fires 65, Overcomes 4-Shot Deficit to Win CGA Stroke Play

— Chitkoksoong, 14, Becomes One of Youngest Winners of CWGA Jr. Match Play

— Bruckner Becomes First Two-Time Winner of Colorado Senior Open

— Strauss, Medalist at U.S. Women’s Open Qualifier, Goes On to Earn LPGA Tour Card

— At Boulder CC, CU Posts Best Pac-12 Finish Ever (5th), Beats Nation’s No. 1 Team

— Keffer Finishes Off Threepeat at Colorado PGA Assistants Championships

— CU’s Edwards Named One of Nation’s Top 20 Men’s College Coaches in Survey

— CSU-Pueblo’s Kim Finishes 12th in NCAA Div. II Women’s Finals

— Former DU Golfers Kempter, Sue Kim Earn Symetra Tour Victories
Kempter: CLICK HERE.
Kim: CLICK HERE.

— Coloradan Hannah Wood Notches Individual Win as College Freshman

— Flatirons GC’s Brown Ties for Senior Title at National Superintendents Tourney

— Denver-Area Resident Duval Becoming Analyst for Golf Channel

— Langston Departing State After 23 Years as Highly-Regarded Rules Official

The HealthOne Colorado Open championship season closed on Friday, Aug. 28 with the conclusion of the Colorado Women’s Open.

Coincidentally, but appropriately, that same weekend three veterans of recent Colorado Opens or Colorado Women’s Opens made good in very notable and significant ways.

Shane Bertsch of Parker, winner of the 1998 Colorado Open and a 10th-place finisher this year, regained his PGA Tour on Aug. 30 after toiling on the Web.com Tour for the last three years.

That same day, Kris Tamulis, who has posted two top-10s at the Colorado Women’s Open since 2010, won the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic for her first LPGA Tour victory.

And also on Aug. 30, the 2011 Colorado Open low-amateur, Zac Blair, recorded his best finish ever on the PGA Tour, tying for fourth in The Barclays. The Utah resident has since advanced to the third event of the FedEx Cup Playoffs, the BMW Championship — one of just four PGA Tour rookies to do so.

All in all, it’s been like a welcome blast from the past for the Colorado Open, which has featured a plethora of big-name players in its fields over the years, though primarily before the turn of the century. Indeed, participants in the Colorado Open have accounted for more than 35 major championship victories. The most successful in that regard are Sam Snead (seven major wins), Phil Mickelson (five) and Hale Irwin and Billy Casper (three each).

Blair, Bertsch and Tamulis certainly don’t fit into the World Golf Hall of Fame category, but their recent surges do bode well.

Here’s a brief look at how each fared in the Colorado Open championships, and what they’ve accomplished recently:

— Bertsch, a Denver native, is now 45 years old, but in June he claimed his third victory on the Web.com Tour — and first since 2005 — winning the Rust-Oleum Championship. With four other top-10s on the Web.com Tour this year, Bertsch finished ninth on the Web.com regular-season money list, easily good enough to regain his PGA Tour card.

Bertsch (pictured above) has played in 174 events on the PGA Tour, but just two since 2012. He’s posted five top-10s in his PGA Tour career, with the best finish being a fourth in the 2011 Frys.com Open.

Bertsch, the ’98 Colorado Open champion, returned to the tournament this year for the first time since 2002, tying for 10th place.

— In these days when ever-younger players are winning on the LPGA Tour, Tamulis (left) is an anamoly. With her recent victory at the Yokohama Tire LPGA Classic at 34 years and 8 months, she became the second-oldest winner on the LPGA Tour in 2015, behind only Cristie Kerr (37). The victory came after Tamulis had gone her first 185 LPGA events without a win. The $195,000 she earned more than doubled her previous winnings for 2015. Tamulis currently sits 31st on the 2015 money list with $373,758.

The resident of Naples, Fla., finished fifth at the 2010 Colorado Women’s Open and seventh at the 2013 tournament.

— Blair (below) is certainly no stranger to the Colorado Open. His dad, Jim Blair, won the tournament twice in the 1980s. And Zac himself competed in the event three straight years beginning in 2009. He placed 34th in ’09, missed the cut the next year, and placed 18th in 2011, claiming low-amateur honors. Then he returned to Colorado the next summer for the U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, where Blair placed fifth in stroke play (65-71–136) then lost in the round of 64 of match play to eventual runner-up Michael Weaver.

The now-25-year-old Blair, who went from PGA Tour Latinoamerica to the Web.com Tour to the PGA Tour in just six months, has continued his ascendency as a PGA Tour rookie. His fourth-place showing at The Barclays was his second top-10 of the season. The former BYU golfer has won more than $1.2 million for his rookie season, and by being one of the 70 golfers to make it to the BMW Championship, there’s the potential for much more.

“My goals the whole year were, one, to keep my card, and the second goal was to make it to the Tour Championship,” Blair said. “So I feel like I’m in a good spot. If I go out and handle my business, I can accomplish that second goal.”

Going forward, the folks at the Colorado Open championships, now with CoBank as the title sponsor, can only hope that more of the tournament’s veterans make good at golf’s highest levels, as Bertsch, Tamulis and Blair have.
 

On Sunday afternoon, after the conclusion of the 51st Open and with Denver mayor Michael Hancock on hand, tournament officials announced that Greenwood Village-based CoBank has signed a five-year agreement to become title sponsor of the Colorado Open, Colorado Women’s Open and Colorado Senior Open.

Starting with the 2016 versions of each event, CoBank will be tacked onto the front end of the name of each tournament. In other words, for example, the flagship tournament will be known as the CoBank Colorado Open.

A new logo (above) reflecting the change was unveiled as part of Sunday’s announcement at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, the home to the Colorado Open Championships since 2004.

Kevin Laura, CEO of the Colorado Open Championships, said CoBank’s financial commitment is the same as was HealthOne’s in recent years, so the purse is expected to remain similar to what it has been, which is $125,000 overall, with $23,000 going to the winner.

The Colorado Open Championships benefit The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch, LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Green Valley Ranch, and the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools program.

“We view these championships as an important asset for the Denver community and quite frankly for the entire state of Colorado,” Bob Engel, CoBank’s CEO, said on Sunday. “We think a great state deserves a great Open, and this one is as good as it gets. We think the Colorado Open Foundation plays a really critical role in our community, not only by organizing these state Opens, but certainly through their support of The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch and all the work that it does for kids.”

HealthOne has been the title sponsor since the Colorado Open was resurrected in 2004 after being canceled in 2003 due to financial issues and mismanagement. But the company recently tweaked its charitable giving priorities to directly emphasize more health-related programs, leading to the change, according to Laura.

CoBank is the largest financial institution headquartered in Colorado, with more than $100 billion in assets. It employs about 900 people, including approximately 650 in the Denver metro area.

According to the company’s website, it’s a national coop bank “serving vital industries across rural America. The bank provides loans, leases, export financing and other financial services to agribusinesses and rural power, water and communications providers in all 50 states.”

The company is no stranger to the Colorado Open as it was the volunteer sponsor for the tournament in 2014 and the pro-am sponsor this year.

As for becoming title sponsor, “They really want it to be a subtle exposure,” Laura said. “Sometimes, you lose the name of the event (with certain title sponsors). They’re not like that at all. They want the tradition of the Colorado Open to be preserved, not ‘we want our logo to be in everybody’s face’ or ‘we want to change the name to the CoBank Open.’ None of that was part of the negotiation. That’s great.

“What I like is they as a company are going to use our tournament as one of the platforms to really tell the marketplace who they are. They like that this will be a good launching pad for them. (The tournaments) have got such good equity and community involvement already.

“I think they’re really going to take it up a notch as far as exposure and involvement and engagement and activation of the sponsorship. They’re advertising in the places that are going to promote it as a community asset, not just a golf tournament.”

Previous title sponsors of the Colorado Open have been First Data Corporation and HealthOne. And during many of the years the tournament was based at Hiwan Golf Club, Craig Hospital was the name most linked to the tournament as it was the event’s beneficiary.