This time around — the 20th time the matches have been conducted — the amateurs edged the pros 11-9 on Sunday.
The amateurs, captained by Frank Wilkinson, led 6-4 after last Saturday’s four-ball and foursomes matches. The teams tied Sunday’s singles, 5-5, to give the “ams” a narrow victory overall.
Michael Rusk and Doug Jones both won all three of their matches to lead the way for the amateurs.
The professionals now lead the all-time series 12-8, but the amateurs have won eight of the last 10 years.
The Western Colorado Cup Matches serve as a fundraiser for Western Colorado Golf Foundation educational scholarships.
(Pictured above is the winning amateur team, from left: Michael Smith, Glen-Michael Mihavetz, Owen Ellis, Michael Rusk, Garett Copp, Trevor McKune, Doug Jones, Scott Sullivan, captain Frank Wilkinson and Kyler Smith.)
Western Colorado Cup Matches
Oct. 15-16, 2016 (final) at The Bridges in Montrose
OVERALL SCORE: Amateurs 11, Professionals 9
FOUR-BALL SCORE (Saturday): Amateurs 2.5, Pros 2.5
Frank Wilkinson/Michael Smith, A, halved with Jim Cook/Eric Feely
Glen-Michael Mihavetz/Michael Rusk, A, def. Brandon Bingaman/Ed Marzec
Michael Mendelson/Kyle Daniell, P, def. Scott Sullivan/Garett Copp 2&1
Doug Jones/Owen Ellis, A, def. Greg Gortsema/C.J. Rhyne 3&1
Michael Swan/Todd Shafersman, P, def. Kyle Smith/Trevor McKune 2&1
FOURSOMES SCORE (Saturday): Amateurs 3.5, Pros 1.5
Glen-Michael Mihavetz/Michael Smith, A, def. Eric Feely/Brandon Bingaman 1 up
Scott Sullivan/ Owen Ellis, A, halved with C.J. Rhyne/ Michael Swan
Doug Jones/ Frank Wilkinson, A, def. Jim Cook/ Ed Marzec 2 up
Todd Shafersman/ Kyle Daniell, P, def. Kyle Smith/Trevor McKune 2 up
Michael Rusk/ Garett Copp, A, def. Michael Mendelson/ Greg Gortsema 2&1
SINGLES SCORE (Sunday): Amateurs 5, Pros 5
Michael Swan, P, def. Owen Ellis 4&2
Ed Marzec, P, def. Kyler Smith 1 up
Glen-Michael Mihavetz, A, halved with Brandon Bingaman
Doug Jones, A, def. Eric Feely 4&2
Scott Sullivan, A, halved with Greg Gortsema
Trevor McKune, A, def. Michael Mendelson 3&1
Ken Brown, P, def. Michael Smith 1 up
Jim Cook, P, def. Frank Wilkinson 4&3
Garett Copp, A, def. Todd Shafersman 3&1
Michael Rusk, A, def. Kyle Daniell 1 up
Valley Country Club in Centennial will host the matches on Tuesday (July 5), with three separate team competitions taking place: open division, senior, and women.
In each case, there will be four-ball matches in the morning and singles in the afternoon. That is, if weather permits. Last year’s matches were limited to the four-ball, as the singles were interrupted — and eventually canceled — due to violent weather.
The Colorado PGA team leads the all-time series in the open division, 30-13-2, but the CGA amateurs have won the last two years. In the senior division, it’s tied 15-15-3, but the CPGA squad has gone 8-1-1 in the last 10 meetings.
The CWGA amateurs have won all 10 years against the pros. The women’s competition will resume after a one-year hiatus.
The CPGA open team will be led by recent Section Players of the Year Caine Fitzgerald, Geoff Keffer, Rob Hunt and Chris Johnson, while 2015 CGA Stroke Play (Chris Korte) and Match Play (Nick Nosewicz) and 2014 Mid-Amateur (Chris Thayer) winners will compete for the amateurs.
Reigning CGA Senior Stroke Play champ Bill Fowler will lead the way for the CGA seniors, while five-time Section Player of the Year Ron Vlosich will play for the Colorado PGA’s senior squad.
University of Wyoming golfer Taylor Dorans will be one of several college golfers who will try to keep the CWGA’s win streak going in the women’s division. Sherry Andonian-Smith, who has competed in the CoBank Colorado Senior Open multiple times, will lead the CPGA women’s squad.
For Tuesday’s four-ball pairings, CLICK HERE.
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