The proverbial cream — which in this case refers to PGA Tour veterans — rose to the top Friday in the final round of the CoBank Colorado Senior Open.

On a day only three players shot in the 60s at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, two of them were guys who have played more than 200 PGA Tour events in their career. And of the top five finishers, three fall into the same category, including the champion.

John Riegger of Henderson, Nev., who has made 224 starts on the PGA Tour and has won once on PGA Tour Champions, rallied from three down going into the final round to score a one-stroke victory in his first time playing the Senior Open.

“Winning is winning,” said Riegger (left), a 54-year-old. “I’ve won on the Champions Tour. I’ve won everywhere in the world except for the PGA Tour. Winning is winning. It’s always good for the confidence.”

Another PGA Tour veteran, Skip Kendall, tied for second with 2017 Arizona Senior Open winner Brian Cooper of Pittsburgh, who’s qualified for this month’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. And sharing fourth place was one-time PGA Tour winner Guy Boros and two-time Colorado Open champion Jim Blair.

Overall, Friday wasn’t a stellar day scoring-wise, despite the good weather aside from some wind. Cooper shot a Friday-best 4-under-par 68, though he left a 10-foot birdie attempt an inch or two agonizingly short. Had it dropped it would have forced a playoff. He’d birdied 15, 16 and 17 to make a run at the title.

The other two sub-70 rounds were 3-under-par 69s by Rieger and Boros. Guys like Mike Northern of Colorado Springs (two eagles on the front nine) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Bill Loeffler (4 under through 12) surged before rough finishes.

Riegger’s 9-under-par 207 score was the highest by a CSO winner since 2014.

“It was probably just nerves,” Blair said of the relatively high final-day scores. “That always happens. I was surprised that 9 under won it. Our group, we weren’t very good. John (Riegger) just hung in there and made a couple of putts.”

Indeed, he did. Riegger ended up draining five putts between 10 and 20 feet on Friday and was especially on target during the back nine. He made a 12-footer for bogey on 10 after hitting his tee shot into the left hazard, sank a 15-foot birdie on 11, a 15-foot par on 13 and a 20-foot birdie on 15. But he did miss a 5-foot birdie try on No. 18, though he didn’t know exactly where he stood at the time — and it didn’t end up costing him.

“To be honest with you that one on 18 was the only putt I missed all day” that he’d regularly expect to make, Riegger said. “I made a lot of putts. This is the best I’ve putted in five years.”

Two groups in front of Riegger, Cooper could have gotten to 9 under by getting up and down for birdie from just off the green. But as noted earlier, he couldn’t believe it when he left his 10-foot birdie attempt just short (left).

Then 18- and 36-hole leader Kendall could have forced a playoff with a final-hole birdie after making one on 17. But his 35-foot attempt fell short.

That gave Riegger the $8,500 first prize, while Cooper and Kendall settled for $4,250 each for tying for second place a stroke back. Kendall was 1 under par for the day through 11 holes, but played his final seven in 2 over en route to a 73.

“I’m disappointed,” said Kendall, who was playing in just his second tournament of the year. “I had it. I really did. I just got into some bad spots on the back side and made some bogeys because of it. I made some errors in judgment. But you know what? It was great to be in the thick of things again and to feel that. I know it’s going to help me this year and in the long run. I’m going to take positives out of it.”

Boros and Blair checked in at 209, two back of Riegger, to tie for fourth place. With his best finish in a Colorado Senior Open, the 63-year-old Blair also had the top showing by a super-senior this week, adding a $1,000 prize to his $2,150 payday in the overall purse breakdown.

As for Riegger, he should give some credit for the victory to 2017 champion Jeff Gallagher, a fellow resident of Henderson, Nev., who told Riegger it would be worth his while to play in the CSO. And this week’s performance gave Riegger his first tournament victory since he won the 2013 Boeing Classic in his fifth start on PGA Tour Champions.

“When I won on the Champions Tour, I’d won twice on the Web Tour in my 40s,” he said. “I beat Bernhard Langer down the stretch to win when I won the Boeing Classic. You have the same emotions.”

Lindstrom Posts Best Overall Finish by Am in CSO Since 2014: At age 50, Broomfield resident Jon Lindstrom is a rookie in senior golf. But he adapted quickly this week in his first CoBank Colorado Senior Open.

Not only did the three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion earn low-amateur honors by 10 shots, but he tied for the best finish overall by a Coloradan, sharing sixth place. And that sixth-place showing was the best by an amateur in this event since Kent Moore did the same in 2014.

Lindstrom went 71-69-70 for a 6-under-par 210 total, leaving him just three strokes behind overall champion John Riegger.

“Being low amateur is a nice way to start,” Lindstrom said. “I hit it pretty good and made some putts, but I felt like I left a bunch out there.

“It’s fun being low amateur. I don’t want to say that’s my goal, but it’s probably one of them.”

On Friday, Lindstrom played his front nine in 2 under, but he double bogeyed No. 10. Then he rebounded with birdies on 14 and 15.

“I really did” think about getting in contention for the overall title “because I was surprised that scores weren’t lower,” Lindstrom said.

Finishing second in the amateur competition on Friday was reigning CGA Senior Amateur champion Steve Ivan of Colorado Springs, who posted a 220 total.

As for the best finish by a Coloradan, regardless of pro or amateur, Lindstrom shared that honor by tying for sixth place with Jeff Hanson (left) of Edwards, the PGA director of golf at Red Sky Golf Club. Hanson went 68-71-71 for his 210 total. Like Lindstrom, Hanson double bogeyed the 10th hole on Friday, but he added four birdies and one bogey.

Four Coloradans were among those who tied for 10th place at 211: 2013 champion Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Rick Cole of Eaton, Mike Northern of Colorado Springs and Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West. Zaremba, the 2005 CSO champion, was near the top of the leaderboard through 11 holes, but played his final eight in 4 over en route to a 75.

For scores from the Colorado Senior Open, CLICK HERE.

Mike Zaremba wasn’t far from shooting his age on Thursday afternoon, which would have been no small feat given how much the wind was blowing at the CoBank Colorado Senior Open.

As it was, the 64-year-old accomplished plenty as it was, shooting a 6-under-par 66 in difficult afternoon conditions at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. The score was the best of the day, leaving the Pueblo West resident at 8-under-par 136 and one shot behind leader Skip Kendall of Windermere, Fla.

“It was great, a good round, a real good round,” said Zaremba (left). “I was going along just OK. I had birdied my 11th and 12th holes, then I eagled 13 (the 318-yard fourth hole at GVR) and it changed everything. I hit a 3-wood in there about 20 feet and rolled it in.”

Zaremba two-putted for birdie on his 18th hole, No. 9, giving him an eagle, five birdies and a bogey for the day.

Zaremba is certainly no stranger to success in Colorado Open championships. He won the Colorado Open in 1995, the Colorado Senior Open in 2005 and has posted seven top-10 finishes in the Senior Open. But his only top-10 since 2009 came last year, when he ended up ninth.

“Obviously I haven’t been here (in contention) in a while,” he said. “It’s going to be a good experience tomorrow again. It’ll be fun.”

As for being in the hunt going into the final day at age 64, Zaremba said, “You’ve just got to fight it all the time. As we get a little bit older, we get a little more shaky. There’s no doubt about it.”

Zaremba is one of five Coloradans in the top 10 going into the final day. Jeff Hanson of Edwards, who was paired with John Elway the first two rounds, shares sixth place at 139 despite a double-hit chip on Wedneday; three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield is tied for eighth at 140 with Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale and Rick Cole of Eaton. Rohrbaugh was the last Coloradan to win the Colorado Senior Open, in 2013.

Hanson carded a 71 on Thurday, while Lindstrom had a 69, Rohrbaugh a 70 and Cole a 72.

But Kendall (left), a veteran who’s played in 423 PGA Tour events, is still at the top of the leaderboard going into Friday’s final round. The 53-year-old backed up his first-round 66 with a 3-under-par 69 on Thursday to check in at 9-under 135. He managed a four-birdie, one-bogey day, but played his last five holes in 1 over.

“I’m looking forward (to being in contention on the final day),” he said. “That was the whole idea in coming out here — to see if I could get in the thick of things again and kind of challenge myself. So far, so good. It’s been fun. I look forward to the challenge tomorrow.”

Kendall, who’s competing in his first Colorado Senior Open, has played in just one PGA Tour Champions event this year after being exempt in 2017. But he said the last time he was on the leaderboard in the final day of a tournament was in 2014. That year he finished third in the Nature Valley First Tee Open at Pebble Beach and sixth at the Greater Hickory Kia Classic on the senior circuit.

“It’s been a while,” he said.

But Kendall has contended in Colorado before, at the PGA Tour’s International at Castle Pines. He finished third in 1997 and eighth in ’93, coincidentally the two years Phil Mickelson won.

“I had some nice tournaments there. I liked playing there,” said Kendall, who never won on the PGA Tour but claimed four titles on the Web.com Tour. “I’ve seemed to adjust OK to altitude. I won a Web.com event (in 2012) in Bogota, Colombia at 8,500 feet. For some reason I seem to guess right. I’m coming from Orlando where you hit it the shortest distance anywhere in the country because the air is really thick there. The ball just doesn’t go anywhere. It’s quite a difference here. But I’ve adjusted OK. It’s an educated guess — at least it is for me.”

Another former PGA Tour player, defending Colorado Senior Open champion Jeff Gallagher, was paired with Kendall the first two days and is also in the thick of the title hunt. Gallagher shot a 71 on Thursday and stands in third place at 137.

The group of Kendall, Gallagher and amateur Guy Mertz of Longmont (144) combined to make 33 birdies in two days.

Two-time Colorado Open champion Jim Blair of St. George, Utah, and former PGA Tour player John Riegger, of Henderson, Nev., share fourth place at 138.

At stake on Friday will be an $8,500 first prize for the low pro.

Elway Just Misses Cut Despite Late Rally: Things weren’t looking good for John Elway when he made the turn during Thursday’s second round. The Broncos general manager had shot a 6-over-par 42 on the front nine at GVR and was considerably on the wrong side of the cut line. A double bogey at No. 5 and a triple bogey at No. 8 (including a shank into the hazard and a three-putt) certainly didn’t help matters.

But the Pro Football Hall of Famer (left) mustered some of the old comeback magic to give himself hope to make the 36-hole cut. Alas, even with an impressive final nine holes, he ended up missing the cut for the first time in four Colorado Senior Open appearances.

Elway played the back nine in 3-under-par 33 to shoot a 3-over-par 75. That left him at 4-over 148 overall and in 56th place out of the 150-man field. But only the top 55 players and ties after two rounds advanced to Friday.

“What seems to be happening more lately is the fact that I can only play about 14 (good) holes,” the 57-year-old said. “But I still enjoy competing. This is the one area where I can still compete. It’s fun to play in these situations because you’ve got to count every shot. I don’t like playing poorly, but I still enjoy playing.”

The bad stretch for Elway on Thursday came on holes 5-9, where he went a combined 7 over par. He was 1 under par through four, then a couple of bad shots on 5 led to a double bogey. His tee shot ended up in a deep divot in the sixth fairway, leading to a bogey, and the shank and three-putt on 8 resulted in a triple bogey. Another three-putt on No. 9 led to another bogey. He ended up going 5 over par on the par-3s on the front nine.

“Then I got it going on the back nine and hit some good shots,” Elway said after making birdies on 11, 12 and 17.

But it wasn’t quite enough to keep him around for the final round.

Elway’s previous Senior Open finishes have been 52nd in 2010, 19th in 2014 and 29th in 2016.

Notable: Friday’s final-round tee times will run from 8:20 to 9:55 a.m., with Kendall, Zaremba and Gallagher going off in the final group, off No. 1. … Lindstrom, playing in his first CSO at age 50, leads the amateur competition with a 140 total. In second place, at 144, is Mertz. … In the super-senior division for players over 60, Zaremba (136) leads by four over Cole. Two-time PGA Tour winner Donnie Hammond (141) is in third place. … Keith Clearwater, also owner of two PGA Tour wins, was disqualified on his final hole Thursday, though he was borderline to make the cut anyway despite going 7 under par in a nine-hole stretch in the middle of his round. Clearwater finished third in the CSO two years ago.

For scores from the Colorado Senior Open, CLICK HERE.

Northern (pictured), the reigning Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champ, placed in the top five out of 264 players despite closing with a double bogey on Sunday in Port St. Lucie, Fla. The 54-year-old shot a 1-over-par 73 in the final round to record a 9-under 279 total. That left him four strokes behind champion Steve Schneiter of Sandy, Utah, who has played in many Colorado Opens over the years.

Schneiter sank a 15-foot par putt on the final hole for the victory, which makes him the first person to win both the PGA Professional Championship (1995) the Senior PGA Professional Championship. Schneiter, who holed out for eagle from 115 yards on the second hole Sunday, won $21,500.

Northern, the runner-up in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in September, was trying to become the second Coloradan to win the national Senior PGA Professional Championship as Bill Loeffler captured the title in 2007.

Northern made two birdies, a bogey and the final-hole double bogey on Sunday.

Jeff Hanson of Edwards came ever so close to joining Northern as a 2017 Senior PGA Championship qualifier. With the top 35 finishers and ties earning spots in the Senior PGA, Hanson placed 39th, one shot shy of what was necessary to qualify. What was even more agonizing was that Hanson triple bogeyed his final hole on Sunday.

Hanson closed with a 5-over-par 77 on Sunday after three straight sub-par rounds. He posted an even-par 288 total when 287 was needed to qualify.

Here are the scores of all the Colorado PGA members who competed in the Senior PGA Professional Championship:

4. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 69-71-66-73–279
39. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 69-71-71-77–288

Missed 36-Hole Cut
109. Paul Lobato of Englewood 75-71–146
126. Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West 76-71–147
176. Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins 74-76–150
192. Vance Pollock of Westminster 74-77–151
210. Don Hurter of Castle Rock 74-78–152
261. Steve Crane of Lakewood 79-87–166
 

Northern (pictured), who won the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship this year and finished second in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship, made six birdies and no bogeys in round 3. The 54-year-old stands at 10-under-par 206, three strokes behind leader Gene Fieger of Naples, Fla., and one back of second-place Jeff Roth of Farmington, N.M. Fieger won the 2013 Assistant PGA Professional Championship, while Roth claimed the title in the 1993 PGA Professional Championship.

The other Coloradan to make the 36-hole cut, Jeff Hanson of Edwards, shares 26th place after three rounds. He shot a 1-under-par 71 on Saturday, leaving him at 5-under 211 overall. Hanson carded an eagle, three birdies and four bogeys on Saturday.

With just Sunday’s final round remaining in the $300,000 championship, the top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2017 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 25-28 at Trump National Golf Club in suburban Washington D.C.

Here are the scores of all the Colorado PGA members competing in this week’s Senior PGA Professional Championship:

3. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 69-71-66–206
26. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 69-71-71–211

Missed 36-Hole Cut
109. Paul Lobato of Englewood 75-71–146
126. Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West 76-71–147
176. Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins 74-76–150
192. Vance Pollock of Westminster 74-77–151
210. Don Hurter of Castle Rock 74-78–152
261. Steve Crane of Lakewood 79-87–166
 

Both Hanson and Northern have matched rounds of 69-71 for 4-under-par 140 totals, which leaves them tied for 21st place. They trail co-leaders Lee Houtteman of Michigan and Gene Fieger of Florida by six strokes.

Northern (pictured) and Hanson were the only Coloradans to survive the 36-hole cut — to the low 70 players and ties — out of the eight who started the 264-man event. Hanson, who played his final dozen holes in 4 under par on Friday, made five birdies and four bogeys on Friday, while Northern carded four birdies and three bogeys.

The tournament will continue through Sunday. The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2017 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 25-28 at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C.

Here are the scores of all the Colorado PGA members competing in this week’s Senior PGA Professional Championship:

21. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 69-71–140
21. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 69-71–140

Missed 36-Hole Cut
109. Paul Lobato of Englewood 75-71–146
126. Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West 76-71–147
176. Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins 74-76–150
192. Vance Pollock of Westminster 74-77–151
210. Don Hurter of Castle Rock 74-78–152
261. Steve Crane of Lakewood 79-87–166
 

Northern made an eagle, four birdies and three bogeys on Thursday, while Hanson chalked up five birdies and two bogeys.

The two trail co-leaders Lee Houtteman of Michigan and Brad Lardon of New Mexico by three strokes in the 264-person competition.

The tournament will continue through Sunday. The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2017 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 25-28 at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C.

Here are the scores of all the Colorado PGA members competing in this week’s Senior PGA Professional Championship:

14. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 69
14. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 69
130. Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins 74
130. Vance Pollock of Westminster 74
130. Don Hurter of Castle Rock 74
160. Paul Lobato of Englewood 75
192. Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West 76
245. Steve Crane of Lakewood 79
 

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.

Life may not start at 50, but you wouldn’t know it from the case of Doug Rohrbaugh and his born-again golf career.

On Wednesday, the director of golf from Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs added another chapter to the stellar playing career he’s put together since reaching the big 5-0.

Not only did Rohrbaugh match a record by winning his third consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championship, but he continues to break the standard he’s previously set by claiming the title at unprecedented ages.

The 53-year-old did it again Wednesday at Meridian Golf Club in Englewood, though this one was more of a challenge than the previous two victories in the event. This time around, he fended off a late charge from Valley Country Club head professional Barry Milstead by draining a 20-foot birdie putt on the final hole to post a two-stroke victory.

The win, worth $8,000, made Rohrbaugh the first player since Ken Krieger (1996-98) to claim three straight Colorado PGA Professional Championships. Ron Vlosich (1991-93) is believed to be the only other player to three-peat in the 58-year history of the tournament. (Rohrbaugh is pictured at left and above with runner-up Milstead.)

“That was everything,” Rohrbaugh said of his quest for three straight victories. “To be honest, that was my goal coming in. Yes, you’re trying to win, but knowing the three-peat hadn’t been done much, I was definitely thinking about it. To want a three-peat and do it, that makes it sweeter. It means a lot. It was more than just a win.”

Besides claiming three straight Colorado PGA Professional Championships since turning 50, Rohrbaugh has also captured the 2013 HealthOne Colorado Senior Open title, finished third at the 2013 HealthOne Colorado Open as a 51-year-old, won the 2012 and ’13 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship, and has earned conditional status on the 2015 Champions Tour.

“I don’t get it,” he admits of his status as a late bloomer. “I still can’t answer the question people ask me: Why? I think it’s a lot of things. I always thought I could play the Tour but I tried the regular Q-school twice and didn’t even get past first stage. It was a bit letdown. Then when 50 was coming it was like, ‘Here’s my second chance.’ So it got me excited, fired me up. That was a big part of it, knowing there was another chance.”

After winning the Colorado PGA Professional Championship by five each of the past two years, this one wasn’t settled until the final green. With Milstead one-putting for birdie and par, respectively on the final two par-3s (Nos. 15 and 17) while Rohrbaugh made bogeys, Milstead picked up three shots, leaving the margin at one going into the par-4 18th. There, both players had birdie putts of about 20 feet, and Milstead had his attempt online, but left it short.

“I did a lot of that today,” said Milstead (left and below). “I left a lot of putts short. (The one on 18) may or may not have gone in the hole, but I probably left four or five or six putts short and going in the right direction.”

Rohrbaugh, who said he hadn’t been nervous on his previous two shots on 18, got a few butterflies over his birdie putt.

“I realized I just had to two-putt,” the Carbondale resident said. “I wasn’t even trying to make it. I was just trying to get it up as close as I could. When it was about 3 feet out, I started to walk because I had a feeling it had a chance. Sure enough (it went in), and that certainly makes it a little sweeter.”

Rohrbaugh, who took a two-stroke lead into the final round, shot a 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday, the same as Milstead. Rohrbaugh finished at 5-under-par 211 overall, while Milstead (213) was the only other player who ended up under par.

Those two, along with the next six finishers, qualified for the 2016 PGA Professional National Championship, set for June 26-29 in Verona, N.Y. The other PNC qualifiers were Ari Papadopoulos (216), two-time CPGA Professional Championship winner Rob Hunt (217), University of Denver men’s golf coach Erik Billinger (218), Jeff Hanson (218), 2013 PGA Championship competitor Caine Fitzgerald (219) and Doug Wherry (219). Fitzgerald and Wherry each birdied the second hole of a sudden-death qualifying playoff that featured six competitors.

The battle for the CPGA Professional Championship title was largely a two-man affair on Wednesday, though Papadoupolos was 3 under for the tournament through 51 holes before finishing with three consecutive bogeys.

After Rohrbaugh (left) began the day with a bogey, Milstead earned a tie for the lead with a birdie on No. 2. But after the pro from Valley went bogey-double bogey on Nos. 4 and 5, Rohrbaugh never lost the outright lead again.

Though Milstead hit a few errant tee shots on the back nine Wednesday, he scrambled well enough to leave himself just one down going into 18.

“Down the stretch, I figured if I could hang around and make a few putts or make a birdie or two to get closer to him, we’d see what happened,” Milstead said. “I got within one going into 18, but I couldn’t quite catch him. Doug played great and hung in there. He’s a deserving champion.

“I played really well yesterday (67), which got me into position. I wish I had hit the ball as well as I did the first two days because I hit it great. I couldn’t quite hit it as well today.”

But overall, while he was disappointed in not landing the win, Milstead took some satisfaction in his best finish ever at the CPGA Professional Championship.

“I haven’t played a whole lot this year, so it’s good to see I’ve still got a lot of good shots in me,” the 48-year-old said. “We’ll take a lot of good things out of this week.”

As for Rohrbaugh, he wasn’t at his best either on Wednesday, which he attributes to having three-peat-itis on his mind.

“My golf today reflected that,” he said. “I did not play well today. My irons were off. I was nervous; there’s no question I was nervous. This one was harder than the first two because of that, but I managed to scrape it in there.”

Rohrbaugh, whose best finish out of six Champions Tour events this year is a 15th place, will take some momentum into his last four attempts at Monday qualifying for tournaments. If he can climb from 103rd to inside the top 75 on the final 2015 money list, he’ll earn an automatic spot in the final stage of Champions Tour Q-school.

“This is exactly what I needed heading out to the next four qualifiers,” he said. “I’m certainly feeling more confident and more excited about these four coming up after the way I’ve played the last two weeks.”

Colorado PGA Professional Championship
Sept. 14-16, 2015 (final) at Par-72 Meridian GC in Englewood

Top 10 Finishers (note: top eight qualify for 2016 PGA Professional National Championship) — 1. Doug Rohrbaugh 69-69-73–211; 2. Barry Milstead 73-67-73–213; 3. Ari Papadopoulos 72-72-72–216; 4. Rob Hunt 70-74-73–217; 5. (tie) Erik Billinger 73-74-71–218; Jeff Hanson 71-73-74–218; 7. (tie, with Fitzgerald and Wherry winning playoff) Caine Fitzgerald 69-75-75–219; Doug Wherry 75-73-71–219; Kyle Voska 74-76-69–219; Don Hurter 74-76-69–219; Mike Northern 74-74-71–219; Dustin Miller 75-73-71–219. For all the scores, CLICK HERE.