There was Craig and Kevin Stadler in 2002, Hale and Steve Irwin in 2003, and David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites in 2016.

That translates into locals having won the championship 15 percent of the time.

And though the Stadlers and Irwins won’t be in the field for the 21st edtion of the Father/Son — the Irwins competed in the first 19, but were left out last year — and neither will Karavites, Duval and son Brady will tee it up when the 2018 Father/Son is contested Dec. 15-16 in Orlando, Fla. The event is being televised by the Golf Channel and NBC.

No one has played better at the Father/Son over the past two years than did Duval and Karavites. After winning in 2016, they finished second last year, behind only champions Angel Cabrera and son Angel Jr.

To qualify for the Father/Son Challenge, a player must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship in his career. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a PGA Tour card.

David Duval (pictured) was once the top-ranked player in the world and counts the 2001 British Open among 13 PGA Tour events he won — all during his 20s. Duval, now an analyst on the Golf Channel, has lived in Colorado almost continuously since late 2003, with the exception being a brief move he made back to his longtime home state of Florida, before returning to the Centennial State within the last year. Duval’s partner this year, Brady, was born in 2005. He caddied at the Father/Son as part of Team Duval in past years.

The 20-team field for the PNC Father/Son includes 11 World Golf Hall of Famers, including Jack Nicklaus, who will team up with grandson GT Nicklaus, along with Lee Trevino, Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Vijay Singh.

This year’s purse for the event will be $1.085 million.
 

And though Duval and Karavites very nearly pulled off the feat — they were tied for the lead with four holes left in Sunday’s final round in Orlando — they were turned away by Angel Cabrera and his son Angel Jr., who were late additions and first-timers to the field after Curtis and Tom Strange withdrew.

Duval and Karavites, who trailed by two going into the final round, eagled two of their first five holes on Sunday, with Duval chipping in at No. 3. But after they tied the Cabreras with a birdie on No. 14, they parred their last four, allowing the Argentines (pictured) to pull away.

Duval and Karavites shot their second straight 11-under-par 61 to finish at 22-under 122, leaving them tied for second in the 20-team field and three back of the Cabreras, who matched the tournament record at 25-under 119. The Duvals played their final 27 holes of the scramble tournament in 18 under par.

The other team with Colorado ties, Aspen resident Justin Leonard and dad Larry, finished 19th on Sunday at 10-under 134 after consecutive rounds of 67.

Last year’s victory by Duval was his first in a nationally televised tournament since 2001, the year the former world No. 1 won the British Open. Other players with strong Colorado connections who have won the PNC Father/Son Challenge are Craig and Kevin Stadler (2002) and Hale and Steve Irwin (2003).

To qualify for the Father/Son Challenge, players must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship in their careers. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card.
 

Coloradans David Duval and stepson Nick Karavites (pictured) captured the title last year in Orlando, and are in the hunt after Saturday’s first round of this December’s 36-hole event.

Duval and Karavites used a 29 on the back nine to fire an 11-under-par 61 and share third place in the scramble format, trailing leaders Angel Cabrera and Angel Cabrera Jr., by two strokes. Duval eagled the 14th hole on Saturday.

Mark and Shaun O’Meara are in second place at 60.

“I’d imagine we have to break 60 tomorrow to have a chance to win, but hey, stranger things have happened. I’ve even done it myself,” Duval said, noting the 59 he shot to win the Bob Hope Classic in 1999.

The other pair with strong Colorado ties competing this weekend, Aspen resident Justin Leonard and dad Larry, opened with a 67.

The players with strong Colorado connections to have won the Father/Son Challenge are Craig and Kevin Stadler (2002), Hale and Steve Irwin (2003) and Duval and Karavites (2016).

To qualify for the Father/Son Challenge, players must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship in their careers. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card.

For all the scores from the Father/Son, CLICK HERE.
 

But there was at least one surprising omission from the 20-team field: World Golf Hall of Famer Hale Irwin and son Steve. Hale, who grew up in Colorado, and Steve, a longtime resident of the state, were the only team to stay intact for the first 19 Father/Son Challenges — starting in 1995 with a three-year hiatus by the tournament beginning in 2009. But this will be the first year they’re not part of the field.

Asked the reason, Steve Irwin said via email, “Your guess is as good as mine.”

The Irwins won the tournament in 2003 and have finished second three times. They’ve placed 11th the last two years. Hale Irwin has won three U.S. Opens and a record 45 tournaments on PGA Tour Champions. Steve is a former CGA Player of the Year who has competed in a U.S. Open and three U.S. Amateurs.

The Father/Son Challenge, which features a scramble format over 36 holes, will take place Dec. 16-17 in Orlando, Fla.

Two British Open champions based in Colorado — Duval of Cherry Hills Village and Justin Leonard of Aspen — will be in this year’s field.

Duval and Karavites won last year’s title by one stroke, becoming the third team with at least one Colorado resident to capture the championship, following Craig and Kevin Stadler (2002) and the Irwins (2003).

Leonard will become the first PGA Tour player to compete in the event with his dad (Larry). Justin Leonard was part of the broadcast team for last year’s Father/Son Challenge.

“I’ve got to reacquaint myself with my golf clubs between now and then,” Leonard said on Golf Channel, where he’s an analyst. “I’m not sure how I’m going to do that in Colorado, but we’re looking forward to a fun weekend.”

Jack Nicklaus and Lee Trevino are among 11 World Golf Hall of Famers scheduled to compete in this year’s PNC Father/Son Challenge. For the complete field, CLICK HERE.

To qualify for the Father/Son Challenge, players must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship in their careers. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card.

The former University of Colorado golfer, who won the Colorado Open in 1996, has competed in three Web.com Tour events this year, with a best finish of 33rd in the United Leasing & Finance Championship in April.

Last year at the Colorado Open, Kaye (pictured) finished at 20-under-par 268, three strokes behind champion Neil Johnson of River Falls, Wis.

Also in the field this week at Green Valley Ranch are Steven Fox of Hendersonville, Tenn., who won the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club south of Denver.

Michael Weaver of Fresno, Calif., who lost to Fox in the title match of the U.S. Am at Cherry Hills, also is competing in the Colorado Open. The two will be paired together for the first two rounds — along with Cherry Hills PGA head professional John Ogden — and will tee off at 1:05 p.m. on No. 1 on Thursday and at 8 a.m. on No. 10 on Friday.

This will mark the second year that the Colorado Open has featured a $250,000 purse, with $100,000 going to the winner — or low professional. In 2015, the purse was $100,000, with the winner receiving $23,000.

This week’s 156-person field will include seven former champions, including Coloradans Zahkai Brown of Arvada (2013), Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch (2009 and ’12), Ben Portie of Westminster (2011), Scott Petersen of Parker (2000) and Kaye.

Among the other players entered are Nick Karavites of Cherry Hills Village, who won the PNC Father/Son Challenge with stepfather David Duval in December; former CU golfer David Oraee, who just won the Wyoming State Open; father and son Doug and Tristan Rohrbaugh; 2016 CGA Player of the Year Kyler Dunkle; 2016 Colorado PGA Professional champion Geoff Keffer; Nick Mason of Denver, who’s competed in five PGA Tour events since 2010; and 2017 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion Jeff Gallagher.

3 Coloradans Qualify for Open Monday at Legacy Ridge; Medalists Shoot 62: The fourth and final qualifier for the CoBank Colorado Open was held on Monday at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster, and among the 15 players who earned spots in the field at GVR were three Colorado amateurs.

Dylan Wonnacott of Longmont shot a 7-under-par 64 to advance, while Cole Nygren of Longmont and Neil Tillman of Arvada each posted a 68.

Bryan Fox of Roswell, Ga., and Eric Kline of Ponca City, Okla., each fired a sizzling bogey-free 9-under-par 62 to share medalist honors on Monday.

For all the qualifying scores from Legacy Ridge on Monday, CLICK HERE.

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Here are the essentials regarding the 2017 CoBank Colorado Open:

What — 53rd CoBank Colorado Open.

Where — Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road).

When — Thursday through Sunday (July 20-23).

Live Scoring — CLICK HERE. 

Admission — Free.

Field — 156 players, with a cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes.

Purse — $250,000, with $100,000 going to the champion (or top professional). The purse has more than doubled from 2015, with first place more than quadrupling, from $23,000 two years ago.

PGA Tour Winner Entered — Former University of Colorado golfer Jonathan Kaye (2 victories).

Former Champions in Field — Neil Johnson of River Falls, Wis. (2016), Ian Davis of Edmond, Okla. (2014), Zahkai Brown of Arvada (2013), Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch (2009 and ’12), Ben Portie of Westminster (2011), Scott Petersen of Parker (2000), Jonathan Kaye of Boulder (1996).

Thursday Tee Times — CLICK HERE.  “¨

“¨For More Information — Visit the CoBank Colorado Open website (CLICK HERE). 

The 45-year-old, once the No. 1-ranked player in the world, teamed with stepson Nick Karavites to capture the title in the 19th PNC Father/Son Challenge in Orlando, Fla.

Winning again “is wonderful,” Duval said. “It’s wonderful to have the feelings, the nerves of really paying attention to what you’re doing, executing the golf shots and picking your lines.”

The victory marks the third time a team with at least one Colorado resident has won the Father/Son Challenge. Coloradans Craig and Kevin Stadler prevailed in 2002 and former University of Colorado golfers Hale and Steve Irwin came out on top the next year.

This time around, at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club, Duval and Karavites opened up a three-stroke lead on the back nine on Sunday, then held on for a one-shot win, worth $200,000.

“This is as good as anything,” Duval said of the victory. “It truly is. I know it’s not winning The Players or something like that, but this is what the progression of life is. To be able to come out in a professional event and win and have the whole family here, I’ll never forget it.

“I came home and talked with Susan my wife about six weeks ago and said, ‘You know if I play like I’m playing and Nick plays like he’s playing, we have a chance.'”

Despite playing the last four holes in even par after being 10 under through 14 in the scramble format, Duval and Karavites ended up one better than the Cink, Goosen and Funk teams. The Goosens could have forced a playoff with a birdie on 18, but settled for a par after both Retief and 13-year-old Leo missed a 5-foot birdie putt.

Duval and Karavites (pictured above), competing in the Father/Son for the fourth time, posted a 21-under-par 123 total after carding a 62 on Sunday. One key point came on the 16th hole, where Duval and Karavites made a par — taking advantage of the scramble format after both players hit their tee shots into the water.

“Being here with my mom, my brothers and my stepdad, it was amazing,” the 23-year-old Karavites said. “We were playing so good and it didn’t seem like too much pressure. Just being with David out here, I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time.”

The Irwins finished 11th for the second straight year, this time going 67-61 for a 16-under 128 total.

For scores from the Father/Son Challenge, CLICK HERE.

Duval, a former world No. 1, and Karavites will go into Sunday’s final round with a one-stroke advantage over Fred and Taylor Funk. Five teams posted 63s in the scramble format on Saturday.

Hale and Steve Irwin, both former University of Colorado golfers, fired a 5-under 67 in round 1. The Irwins, the only team to have remained intact for all 19 Father/Sons, won this tournament in 2003.

Sunday’s final round will be televised by the Golf Channel from noon to 1 p.m., and by NBC from 1-4 p.m. (MT).

For live scoring from the PNC Father/Son, CLICK HERE.
 

Hale Irwin cut back on his competitive schedule considerably this year — he played fewer than 10 events for the first time in his 22 seasons on PGA Tour Champions — but one tournament remains a fixture for him: the PNC Father/Son Challenge.

The former University of Colorado golf and football standout will team with son Steve — a longtime Colorado resident and a member of the CGA Board of Governors — for this weekend’s nationally televised tournament at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club at Grande Lakes in Orlando, Fla.

This will be the 19th time the Father/Son Challenge has been held — since 1995 with a three-year hiatus starting in 2009 — and the Irwins are the only team that has remained intact for all 19.

The two won the 36-hole scramble event in 2003, and have been runners-up three times. They finished 11th last year.

Hale, winner of three U.S. Opens and a record 45 PGA Tour Champions events, is one of 13 World Golf Hall of Famers in the field for this year’s Father/Son Challenge, which will be contested on Saturday and Sunday. Jack Nicklaus and son Jack II will also play in the $1.085 million event.

John Daly and his son John will compete in the tournament for the first time. And Denver-area resident David Duval will team up with stepson Nick Karavites.

All told, the 20-team field accounts for 335 PGA Tour titles, including 64 major championships.

To qualify for the Father/Son Challenge, players must have won either a major championship or The Players Championship in their careers. The professional’s partner must not currently hold a Tour card.

Hale Irwin, a Boulder High School and CU graduate who last year was named the Colorado golf Male Player of the Century, won five CGA championships during the 1960s, including three CGA Amateurs and a CGA Match Play, plus a CGA Junior Match Play and a state high school title.

Son Steve, also a former CU golfer, won his sixth CGA championship this year, teaming with Barry Erwin to claim the CGA Four-Ball. He was the 2004 CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year. Steve Irwin has also qualified for one U.S. Open and two U.S. Amateurs.

(At left, Hale and Steve at the 1985 PGA Championship at Cherry Hills Country Club.)

Here’s the TV lineup for the Father/Son Challenge (all times Mountain):

Friday — Pro-Am Special, 3-4 p.m., Golf Channel
Saturday — 9-11 a.m., Golf Channel; and 2-4 p.m., NBC (KUSA)
Sunday — Noon-1 p.m., Golf Channel; and 1-4 p.m., NBC (KUSA)
 

Oh, and it was also kind of neat that guys like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Ray Floyd were part of the festivities. And anyone in the country with a TV could join in the fun if they so chose.

But 2008 marked the end of the annual golf shindig. Until now that is.

After a three-year hiatus, the tournament now known as the PNC Father-Son Challenge is being resurrected, and Steve Irwin couldn’t be more pleased.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” said Irwin, an Arvada resident and the 2004 CGA Player of the Year. “To be able to compete in that environment with dad, it’s a great experience. And hopefully we’ll win.”

The revived Father-Son Challenge will be played Saturday and Sunday (Dec. 15-16) at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. NBC will televise the tournament from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday and from 1-4 on Sunday.

Steve Irwin and three-time U.S. Open winner Hale Irwin (pictured together), both former University of Colorado golfers, are one of 18 teams entered. Another Colorado entrant this time around will be David Duval of Cherry Hills Village, who will compete with his stepson Nick Karavites.

The players in the field have won a total of 64 major championships, with Nicklaus (18), Palmer (7), Nick Faldo (6), Trevino (6), Floyd (4), Hale Irwin (3), Vijay Singh (3) and Larry Nelson (3) accounting for 50 of those.

Palmer will compete with his grandson, Will Wears, while Bernhard Langer and Fuzzy Zoeller will be alongside their daughters.

To earn an invitation into the field, the father must have won either a major or a Players Championship. And the partner must not currently hold a Tour card.

A total prize purse of $1 million will be on the line in the 36-hole scramble event.

The Irwins, who are paired with Lee and Daniel Trevino on Saturday, are the only team that has remained intact over all 15 of the Father-Son Challenges, held from 1995 through 2008, then returning this year.

Most notably, after being runners-up three times, the Irwins won in 2003.

“I remember vividly the year we won,” said Steve Irwin, owner of five CGA championship titles who now serves on the CGA Board of Governors. “We were finished and leading by two, and Jack and Jackie (Nicklaus) were coming up 18 at ChampionsGate (in Orlando).They hit a second shot 12-15 feet from the hole and had that putt for eagle.

“When you look back at every time Jack has a birdie or eagle to win a tournament, he makes it. So it was an agonizing wait. Jackie lips out his putt, then Jack, the greatest player in history, steps up. I could see how players were so nervous over the years in that situation. After he struck his putt, he did his (traditional) step forward and raised his putter, but somehow it lipped out. That first win is very sweet, especially after being second (in the previous years).”

Hale Irwin, of course, is no stranger to success. He’s won 20 times on the PGA Tour and a record 45 times on the Champions Tour, and he was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame two decades ago.

That number 45 is special to Irwin in several respects, as his wife Sally noted for PGATour.com earlier this fall.

“Hale uses a TaylorMade golf ball with the number 45 on it for four reasons,” Sally Irwin wrote. “He’s had 45 wins on the Champions Tour, he was 45 years old when he won his third U.S. Open, he was born in 1945 and there were 45 years between the time he and our son Steve both qualified for the U.S. Open as amateurs.”

Steve, a former professional, played in his first U.S. Open last year, when he was named the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year. The vice president of Hale Irwin Golf Services believes he and his dad can realistically claim title No. 2 this weekend after placing fourth in the last Father-Son Challenge, in 2008.

“A lot of it has to do with experience,” Steve said. “That helps with the comfort level of playing in a scramble. Thirty-six holes is a pretty quick tournament, so you need to get out fast.

“Are we favored? I hope so. Obviously there are a lot of very good teams, but we’re wily veterans.”