The title will be settled over 36 holes in the event for players at least 62 years old. There will be a separate masters division for golfers 72 and older.

Past winners of the younger championship who are scheduled to compete at Perry Park include defending champion Gary Albrecht, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (2016 champ), Robert Polk (2015), Kary Kaltenbacher (2014) and Jerry Kidney (2012).

Also planning to play are 2018 CGA Super-Senior Match Play champion Harry Johnson; Dave Brown, who finished runner-up to Johnson in that event; Robin Bradbury; Sean Forey; and Roger Gunderson.

Among the contestants in the masters division is Don Alley, a former pro who has won the last two titles in that tournament.

For Wednesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
  

On Wednesday, Gary Albrecht capped off a 72-hour stretch of golf that he won’t soon forget.

On Sunday, the Denver resident won the open-division club championship at CommonGround Golf Course, which is no small feat for a 61-year-old.

Three days later, Albrecht fended off a stiff challenge by Colorado Golf Hall of Famer — and defending champion — Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club to earn a title in a CGA championship for the first time.

Albrecht (left and below), who’s a member at Ballyneal as well as CommonGround, shot a 3-under-par 33 on his final nine holes — and a 3-under 69 for the day — to edge Moore in the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City.

“It feels awesome,” said Albrecht, a private-practice attorney. “It feels great. It’s a very competitive group of super-senior players. I’m proud to come out in first. It’s been amazing.”

Albrecht, who qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur last year, sank a 25-foot birdie putt on No. 17 to go ahead by two, then made a knee-knocker for par — and the win — on the 18th after Moore had drained a 10-foot birdie.

In the cases of both of his wins in recent days, Albrecht had in mind the memory of a longtime friend, Tom Collins, who died early this year. They met as members at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen in the late 1990s. Two months ago, Albrecht also participated in the Hundred Hole Hike at Ballyneal, playing 128 holes in a single day — all walking, covering about 38 miles in the process. In Albrecht’s case, the effort raised funds for the New York-based Double H Ranch, where Collins’ sons had attended Cindy’s Comfort Camp for kids with terminally ill parents.

“I played today with a golf ball with a logo on it in (Collins’) honor,” Albrecht noted. “I had (also) done it at CommonGround for the club championship. He’s been with me.”

At Buffalo Run, Albrecht finished with a 5-under-par 139 total, one ahead of Moore, who likewise closed with a 69 after birdies on Nos. 16 and 18 on Wednesday.

“He played great,” Moore said of Albrecht. “He almost never missed a shot. He missed one drive on the front and it cost him a bogey. Other than that, he was putting for birdie on every hole. He just played so steady and putted good. That was a delightful round to watch.

“(For me), it was a really good score for the way I hit it on the back. I’m disappointed to lose, but not disappointed in the scoring. Normally (Moore’s total) would win by two or three.”

In the three CGA super-senior individual championships in which Moore (below) has participated, he’s now finished first and second in the Super-Senior Stroke Play and first in the 2017 Super-Senior Match Play.

Although Albrecht was ahead most of the way on Wednesday, the long birdie putt he sank on 17 proved pivotal. Playing partner Sean Forey was on a similar line and putted first, just missing. Then Albrecht was dead-on.

“I know how great a player Kent is and he was right there,” Albrecht said. I hit a lot of good shots. I was a little disappointed in some of the putts I hit because I didn’t really have the pace. But the birdie putt on 17 was a huge one. I knew I needed to make it. I just saw the line and knocked it in.

“Yesterday I was trying to find break in putts and most of them were straight. That putt really was straight. I said, ‘You just have to trust that.’ I did, and it went right in the middle.”

This was the first time Albrecht had played in a CGA super-senior championship, but probably not the last.

“Maybe I just didn’t want to enter a super-senior event,” he said. “Maybe I was in denial a little bit. But these guys can golf. There’s a lot of really good golfers. Beating guys like Kent Moore and Robert Polk, that’s tough to do. They’ve won a lot of these events and they’re tournament-tested-tough players.”

Polk a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year from Colorado Golf Club, placed third on Wednesday at 142 after finishing with a 68, the low round of the 61-plus championship. That means that members of the CGA’s volunteer Board of Governors went 1-2-3 in the association’s Super-Senior Stroke Play.

“We have a strong (board),” Albrecht noted. “We should have a Board of Governors golf event.”

Dave Runberg of CommonGround placed fourth in the 61-and-older division at 144 after a 71 on Wednesday.

In the 71-plus division, Don Alley (left) of Antler Creek Golf Course won for the second consecutive year. Alley, a former Colorado PGA professional who has had his amateur status reinstated, put together a stellar finish, playing his final eight holes in 6 under par. The 72-year-old from Colorado Springs made an eagle and four birdies during that stretch to shoot a 68, giving him a 3-under-par 141 total and a two-stroke victory.

“It feels wonderful, very surprising,” Alley said. “I came in here not playing well. I had a real rough winter. I got sick. I lost a lot of weight and a lot of stength, so I just haven’t been playing very well. I came in here with very low expectations. I didn’t play really well until the last nine. I got things going on the last nine and made some putts. I’m happy.”

As for the final-nine 31, Alley said, “It’s been a while since I’ve done that in a competitive event.”

It was the second CGA title for Alley, who served as a Colorado PGA professional for about two decades — including as general manager at the now-defunct Gleneagle Golf Club — and was president of the Section in the mid-1980s. He left the golf business and didn’t play the game for about a dozen years. But he received his amateur status back in the 1990s and now is going strong again.

Bob Sims of Clubcorp Colorado, who took a three-stroke lead into the final round, tied for second at 143 with Roger Gunderson of Aurora Hills Golf Course, a past winner of both the CGA Senior Amateur and Senior Match Play. Gunderson closed with a 69 and Sims with a 73.

(FYI: Starting in 2017, the age requirement for each CGA super-senior championship will go up by one year each year through 2021, when no one younger than 65 will be allowed to compete. Similarly, the minimum age for the older division will rise annually, with 75 and older being the criteria in 2021 and beyond.)

For Super-Senior Stroke Play scores, CLICK HERE.

Kent Moore wasted no time in checking off the next item on his CGA “to-do list.”

The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, who has won virtually every CGA championship for which he’s been eligible, added the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play title in his “rookie” season.

The 60-year-old from Cherry Hills Country Club overcame a two-stroke deficit Tuesday at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club in Aurora to prevail by one in the 60-and-over division. Former professional Don Alley of Antler Creek Golf Course in Falcon earned an eight-shot victory in the 70-and-over tournament.

Moore’s win gives him roughly 15 CGA titles, including ones in seven different individual championships — the Junior Match Play, Amateur, Match Play, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, Senior Match Play and now the Super-Senior Stroke Play — an unprecedented feat in CGA competition. Moreover, he’s won CGA championships in five consecutive decades, starting with the 1973 CGA Junior Match Play at Flatirons Golf Course.

“I’ve always tried to be persistent,” Moore said. “There’s a lot better players in every tournament, but I was just persistent, and I really enjoy golf. And I somehow learned how to get it into the clubhouse reasonably well.”

Besides winning state championships individually, Moore (left and above) has teamed up with his son Steven (in the Father/Son) and with his wife Janet, a fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (in the old CGA/CWGA Mixed Team) to prevail in two-person events.

In individual CGA competition, “It’s one of those things where I’ve finished second many times, but I’ve barely won each one of them once,” Moore said modestly.

This time around, the Centennial resident shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday to post a 2-under 142 total. He made three birdies on the front nine — posting a 3-under 33 on that side — and three bogeys on the back in the final round. In the four-hole stretch from Nos. 4 through 7), Moore sank three putts of at least 15 feet.

Moore’s good start, combined with a rocky early patch by the other players in the lead group (Robert Polk and Robin Bradbury were both 4 over after five holes for the round), left Moore with the lead throughout the back nine.

“All of a sudden (after the opening holes) it was like, ‘Wow,'” Moore said of the turn of events.

Sean Forey of the Club at Rolling Hills matched the best score of the day — a 69 — to finish second, a stroke back of Moore. Forey hit 17 greens in regulation on Tuesday.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive from The Broadmoor Golf Club (73 Tuesday) and 2015 champion and first-round leader Polk of Colorado Golf Club (77) tied for third place at 145.

“I thought if I shot 67 I’d have a shot,” said Forey after missing the target score by two. “John Olive and I talked about it and we laughed because we didn’t know if we had 67 in us. As it turns out, that would have been the number. It was fun. I thought I might get lucky, but between the three of those guys (in the lead group: Moore, Polk and Bradbury) they’re good players. But I came a lot closer than I thought. (Having been six back going into the final round), I’m happy.”

Indeed, Moore was worried about someone like Forey coming from outside of the lead group and rallying in a big way to claim the title.

“I’m thinking all along, ‘Somebody in (the clubhouse) shot 67 or something, and Robert and I were playing each other and we’re both going to get drilled.'” Moore said with a relieved smile afterward.

Among those who finished at 146 was Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Club, who made a hole-in-one to go with six birdies in Tuesday’s round of 69. Johnson aced the 177-yard 15th hole with a 7-iron for his 19th hole-in-one.

In the 70-plus division, Alley (left and below) carded two straight sub-par rounds — 69-71 — to run away with the title in his first time competing in the event. The Colorado Springs resident and former PGA professional made four birdies and three bogeys on Tuesday after having nine 3s on his card on Monday.

David Farabaugh of Broadlands Golf Course finished a distant second as a 79 on Tuesday left him at 148. Roger Gunderson, the 2014 winner in this division, came in third at 150, also after a 79.

It was the first statewide victory for the 71-year-old Alley since being reinstated as an amateur about 15 years ago. Alley was a club professional at a variety of Colorado courses over the years, including South Suburban, Sunset, Valley Hi, The Broadmoor and Gleneagle, serving as head professional at Sunset, Valley Hi and Gleneagle.

But he left the golf business in 1992 and “I almost totally quit playing for more than 10 years,” Alley said. “My wife and I bought a couple of jet skis (and boated) in Lake Powell and I got to know my family all over again. It was probably one of the best things I ever did. I started playing again 12-13 years ago, and I’m playing more now than I did then — and enjoying it more.

“I didn’t miss playing golf, but I missed the competition, I missed the guys, and I missed this (referring to tournaments like the Super-Senior Stroke Play). To me, this is what golf is all about.”

And winning on Tuesday was just gravy.

“I love it. I’m proud,” Alley said. “I haven’t got too many more years I’m going to be competitive in these things.”
 

CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Heritage Eagle Bend GC in Aurora

60 & Up Division
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC 70-72–142
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills 74-69–143
John Olive, Broadmoor GC 72-73–145
Robert Polk, Colorado GC 68-77–145
David Merritt, Meridian GC 72-74–146
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC 73-73–146
Mr. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 77-69–146
Dave Runberg, CommonGround GC 76-72–148
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 70-78–148
Bill Bye, Englewood GC 74-75–149
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC 73-76–149
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC 78-71–149
Bo Powell, West Woods GC 73-77–150
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC 79-71–150
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC 75-75–150
Rick George, Castle Pines GC 76-74–150
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC 72-78–150
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 77-74–151
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 73-78–151
Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado 74-78–152
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC 77-76–153
Jeff Bowen, Riverdale GC 79-74–153
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC 74-79–153
Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan CC 77-76–153
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend 74-80–154
Mark Runyan, Clubcorp Colorado 76-78–154
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor 78-78–156
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club 78-78–156
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk GC 76-80–156
Steven Hill, Aurora Hills GC 77-79–156
Todd Wilcox, South Suburban GC 77-79–156
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC 78-79–157
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC 81-76–157
Glenn Schmasow, Clubcorp Colorado 77-80–157
Ken Tai, Perry Park CC 77-83–160
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC 79-82–161
Dave Bullock, Cherry Hills CC 81-81–162
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC 82-80–162
John Sostman, Meadows GC 81-81–162
Mark Barkley, Clubcorp Colorado 83-79–162
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC 81-81–162
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC 83-80–163
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills GC 83-80–163
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC 80-83–163
Dan Schield, Indian Peaks GC 81-85–166
Terry Gillespie, Thorncreek GC 83-83–166
Danny Wyrick, West Woods GC 82-85–167
Mr Anthony w Spinuzzi, Elmwood GC 85-82–167
Terry R Swartz, Littleton GC 81-88–169
Tim Daniel, Eaton Country Club 82-87–169
Bob Fishell, Plum Creek GC 88-82–170
Chuck Fisher, Indian Tree GC 83-89–172
Paul Steinway, Harmony Club 93-80–173
Howard Hankey, Foothills GC 87-87–174
Brad Jensen, Desert Hawk GC 87-95–182
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace Golf Club 86-NS
Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan CC 91-NC

70 & Up Divison
Don Alley, Antler Creek GC 69-71–140
David Farabaugh, Broadlands GC 69-79–148
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC 71-79–150
Larry Nicks, Springs Ranch GC 80-73–153
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 78-75–153
Bill Bogdanoff, South Suburban GC 77-77–154
Bob Sims, Clubcorp Colorado 76-81–157
Kirk Miller, Estes Park GC 81-77–158
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC 77-82–159
Jim Bronner, Catamount Ranch & Club 81-79–160
Rick Pirog, Club at Cordillera 79-81–160
Jim Collins, CC at Castle Pines 79-83–162
Jim Strouse, Springhill GC 77-85–162
Lawrence Covell, CC at Castle Pines 81-86–167
Larry Pate, Fox Hollow GC 87-WD
Pete Perry, South Suburban GC 90-NS
 

Polk (pictured), a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, eagled the par-5 14th hole and added four birdies to go along with two bogeys on Monday. He shot a 5-under-par 31 on the back nine.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club shares second place in the 60-plus age division — at 70 — with Robin Bradbury of Heritage at Westmoor. Moore, a two-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, carded four birdies and two bogeys on Monday. Bradbury, who in recent days has both qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur and been the low senior amateur at the Rocky Mountain Open, also had four birdies and two bogeys in the opening round.

The group at 72 includes Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive of The Broadmoor Golf Club, David Merritt of Meridian Golf Club and Robert Bulthaup of Valley Country Club.

In the 70-plus tournament, Don Alley of Antler Creek Golf Course and David Farabaugh of Broadlands Golf Course share the lead at 3-under-par 69. Alley recorded six birdies and overcame two 6s on his card. Farabaugh eagled the second hole (his 11th) and added two birdies.

Two back of the co-leaders, in third place, is Roger Gunderson of CommonGround Golf Course, the 2014 winner in this division.

The tournament will conclude for both age divisions on Tuesday.

CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Heritage Eagle Bend GC in Aurora

60 & Up Division
Robert Polk, Colorado GC 37-31–68
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC 35-35–70
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 34-36–70
David Merritt, Meridian GC 38-34–72
John Olive, Broadmoor GC 37-35–72
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC 36-36–72
Bo Powell, West Woods GC 40-33–73
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC 36-37–73
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 38-35–73
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC 35-38–73
Bill Bye, Englewood GC 36-38–74
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend 37-37–74
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC 36-38–74
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills 38-36–74
Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado 38-36–74
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC 38-37–75
Dave Runberg, CommonGround GC 40-36–76
Mark Runyan, Clubcorp Colorado 39-37–76
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk GC 36-40–76
Rick George, Castle Pines GC 39-37–76
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC 38-39–77
Glenn Schmasow, Clubcorp Colorado 40-37–77
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 38-39–77
Ken Tai, Perry Park CC 38-39–77
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 40-37–77
Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan CC 36-41–77
Steven Hill, Aurora Hills GC 38-39–77
Todd Wilcox, South Suburban GC 36-41–77
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC 42-36–78
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor 40-38–78
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club 37-41–78
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC 39-39–78
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC 38-41–79
Jeff Bowen, Riverdale GC 38-41–79
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC 40-39–79
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC 40-40–80
Dan Schield, Indian Peaks GC 35-46–81
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC 39-42–81
Dave Bullock, Cherry Hills CC 41-40–81
John Sostman, Meadows GC 42-39–81
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC 39-42–81
Terry R Swartz, Littleton GC 41-40–81
Danny Wyrick, West Woods GC 38-44–82
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC 42-40–82
Tim Daniel, Eaton Country Club 38-44–82
Chuck Fisher, Indian Tree GC 41-42–83
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC 40-43–83
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills GC 41-42–83
Mark Barkley, Clubcorp Colorado 41-42–83
Terry Gillespie, Thorncreek GC 42-41–83
Mr Anthony w Spinuzzi, Elmwood GC 42-43–85
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace Golf Club 45-41–86
Brad Jensen, Desert Hawk GC 41-46–87
Howard Hankey, Foothills GC 46-41–87
Bob Fishell, Plum Creek GC 43-45–88
Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan CC 46-45–91
Paul Steinway, Harmony Club 40-53–93
Dan Birnley, Conquistador GC WD
Mike Giarratano, Highlands Ranch GC WD

70 & Up Division
David Farabaugh, Broadlands GC 33-36–69
Don Alley, Antler Creek GC 34-35–69
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC 37-34–71
Bob Sims, Clubcorp Colorado 37-39–76
Bill Bogdanoff, South Suburban GC 39-38–77
Jim Strouse, Springhill GC 38-39–77
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC 40-37–77
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 38-40–78
Jim Collins, CC at Castle Pines 39-40–79
Rick Pirog, Club at Cordillera 43-36–79
Larry Nicks, Springs Ranch GC 40-40–80
Jim Bronner, Catamount Ranch & Club 38-43–81
Kirk Miller, Estes Park GC 42-39–81
Lawrence Covell, CC at Castle Pines 42-39–81
Larry Pate, Fox Hollow GC 41-46–87
Pete Perry, South Suburban GC 47-43–90
Carl Peters, Twin Peaks GC NS