A total of 82 competitors are entered in the event, which will begin with a stroke-play round on Tuesday, with 32 players advancing to match play beginning on Wednesday.
Starting with the round of 16, two rounds of matches will be held both Thursday and Friday, with the 18-hole final scheduled for Friday afternoon.
The former CGA Match Play champs entered include Jeff Oneth (winner in 2016, who will be the No. 1 seed in this year’s bracket), David Delich (2015, ’11 and ’07), Tom Musselman (2014), Harry Johnson (2013), three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk (2009), Kelly Crone (2005) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive (2003, ’02, ’01 and 1997).
Also scheduled to compete are 2016 CGA Senior Player of the Year Robin Bradbury, 2016 CGA Amateur champ Kevin Ott, 2015 CGA Senior Am winner Bill Fowler, and Jeff Hornbeck of Wyoming, who qualified in Colorado for both the U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Senior Amateur in 2016.
For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
The duo from Lone Tree Golf Club overcame the trying conditions to go bogey-free for the second consecutive day, giving them a wire-to-wire victory in the 36th CGA Senior Four-Ball, the association’s first championship of 2017.
Moore and Kelley fired a 1-under-par 71 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play format on Wednesday to post a 12-under 204 total, good for a two-stroke victory at The Broadlands Golf Course in Broomfield.
Jeff Slupe of Highland Meadows Golf Course and Steve Scheffel of Ptarmigan Country Club closed with a 68 to earn the runner-up spot at 206.
Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills and Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, the defending champions, tied for third place at 207 with 2016 CGA Senior Match Play champion Jeff Oneth and Tim Kneen of Colorado Golf Club.
Moore and Kelley (pictured holding their trophies) went progressively higher with their scores each day of the tournament — 65-68-71 — but kept the mistakes to a minimum and covered for each other when one player was in trouble on a given hole.
“I looked at (the three days) like a triathlon,” said the 55-year-old Moore. “We got out of the pool and we were doing well. We got off the bike and we were still leading. It’s like, ‘OK, we’ve got to go run a marathon — and it was going to be a marathon in bad weather.’
“It was tough conditions, but when one would take a hole off, the other one would pick it up. We didn’t make a bogey so that kind of saved our day.”
Added Kelley, 53: “We’re a solid team. We’re good partners together, so I thought we had a real good chance.”
About the closest the two Colorado natives came to making a bogey in the final two rounds was on the last hole of the tournament, where, after being way right with his tee shot, Moore drained a 15-foot par putt to close things out.
“We just save par really well,” Moore said. “We saved par in bad weather, and we didn’t really stress about it. Everybody misses a lot of birdies; we missed ours too today. But somebody was always in the hole to get the par.”
Wednesday marked the second time Kelley and Moore have been in contention to win the CGA Senior Four-Ball title. Two years ago, they finished runner-up.
This wasn’t the first CGA title for Moore or Kelley as both helped Lone Tree Golf Club win season-long CGA Team Interclub championships in 2011 and ’12.
“I think that’s a little more stressful actually,” Kelley said of the Team Interclub. “This here is just me and Doug and if we lose it’s me and Doug. Lone Tree is a group of guys who are real tight and everybody roots for everybody (so) you’re letting down the whole club (if you’re not winning).”
Play in the open division of the CGA Senior Four-Ball was limited to golfers 51 and older as the CGA is looking to eventually match the age criteria the USGA uses for the U.S. Senior Amateur (55 and older).
Netherton/Crone Chalk Up Another Title: It took three extra holes, but Larry Netherton and Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club added another team title to their golf resumes.
Netherton and Crone (pictured in black and blue, respectively) prevailed in a four-team playoff by making three straight pars to earn their second championship in the super-senior division of the CGA Senior Four-Ball. The pair has also captured two open-division Senior Four-Ball titles and a win in the senior division of the since-discontinued CGA Two-Man.
“It’s really not where you play golf, it’s who you play golf with,” said Netherton, who like Crone is 65 years old. “We’ve traveled all over the country and played in senior partner events and we’ve had success everywhere we’ve gone. We really enjoy playing with each other. When I make a mistake, he picks it up and (vice-versa). We’ve played a lot of events and it really helps to know each other that well.”
Netherton two-putted from 8 feet for par on the third playoff hole to prevail over Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club and Stephen Bell of Denver Country Club, who both made bogey.
The two other teams that made the playoff — Kary Kaltenbacher of Glenmoor Country Club and Rod Walters of Indian Tree Golf Club, and Bill Stevens and David Merritt of Meridian Golf Club — had been eliminated from contention for the super-senior title with bogeys on the first extra hole.
Netherton and Crone would have won the super-senior championship in regulation had it not been for a one-stroke penalty incurred when they failed to catch a marker’s error on their scorecard, leaving them with a final-round 73 instead of the 72 they actually shot. All four of the teams in the playoff carded three-day totals of 2-under-par 214.
“Justice prevailed, but it’s our fault because we didn’t really check” each individual scrore, just the team score, Crone noted.
For CGA Senior Four-Ball scores:
OPEN DIVISION
SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION
Moore and Kelley teamed up to post a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 68 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play event. That left them at 11-under 133 going into Wednesday’s final round.
Only one team is closer than five strokes to the lead heading into the final 18 as 2016 CGA Senior Match Play champion Jeff Oneth and Tim Kneen of Colorado Golf Club are in second place at 136 after a 69 on Tuesday.
Five teams share third place at 138, including defending champions Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills, and 2014 Senior Four-Ball winners David Delich of The Broadmoor Golf Club and Bruce Hogg of Patty Jewett Golf Course. Delich carded a hole-in-one Tuesday at the 145-yard 14th.
Play in the open division is limited to golfers 51 and older as the CGA is looking to eventually match the age criteria the USGA uses for the U.S. Senior Amateur (55 and older).
In the super-senior division, for players 61 and older, things are considerably tighter with two teams sharing the lead and four others within four strokes heading into Wednesday’s final 18.
Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, winners of the CGA Senior Four-Ball in 2009 and ’13, fired a 68 Tuesday to come in at 3-under 141. Also at that figure is the team of Bill Stevens and David Merritt of Meridian Golf Club, whose second-round 69 included an eagle.
For CGA Senior Four-Ball scores:
OPEN DIVISION
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With cold and rain and snow forecast for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the CGA called off the Four-Ball Championship that was set for Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster those three days.
The association’s tournament committee is exploring the possibility of rescheduling the championship in the late summer or early fall, and will make a determination shortly.
(Updated April 29) Also called off this weekend due to the weather were the inaugural Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado tournaments, scheduled for Pueblo Country Club and Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo. This marks the second time this spring that the start of the first JGAC season has been delayed by the weather.
Now the first JGAC events are scheduled for May 14-15 at Todd Creek Golf Course in Thornton.
(Updated May 2) Meanwhile, the CGA Senior Four-Ball, originally set for Monday through Wednesday (May 2-4) at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, is still on, though the event is now shortened to 36 holes, all to be played on Wednesday.
Fifty-eight two-man teams are signed up for the scratch better-ball event at Black Bear.
Bob Beiersdorf of the Ridge at Castle Pines North and Rick Kelly of Foothills Golf Course are scheduled to defend the Senior Four-Ball title that they won by three strokes last year at Todd Creek Golf Club.
Also in the field at Black Bear are 2014 champions David Delich of The Broadmoor and Bruce Hogg of Patty Jewett. Delich was the CGA Senior Player of the Year in 2015 after winning the CGA Senior Match Play and qualifying for the U.S. Senior Open.
Other former champs entered are Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton (2009 and ’13), John Applegate (2011, playing this year with Jim LeMar), Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe (2003; Forey also won in 2008), and Robert Polk (2005 and ’07, playing with 2015 CGA Senior Stroke Play champ Bill Fowler).
For the CGA Senior Four-Ball pairings, CLICK HERE.
Lyons (left) competed in his first CGA championship. He played The Bridges in Montrose for the first time on Saturday. And he won a CGA title for the first time on Sunday, capturing the 32nd Western Chapter Championship.
“Ultimately, the goal is always to win,” said the 25-year-old former Fort Lewis College golfer. “But I had never seen the course and this was my first CGA event. So I definitely exceeded my expectations. It feels great.”
Lyons posted the best round of the tournament — a 5-under-par 66 — to complete a wire-to-wire victory Sunday. After leading by a stroke after round 1, he prevailed by four in being the only player to shoot subpar rounds for both days. Lyons finished with a 6-under 136 total at The Bridges.
Sunday’s 66 was Lyons’ second-lowest competitive round ever.
“I was leading by one going into the day, so I figured I’d have to go low,” said Lyons, low amateur at the Navajo Trail Open each of the last four years. “I knew there was definitely a good number out there.”
Lyons’ closest challenger Sunday was Adam Griffith of Thorncreek Golf Club, who closed with a 67. Griffith started the day with three consecutive birdies, shot a 4-under 31 on the front nine, and made seven birdies on the day en route to a 140 total.
Michael Passananti of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West,placed third at 144 after a pair of 72s.
Defending champion Drew Trujillo, a University of Colorado golfer who plays out of The Bridges, finished sixth at 147 after closing with a 70.
But Lyons didn’t give the opposition many openings on Sunday, when he carded six birdies and a bogey. Even when he’d show a little vulnerability, his short game bailed him out. After duffing a chip on No. 13, he holed his following chip for par, from about 15 yards. And on the next hole, he drained a 20-foot par-saver.
“Those two shots helped my confidence and got me through the round,” he said.
Kelly Crone (left) of Highlands Ranch Golf Club led wire-to-wire to win the senior division.Crone, who counts CGA Senior Stroke Play (2003) and Senior Match Play (2005) titles among his golf accomplishments, shot a 2-over-par 73 on Sunday, giving him a 1-under 141 total. Crone, the runner-up in this event last year, carded three birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in the final round.
Tom Musselman of Telluride Ski & Golf Club placed second among the seniors, three back of Crone. Musselman, who has been a member at The Bridges, posted a 73 Sunday for a 144 total. He won the CGA Senior Match Play earlier this year.
Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, the 2013 CGA Senior Player of the Year, tied for third place at 145 with Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club.
CGA Western Chapter Championship
At Par-71 The Bridges in Montrose
OPEN DIVISION
Gavin Lyons, Dalton Ranch GC – 70-66–136
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC – 73-67–140
Michael Passananti, Desert Hawk GC – 72-72–144
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club – 71-75–146
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC – 74-72–146
Drew Trujillo, The Bridges – 77-70–147
Riley Willis, Black Canyon Golf Club – 75-74–149
Justin Russell, Highland Hills GC – 74-77–151
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC – 74-77–151
Robert Barnhardt, Hillcrest GC – 78-73–151
Zane Sauer, Black Canyon Golf Club – 76-75–151
Chris Berg, Tiara Rado GC – 76-76–152
Kermitt Barrett, Hillcrest GC – 72-80–152
Cooper Gould, Eagle Ranch GC – 83-70–153
Gary Driber, Denver Amateur Golf Tour – 77-77–154
Tyler Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse – 77-77–154
Robby Bowles, Eagle Ranch Golf Course – 78-77–155
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC – 80-77–157
Jacob Hebbel, The Bridges – 78-80–158
Michael Thomas, Hillcrest GC – 76-83–159
Chris Lundberg, Black Canyon GC – 78-84–162
Mike Rusk, Black Canyon GC – 84-78–162
Kelby Breidel, Black Canyon GC – 80-85–165
Tony Komatz, Eagle Ranch GC – 84-82–166
Ben Cockrill, Walking Stick GC – 83-84–167
Mark Miller, Dalton Ranch Golf Course – 88-79–167
Nick Edwards, Green Valley Ranch GC – 90-79–169
Cody Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse – 88-82–170
Dennis Friedrich, Black Canyon GC – 89-81–170
Jeff Freeburg, Black Canyon GC @ Montrose – 88-86–174
Bob Cooling, Bridges – 85-92–177
Paul Sinner, Bridges – 87-96–183
Rick Ott, Lincoln Park GC – 91-93–184
Jordan Fehlman, Lincoln Park GC – 90-96–186
Logan Douglas, Black Canyon Golf Club – 102-92–194
Chris Curran, Haymaker GC – 118-103–221
Jeremy Lederer, Eagle Ranch GC – 73-WD
Jim Fahrenholtz, Eagle Ranch GC – 107-WD
Tony Clark, Eagle Ranch GC – 82-DQ
Mike Addison, Legacy Ridge GC – NS
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC – NS
SENIOR DIVISION
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC – 68-73–141
Tom Musselman, Telluride GC – 71-73–144
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC – 72-73–145
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club – 74-71–145
David Delich, Broadmoor GC – 78-69–147
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course – 72-76–148
Bill Bolgar, The Ridge at Castle Pines North – 73-76–149
Dennis Lucero, Lincoln Park GC – 76-74–150
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC – 79-72–151
Scott Patterson, Eagle Ranch GC – 77-74–151
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC – 75-78–153
Matt Hall, Bookcliff CC – 77-76–153
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC – 78-77–155
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC – 78-77–155
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC – 81-75–156
David Draper, Green Valley Ranch GC – 78-80–158
Phil Herrera, Lincoln Park GC – 81-80–161
Mark Barkley, Canongate Colorado – 81-86–167
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC – 81-87–168
Vern Goodwin, Bridges – 86-83–169
James Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse – 88-88–176
Michael Wommack, Haymaker GC – 91-86–177
Ken Bailey, Telluride GC – 92-88–180
Dale Sauer, Black Canyon Golf Club – 91-90–181
Jeff Kadereit, Redlands Mesa GC – 89-92–181
Gary Holland, Lincoln Park GC – 92-90–182
James Kronus, Lincoln Park GC – 92-90–182
Scott Gardner, West Woods GC – 96-90–186
Stuart Jones, Redlands Mesa GC – 99-90–189
Ricky Houtris, Lincoln Park GC – 96-99–195
John Swanson, Eagle Ranch GC – 104-100–204
Mike Trujillo, Bridges G & CC – 80-WD
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC – NS
Three holes earlier, Keith Humerickhouse had uncharacteristically bladed a bunker shot over the green. Now, on the 18th hole at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton, with the CGA Four-Ball Championship on the line, the left-hander remembered his poor shot all too well.
With a narrow strip of green running away from him, a big lake on the other side of the putting surface, and his playing partner having hit into the water, the former playing professional worked a little magic.
He cozied his sand shot down to within 2 feet of the hole and made the putt for a birdie.
That gave Humerickhouse and partner Jared Bickling a one-stroke victory in the season-opening CGA Four-Ball.
“The shot of the tournament for me was the bunker shot on 18,” said Humerickhouse, winner of the last four CGA Mid-Amateur titles. “That bunker shot was awesome. That (bladed sand shot on 15) was basically my last thought going into that bunker shot. And the (one on 15) was a cakewalk compared to that one — no green, the slant going right toward the water. My partner hit it in the water, so I was like, ‘Here we go.’ But the shot (pictured at left) came off awesome.”
It led to the third consecutive birdie by Humerickhouse and to his sixth CGA title, while Bickling won his first.
Humerickhouse, who plays out of Glenwood Springs Golf Club, and Bickling, from Gypsum Creek Golf Course, shot the low round of the tournament, an 8-under-par 64, on Sunday to rally for the championship.
Second-round leaders Jon Lindstrom and Richard Bradsby of Lakewood Country Club pulled into a tie for the top spot with a birdie on the 15th hole.
But after Lindstrom drained an 18-foot birdie putt on 16, Humerickhouse holed a 15-foot birdie to keep things all square. Humerickhouse then sank an 8-foot birdie on the 17th hole to give his team the lead for good. And on 18, after Bickling had hit his second shot into the water, Humerickhouse showed steady nerves making his winning birdie.
“This is awesome,” said Bickling, who is 38 years old, like Humerickhouse. “This is our third year playing this event. The first year we were garbage, the second year we were not quite so garbage, and then this year … We don’t come out here to just play golf; we come here to win.”
Humerickhouse and Bickling’s 64 on Sunday gave them an 18-under-par 198 total for three days.
Lindstrom and Bradsby closed with a 66 in the scratch best-ball event to place second at 199. Nick Nosewicz and Heath Andersen of Meadow Hills Golf Course finished third at 202.
Humerickhouse and Bickling started Sunday with a bogey, and Humerickhouse bogeyed the second hole. But Bickling’s 20-foot birdie there gave the team a spark, and the two made nine birdies on the last 17 holes.
“That (birdie) calmed us both down,” said Bickling, pictured in the dark shirt at left, with Humerickhouse.
Humerickhouse, who shot 70 on his own ball each of the three days, relished sharing the title with Bickling.
“We play a lot of golf together,” the left-hander said. “With him as my partner, I feel like we can contend every time we play. To finally get it done, it’s awesome. I feel really good for him because it’s his first one. Every time you win one of these it’s great because the field is so good.
“We played really good as a team today — really good. If somebody was in trouble, we picked each other up. It was ham and eggs for sure today.”
For the CGA Senior Four-Ball Championship story, CLICK HERE.
For CGA Four-Ball score details, CLICK HERE.
CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Todd Creek GC in Thornton
Jared Bickling,Gypsum Creek GC/Keith Humerickhouse,Glenwood Springs GC–68-66-64–198
Richard Bradsby,Lakewood CC/Jon Lindstrom,Lakewood CC–68-65-66–199
Nick Nosewicz,Meadow Hills GC/Heath Andersen,Meadow Hills GC–66-68-68–202
Brian Richmeier,Meadow Hills GC/Andy Dannewitz,Meadow Hills GC–66-69-70–205
Alex Buecking,Columbine CC/Paul Robinson,Columbine CC–68-68-71–207
Pat Diaz,Meridian GC/Scott Shore,Meridian GC–72-67-68–207
Tim Fitzgerald,Meridian GC/James Kurtenbach,South Suburban GC–66-73-69–208
Blake Anderson,Omni Interlocken Resort/Tom Sweetman,Omni Interlocken Resort–67-71-70–208
Gary Driber,Denver Amateur Golf Tour Club/Dallas Massey,South Suburban GC–69-69-71–209
Paul Erdman,Colorado National GC/Jeff Searing,Canongate Colorado–69-69-71–209
Christopher Wilson,Eisenhower GC/Jeff Chapman,Inverness GC–70-68-72–210
Greg Braford,CommonGround GC/Jason Dunkle,Pradera, the Club at–66-72-72–210
Andy Brooks,CommonGround GC/Kade Sessions,CommonGround GC–70-70-71–211
Dean Siskowski,CommonGround GC/Greg Speer,CommonGround GC–69-75-68–212
Tom Richardson,Highlands Ranch GC/James M Richardson,South Suburban GC–71-68-73–212
Shawn Mercer,Lake Valley GC/Jeremy W Deems,Lake Valley GC–72-73-67–212
John J Grillion,CommonGround GC/Nick Simmons,CommonGround GC–68-72-73–213
Ryan Aweida,Colorado National GC/Erik Helton,Colorado National GC–71-70-73–214
Bob Athey,CC of Colorado/Chris Pratz,Springs Ranch GC–68-72-74–214
Chris Tenan,Harmony Club/Keith Atkins,Harmony Club–71-71-73–215
John Perry,Highland Meadows GC/David Hunn,Collindale GC–71-70-75–216
Bert Sartori,Todd Creek GC/Guy Hollowell,Todd Creek GC–76-71-69–216
Tristan Sanders,CommonGround GC/Tim Kratz,CommonGround GC–73-71-73–217
Thomas Russo,Canongate Colorado/Aaron Brown,Canongate Colorado–78-68-71–217
Adam Thoutt,Legacy Ridge GC/Brad Hernandez,Heritage at Westmoor–72-74-72–218
James Richardson,CommonGround GC/Brian O’Connor,CommonGround GC–73-69-76–218
Jay Orris,Boulder CC/James McHose,Boulder CC–75-69-75–219
Wes Martin,CommonGround GC/Shane Unfred,Highland Meadows GC–70-73-76–219
Sam Solomon,Todd Creek GC/Brian McCloy,Saddle Rock GC–75-74-70–219
Matt Reinick,Todd Creek GC/Jim Cole,Riverdale GC–72-73-74–219
Alan Boyko,Heritage at Westmoor/Jeremy Thibault,Heritage at Westmoor–71-74-76–221
Timothy Nowak,Ute Creek GC/Daniel Price,Murphy Creek GC–73-75-76–224
Ryan Brown,Ute Creek GC/Joe Larsen,Riverdale GC–75-77-74–226
Aaron Spear,Broadlands GC/Taylor Osieczanek,Broadlands GC–77-79-75–231
Chris Welch,CommonGround GC/Jed Greenblatt,Denver CC–81-79-73–233
Todd Stemm,Heritage at Westmoor/JD Cohen,CommonGround GC–89-86-86–261
He even felt some of that on Sunday in the final round of the CGA Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster. But as a practical matter, he had a couple of dogs in the fight.
Hoos didn’t end up winning the tournament, but the University of Denver men’s golf coach finished second to two of his players, senior Jordan Burgess and junior Ole Ramsnes. So even though Hoos might catch a little friendly grief about that, it was kind of a win-win situation for him.
“Being pretty competitive, I really don’t ever like to lose, but I’d rather lose to them than anybody else,” Hoos said with a little chuckle. “My job now is to make them better. It gives me great pride to do that.”
Ramsnes and Burgess, who just completed their college season, overcome their head coach — and his partner, Tom Krystyn of Meridian Golf Club — on Sunday thanks to the round of the tournament, a 10-under-par 61 in the scratch two-man best-ball format. That gave the Pioneers teammates a two-stroke victory over Hoos and Krystyn.
(In the photo above, Burgess, left, congratulates Ramsnes after the latter made a birdie on the 18th hole Sunday.)
Meanwhile, 60-year-olds Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton — who like Burgess and Ramsnes play out of Highlands Ranch Golf Club — claimed the CGA Senior Four-Ball title for the second time in five years, this time at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton. (Netherton is pictured at left in the accompanying photo.)The two four-ball tournaments, held concurrently, marked the first championships of the 2013 season for the CGA.
At the Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge, Ramsnes and Burgess each captured his first CGA championship after posting a 15-under-par 127 total. But just as important was beating Hoos.
“It was a tournament within the tournament for all of us,” said Burgess, the runner-up in the CGA Stroke Play Championship last year.
“They knew it was a big competition between us,” said Hoos, the low amateur in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open two years ago. “It was fun to get out there and battle. But I’m very proud of them. Both Jordan and Ole worked so hard during the year and they haven’t had the success they probably would have liked. I’m so happy for them that (the win) showed the work ethic is paying off and they’re going in the right direction.”
Ramsnes, a Norwegian who just completed his junior season at DU, made an eagle and seven birdies on his own ball Sunday. Playing his first CGA championship, he didn’t putt out everything in the team format, but if he had he probably would have shot a 62 individually. Meanwhile, Burgess, a resident of Windsor, birdied their final hole to give the teammates the two-stroke victory.
“That was my best round (ever),” said Ramsnes, who eagled the par-5 third hole by hitting driver-4 iron to 12 feet and draining the putt. “I just had one of those days where putts were dropping and I felt really good. We had a great time, and that just made us play good. (Hoos and Krystyn) played really well. It was kind of fun to see that it actually mattered that we shot 10 under to beat them by two.”
The “just have fun attitude” obviously paid off in the end for Burgess and Ramsnes (pictured at left with their trophies).“It feels good to win,” said Burgess, who tentatively plans to turn professional sometime next year. “It’s nice just to come out here and have fun the last couple of days after just finishing up our college season. Obviously we definitely wanted to win too, so it worked out.”
Hoos, of Bear Creek Golf Club, and Krystyn were the only team closer than five shots to Ramsnes and Burgess. The elder twosome carded a 7-under-par 64 on Sunday and likewise went bogey-free for 36 holes, finishing at 129.
First-round leaders Eric Hallberg and Connor Klein closed with a 68 to be one of four teams tied for third place at 132.
At the Senior Four Ball, 2009 champions Crone and Netherton won by two at Todd Creek after consecutive rounds of 4-under-par 68. They made five birdies and one bogey each day en route to their 8-under 136 total.
Besides previously winning the Senior Four-Ball, Crone and Netherton paired up to claim the CGA Senior Two-Man Team Championship in 2007.
“We’re both super-seniors (over 60) now, so it’s fun beating ‘the kids’,” Netherton said.
The key this time, said Crone, was ham-and-egging it.
“When one of us was in trouble, the other stepped up,” said Crone, a past champion in both the CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play. “That really helps. You’ve got to have a good partner when you need it.”
Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a two-time winner of the Senior Four-Ball, teamed with Bill Fowler of Bear Creek to finish second as a closing 67 left them at 138.
Both the Four-Ball and Senior Four-Ball were originally scheduled to be 54-hole events, but the snowstorm earlier in the week led to them being shortened to two rounds each.
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
Competing on a course that’s the longest in Colorado — one that can stretch to over 8,000 yards from the tips — it might surprise some to hear that a 67-year-old produced the low score in Tuesday’s USGA Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifying.
But those who would be surprised probably don’t know a lot about John Olive and his golf game. After all, he isn’t a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame for nothing.
Playing Tuesday at 7,140 yards at Antler Creek Golf Course in Falcon, Olive earned medalist honors for the second straight year in USGA Senior Amateur qualifying. This time around, the Broadmoor Golf Club member shot an even-par 72 to land a trip to nationals.
Olive (pictured above) will be joined at the Senior Amateur — Sept. 29-Oct. 4 in West Caldwell, N.J. — by fellow 60-something Kelly Crone (73) and 55-year-old Hal Marshall (74), both of Littleton.
Marshall (pictured at left), who fell into a playoff by three-putting the 18th hole for bogey, gained the final berth by making a 4-foot birdie on the second extra hole against Colorado Springs’ Bruce Hogg, who became the first alternate. Hogg had just left a 15-foot birdie putt on the lip of the cup.
The USGA Senior Amateur is limited to players 55 and older, and this year the field originally numbered 50.
“The older you get, it makes it even more special” to qualify for USGA championships, said Olive, a part-time Colorado Springs resident. “I know I don’t have many more to do.”
Ironically, though he qualified for the national event last year, Olive passed up the opportunity to actually compete. Because of obligations related to a business opportunity, he gave up his spot to alternate Robert Polk.
Given what the decision involved, Olive doesn’t regret not going.
“I knew if I went back there, I’d do a half-(baked) job on the business and a half-(baked) job on the golf,” he said. “My friend Robert Polk was the first alternate. I thought, ‘I could really make his day.’ I didn’t do it for him, but it was icing on the cake.”
Still, bypassing a USGA championship at that age wasn’t easy.
“That’s why giving up the spot last year was a bit painful,” said Olive, who noted he’s “pretty certain” he will compete this year.
Olive, who carded six birdies on Tuesday, estimates he’s qualified for about 14 USGA championships in his lifetime. That’s in addition to winning 10 CGA individual championships — nine in the senior ranks — and the inaugural Colorado Senior Open in 1999.
“And I’m actually playing very well this year,” he said. “My handicap has come down to a plus range again. I’ve shot my age about 15 times. It’s a pleasant surprise when you start shooting your age a bunch and it’s a bad day if you don’t.”
Olive qualified for his fourth USGA Senior Amateur, while Crone (pictured at left) will be going to his third and Marshall to his first.
“USGA championships are by far the best part of your career,” said Crone, winner of two CGA individual senior titles. “They’re the cream of the crop and a lot of fun. You get treated like a tour professional. It’s very cool. They run first-class championships and the courses are set up extremely difficult. It’s what golf is all about.”
Marshall was a little choked up shortly after holing his birdie putt to win the playoff and advance to his first USGA championship of any sort.
“I have shivers right now,” said the Bear Creek Golf Club member, a runner-up in the 2009 CGA Senior Stroke Play. “It’s pretty exciting. I turned 55 this year and I was really pumped to have a chance (to play). This is a dream come true.”
Marshall made it come true with a nice 5-wood off an “iffy” lie from 247 yards on the second playoff hole. Though the ball rolled just over the green, he got up and down for birdie and the playoff victory.
Going to the USGA Senior Amateur will join his list of top golf moments. But it certainly won’t erase one of his most indelible memories.
“I was a 7 handicap at Meridian (Golf Club) in 1990 and shot 64 from the back tees,” Marshall notes. “That’s the same year that (Phil) Mickelson did it (at Meridian in stroke play) for the U.S. Amateur. He shot 64 and they took my name down and put his up, which is OK with me.”
Indeed, if your name has to be replaced, let it be by the U.S. Amateur champion, who now happens to be a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame.
USGA Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Antler Creek GC in Falcon
QUALIFIED
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-34–72
Kelly Crone, Littleton, Colo., 36-37–73
Hal Marshall, Littleton, Colo., 37-37–74
ALTERNATES (in order)
Bruce Hogg, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-38–74
Kary Kaltenbacher, Englewood, Colo., 39-37–76
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., 40-36–76
Jim LeMar, Littleton, Colo., 38-39–77
Jake Jacobson, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-39–77
Rodney Walters, Arvada, Colo., 41-36–77
Kent Moore, Greenwood Village, Colo., 40-37–77
Reed Myer, Denver, Colo., 38-40–78
Charlie Post, Castle Riock, Colo., 42-36–78
James Fucillo, Lone Tree, Colo., 39-40–79
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo., 39-40–79
Harry Johnson, Edwards, Colo., 37-42–79
Douglas Rouse, Evergreen, Colo., 42-38–80
Frank Wilkinson, Grand Junction, Colo., 41-39–80
Mark Franz, Aurora, Colo., 41-39–80
Tim McAdam, Edwards, Colo., 46-35–81
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 44-37–81
Randy Miller, Boulder, Colo., 43-38–81
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 40-42–82
Jerry Greenbaum, Atlanta, Ga., 43-39–82
Roger Gunderson, Aurora, Colo., 42-40–82
Chuck Canepa, Denver, Colo., 43-40–83
Jim Hollingsworth, Durango, Colo., 40-43–83
Laird Middleton, Centennial, Colo., 44-39–83
Robert Bulthaup, Centennial, Colo., 44-40–84
Rick George, Greenwood Village, Colo., 45-39–84
Tres Cochran, Houston, Texas, 45-39–84
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo., 43-41–84
Doug Jones, Grand Junction, Colo., 43-41–84
Jerry Kidney, Littleton, Colo., 45-40–85
Steve Summers, Dallas, Texas, 43-42–85
Tom Keltner, Silverthorne, Colo., 44-42–86
Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo., 42-44–86
Matthew Foster, Lone Tree, Colo., 50-37–87
Dave Bullock, Greenwood Village, Colo., 44-43–87
David Merritt, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 42-46–88
Ronald Lundberg, Montrose, Colo., 43-47–90
Danny Wyrick, Arvada, Colo., 45-45–90
Fred Artim, Palmdale, Calif., 47-47–94
Jim Adams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 48-48–96
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo., WD
Daniel Birnley, Dolores, Colo., WD
Stephen D Bell, Denver, Colo., NS
Gary Borgese, Niwot, Colo., WD
Mark Runyan, Centennial, Colo., NS
The CGA Senior Match Play Championship trophy is one of the heaviest around, as anyone who has lifted it will attest. Perhaps that’s fitting considering the weight Ray Makloski apparently felt in trying to earn the hardware on Friday afternoon.
The 52-year-old from Pueblo Country Club defeated two former champions Friday to win the title at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course in Castle Rock. But it was by no means easy.
“I can’t believe I did this,” he said. “I never even imagined myself winning it. There’s a lot of good players and I don’t play many tournaments now. And I can tell why. I never got nervous when I was younger, and I’ve been nervous every day (at the Senior Match Play). And that didn’t help my swing. But it was fun.”
Makloski (pictured above and below) captured his first CGA individual title by rallying to beat 2005 winner Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club in the final 2 and 1. In the semifinal Friday morning, Makloski ousted defending champion David Delich of the Broadmoor Golf Club 1 up.
“They’re both just good guys and quality golfers,” Makloski said of Delich and Crone. “They’re not going to give you many holes. I just knew I needed to be mentally strong and always think you have a chance on the hole.”
Makloski was 2 down after four holes in the championship match, but never trailed after winning the eighth hole with a conceded birdie. He got up and down twice in the final five holes of the match and sank an 8-foot par putt on No. 17. And when Crone then missed a 7-foot par attempt, the title was Makloski’s.
“The best player won.That’s all there is to it,” Crone said.
The 60-year-old Crone paid the price for missing four putts of 7 feet or less in the final, including three in the final six holes.
“I left every putt short the whole round,” he said. “I could not get the ball to the hole. That’s because the poa annua (grass) grew up a little in the afternoon and I didn’t adjust. That’s my fault.”
Also costly for Crone (pictured at left with Makloski) were the couple of times he pushed drives far to the right. On No. 5, he lost a ball when that happened. And on No. 13, he found his ball in a bush and had to punch out sideways. In both cases, he lost the hole. And on the latter occasion, Makloski took the lead for good in the match.
Another key point for Makloski was the par-5 16th, where his first two shots were still 50 yards short of Crone’s drive. Still, Makloski managed to halve the hole with a bogey after getting up and down from a bad lie beside the green, while Crone missed a 7-foot par attempt.
Crone’s miss on a similar-length par putt on No. 17 ended the match after Makloski made a clutch par from just further out.
But Crone was pleased with doing as well as he did this week considering that at his age, he could be playing in the Super-Senior Championship.
“I’m still competitive (in the senior division),” Crone said. “When I’m not competitive here, I’ll play Super-Seniors.”
As for Makloski, this victory is his second in CGA championships, following his win with Pete Severson in the 1998 Two-Man Team. This team, Makloski had to depend on his putting and chipping to prevail.
“My short game just bailed me out every hole because my full swing was rotten,” said Makloski, whose son Jimmy won the 2011 CJGA Tournament of Champions. “It’s gotten progressively worse every day. It wasn’t pretty. I chipped and putted real well. That’s the only thing that saved me.”
Meanwhile, in the Super Senior Championship for players 60 and older, Bob Sims (pictured at left) of Black Bear Golf Club scored a 1-up victory over Patrick Mooney of Colorado Golf Club in the final. Sims’ two-putt birdie on the 18th hole made the difference.
“In 2007 I lost in (the Super-Senior final) to David Farabaugh, and I’ve only played in this one one other time since, so it was good to get back and play,” Sims said. “It was a really good match.”
Sims, 66, has also won the super-senior division of the CGA Senior Stroke Play (in 2006) and his age group twice in the National Senior Games, but he devotes most of his competitive fire these days to senior softball tournaments.
“I don’t get to play as much golf as I’d like to,” he said.
CGA Senior Match Play Championship
At Red Hawk Ridge GC in Castle Rock
Semifinals
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC (5) def. David Delich, Broadmoor GC (1), 1 up
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC (26) def. Brent Timm, Red Hawk Ridge GC (3), 3 and 2
Final
Makloski def. Crone, 2 and 1
SUPER-SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
Final
Bob Sims, Black Bear GC (5) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (2), 1 up
SUPER SENIOR FINAL
David Farabaugh, Broadlands GC (4) def. Jeffrey Wagner, Fox Hollow GC (15), 1 up
With three holes remaining in his round Friday, Jerry Kidney won’t deny he had thoughts of grandeur.
With the CGA Senior Stroke Play title all but sewn up, the retired fireman from Littleton knew that if he played those final three holes at Valley Country Club in 2 under par, he would shoot his age.
“I haven’t done that yet, so it would have been nice,” he said. “But I was kind of thinking about that, believe it or not.”
While the 63-year-old from Overland Golf Course didn’t accomplish that goal, he closed with three straight pars and matched the competitive course record at Valley with a 7-under-par 65. In the process, he became one of the few players to simultaneously win both the overall and super-senior titles in the event.
Kidney, who will turn 64 in November, isn’t the oldest Senior Stroke Play champion in history — former state senator Les Fowler, for instance, was 65 when he won in 1989 — but he certainly ranks right up there.
“I just assumed I was never going to win,” said Kidney, who earned his first individual CGA title. “You get to be my age … I’ve been playing so bad I didn’t think I had any shot. And those 50 year olds, they look so young, they hit it forever and they’re enthusiastic. Guys my age, none of us are hardly playing anymore.”
Kidney, who placed third in the Senior Stroke Play last year, was 10 under par the last two days of this week’s event and posted an overall total of 8-under 208. On Friday alone, he made eight birdies, offset by one bogey.
Only one player in the field stayed within a single-digit margin of Kidney. Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, the 2003 champion, started the day tied with his playing partner and despite shooting under par on Friday (71), he finished six strokes behind Kidney. Tied for third at 220, a dozen strokes back of Kidney, were Robin Bradbury of Legacy Ridge Golf Course (73 Friday) and Tad Willenbrock of Glenmoor Country Club (69).
With Crone (pictured at left watching Kidney tee off) being 59 years old, this was a week to chalk one up for the older guys. Crone, also a Littleton resident and a good friend of Kidney, was just happy to be an interested spectator to one of the best rounds in tournament history.
“Getting to watch someone play a round like that is just fantastic,” he said. “I played real good, but it happens. Someone shoots 65, you’re going to get second. That’s all there is to it because I don’t have that in me.”
Crone trailed by only a stroke after 10 holes on Friday, but his bogey on No. 11 and Kidney’s 15-foot birdie there accounted for a two-shot swing. Then Kidney reeled off three consecutive birdies on 13 through 15 and the rout was on.
Kidney said he had no inkling coming into the week that some stellar play was on the horizon. In fact, he was pretty discouraged about his golf game after shooting 73-78-83 last week in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open.
“I was putting so bad,” he said. “Eighty would have probably been a closer guess to what I thought I would shoot (this week). It was that bad.”
But after being embarrassed by his play on the greens at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Kidney switched to a claw grip at Valley, and it seemed to work wonders. Many of his birdie putts were from short range on Friday, but he also dropped several from more than 10 feet.
“Jerry is one of my best buddies, and to see him play that well, it actually made me play better, and it made me try harder, of course,” Crone said. “I didn’t come through, but I enjoyed it.”
For the record, Kidney has shot lower scores — most notably, a 61 on his home course of Overland — but he admits that under the circumstances Friday’s round will go down as arguably the best of his life. And it led to the Senior Stroke Play title, which he acknowledges is his biggest accomplishment in golf.
“I amazed myself, I guess,” he said.
Kidney won the super-senior division for players 60 and older by 19 strokes over Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course. It was his second consecutive super-senior title in this tournament.
CGA Senior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Valley CC in Aurora
Jerry Kidney, Overland GC, 74-69-65–208
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 72-71-71–214
Robin Bradbury, Legacy Ridge GC, 73-74-73–220
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 76-75-69–220
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 77-71-74–222
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 78-72-73–223
Scott Radcliffe, Rolling Hills CC, 73-71-79–223
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 77-75-72–224
Dave J Brown, RMGCSA GL, 77-70-77–224
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 76-71-77–224
Gary Albrecht, CommonGround GC, 77-77-71–225
Glynn Hopkins, Pinery CC, 79-73-73–225
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 75-78-73–226
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill CC, 78-71-77–226
Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC, 74-76-76–226
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek GC, 72-72-82–226
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk GC, 76-73-78–227
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 75-75-77–227
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 76-77-74–227
Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC, 78-77-72–227
Lonnie Miller, Bookcliff CC, 73-73-81–227
Carl Juengst, Meridian GC, 73-78-77–228
Butch Boucher, Haymaker GC, 78-77-74–229
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 76-78-75–229
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC, 74-78-77–229
Mark Hirsch, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 76-77-76–229
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC, 78-77-74–229
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek GC, 71-81-78–230
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 77-77-76–230
Ronald Knapp, Colorado GC, 78-73-80–231
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine Country Club, 75-75-81–231
Jeffrey English, Avid Golfer Passport, 76-79-76–231
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 79-76-76–231
Craig Gardiner, Denver CC, 79-76-77–232
Randy J Larson, Meridian GC, 75-77-80–232
Joe Distefano, Telluride Ski & Golf Club, 80-74-78–232
Ed Noordewier, Pelican Lakes G&CC, 71-78-83–232
Dennis Lucero, Lincoln Park GC, 82-73-78–233
Steve Bell, Denver CC, 74-79-81–234
Brian Mooney, Colorado National GC, 80-74-80–234
Pat Bucci, Westwoods GC, 77-77-80–234
Fredrick Steffers, Patty Jewett GC, 80-75-82–237
Dennis Fields, Fox Hollow GC, 79-74-86–239
Steve Ivy, Pelican Lakes G&CC, 74-81-87–242
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-74-WD–WD
SUPER-SENIOR DIVISION
Jerry Kidney, Overland Park GC – 74-69-65–208
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC – 75-75-77–227
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC – 78-77-74–229
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine Country Club – 75-75-81–231
Jeffrey English, Avid Golfer Passport – 76-79-76–231
Ronald Knapp, Colorado GC – 78-73-80–231
Craig Gardiner, Denver CC – 79-76-77–232
Fredrick Steffers, Patty Jewett GC – 80-75-82–237