It’s been a year since our last distribution of gifts — Colorado golf-style — and we’re back in the holiday mood.

We’ve studied our naughty and nice lists, and taken time to pick out that perfect something for deserving souls. Of course, given who we are, we’ll stick with a golf theme.

Time’s a wastin’, so without further ado …

To: John Ogden, head professional at Cherry Hills Country Club. Gift: Credit where credit is due after you predicted in the weeks leading up to the BMW Championship that the winning score would be 264 to 268. Billy Horschel won with a 266 total.

To: Rory McIlroy. Gift: That no hole ever treats you as badly as the par-3 12th at Cherry Hills did during the BMW Championship. (He four-putted the hole twice in the final two rounds, including from 4 feet on Saturday. The result: triple bogey, double bogey).

To: Phil Mickelson. Gift: The ability to think of a better excuse for withdrawing from a tournament after pulling out of the no-cut BMW Championship before the weekend at Cherry Hills, citing a need “to rest and prepare for the Ryder Cup” — which took place three weeks later.

To: The CGA. Gift: In 2015, an unforgettable 100-year anniversary year worthy of an organization with such a rich history.

To: The CWGA. Gift: See above, except in 2016 in your case.

To: Hale Irwin. Gift: Just as your competitive career winds down, an ever-expanding impact on Colorado kids through the Hale Irwin Elite Player Program, the AJGA Hale Irwin Junior, and hopefully other things to come.

To: Former Coloradan Brandt Jobe, who has finished second four times — but has never won — on the PGA Tour. Gift: That 2015 brings a victory — either on the PGA Tour or the Champions circuit, for which you become eligible in August.

To: Colorado-based Champions Tour player Mark Wiebe, who battled injuries this year. Gift: That 2015 more resemble 2013 (two wins) than 2014 (0 top-25s).

To: New CGA managing director of operations Dustin Jensen, who is moving back to Colorado from North Dakota. Gift: A touch of winter warmth, Colorado style.

To: Officials from Coal Creek Golf Course in Louisville. Gift: A banner season in the summer of 2015 after then being closed for more than 18 months by the September 2013 flooding.

To: George Solich. Gift: A stress-free summer in 2015 after anything but in 2014 as general chairman of the BMW Championship.

To: Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale. Gift: After having so much success in Colorado in recent years — including winning titles in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open (one) and the Colorado PGA Professional Championship (two) — a top-10 finish as a member of the Champions Tour.

To: The University of Colorado women’s golf program. Gift: A top-three finish at the Pac-12 Conference Championship that you’re hosting in April at Boulder Country Club.

To: Wyndham Clark of Lone Tree, the 2014 Big 12 Player of the Year at Oklahoma State. Gift: After a lot of close calls, an individual college victory.

To: Jack Vickers. Gift: In receiving the PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award, satisfaction in the impact you made in graciously hosting a PGA Tour event in Colorado for 21 years, The International.

To: Ross Macdonald (left). Gift: A third consecutive CGA Junior Stroke Play title to match Scott Petersen’s remarkable feat from the late 1980s.

To: CSU-Pueblo golfer Leina Kim. Gift: An NCAA women’s Division II title in 2015 after leading the nation in stroke average so far this season.

To: Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster. Gift: A win in a national event leading into your freshman season at Wake Forest beginning in the fall.

To: Former CU golfer Emily Talley. Gift: After knocking on the door so many times as a professional, an answer in the form of an individual title.

To: Connie Gallagher of Denver, who in October aced a par-4 at Pebble Beach Golf Links. Gift: A return trip to Pebble to relive the moment.

To: Kent and Janet Moore, both Colorado Golf Hall of Famers. Gift: That you both win state senior titles in the same year.

To: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kim Eaton. Gift: That you don’t miss a beat in competitive golf next year despite those two recent knee replacements.

To: John Elway. Gift: A shot at winning both a Super Bowl (as Broncos general manager) and a HealthOne Colorado Senior Open (as a competitor) in the same year.

To: The late Jim Moore, former Western Golf Association educational director. Gift: That your ever-present upbeat spirit will live on in the Evans Scholarship program for caddies, including those at the University of Colorado.

To: Sherry Andonian-Smith (left), who almost made the cut in the 2014 HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, and who went 3-0 for the Colorado PGA in the Taylor Cup matches. Gift: Colorado PGA Senior Player of the Year honors in 2015.

To: The guy who eagerly volunteered to caddie for a competitor in the 2014 HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open, only to quit mid-round, saying he had phone calls to make. Gift: That your services are required elsewhere during the 2015 tournament.

To: Leslie Core-Drevecky, the first female president of the Colorado PGA. Gift: A marked increase in play by women and girls golfers in Colorado.

To: Eric Hoos, who got struck in the head by a competitor’s golf ball while picking his ball out of the cup at the 2014 CGA Senior Stroke Play. Gift: A military-style helmet for the 2015 tournament.

To: Part-time Colorado resident Jonathan Kaye, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour. Gift: After competing very little since 2010, some success on the Web.com Tour in 2015.

To: Priscilla Lind, who recently passed away. Lind was the wife of Babe Lind, who was in the first class of inductees for the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. Gift: Many thanks for sharing some of Babe’s historic golf trophies and memorabilia with the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and the University of Denver.

To: Golf courses such as Broadlands, Saddleback, Park Hill, Springs Ranch and Eagle Vail which have opened part of their facilities to “footgolf”, an activity in which participants essentially play golf with their feet, using a soccer ball, much shorter holes and large cups. Gift: An “A” for effort in thinking outside the box to generate additional revenue for their golf courses.

To: The golden oldies who play golf at Heather Gardens. Gift: Good health, good friends and great fun hitting the links well into your 90s.

To: All Colorado golfers. Gift: Happy holidays.
 

For the second time in two years, a longtime University of Denver head golf coach has departed and been replaced by a highly regarded assistant coach with strong DU ties.

Sixteen months after Sammie Chergo stepped down after 15 years as DU women’s head coach and was replaced by her former longtime assistant, Lindsay Kuhle, Eric Hoos exited as DU men’s head coach after 15 seasons and was succeeded by former Pioneer women’s associate head coach Erik Billinger.

A DU press release said Hoos “resigned from the position to pursue other professional opportunities.”

Hoos (pictured above) led the DU men to three league titles during his coaching tenure, including this year’s Summit League championship. The Pioneers also won the season-opening Ram Masters Invitational in September. Since taking the DU job in 1999 after being an assistant at the University of Colorado, Hoos guided the Pioneers to nine team victories, 17 individual wins and nine NCAA regional appearances.

Reached Monday evening, Hoos didn’t want to elaborate much on the situation, but did say, “It was a fun run. Not many coaches get to spend 15 years at one place. I wish Erik the best.”

Hoos is a graduate of Fairview High School and the University of Arkansas. His professional playing career was highlighted by a victory on what is now the Web.com Tour. In 2011 and ’13, Hoos was the low amateur at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open.

“The University of Denver community thanks Eric for his years of dedication and the leadership, passion and energy he provided to the golf program,” Peg Bradley-Doppes, vice chancellor of athletics and recreation, said in the press release. “We wish him much success with his future endeavors.”

Billinger (left) played golf at DU after transferring from CU, winning a Sun Belt League individual title as a Pioneer in 2001 and qualifying for two NCAA regionals.

He said he was “very surprised” at the recent turn of events. Billinger indicated he heard about Hoos’ resignation on Friday morning and was offered the job on Friday afternoon.

“I have a little mixed emotions,” Billinger said Monday in a phone interview. “I’m sad Hoos is leaving, but I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’m glad the university felt highly enough of me to be a leader. Both my wife (Megan) and I graduated from DU, so we’re excited.

“But there’s lots and lots going on today. It’s a little crazy.”

After helping out with the DU men’s and women’s programs for two years following his graduation in 2002, Billinger worked as a PGA instructor for 10 years at Highlands Ranch Golf Club before becoming a DU women’s assistant coach in 2012. (Highlands Ranch Golf Club was gifted to DU in 2011.) This year, the DU women’s team, under Kuhle and Billinger, won its 11th consecutive league title. And senior Tonje Daffinrud finished 10th individually in the NCAA Championship Finals.

Though Billinger helped coach the DU women in the last two seasons, he’s quite familiar with the men’s team. The women’s and men’s squads traveled together to this year’s Summit League tournaments, and they both practice at Highlands Ranch Golf Club and at an indoor practice facility at the Ritchie Center.

Asked about his coaching approach, Billinger said he was going to “try to make the environment positive and enthusiastic.”

Billinger was the Colorado PGA’s Player of the Year in 2008 and Teacher of the Year in 2010 and ’12.
 

It was a day of odd happenings at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open on Friday:

— Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale won the tournament at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club by six strokes, matching the event’s largest margin of victory.

— For the second consecutive year, Colorado Springs native R.W. Eaks withdrew from the tournament mid-round while being in the top five on the leaderboard. Last year, the four-time Champions Tour winner attributed it to a pulled groin. On Friday, he was just fed up with how things were going for him.

“I’m just done,” he told a tournament official while exiting after nine holes. Asked if he was hurt, he said half-jokingly, “No, I’m just mentally ill.”

— With Eaks’ WD, five-time PGA Tour winner Danny Edwards went from 10 strokes out of the lead in the super-senior division (60 and older) to being a few strokes ahead — all in an instant.

— Two players made holes-in-one in Friday’s final round. Edwards aced the 140-yard 13th hole into the wind, using an 8-iron. It was the 22nd hole-in-one of his life. And Denver’s Paul Lobato aced the 184-yard fifth hole, also using an 8-iron. Lobato has made a half-dozen holes-in-one, all in competition.

— And, despite having no cartilage and a torn labrum in his surgically repaired left shoulder, University of Denver men’s golf coach Eric Hoos claimed low-amateur honors for the second time in three years at the Senior Open.

But on a day when so many things were noticeably out of the ordinary, it was something that most people probably didn’t see that was the most meaningful, at least for Rohrbaugh (pictured above being congratulated by rules official Rich Langston).

After parring the last hole on Friday to clinch his biggest victory ever, the head professional at Ironbridge Golf Club clenched his fists and glanced toward the sky. It was a tribute to his younger sister, Janet Marie, who died early this year after living her whole life with a heart defect.

“I lost my sister in January,” Rohrbaugh said as he teared up while explaining the situation a little while later. “Scott Freelove (a Titleist representative and a friend of Rohrbaugh) had some golf balls made up for me. They had her initials on one side and the number 49 for how old she was. That’s the golf ball I was using. So it was kind of a little kiss on the golf ball and looking up at her (after winning).”

Though Rohrbaugh became a little choked up after the tournament was over, the final round was a relatively uneventful one for the 51-year-old. He led by more than five strokes most of the day — and by nine at times — in becoming the first wire-to-wire winner of the Senior Open since 2007.

He’s the fourth Colorado PGA member to claim the Senior Open title — and the first since 2009 — joining Mike Zaremba, Dave Arbuckle and Bill Loeffler.

Despite playing his final 11 holes in 6 over par in more very windy conditions at Green Valley Ranch, Rohrbaugh was never challenged on Friday. He shot a 5-over-par 77 in the final round to finish at even-par 216, good for the $8,500 first prize.

Barry Conser of Scottsdale, Ariz. (72 for a 222 total) placed second alone, while Ron Vlosich of Lakewood (77 Friday), Timothy Matthews of Scotts, Mich. (75), Javier Sanchez of Fayetteville, Ga. (74) and Ron Schroeder of Montgomery, Texas (71) tied for third at 223.

Eaks (pictured at left) was Rohrbaugh’s closest pursuer early in the final round, but he hit into a hazard and made a triple bogey on the par-3 eighth hole, then after missing his par putt on No. 9, he swatted the ball off the green without holing it, though he would have been in third place at the time.

Eaks, the 2011 champion, attested the scorecard he was keeping, then drove his cart to the parking lot, leaving Rohrbaugh and Gary Rusnak to finish the round as a twosome.

With no challenge coming from Eaks or anyone else, Rohrbaugh could afford five bogeys on the back nine and still win with ease.

“It was sure nice to have that lead in these (windy) conditions,” he said.

Rohrbaugh has been playing competitive golf a long time, but Friday was his crowning achievement to date.

“It’s by far the biggest event I’ve ever won,” said the 2012 U.S. Senior Open qualifier. “I’ve been at it for a while. But I’ve always believed I had it. I’ve been close, but never in a big one like this.”

Said fellow Colorado PGA member Vlosich: “Doug is a good guy, a good player. I’m happy for him to win the tournament. That’s cool.”

Hoos (pictured at left), meanwhile, claimed his second Senior Open low-amateur trophy, this time needing a playoff to prevail. Sean Forey of Morrison, the low amateur in 2008 and ’10, looked to be in good shape to add a third trophy, but he double bogeyed the 18th hole in regulation and tied Hoos at 18-over-par 234.

On the first playoff hole, Hoos made a routine par by two-putting from 25 feet, while Forey missed the green and couldn’t get up and down.

“This one is really special considering that last year my body was in such bad shape I couldn’t even play (well),” said Hoos, a onetime winner on what is now the Web.com Tour. “So this feels great.

“I still have no cartilage in the (left) shoulder and my labrum is still torn, so I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to play at a pretty good level. So that makes it really special.”

As Hoos has been low amateur in 2011 and 2013, Edwards has claimed super-senior honors those same years. That was worth an extra $1,000, but his hole-in-one is what set Friday apart.

“They’re probably not as special as they once were, but it’s always nice to make one,” he said of another ace.

For Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.

CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-71 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster

View Leaderboard and Scorecards

Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC / Ole Ramsnes, Highlands Ranch GC 66-61–127
Tom Krystyn, Meridian GC / Eric Hoos, Bear Creek GC 65-64–129
Gary Driber, Golfweek Amateur Tour / Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC 66-66–132
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle-Vail GC / David Harris, Eagle Vail GC 68-64–132
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC / Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC 64-68–132
Rocky Ariano, Dalton Ranch GC / Ben Hayes, CommonGround GC 67-65–132
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC / Pat Diaz, Meridian GC 68-65–133
Danny Hahn, CommonGround GC / Matthew Neam, City Park GC 67-66–133
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC / Steve Kass, CommonGround GC 65-68–133
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club / Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC 68-66–134
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC / Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC 67-67–134
Alex Buecking, Columbine CC / Paul Robinson, Columbine CC 67-67–134
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC / Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC 65-69–134
Jared Bickling, Glenwood Springs GC / Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek GC 72-62–134
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC / Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC 68-67–135
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC 68-68–136
Christopher Good, Lone Tree GC / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 67-70–137
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC / Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC 73-64–137
Dean Siskowski, CommonGround GC / Eric Tabanico, CommonGround GC 67-70–137
Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills / Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC 69-69–138
Tim Fitzgerald, Meridian GC / James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC 70-68–138
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC / Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC 71-67–138
Jeremy Thibault, Heritage at Westmoor / Alan Boyko, Heritage at Westmoor 67-71–138
Perry Rickel, Colorado GC / Chris Egan, Colorado GC 69-69–138
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC / Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek CC 70-69–139
Shawn Mccaskey, South Suburban GC / Stu Allen, Fox Hollow GC 71-68–139
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC / Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club 69-70–139
Doug Moore, Lone Tree GC / James Tatro, Lone Tree GC 70-71–141
Don Stoner, Indian Tree GC / Patrick Wethington, Indian Tree GC 72-69–141
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor / Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC 69-72–141
Henry Bissell, Meadows GC / Kevin Burke, CommonGround GC 72-69–141
Timothy Nowak, Ute Creek GC / Daniel Price, Murphy Creek GC 70-72–142
Bob Athey, CC of Colorado / Chris Pratz, Springs Ranch GC 75-67–142
Roger Chivukula, Omni Interlocken GC / Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC 72-70–142
Levi Fladebo, CommonGround GC / Brian Edelman, Raccoon Creek GC 68-74–142
Sam Solomon, Broadlands GC / Mitchel Solomon, Broadlands GC 72-71–143
Alex Leonida, Inverness GC / Brian McCloy, Saddle Rock GC 72-72–144
John Perry, Highland Meadows GC / Richard Brown, Raccoon Creek GC 72-72–144
Erich Weiss, The Ranch CC / Patrick Mansfield, The Ranch CC 72-73–145
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC / Michael Love, The Club at Pradera 72-73–145
Andy Brooks, CommonGround GC / Eric Butler, CommonGround GC 74-72–146
Stephen King, Green Valley Ranch GC / Faraj Elmagbari, Canongate Colorado 76-71–147
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC / Adam Benshoof, CommonGround GC 76-72–148
Wyck Brown, Lakewood CC / Brian Ohara, Lakewood CC 73-76–149
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge Golf Course / Brock Voss, Riverdale GC 79-71–150
Matt Reinick, Todd Creek GC / Mike Cordell, Buffalo Run GC 73-77–150
Tom Gysin, Lakewood CC / Tom Mesch, Lakewood CC 77-74–151
Garrett Farnsworth, Lone Tree GC / Dale Chavez, CommonGround GC 76-77–153
Chuck Scheinost, Boomerang GL / Jim Turk, Boomerang GL 78-77–155
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC / David Ramsey, Lakewood CC 79-76–155
Taylor Osieczanek, Broadlands GC / Ed Connors, Legacy Ridge GC 81-79–160
Matt Keeler, Broadlands GC / Mark Ury, Heritage at Westmoor 78-83–161

CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Todd Creek GC in Thornton

View Leaderboard and Scorecards

Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC / Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC 68-68–136
Bill Fowler, Bear Creek GC / Robert Polk, Colorado GC 71-67–138
Mr Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC / Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC 71-69–140
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC / Rod Walters, Heritage at Westmoor 70-70–140
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC / Rick George, Castle Pines GC 70-70 140
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC / Dave Brown, Rmgcsa GL 73-67–140
Bob Dameron, The Courses at Hyland Hills / Bobby Ortega, The Courses at Hyland Hills 73-67–140
Randal Gaddis, Lone Tree GC / Jerry Beren, Coal Creek GC 72-69–141
Guy Mertz, The Fox Hill Club / Mike Larson, Boulder CC 72-69–141
Dennis Fields, CommonGround GC / Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC 74-67–141
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor / Gary Albrecht, CommonGround GC 71-70–141
Jeffrey English, AvidGolfer Passport Club / Bill Bolgar, The Ridge at Castle Pines North 70-72–142
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC / Len Mize, West Woods GC 71-71–142
Bob Kubiak, South Suburban GC / Allen Phelon, South Suburban GC 71-71–142
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek GC / Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC 68-75–143
Jeff Sweet, Saddle Rock GC / Daryl Fengler, Murphy Creek GC 69-74–143
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC / Carter Mathies, The GC at Redlands Mesa 69-74–143
Phil Herrera, Lincoln Park GC / Dennis Lucero, Lincoln Park GC 71-73–144
Mark Hirsch, Lone Tree GC / Michael Davis, Meadow Hills GC 75-70–145
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC / Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 72-73–145
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC / Terry Kunz, Applewood Golf Club 72-73–145
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC / Charlie Post, Colorado GC 73-72–145
Robert Blayney, Highlands Ranch GC / Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch GC 75-70–145
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC / Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 69-76–145
Keith Masters, Meadow Hills GC / John Applegate, Meadow Hills GC 72-74–146
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines / Steve Stultz, CC at Castle Pines 76-70–146
Tom Coates, South Suburban GC / Pete Perry, South Suburban GC 75-72–147
Mark Runyan, Blackstone CC / Mark Barkley, Blackstone CC 72-75–147
Robert Sherrill, Columbine CC / Gary Keogh, Columbine CC 71-76–147
Bradley Smith, Ptarmigan CC / Richard Sabo, Ptarmigan CC 72-75–147
Jerry Kidney, Overland GC / Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC 75-74–149
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC / Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC 74-75–149
John Sostmann, Raccoon Creek GC / Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC 73-76–149
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC / David Delich, Broadmoor GC 78-72–150
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC / Rick Pirog, The Club at Cordillera 77-73–150
Darin O’Shea, Raccoon Creek GC / Bob Rognmoe, Raccoon Creek GC 76-74–150
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace GC / Bartley Corfee, Fossil Trace GC 74-76–150
Mike Campbell, Aurora Hills GC / Steve Kosarek, CommonGround GC 74-76–150
Frank Carson, Meridian GC / Scott Anderson, Harmony GC 74-77–151
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC / Ken Bailey, Telluride GC 77-74–151
Bill Stevens, Raccoon Creek GC / Jerry Molitor, Colorado Springs CC 76-76–152
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC / Perry Umlauf, CommonGround GC 76-76–152
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor / Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC 75-77–152
Jim Brown, The Fox Hill Club / Bob Bauers, Boulder CC 76-77–153
Richard Harrison, Ptarmigan CC / Mark Hailey, The Olde Course at Loveland 79-75–154
Paul Yoon, Pueblo CC / Roger Larsen, Pueblo CC 77-78–155
Mark Davidson, Hiwan GC / Dave Bell, Hiwan GC 81-74–155
Tim Kromer, Inverness GC / Tony Tormey, Inverness GC 75-81–156
Bill Boyd, Highland Hills GC / Bob Heiny, Highland Hills GC 78-82–160
Bill Lundquist, The Club at Pradera / Mike Gilbert, The Club at Pradera 83-77–160
John Leamon, Littleton GC / Don Gaines, Littleton GC 87-78–165
Art Pitman, Golfweek Amateur Tour / Rick Newberg, Hiwan GC 80-86–166
John Chahbandour, Denver CC / Steve Bell, Denver CC 76-NS
Reed Myer, Denver CC / Craig Gardiner, Denver CC 76-WD
 

Go to CGA Four-Ball Results Archive

This week proved to be a blast from the past for R.W. Eaks and Eric Hoos.

From the mid-1980s to the mid-90s, the two traveled together regularly as mini-tour players, then on the Ben Hogan and Nike Tours, the predecessors of the current-day Nationwide Tour. And both enjoyed some success on that circuit in the 1990s, with Eaks winning three times and Hoos once.

Lots of water has passed under the bridge since then, but on Friday, they competed in the same tournament, and both earned trophies.

Eaks, a Colorado Springs native, captured the overall title at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, marking his first professional victory in Colorado. And Hoos, a reinstated amateur and the longtime men’s golf coach at the University of Denver, grabbed low-amateur honors and finished seventh overall at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

“When I heard (Eaks) was playing, I came out Tuesday after work and played about seven holes (in a practice round) with him,” said Hoos (pictured above at left with Eaks). “It was kind of like old times. It was fun. It showed me how much I miss playing, seeing Bobby and playing in a tournament and that kind of stuff.”

Both golfers are at far different times in their lives nowadays, but they proved this week that they’ve still got some game.

Eaks, who won four Champions Tour events in 2007 and 2008, not only captured the Senior Open title, but he broke the tournament’s scoring record.

The former University of Northern Colorado basketball and golf standout shot his second consecutive 6-under-par 66 and finished at 15-under 201 on Friday. That was two strokes better than the previous record for the tournament, a 13-under 203 set by Dave Arbuckle in 2007. And Eaks’ six-stroke victory matched the largest margin in Senior Open history.

Jim Kane of Edmond, Okla., holed out a 192-yard shot for eagle on the par-4 11th hole Friday, but couldn’t get any closer to Eaks than three shots on the back nine. His final-round 70 left him a distant second at 207. Perry Holmes of Denver (70-209) and Bob Niger of El Dorado Hills, Calif. (67-209) tied for third place.

The 59-year-old Eaks (pictured at left), who now lives in Scottsdale, Ariz., earned $8,500 for the victory.

“This is my first professional win in Colorado, so it’s huge for me,” said Eaks, who lived in the state until 1990. “But I haven’t played in that much stuff here.”

When Eaks was playing full-time on the Nationwide or Champions Tour, he intentionally avoided competing in events such as the Colorado Open or Colorado Senior Open because he didn’t think it was fair to the regulars in such tournaments. But now that he is no longer playing regularly on the Champions circuit — and is trying to see if he can get his game ready for another possible run at Champions qualifying school — the Colorado Senior Open was a good spot to test himself.

And Eaks took that more seriously than you might imagine. He certainly was trying to win the Colorado Senior Open, but he wanted to be challenged in the process. And the fact that he was six strokes ahead with nine holes left wasn’t ideal in that regard, but what happened at the beginning of the back nine changed that a little.

Eaks bogeyed No. 10 after hitting his tee shot into a divot, then Kane drained his 192-yard approach on No. 11 with a 6-iron, quickly cutting the margin to three shots.

On Kane’s eagle, “You can’t see (the pin where it was situated) from the fairway,” the Oklahoman said. Playing partner Mark Balen “and I were right next to each other, and when I hit it, I said, ‘That’s as good as I’ve got.’ Unbeknownst, it went it. That was fun.”

And it was fun for Eaks in a different respect.

“I kind of fell asleep because I had a six-shot lead,” he said. “When (Kane) made that eagle it kind of woke me up a little bit because I was kind of coasting. It helped me more than you probably realize. I was kind of loafing. The whole idea of me playing is to get my game back in shape. I really needed the pressure back on me to see how well I could play coming in. So it worked out more for my benefit than it would if I would have (kept winning) by six or seven or something.”

After both Eaks and Kane birdied No. 12, Kane missed a 5-foot birdie putt on 13 and a 7-footer on 14, “and that was kind of it right there,” he said.

Eaks pulled away with birdies on Nos. 14, 17 and 18 — three of his eight birdies on the day.

“It was great playing with R.W.; he’s a fantastic player, a great guy,” Kane said. “He’s a well-deserving champion. He played awesome.”

The win was Eaks’ first since his last Champions Tour victory in 2008.

“I think there’s more pressure on me to win this thing than anyone else,” he said. “So that helps, knowing that I can do it again. It’s hard to come back and win. I still kind of feel funny coming back and playing, but I haven’t been doing anything, so what the heck.”

Meanwhile, five-time PGA Tour winner Danny Edwards (pictured at left) captured the super-senior title for players 60 and older as his final-day 70 left him at 211.

For his part, Hoos, competing in his first Colorado Senior Open, earned low-amateur honors at 212 after making five consecutive birdies en route to a 68 Friday. Considering it’s been a very long while since he played three straight days of tournament golf — mainly due to a bad back — it was a very satisfying result. Hoos finished 11 strokes ahead of second-place amateur Harry Johnson of Vail.

“It’s the first (multi-day) tournament I’ve played in a long time,” Hoos said. “So it means a lot. (Low amateur) was all I was thinking about. I couldn’t catch Eaks, so I had to look for something else to keep me going — and that was being low amateur. So I’m very proud of it.”

A year after Colorado players were completely shut out of the top 10 in the Senior Open, Holmes (third) and Hoos (seventh) made the grade this time.

“I’m real pleased with third; I’ll certainly take it,” said Holmes, winner of the 2008 Colorado PGA Professional Championship. Holmes made just one bogey in the last two rounds in posting his first Colorado Senior Open top 10.

For HealthOne Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.