The now-64-year-old claimed his first title in the event in 2005, the same year he won the Colorado Senior Open to go with a 1995 victory in the Colorado Open. But since then, he’s had no luck in returning to the top spot in the Colorado Senior PGA section championship.
Until Tuesday, that is.
Zaremba (left), the leader after day 1 of the 36-hole event at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, went 69-70 for a 5-under-par 139 total, good for a two-stroke victory and a $1,240 payday.
Zaremba made an eagle, eight birdies and five bogeys over the course of two days.
Among the other players who have won at least two Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championships over the last 30 years are Bill Majure (4), Dave Arbuckle (3), Dave Alvarez (3), Doug Rohrbaugh (2) and Larry Webb (2).
Three players shared second place at 141 on Tuesday — U.S. Senior Open qualifier Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Barry Milstead of Valley Country Club and Don Hurter of Castle Pines Golf Club.
Eight players from the Colorado PGA will advance to the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, set for Oct. 25-28 in Port St. Lucie, Fla., with seven earning spots by virtue of their performance at Black Bear. Bill Loeffler receives a berth by virtue of being a past national champion in the event.
Joining Zaremba, Johnson, Milstead, Hurter and Loeffler in landing spots in the national tournament were Jeff Hanson (142 total at Black Bear), Rohrbaugh (142) and Mike McCutchen (143). Loeffler, like McCutchen, posted a 143 total on Tuesday.
Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship
Aug. 13-14, 2018 (final) at Black Bear GC in Parker
1. Mike Zaremba 69-70–139
T2. Chris Johnson 70-71–141
T2. Don Hurter 72-69–141
T2. Barry Milstead 71-70–141
T5. Doug Rohrbaugh 71-71–142
T5. Jeff Hanson 75-67–142
T7. Mike McCutchen 71-72–143
T7. Bill Loeffler 71-72–143
9. Doug Montgomery 73-71–144
T10. David Arbuckle 70-75–145
T10. Sherry Andonian-Smith 73-72–145
T10. Doug Wherry 74-71–145
T10. Rick Cole 71-74–145
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Despite that, the Lakewood resident had never won the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship.
Until Tuesday, that is.
The 60-year-old PGA Life Member (pictured) shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 in Tuesday’s final round to prevail by one stroke at Valley Country Club in Centennial.
Vlosich, a five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year and two-time runner-up in the Colorado Open, finished with a 9-under 135 total after playing his final five holes in 3 under. He made just one bogey over the 36-hole tournament. Tuesday’s victory was worth $1,125.
Finishing a stroke behind Vlosich was defending champion Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, who closed with a 70 after going 1 over for his final five holes.
Mike Zaremba of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, the 2005 champion, tied for third place at 137 with Don Hurter of Castle Pines Golf Club. Hurter posted a final-round 68 and Zaremba a 70.
Those four players, plus Valley head professional Barry Milstead, Rick Cole and Bill Hancock, qualified for the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Milstead, Cole and Hancock tied for fifth place on Tuesday. Bill Loeffler, who placed 11th at Valley, was exempt into the national tournament by virtue of winning it in 2007.
Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship
Aug. 14-15, 2017 (final) at Par-72 Valley CC in Centennial
1. Ron Vlosich 69-66–135
2. Mike Northern 66-70–136
T3. Don Hurter 69-68–137
T3. Mike Zaremba 67-70–137
T5. Rick Cole 68-70–138
T5. Barry Milstead 69-69–138
T5. Bill Hancock 71-67–138
T8. Chris Johnson 67-72–139
T8. Doug Rohrbaugh 68-71–139
10. Sherry Andonian-Smith 71-69–140
For complete results, CLICK HERE.
Northern (pictured), 53, shot back-to-back 5-under-par 67s to prevail by one over Lobato at Indian Peaks Golf Course in Lafayette. Both players went bogey-free on Tuesday, with Northern chalking up five birdies and Lobato four.
Northern finished particularly strong, gong 4 under par in his last seven holes to post a 10-under 134 total. He won $1,275.
Lobato closed with a 68 to check in at 135.
Tying for third place, at 138, were Jeff Hanson of Red Sky Golf Club and Doug Wherry of Jake’s Academy.
The top seven finishers, in addition to 2007 national champion Bill Loeffler, landed spots in the 2016 Senior PGA Professional Championship, set for Nov. 17- 20 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Joining Northern, Lobato, Hanson, Wherry and Loeffler in advancing to the national tournament were Don Hurter of Castle Pines (139), Mike Zaremba of Desert Hawk (139) and Steve Crane of Hiwan (139).
Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship
Aug. 15-16, 2016 (final) at Par-72 Indian Peaks GC in Lafayette
Top 10 Finishers — 1. Mike Northern 67-67–134; 2. Paul Lobato 67-68–135; 3. (tie) Jeff Hanson 69-69–138; Doug Wherry 70-68–138; 5. (tie) Don Hurter 72-67–139; Mike Zaremba 72-67–139; Steve Crane 69-70–139; 8. (tie) Scott Hart 72-69–141; C.J. Parry 72-69–141; Dale Smigelsky 71-70–141; Vance Pollock 69-72–141.
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
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Northern, a PGA Life Member from Colorado Springs, made six birdies and one bogey on Monday, while Lobato (pictured) eagled the 17th hole to go with four birdies and a bogey.
On a day when 15 players posted sub-par rounds — including defending champion Dale Smigelsky of Collindale Golf Club (71) — Patrick Reidy of Inverness Golf Club holds third place at 68 in a round which featured both an eagle and a double bogey.
The top seven finishers, plus 2007 national champion Bill Loeffler, will earn spots in the 2016 Senior PGA Professional Championship, set for Nov. 17- 20 in Port St. Lucie, Fla.
The Colorado championship will conclude after Tuesday’s second round.
Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship
Aug. 15-16, 2016 at Par-72 Indian Peaks GC in Lafayette
Top 10 on Leaderboard — 1. (tie) Mike Northern and Paul Lobato 67; 3. Patrick Reidy 68; 4. (tie) Steve Crane, Vance Pollock, Ken Krieger and Jeff Hanson 69; 8. Doug Wherry 70; 9. (tie) Craig Stephens, Rick Cole, Dale Smigelsky, Gregg Jones, David Arbuckle, Bill Hancock and Shawn Wilcox 71. For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
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