Fifty-five players will be in the field, with the top three finishers earning spots in the Senior Am, which will be contested Aug. 25-30 at Eugene Country Club in Oregon.

Of those 55, almost one-fifth have competed in the U.S. Senior Am just in the last five years.

The list includes Wyoming resident John Hornbeck, the 2018 CGA Senior Match Play champion who has played in three U.S. Senior Amateurs, going to the quarterfinals in 2016. Also, there’s three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk (round of 64 in 2017), Guy Mertz (2017), Robin Bradbury (round of 64 in 2016), Gary Albrecht (2016), Jim Reynolds (2016), Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (2015), Thomas Roos (2015), and David Delich and Harry Johnson (both 2013 and ’14).

Also competing on Tuesday are Steve Ivan, winner of the 2017 CGA Senior Amateur and runner-up in the 2018 CGA Senior Match Play; Charlie Post, who played in the 2017 U.S. Senior Open; 2015 CGA Senior Amateur winner Bill Fowler; 2014 CGA Senior Match Play champ Tom Musselman and Sean Forey.

For Tuesday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

And one of those eight, David Delich of The Broadmoor, has won the title three times over that period.

Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City will host this year’s Senior Match Play Monday through next Thursday (June 11-14). The event, limited to players 52 and older, will feature the round of 64 on Monday and two rounds each on Tuesday and Wednesday for those who advance. The 18-hole championship match is set for next Thursday morning.

Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club returns to defend the title he won last year, when he defeated Delich, the champion in 2007, ’11 and ’15.

Other former champions in the field are Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club (2016), Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (2013), Ray Makloski if Pueblo Country Club (2012), Guy Mertz of The Fox Hill Club (2010), Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club (2009) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club (2006).

Three of those former champs have already won CGA titles in 2018: Johnson in the Super-Senior Match Play, Polk with partner Bill Fowler in the Senior Four-Ball, and Mertz with son Nick in the Parent/Child.

Also scheduled to compete in the Senior Match Play are 2017 CGA Senior Amateur winner Steve Ivan of Patty Jewett Golf Course, 2016 Senior Amateur champ Kevin Ott of The Club at Rolling Hills, 2016 U.S. Senior Open qualifier John Hornbeck of Wyoming and 2017 CGA Senior Player of the Year Keith Atkins.

For Monday’s round-of-64 tee pairings, CLICK HERE.

At 68 years old, Harry Johnson has long been eligible to compete in the CGA Super-Senior Match Play. But for many years he took a pass, opting to play in the senior division instead.

And who could argue when, as a 63-year-old, he swept the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Amateur titles in 2013, becoming just the fifth player to win both events in a calendar year?

“I specifically didn’t (enter) because I didn’t think I was ready for super-senior golf — that type of thing,” the player from Eagle Ranch Golf Course said on Thursday. “I’m not saying these guys couldn’t clean my clock or beat me, but I just didn’t think I was ready for it when I was (first) eligible. Now, there are some guys I want to see. I love to see John Olive out here, I love to see Sean Forey. It gets back to those relationship things. You’re on the driving range and somebody comes and slaps you on the back and says, ‘How have you been?’ and that type of thing. I enjoy that tremendously.”

So Johnson finally relented this week, playing in his first CGA Super-Senior Match Play.

And given that he’s won two CGA Senior Player of the Year awards since turning 60, it should come as no surprise that Johnson came out on top Thursday at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. But it took overtime to earn the title.

Johnson lost a 3-up lead with five holes remaining in regulation in the final match, but posted the victory when he two-putted for par from 40 feet on the 19th hole to defeat Dave Brown of Highlands Ranch Golf Club.

“I’m old enough now that this is just a treat, a joy to play in these things,” Johnson said. “I didn’t want to lose, but I really don’t feel that drive that I used to have in tournaments about winning and losing. At this age, it’s more like just holding it together.”

Johnson (above and left) never trailed in Thursday’s match as he made a 70-plus-foot birdie from in front of the green on the first hole. “You look at that putt, and it was probably the difference in the match,” he said. And he built a 3-up advantage through the 12th and 13 holes. But Brown, a four-time CGA champion competing in just his third major competition since 2010, played steady after bogeying holes 8, 10 and 12. Three down with five left in regulation, the 63-year-old played those final five holes in 1 under par. And Johnson bogeyed three times — 14 and 15 after being in greenside bunkers and 17 by three-putting — to leave the match all square going into 18.

There, after Johnson narrowly missed his 20-foot birdie attempt, Brown just missed a 12-foot birdie that would have won him the match.

So the final went to extra holes, becoming just the third match of the week to do so, with Brown having played in two of the three. Brown, twice a semifinalist in the CGA Match Play, left his approach short of the green in the rough, then pitched up to 4 feet from the cup. After Johnson stroked his 40-foot birdie try to within 3 feet, Brown’s par attempt slid below the cup (pictured below), and Johnson made his par to clinch the title.

“I had missed them all high all week, and I remembered that when I got over that putt,” Brown said of the decisive stroke. “I said, ‘Don’t miss it high because they keep lipping out.’ So I hit it firm, and I may have pulled it a titch. But that thing just broke off the planet.

“My putting was less than sterling this week. It’s disappointing, but that’s golf. You’ve got to deal with the good and the bad. You just come back and try it again. That’s all you can do.”

After decades of playing in state championships, Brown said he needed a break after 2010, so aside from one CGA tourament each of the last two years, he’s been away from serious competition. Therefore, despite Thursday’s outcome, he was happy to have won four matches and finished runner-up in the Super-Senior Match Play.    

“I didn’t compete for quite a few years, so this was better than I expected,” he said. “I didn’t expect to get to the final match. I made some swing changes during those years, and I’m still working through that. I’m on the right track. I feel good about the week.

“But there’s a competitive edge that all competitors have, and not playing that long, you lose it. You’ve got to go find it, and the only way to find it is to play events.”

As for Johnson, though he’s now won about 10 CGA championships — most coming in the Western Chapter senior ranks — this is his first since his 2013 senior sweep.

In going 5-0 in his matches this week, Johnson defeated both 2017 finalists on Wednesday — runner-up Jim Reynolds and defending champion Kent Moore. Johnson prevailed in all three matches he played that went to the 18th hole.

“The game has changed for me,” he said. “It’s not so much about winning and losing. I don’t quite feel that pressure anymore. At this age it’s a different perspective for me. These tournaments are more about renewing relationships and a little rejuvenation of another year of golf. I get as much joy out of that — even more joy out of that — than winning at this stage. The relationships are what keep me coming back.”

The CGA Super-Senior Match Play is limited to competitors at least 62 years old.

CGA Super-Senior Match Play
May 21-24, 2018 at Black Bear GC in Parker
WEDNESDAY’S QUARTERFINALS
   Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, def. John Sostman, Raccoon Creek GC, 2 and 1
   Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, def. Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC, 3 and 2
   Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, def. John Olive, The Broadmoor GC, 2 and 1
   Sean Forey, The Club at Rolling Hills, def. Keith Gockenbach, Indian Peaks GC, concession
WEDNESDAY’S SEMIFINALS
   Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 2 up
   Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC def. Sean Forey, The Club at Rolling Hills, 20 holes
THURSDAY’S FINAL
   Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC def. Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 19 holes

For all the results from the Super-Senior Match Play, CLICK HERE.

Two-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course defeated defending champion and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club, 2 up to advance to the title match.

On the other side of the bracket, Dave Brown of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, seeded 23rd to start the week, outlasted third-seeded Sean Forey of The Club at Rolling Hills on the 20th hole of their match.

Johnson (pictured) and Brown will square off for the championship in a scheduled 18-hole match that will begin at 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Both finalists won two matches on Wednesday. Earlier, Johnson beat 2018 runner-up Jim Reynolds of Bear Creek Golf Club, 3 and 2 in the quarterfinals. Brown ousted Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and 2015 champion John Olive of The Broadmoor Golf Club, 2 and 1.

Five years ago, Johnson swept the major CGA senior championship titles, winning both the Senior Amateur and Senior Match Play. He also qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur in both 2013 and ’14.

The Super-Senior Match Play is limited to competitors at least 62 years old.

CGA Super-Senior Match Play
May 21-24, 2018 at Black Bear GC in Parker
QUARTERFINALS
   Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, def. John Sostman, Raccoon Creek GC, 2 and 1
   Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, def. Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC, 3 and 2
   Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, def. John Olive, The Broadmoor GC, 2 and 1
   Sean Forey, The Club at Rolling Hills, def. Keith Gockenbach, Indian Peaks GC, concession
SEMIFINALS
   Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 2 up
   Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC def. Sean Forey, The Club at Rolling Hills, 20 holes
THURSDAY’S 18-HOLE FINAL
  Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC vs. Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 7:30 a.m.

For all the results from the Super-Senior Match Play, CLICK HERE.

Olive (pictured), who’s earned a record seven CGA Senior Player of the Year awards himself, won the Super-Senior Match Play in 2015.

On a day that saw five of the eight round-of-16 matches go to the 18th hole, defending champion and top seed Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club scored a 2-up victory over Gary Kephart of Patty Jewett Golf Course. And two-time Senior Player of the Year Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, the fourth seed, slipped by Rick George of Castle Pines Golf Club, 1 up.

Also among those advancing to the quarterfinals were third-seeded Sean Forey of The Club at Rolling Hills (2 and 1) and fifth-seeded Jim Reynolds of Bear Creek Golf Club, the 2017 runner-up in this event (2 up).

Wednesday will feature both the quarterfinals and the semifinals, while the finals are set for Thursday morning.

The Super-Senior Match Play is limited to competitors at least 62 years old.

For results from the Super-Senior Match Play, CLICK HERE.

Moore (pictured), a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and the No. 1 seed this week, scored a 7-and-5 victory over Carl Peters of Twin Peaks Golf Course in the round of 32 in this event for competitors 62 and older.

Second-seeded Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, was even more dominant on Monday, posting an 8-and-6 win over Richard Pober of the Club at Pradera.

Other top seeds who won on Monday were No. 3 Sean Forey of the Club at Rolling Hills (5 and 4), No. 4 Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (6 and 5) and 2017 runner-up Jim Reynolds of Bear Creek Golf Club, the fifth seed (2 and 1).

The only top-10 seeds to lose on Monday were No. 6 Steve Bell of CommonGround Golf Course (falling 1 up to Patrick Mooney of Colorado Golf Club) and No. 10 Frank Wilkinson of Lincoln Park Golf Course (5 and 3 to Dave Brown of Highlands Ranch Golf Club).

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive, the 2015 champion, defeated Mark Barkley of Clubcorp Colorado, 4 and 3, and will face Polk in Tuesday’s round of 16.

Play at the Super-Senior Match Play will continue through Thursday, with Wednesday featuring quarterfinal and semifinal matches.

For results from the Super-Senior Match Play, CLICK HERE.

With play beginning on Monday, Moore will defend his title in the event for players 62 and older after defeating Jim Reynolds 1 up in last year’s title match at Coal Creek Golf Course in Louisville. Moore will be the No. 1 seed as the defending champ. Reynolds also is scheduled to be in the field.

Olive, meanwhile, won the Super-Senior Match Play title in 2015 and is seeded 18th this time.

Also set to compete at Black Bear are three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk, who recently paired with Bill Fowler to win the CGA Senior Four-Ball; and Harry Johnson, winner of both the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Stroke Play in 2013.

Play at the Super-Senior Match Play will continue through Thursday, with Wednesday featuring quarterfinal and semifinal matches.

For Monday’s round-of-32 pairings, CLICK HERE.
 

Sixty-three players, all 55 and older, will be competing for three national berths into the Senior Amateur, set for Aug. 26-31 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.

Gary Albrecht of CommonGround Golf Course and Robin Bradbury of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, both 2016 U.S. Senior Am qualifiers, will be in the field in Colorado Springs.

Other qualifiers in Colorado from recent years — David Delich (2013 and ’14), Harry Johnson (2013 and ’14), Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Kent Moore (2015) and John Olive (2012), Thomas Roos (2015), Ted Warner (2013) and Kelly Crone (2012).

Also scheduled to play on Monday are three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk and other former CGA senior champions Tom Musselman, Guy Mertz and Ken Sady.
 

The 36-hole event will include open and senior flights, with gross and net divisions.

Coloradan Kyler Dunkle won’t defend his title as he’ll be competing in U.S. Amateur qualifying on Monday in Highland, Utah. Dunkle advanced to the round of 16 at the 2016 U.S. Am.

But the Western Chapter field will include Tristan Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, who won the championship in 2015 and was runner-up to Dunkle last year. Rohrbaugh, a former 3A state high school champion who plays his college golf at Boise State, qualified for last year’s U.S. Am.

Also scheduled to compete this weekend are Ross Macdonald and Isaac Petersilie, winners of every Colorado Junior Amateur from 2013 to ’15, with Macdonald capturing two of those three. Macdonald is a University of Colorado golfer, while Petersilie plays at the University of Denver.

The Western Chapter senior division field includes David Delich and Harry Johnson, both former CGA Senior Players of the Year.

Oneth (pictured) posted a 3-and-1 victory Wednesday over Steve Kass of Aurora Hills Golf Course, while three-time winner Delich scored a 6-and-5 win over Chris Patton of Red Rocks Country Club.

Another former champion who won in the round of 32 on Wednesday was 2013 winner Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course. Also advancing were 2015 CGA Senior Amateur champion Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills and 2016 CGA Senior Player of the Year Robin Bradbury of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve.

Three former champions were ousted in the round of 32: Colorado Golf Hall of Famer and four-time champ John Olive of The Broadmoor (5 and 4 by Bob Chandler of Foothills Golf Course), three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club ( 3 and 2 by Bradley Becker of Plum Creek Golf Club, and 2005 winner Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club (4 and 3 by Thomas McGeary of Highlands Ranch GC). Also losing on Wednesday was stroke-play medalist Bob Schuler of Inverness Golf Club, who was defeated by Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club, 3 and 2.

Both the round of 16 and the quarterfinals are scheduled for Thursday, while the semifinals and the final are set for Friday.

For results from the CGA Senior Match Play, CLICK HERE.