Irwin and Bradsby were the medalists in the stroke-play portion of the event with a four-ball score of 66 at The Broadmoor Golf Club’s East Course. Then they won three matches — two at the West Course and the final at the East — to earn the championship last Thursday.

In the final, Irwin and Bradsby defeated Jordan Wilson and Andy Emerson from Loch Lloyd, Mo., 2 and 1. In the semifinals, the Lakewood team ousted the 2015 champions.

For 75 years in the 20th century, The Broadmoor Invitation was considered one of the nation’s top amateur events. But its run ended in 1995. It was resurrected in 2014 as a scratch four-ball championship, though this was the first time competing in the event for Irwin and Bradsby. This year’s field featured 42 two-man teams, representing 13 states.

Irwin, a former CGA Player of the Year, has competed in one U.S. Open and two U.S. Amateurs. Bradsby is likewise a regular participant in CGA championships. (Irwin, left, and Bradsby, right, are pictured with Dow Finsterwald, the former director of golf at The Broadmoor.)
 

It shouldn’t have come as a shock to anyone that Jon Lindstrom and Steve Irwin were among the contenders for the title during Sunday’s final round of the CGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Lakewood Country Club.

After all, both players had won the Mid-Am before — Irwin twice, in fact — and both are members at Lakewood, where local knowledge and a comfort level with the course are worth a few strokes here and there.

“Not to sound arrogant, but I fully expected the two of us to be fighting it out for the win,” Irwin said after it was all over on Sunday. “He got the better of me this time. We’ll see what happens next time.”

Indeed, not only did Lindstrom win the 29th CGA Mid-Am, but four Lakewood CC members finished in the top 10, with Irwin ending up third after being the person to put the most final-round pressure on Lindstrom, and Richard Bradsby placing seventh and Curt Jenkins ninth.

“I think there’s a comfort level of where to go and where not to go (for players very familiar with the Lakewood CC course),” said Lindstrom (left and above). “It is narrow, but when you play it enough times there’s a comfort level where it doesn’t bother you as much. I feel like some of the guys kind of start steering it. So I think there is an advantage.”

Lindstrom ended up leading wire-to-wire in winning his second CGA Mid-Amateur Championship, having previously claimed the title in 2008. All told, he’s captured seven CGA championships: a Mid-Amateur Match Play, two Four-Balls and two Two-Man Teams to go along with the two stroke-play versions of the Mid-Amateur, a tournament limited to players 25 and older.

The 48-year-old from Broomfield, who staked himself to a lead with a first-round 65 (one off his best score at the club), followed that up with a 69 on Saturday and a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday. His 7-under-par 206 total was good for a four-shot victory.

Chris Thayer (left) of Bear Creek Golf Club, the 2014 champion, was runner-up this time after closing with a 69.

After finishing with a bogey on 18 Sunday, Irwin came in third at 211, while Ryan Axlund of CommonGround Golf Course was fourth at even-par 213.

Winning Sunday “was great,” Lindstrom said. “With my schedule I don’t play a lot of the weekend events, so these are the majors. I came out and practiced quite a bit before this. I think I played four days in a row out here before the tournament started. It was the same thing last year with the (CGA) Stroke Play. Those are the big events. If I can’t get to a USGA event, I want to compete and play well (statewide).

“It’s a good opportunity (to play in a state tournament at Lakewood CC). The course isn’t super long and most of the courses we play are longer and much more wide open. So I feel like just the comfort level of playing here a lot was a big advantage. Yesterday and today I don’t feel like I played great, but I played well enough.”

Irwin (left) and Lindstrom are friends who have joined together to try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball each of the last two years, though they fell short on both occasions.

Lindstrom went into the final round with a five-stroke advantage, but didn’t win without a challenge. Irwin came the closest on Sunday after making eagle on the par-4 first hole (a cut driver from 271 yards to 7 feet) and getting within two shots after five. But double bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11 took a major toll. On No. 9 at 6 under par overall and still trailing by two, Irwin was in the left rough after his tee shot, caught a tree with his second, hit a wedge over the green and failed to get up and down.

“That really just killed my momentum,” said Irwin, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this year. “I had some good momentum and accomplished my goal through eight holes, then unfortunately I got the wind knocked out of me.”

And on No. 11, Irwin chipped to 4 feet from the pin, and when he missed the par attempt, the ultra-fast putt kept trickling and trickling, finishing 18 feet away. He missed the “comebacker” and another double-bogey 6 appeared on the card.

Thayer went bogey free for the first 17 holes before bogeying No. 18, but Lindstrom never faltered enough to give the defending champ an opening.

“I was looking forward to trying to repeat, but if you play well and you just get beat on a course like this, it is what it is,” Thayer said. “You play someplace all the time, you get comfortable. It’s narrow enough here where if you don’t play here regularly, it’s tough.”

Lindstrom (left), who joined Lakewood CC three years ago and won the club championship this year, wasn’t in peak form Sunday, but three birdies and four bogeys on the day turned out to be more than enough to do the trick.

In some ways, Lindstrom was in a tough position going into Sunday. Sure, it’s great to have a five-stroke lead. But if you have a margin like that, there’s only one expectation: win.

“I think there’s more pressure on that,” he said. “Definitely I’d feel more comfortable being one back because then the expectation isn’t there that ‘If you’re five ahead, you better win.’ So that weighed on me a little bit. It’s not the most comfortable position, but it worked out, I guess. I guess if you’re far enough ahead you can’t screw it up too bad.”

As it turned out, no one got closer to Lindstrom than three strokes coming down the stretch on Sunday.
 

CGA Mid-Amateur
At Par-71 Lakewood CC

Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood Country Club, 65-69-72–206
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek Golf Club, 71-70-69–210
Steven Irwin, Lakewood Country Club, 70-69-72–211
Ryan Axlund, Commonground Golf Course, 70-69-74–213
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail Golf Club, 74-71-70–215
Kyle Sullivan, Meridian Golf Club, 71-73-72–216
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood Country Club, 72-70-75–217
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins Country Club, 71-71-75–217
Brad Rowe, Ute Creek Golf Course, 73-74-71–218
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 77-69-72–218
Jeff Tyrrell, Collindale Golf Club, 78-69-72–219
Jeremy Lederer, Aspen Glen Club, 68-74-78–220
Rob Clever, Saddleback Golf Club, 74-77-70–221
Ben Sherlund, Colorado Golf Club, 76-72-73–221
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 71-76-75–222
Danny Riskam, Columbine Country Club, 77-71-74–222
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club, 74-75-73–222
Dallas Massey, South Suburban Golf Course, 74-72-76–222
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower Golf Club, 75-72-75–222
James Sisneros, Eisenhower Golf Club, 75-70-78–223
Tristan Sanders, Commonground Golf Course, 79-72-73–224
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest Golf Club, 76-72-76–224
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 78-70-76–224
Zack Neiditz, Aspen Golf Course, 77-75-72–224
Christopher Gallegos, Eagle Ranch Golf Course, 74-75-75–224
Heath Andersen, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 75-75-75–225
John Buccos, Riverdale Golf Club, 76-75-74–225
David Harris, Eagle Vail Golf Club, 75-74-77–226
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club, 74-78-74–226
Joel Perez, Colorado National Golf Club, 75-75-76–226
Brodie Hullinger, Commonground Golf Course, 77-73-76–226
Jonathan Kuzava, Columbine CC, 73-75-78–226
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 77-73-77–227
Nicholas Engen, Colorado Golf Club, 75-77-75–227
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 77-75-76–228
Dan Silva, South Suburban Family Sports, 79-71-79–229
Michael Abrams, Lake Valley Golf Club, 77-75-78–230
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera, 75-74-84–233
Jay Orris, Boulder Country Club, 75-75-83–233
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery Country Club, 74-76-83–233

Missed 36-Hole Cut
Wesley Martin, Commonground Golf Course, 81-72–153
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills, the Club at, 82-71–153
Phil Rosenbaum, Telluride Ski & Golf Club, 79-74–153
Jeff Chapman, Inverness Golf Club, 78-75–153
John Luoma, Colorado Golf Club, 79-75–154
Erik Helton, Buffalo Run, 81-73–154
James Kackley, Commonground Golf Course, 79-75–154
Michael Dadlani, Broadlands Golf Club, 78-76–154
Michael Slutzky, Cherry Hills Country Club, 77-77–154
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club, 74-81–155
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course, 75-80–155
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC, 80-75–155
Damon Dageenakis, Indian Peaks Golf Club, 77-78–155
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood Country Club, 83-73–156
Brian Hawk, Riverdale GC, 80-76–156
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, 76-81–157
Grant Porter, Commonground Golf Course, 79-78–157
John Ingram, Hiwan Golf Club, 79-78–157
Tim Kratz, Commonground Golf Course, 80-77–157
Joey Haack, Aspen Golf Course, 77-80–157
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 79-80–159
Bruce Wright, Conquistador Golf Course, 76-83–159
Frank Vigil, Patty Jewett Golf Course, 79-81–160
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course, 84-77–161
John C Baldree, Riverdale Golf Club, 79-82–161
Matt Mangold, Broadlands Golf Club, 82-79–161
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek Golf Course, 85-77–162
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 80-82–162
Jonathan Doern, City Park Associates Club, 84-78–162
Steve Clark, Vail Golf Course, 85-77–162
Josh Whitney, Aspen Golf Course, 83-79–162
Ryan Bent, Commonground Golf Course, 82-81–163
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows Golf Course, 86-77–163
Michael Passananti, Southridge Golf Club, 79-85–164
Davin Sjoberg, Dos Rios CC, 82-83–165
Dan Deppen, Broadlands Golf Club, 86-79–165
Benjamin Burke, Commonground Golf Course, 84-82–166
Reagan Majoria, Roaring Fork Club, 84-84–168
Eric Scholl, Aspen Golf Course, 91-77–168
Brandon McElhiney, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 89-79–168
Cody Ryan, Riverdale Golf Club, 83-86–169
Lamar Carlile, City Park Associates Club, 84-DQ
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club, 84-NS
 

Editor’s Note: With the CGA celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1915, this is the second monthly installment of a series of stories looking back on the last century of golf in Colorado. All the articles will be published on ColoradoGolf.org. This chapter focuses on the period from 1915-1924. For a list of all installments to date, CLICK HERE. 

While there were certainly very notable happenings in the history of Colorado golf prior to 1915, the decade starting then marked a watershed for the sport in the Centennial State.

After all, that period included the founding of both the CGA and the CWGA; the first USGA presidency held by a Coloradan; the opening of a club that’s gone on to host more major championships and USGA championships than any other in Colorado (Cherry Hills Country Club) and of another club that’s been home to the second-most USGA championships in Colorado history (the Broadmoor); and the debut of what would become one of the country’s top amateur tournaments (the Broadmoor Invitation).

That’s what you call laying a strong foundation for golf in the state.

But before we continue with that, let’s briefly note what preceded the CGA’s founding.

A half-dozen golf courses in Colorado that opened prior to World War I remain vibrant to this day. That list includes Overland Park in Denver (left, circa 1895), Denver Country Club, Patty Jewett in Colorado Springs, Pueblo Country Club, Lakewood Country Club (then known as The Colorado Golf Club), and City Park in Denver. And there’s been some indication that other courses can trace their lineage back to pre-World War I, including perhaps Greeley Country Club.

Denver Country Club was one of the original 15 clubs in the Trans-Mississippi Golf Association (as was the Town & Gown Golf Club of Colorado Springs), and in the early years DCC hosted the Trans-Miss Championship in 1910 (won by a gentleman by the name of Harry Legg) and 1921 (George Von Elm). DCC was also the site of the 1912 Western Amateur won by Chick Evans, now best known as the founder of the Evans Scholarship for caddies. Evans would go on to capture eight Western Amateur titles in addition to two U.S. Amateurs and the 1916 U.S. Open.

Even though the CGA wasn’t founded until 1915, the tournament now known as the CGA Match Play dates back to 1901, making it the oldest continuously held state golf championship in Colorado. Frank Woodward, who played an exhibition match at Overland against the famed Harry Vardon during Vardon’s nationwide tour in 1900, captured the first Match Play title. (Keep his name in mind for a little history he’ll make later.)

Walter Fairbanks (pictured at top), also part of the Vardon exhibition, strung together four consecutive Match Play titles from 1902-05, a feat that remains unmatched in tournament history. But by far the most successful performer overall in the Match Play was Dr. Larry Bromfield, who won eight titles between 1912-28.

As for the specific decade at hand (1915-24), here are some of the highlights:

— The Colorado Golf Association was formally founded on Aug. 20, 1915. A two-paragraph Denver Post story noted that the “organization will control the state tournaments, give the cups and appoint the officers, and the winner will be the recognized champion of the association and state.”

M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood Country Club was elected the first president. That same year, coincidentally, McLaughlin won the first of his two CGA Match Plays, this time defeating Bromfield. McLaughlin had been the Match Play runner-up the previous three years.

— The following year, on March 14, 1916, the Colorado Women’s Golf Association came into being when eight women met and elected a president, adopted a constitution and bylaws, and delineated the association’s objectives and purpose: to promote and maintain the best interests of the game of golf; to hold golf tournaments; and to promote good fellowship among member clubs.” Mrs. Olyn Hemming was named the CWGA’s first president.

In September 2016 the first CWGA Match Play Championship was held, with Mrs. M.A. McLaughlin of Lakewood prevailing for the title.

During the period from 1915-21, the McLaughlins won five CGA/CWGA Match Play titles between them.

— Meanwhile, at this same time, a Coloradan was making some history nationally. The United States Golf Association was founded in 1894, and from then through 1914, all the presidents of the organization had come from the East or Midwest. But Denver Country Club founding member Woodward, winner of the first CGA Match Play 14 years earlier, in 1915 became the first USGA president from the western U.S. He served a two-year term during which the USGA in 1916 stripped the amateur status from 1913 U.S. Open champion Francis Ouimet because Ouimet intended to open a sporting goods store. Ouimet wouldn’t be reinstated until 1918. The next USGA president from Colorado wouldn’t take office until 1980 (Will Nicholson Jr.).

During the period from 1909-20, Woodward would be president of Denver Country Club for five years. He was also a chairman of the Western Golf Association and the Trans Mississippi Golf Association.

— During the period from 1915-24, two of Colorado’s most famous courses opened, with the Donald Ross-designed Broadmoor Golf Club coming online in 1918 and William Flynn-designed Cherry Hills in 1922. Between them, Cherry Hills and the Broadmoor have hosted 16 USGA championships and 10 major championships (PGA, LPGA and Champions tours combined).

— In 1921, the Broadmoor debuted the Broadmoor Invitation (sometimes referred to as the Broadmoor Amateur Open in the early years), which would become one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the country. From 1921 to ’95, the tournament built a reputation for crowning top-notch champions. Among the winners of the tournament over those years — the event returned in 2014 as a scratch four-ball — were Hale Irwin, Lawson Little, Tom Purtzer, Grier Jones, Duffy Waldorf, Bob Dickson, John Fought and Willie Wood — all of whom went on to win on the PGA Tour — as well as Charlie Coe and locals N.C. “Tub” Morris (his 1922 Broadmoor Invitation medalist honor is pictured above), Bill Loeffler and Jim English.

As for the Broadmoor Ladies Invitation, its most famous champion would be Babe Zaharias, who won the event three consecutive years beginning in 1945.

All in all, the decade beginning in 1915 — along with the period leading up to it — had Colorado golf off to a rousing start through the first quarter of the 20th century. But many ups and downs awaited in the years to come.

Next up: 1925-34.
 

Oraee remembers it well five years after the fact. And why not? It isn’t often that a guy — especially a 15-year-old — wins a tournament by 18 strokes, setting an AJGA victory-margin record in the process.

And no doubt Oraee’s second 64 in competition likewise will make an indelible impression. This time around, the University of Colorado golfer carded a bogey-free 6-under-par 64 in Sunday’s final round of the 78th CGA Stroke Play to win by four at Lakewood Country Club.

“I’ve shot 60 in casual play, but to do it in a tournament is something else,” said the 21-year-old (above and below) from Colorado National Golf Club. “Out here I did it bogey-free, and my goal today was to stay bogey-free no matter how many birdies I made. If I did, I thought I had a good shot at it. I did that, and the rest took care of itself.”

Oraee’s 64 Sunday marked the lowest final round by a CGA Stroke Play champion back through at least the year 2000, before which records are incomplete.

“I figured if I shot 63, I was pretty sure I’d get a win,” said Jimmy Makloski, who started the day two behind Oraee. “Apparently that wasn’t even enough. So it’s not that disappointing.”

With Sunday’s victory, Oraee becomes just the third player since 1990 to complete a career sweep of the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play tournaments.

Oraee won the CGA Match Play last year. He’s the 20th player to claim both the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play titles, but only Pat Grady and Steve Ziegler have done so since 1990. Longtime PGA Tour players Hale Irwin, Steve Jones and Brandt Jobe are among those who accomplished the feat in earlier decades.

“It means a lot” Oraee said. “These are the two top tournaments in Colorado, so to win both in a year’s span is good. I would have loved to win the Match Play this year and have them both in one year. But I had to play pretty solid this whole week. Knowing that you played that solid to win the tournament means a lot.”

A senior-to-be at CU, Oraee finished with a 12-under-par 268 total at Lakewood CC. Makloski, a Colorado State University golfer from Pueblo Country Club, shared second place at 272 with Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course. Makloski — whose dad Ray, the 2012 CGA Senior Match Play champion, caddied for him (left) — closed with a 66 despite bogeying his final two holes Sunday. As for 54-hole leader Nosewicz, he carded a 69 Sunday to go sub-par in each round.

“My goal was to shoot in the 60s all four days and I did that,” said the 30-year-old Nosewicz, who works for his dad, who owns Lenny’s Golf in southeast Aurora. “Other than that, it would have been nice to get my name on the trophy. But there’s a few more years left.”

Steve Irwin, who was attempting to win the title at his home course of Lakewood CC, battled an uncooperative putter on Sunday en route to a 68. Irwin (left) missed four putts inside of 5 feet on Sunday, including two on No. 3, where he three-putted from 3 1/2 feet. But he still shot 2 under for the day, which left him in a tie for fourth place at 273 with former CSU golfer Parker Edens, who posted a final-round 65.

The low round of the tournament (63) was carded on Sunday by former Colorado Christian University golfer Minkyu Jeon, of Raccoon Creek Golf Course, who placed seventh at 276. In all, 10 players finished under par for the tournament.

Makloski held the outright lead briefly on Sunday after getting up and down from a greenside bunker, sinking a 4-foot birdie putt on No. 12. But Oraee took control for good when he reeled off three straight birdies starting on No. 12. He 2-putted for the birdie on 12, pitched to 1 foot for his birdie on 13, and drained a 7-foot putt for complete the trifecta on No. 14. And he added another on No. 16, where he holed a 15-foot putt from the fringe after Nosewicz had chipped in for birdie.

“That was a big putt obviously but I didn’t feel threatened at all going into it,” Oraee said. “I knew if I just played well (on Sunday), I didn’t have to worry about what other people did. I was 6 under through 16, so I really wasn’t too worried about it. If (someone) was going to beat me, that’s fine. I played as well as I could have.”

All told, Oraee was only in significant danger of making a bogey once in Sunday’s final round, and that came on the 260-yard, par-3 first hole. There, he needed to sink a 15-foot putt for his 3.

Certainly Oraee’s playing partners were duly impressed by his performance on Sunday.

“The dude is solid. He’s good,” said Nosewicz (left). “I knew he was good. I got beat by him last year in the Match Play (3 and 2 in the round of 32), so I kind of knew what he was going to bring to the table.”

CGA Stroke Play Championship
At Par-70 Lakewood CC

David Oraee, Colorado National GC, 68-68-68-64–268
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo CC, 72-65-69-66–272
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 67-69-67-69–272
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 68-71-66-68–273
Parker Edens, Greeley CC, 69-69-70-65–273
Braden Baer, The Ranch CC, 68-69-69-69–275
Minkyu Jeon, Raccoon Creek GC, 65-76-72-63–276
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC, 73-70-67-68–278
Cameron Harrell, Collindale GC, 70-69-74-66–279
Keith Humerickhouse, Glenwood Springs GC, 69-72-67-71–279
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC, 76-70-67-67–280
Grant Rogers, Omni Interlocken GC, 71-67-72-70–280
Tanner Jenson, Ridge at Castle Pines N., 70-68-72-71–281
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines GC, 69-72-71-69–281
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 65-72-75-70–282
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC, 66-75-71-70–282
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC, 74-70-68-71–283
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines N., 72-74-68-69–283
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC, 73-73-70-67–283
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 70-76-70-67–283
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 70-72-73-69–284
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 70-71-72-71–284
A.J. Morris, River Valley Ranch GC, 71-71-71-71–284
Eric Hallberg, Colorado GC, 71-64-78-72–285
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons GC, 75-71-68-71–285
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 70-74-69-73–286
Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-72-70-71–286
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC, 70-72-70-75–287
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 74-68-74-71–287
Cody Kent, CC at Castle Pines, 68-73-75-72–288
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC, 70-73-72-73–288
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 75-71-73-70–289
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 69-77-71-73–290
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 72-74-71-75–292
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 70-75-73-75–293
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 77-70-70-77–294
James Banyas, CommonGround GC, 70-77-72-75–294
Behrod Keshtavar, CJGA Club, 71-75-75-74–295
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC, 72-75-76-73–296
Michael McNulty, Fossil Trace GC, 72-73-78-73–296
Ryan Sturm, Buffalo Run GC, 73-74-82-73–302

MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75–148
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 76-72–148
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill CC, 73-75–148
Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 74-74–148
Sam Marley, South Suburban GC, 75-73–148
Josh Gardella, Highlands Ranch GC, 72-77–149
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 70-79–149
Tyler Steigerwald, Club at Flying Horse, 76-74–150
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 79-71–150
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 74-76–150
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 77-73–150
Drew Trujillo, The Bridges, 73-78–151
Michael Passananti, Desert Hawk GC, 76-75–151
Wesley Martin, CommonGround GC, 77-75–152
Sean Kato, Highland Hills GC, 81-71–152
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 75-77–152
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-74–152
Jack Adolfson, Colorado National GC, 76-77–153
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek GC, 75-78–153
Adam Pladson, Aurora Hills GC, 75-78–153
Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken GC, 78-75–153
Will Myer, Denver CC, 77-76–153
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC, 80-74–154
Mitch Shinkle, Lake Arbor GC, 82-72–154
Clayton Crawford, Maroon Creek Club, 77-77–154
Kevin Liao, CJGA Club, 76-78–154
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC, 79-76–155
Jared Tedesco, Plum Creek G&CC, 76-79–155
James Adam Jones, South Suburban GC, 82-74–156
Trevor McKune, Pinehurst CC, 78-79–157
Brent Modak, City Park GC, 75-82–157
Cameron Berndt, Spring Valley GC, 80-77–157
Matthew Weiss, Highlands Ranch GC, 80-78–158
Hunter Lee, Highlands Ranch GC, 79-79–158
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor, 81-78–159
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 78-83–161
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 80-81–161
Brian Kittleson, Eagle Ranch GC, 79-82–161
Chris Jones, CC at Castle Pines, 81-83–164
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery Country Club, 86-78–164
Matt Lazzeri, Lakewood CC, 81-85–166
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 78-WD–WD
Jeffrey Gravina, Pinehurst CC, WD

Or, at least, so the thinking goes.

But while caddies in the U.S. are certainly less prevalent than they were 50 or 75 years ago, they’re far from disappearing. In fact, in Colorado the numbers reflect a slight upswing in their usage in recent years.

And, by the looks of things at the third annual Colorado Caddie Summit, held Tuesday at Lakewood Country Club, there’s certainly some room for hope for those who care about a venerable institution of golf.

For the second straight year, about 70 people gathered for the event, many representing a variety of Colorado clubs that utilize caddies. Some have huge programs, some very small, but they all think enough of caddies that they take time out of their busy schedules to meet for about four hours and share data, best practices and other information that assure that this golf tradition will continue in the modern era.

“I think we’ve had some pretty good movement with the health and growth of caddie programs in the state,” George Solich, one of the namesakes for the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy at CommonGround Golf Course, noted earlier this year.

And the Colorado Caddie Summit has helped in that regard. Attendance at the event has grown by multiples since the inaugural summit was held two years ago.

“This Caddie Summit has been a big, big factor in the whole deal because it’s brought awareness to a lot of clubs, a lot of golf professionals, a lot of members within clubs in the state,” said John Ogden, the head professional at Cherry Hills Country Club, which features one of the largest and most successful caddie programs in the state. “It’s been a slow, grass-roots program. This is the third (summit) we’ve had. I remember the first one, two years ago at Denver Country Club, we just had two or three tables (of people). We had it last year at Cherry Hills and it’s just kind of expanded.

“You get more and more people involved — just get them here and hear the stories — and I’ll tell you what, that’s been the key factor in the whole thing. That’s created some momentum, in my opinion.”

More than 20 golf clubs in the state include caddie programs, and the ranks are growing gradually. For instance, Columbine Country Club in Littleton had a thriving caddie program decades ago. But after it died out, it’s been revived in the new millennium and in 2013 it produced more than 1,100 caddie loops.

In addition, the overall number of caddie loops reported in Colorado is on an uptick. The total shared with the CGA through the 2013 caddie survey was 32,085, a 2.7 percent increase over 2012.

“The feel and the vibe and the energy and the excitement around caddies is exponentially greater than when I started working for the CGA,” said Ed Mate, executive director of the CGA and a former caddie himself. “It’s night and day. Look at Columbine Country Club. That’s a great example. Year over year, I think we’re continuing to see positive momentum, but in the last 20 years, it’s unbelievable how much we’ve seen.”

Cherry Hills is among the clubs that has seen growth. It’s always had a large caddie program, but in the last six or seven years, it has gone from seeing 27 percent of all its rounds featuring a caddie, to seeing that number jump close to 50 percent, according to Ogden.

All of that certainly doesn’t mean caddie usage is suddenly going to skyrocket in Colorado. With carts often providing a major revenue stream for clubs, and with the cost of taking a caddie usually exceeding that of using a cart, there are some non-deniable headwinds. But with some commitment from golf traditionalists — and those who believe that caddying can teach kids invaluable lessons — some headway can be made at the margin.

“We’ve gotten a number of additional clubs who are interested in giving (caddie programs) a try,” said Bob Webster, state chairman for the Western Golf Association, which sponsors the Evans Caddie Scholarship. “Whether that ultimately catches on (and there’s a significant resurgence in caddying), time will tell.”

What may help give caddying in Colorado a lift is the fact that the 2014 BMW Championship PGA Tour event is being played at Cherry Hills in the first week of September. The WGA runs the BMW Championship and all of the tournament’s proceeds benefit the Evans Scholars Foundation. In other words, more than any other week on the PGA Tour, caddies are at the forefront during the BMW Championship.

“The P.R. that will be done at the BMW and on TV with the BMW Championship will help open some eyes as far as the benefits of caddying and the possibility of being an Evans Scholar,” said Webster, himself an Evans Scholar alum. “I would be very surprised if we didn’t see a surge next spring — a year from now — in the number of kids going to clubs wanting to caddie.”

The CGA and CWGA, being partners with the WGA in the support of the Evans Scholars and the scholarship house at the University of Colorado, are particularly cognizant of the spark the BMW Championship can produce for caddying in the state.

“It’s a great opportunity to draft and use the bully-pulpit of that kind of exposure to talk about caddying and the Evans Scholarship,” Mate said. “It’s just going to raise awareness; it’s that simple.”

The Evans Scholarship pays full tuition and housing for each recipient. If renewed for four years, it’s estimated to be worth more than $70,000. To be considered for an Evans Scholarship, applicants must have excellent and extensive caddie records, very strong academic results, show outstanding character and leadership, and demonstrate financial need.

In another sign that caddying might be on an upward trend in Colorado, both the number of Colorado teenagers awarded the Evans Scholarship this year (14) and the number of applicants (43) matched or exceeded the most in more than two decades.

But beyond such possibilities, Ogden sees another benefit of bolstering caddie programs.

“With all the data on people getting out of golf and that sort of thing, a lot of that kind of corresponds to the dying of the caddie programs,” he said. “So if you can slowly bring that back — you can’t do it overnight, but you can make small steps — you can make a difference. If you get the young kids exposed to golf, more than likely they’re going to start playing.”
 

Ernie Els is without a doubt a man of the world. He’s South African by birth, and as an adult he’s also lived in London and in Florida. And he plays golf all over the globe on a regular basis.

On Monday alone, he finished up his final round of the BMW Championship in the Chicago area in the morning, flew to Denver to become the youngest recipient of the Nicholson Award (given for a lifetime of commitment and dedication to the game of golf), then took a red-eye flight back home to Florida. (Els is pictured Monday at Lakewood Country Club with Will Nicholson Jr.)

In Lakewood, Els noted that he loves Colorado so much from his visits to play The International at Castle Pines that he very nearly became a resident of the state — at least part-time.

“I made so many great friends here,” the 43-year-old said. “I was this close to buying a house at Castle Pines about 10 years ago. I used to stay with a heart specialist here in town — he’s an ex-South African — and he had a house on the 11th tee. (My) whole family came every year; we’d come on a Sunday and stay until Tuesday (of the following week).

“I saw his kids grow up and he’s seen my kids grow up. He lives near Cherry Hills here now. I said to Liezl (Els’ wife), ‘You know, next year we’re going to come to Cherry Hills (for the BMW Championship) and maybe I’ll still buy that house.'”

Colorado reminds Els a great deal of his native land — “You can take a picture of this and Johannesburg and it’s absolutely the same; everything is just unbelievable here.” — but his fondness for the state is understandable for another reason.

The International PGA Tour event was held in Colorado for 21 years, from 1986 through 2006, and in many respects Els was the king of Castle Pines. He won the tournament in 2000 and finished in the top 10 a remarkable nine times. He’s also the top money winner in the history of the event (more than $1.8 million) and the top cumulative point scorer (with 371) in the Stableford format.

And it doesn’t hurt that Els, who now has four major championships and 19 PGA Tour titles overall to his credit, has a soft spot in his heart for The International because it gave him an opportunity to compete before just about anyone else on the PGA Tour would.

When The International invited the Big Easy to play in 1991, he had competed in a grand total of one previous PGA Tour event, the 1990 Buick Southern Open.

“I didn’t even have a card — no Tour card, no nothing,” Els remembers. “I was as green as they come.

“That was the great thing about The International — it was truly an international tournament. They invited guys from everywhere around the world. I remember they invited Carlos Franco from Paraguay and the Argentine guys. (The officials from The International) were the first guys with this World Championship mindset, letting international players play.”

All things considered, it’s little wonder why Els ended up competing at The International virtually every year from 1991 until the tournament folded after it was played in 2006. When the event left the schedule for good, Els felt the departure down deep.

“I miss this place like I can’t tell you,” he said. “I have so many memories here. Kaye Kessler, Jack Vickers and the Vickers brothers, they invited me to play in 1991. I was absolutely nowhere. I was playing my first big event and I missed the (54-hole) cut, but the impression Castle Pines left with me — it’s the most beautiful place I’ve ever seen. I came back every year.

“I was absolutely heartbroken when the tournament got canceled or whatever happened. I remember speaking to Tommy (Vickers) just before they saw (PGA Tour commissioner) Tim Finchem and he was in tears — we were both in tears — that the tournament wasn’t going to make it. To this day, I miss it. It’s been a big loss for the Tour and for the area because obviously it was an unbelievable event.”

In fact, before lousy weather Sunday led to a Monday finish for the BMW Championship, Els said he was planning to arrive in Colorado Sunday evening and spend the night at Castle Pines, then perhaps play some golf there on Monday.

“It’s really one of our favorite places,” he said. “(Unfortunately) it didn’t work out that way, so it’s a short visit.”

One of the people who Els got to know through The International — as well as through his longtime leadership role at the Masters — was Nicholson, the onetime USGA president. This is the eighth year for the Nicholson Award, and Els was a natural to receive it, with all he’s done in golf, as well as for the betterment of society through golf.

Ernie and Liezl have been major fundraisers for autism-related matters since their son Ben, now nearly 11, was diagnosed with the disorder. And Els put his name on the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation, which provides major support to selected disadvantaged South African youngsters who demonstrate talent and potential in golf. Louie Oosthuizen, winner of the 2010 British Open, is the most notable success story of the foundation.

Previous recipients of the Nicholson honor are Nicholson himself, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Ben Crenshaw, former USGA president Judy Bell and Hale Irwin.

The last seven who have received the Nicholson Award are members of the World Golf Hall of Fame, including Els, who was inducted two years ago. Els subsequently won the 2012 British Open, making him the first male inductee to go on to win a major since Lee Trevino claimed the 1984 PGA Championship title.

Asked about his relationship with Nicholson, Els said, “We’ve known each other for most of my career. Will is one of the pioneers in our game through the USGA, really leading the game into the direction it should be going — the right direction. The fundamentals — he’s a stickler to that. He’s basically showing the young (administrators) the way. I’ve always admired Will with his work at Augusta, with the Colorado Golf Association and the USGA.”

Though Els hasn’t visited Colorado much since The International departed, he’s looking forward to playing in the state next September when Cherry Hills hosts the BMW Championship, the third stop in the FedEx Cup Playoffs. Els hasn’t ever competed at Cherry Hills, but he’s no stranger there either.

“What a place,” he said. “I played it a couple of times back in the day when we used to come out here for the International. My great friend Tommy Vickers (and I) used to play a lot of golf around here and Cherry Hills was probably my favorite.”