And one of those eight, David Delich of The Broadmoor, has won the title three times over that period.

Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City will host this year’s Senior Match Play Monday through next Thursday (June 11-14). The event, limited to players 52 and older, will feature the round of 64 on Monday and two rounds each on Tuesday and Wednesday for those who advance. The 18-hole championship match is set for next Thursday morning.

Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club returns to defend the title he won last year, when he defeated Delich, the champion in 2007, ’11 and ’15.

Other former champions in the field are Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club (2016), Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (2013), Ray Makloski if Pueblo Country Club (2012), Guy Mertz of The Fox Hill Club (2010), Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club (2009) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club (2006).

Three of those former champs have already won CGA titles in 2018: Johnson in the Super-Senior Match Play, Polk with partner Bill Fowler in the Senior Four-Ball, and Mertz with son Nick in the Parent/Child.

Also scheduled to compete in the Senior Match Play are 2017 CGA Senior Amateur winner Steve Ivan of Patty Jewett Golf Course, 2016 Senior Amateur champ Kevin Ott of The Club at Rolling Hills, 2016 U.S. Senior Open qualifier John Hornbeck of Wyoming and 2017 CGA Senior Player of the Year Keith Atkins.

For Monday’s round-of-64 tee pairings, CLICK HERE.

But coming on the heels of the 2016 death of someone very special to both of them — Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Ed Nosewicz, Lenny’s dad and Nick’s grandad — took it to another level.

“If it wasn’t for grandpa, neither of us would have played golf,” Nick Nosewicz said on Sunday afternoon. “If if wasn’t for grandpa, I wouldn’t have dad. So the whole tournament was pretty special.

“Honestly, I think the only reason we came up here was because of what happened last year, losing grandpa, and trying to continue the Nosewicz legacy. At a state level, that’s cool.”

The Nosewicz clan is widely known in Colorado golf circles. Nick Nosewicz won one of the CGA’s top championships, the Match Play, in 2015. And his dad Lenny has owned Lenny’s Golf in Aurora for more than three decades.

The Nosewiczes (pictured, with Lenny at left) were the only team to break par in the foursome stroke play (alternate shot) format used for Sunday’s final round at the Tom Weiskopf-designed Frost Creek course. That gave them a 10-under 134 total, good for a seven-stroke victory over 2016 champions Ray and Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club, who closed with a 73.

Nick and Debbie Leibold of Columbine Country Club came in third at 142 after a second-round 72. First-round leaders Grant and Matt Porter of CommonGround Golf Course (79 Sunday) tied for fourth at 143 with former CGA president Bill Fowler and son Will of The Club at Rolling Hills (77).

The Nosewiczes, who were one stroke out of the lead going into the final round, made five birdies and two bogeys in their 69 on Sunday to give themselves a comfortable margin of victory. 

It was the first CGA championship for Lenny Nosewicz, 60, and the second for Nick, 33. Ed Nosewicz was 91 when he passed away on July 27.

“It’s a great feeling to win, especially with Nick as a partner,” Lenny said. “You just let him play. But this was my first victory (in a CGA championship), and it feels pretty good.”

With Lenny missing just one fairway in two days and Nick providing some firepower, they were a formidable combination at Frost Creek.

“Alternate shot is a very difficult format,” Nick Nosewicz said. “It’s not every day you play in a true alternate shot. I was pretty nervous going into it. We both hit it well and put it in position to give ourselves chances. We made a lot of pars. In alternate shot, par is a really good score.”

Nick Nosewicz noted that he and his dad won a few father/son titles together in club events held at Bear Creek Golf Club many years ago. 

“But I didn’t know if we had the game that was good enough to travel, especially at the state level,” he said. “I’ve always known my dad was a good player. He doesn’t miss a fairway; I’m not accustomed to that.

“(Overall), this was awesome. Anytime you can play with your dad, it’s a treat, and when you’re playing in a state championship with your old man, it’s even better. Winning is a dream come true.”

On Sunday, the Nosewicz team also had the low net score for the Parent/Child — 22-under-par 122. Second were John and Steele Luoma of Colorado Golf Club (125).

Meanwhile, earning the Loel & Caleb Lierman Award — which is presented to the team that includes a player 18 or younger who has the lowest gross score — were Kyle and 17-year-old Drew Anderson, of Clubcorp Colorado and Canongate Colorado, respectively. They tied for ninth overall at 146 (70-76).

For all the scores from the CGA Parent/Child, CLICK HERE.

Ray and Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club, both winners of other CGA championships, will defend their title this weekend, with Jimmy competing in his final tournament as an amateur before turning pro. Other recent winners of the event who are entered include Chris and Steve Dillon (2014), Nick and Rick Tarasiewicz (2013), and four-time champions Gary and Alex Kephart (2005, ’07, ’10 and ’11).

Also signed up this year are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Gary Potter and son Matt, a former University of Colorado golfer and winner of the 1984 CGA Amateur. The Potters won the Parent/Child (then known as the Father/Son) in the first two years the championship was held, 1983 and ’84.

Likewise scheduled to play are Nick Nosewicz (2015 CGA Match Play champ) and Lenny Nosewicz, Bill Fowler (2015 CGA Senior Amateur winner) and Will Fowler, and Guy Mertz (2010 CGA Senior Match Play champ) and Nicklaus Mertz.

The Parent/Child is open to a father/son, father/daughter, mother/son or mother/daughter, and grandparents may compete with their grandchildren.

The format for the 36-hole event is a modified Chapman on Saturday and foursome stroke play (alternate shot) on Sunday.

In all, 64 teams are entered.

For first-round pairings, CLICK HERE.
 

After all, with the venue’s very challenging greens, course knowledge could play a large role in determining who is handed the trophy come Thursday. And considering two members who are CGA Senior Amateur champions are entered, the Rolling Hills contingent definitely should not be overlooked at the 54-hole championship, which will start on Tuesday.

Former CGA president Bill Fowler (pictured), who’s part of that contingent, will be looking to parlay his home-course advantage into a second straight Senior Amateur title after having prevailed at Colorado Golf Club last year. Among the other entrants from Rolling Hills are Scott Radcliffe, winner of the 2010 CGA Senior Amateur and the 2004 CGA Senior Match Play; and Sean Forey, the 2010 CGA Senior Player of the Year and recent runner-up in the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play.

Joining Fowler and Radcliffe among the past champions entered are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore (2014), winner of the 2016 CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play; Harry Johnson (2013); David Delich (2012); and Robert Polk (2005, ’07 and ’09). Other winners of CGA senior individual titles who will compete at Rolling Hills include Tom Musselman, Ray Makloski, Guy Mertz and Jeff Oneth, who won the 2016 CGA Senior Match Play. Robin Bradbury, who last month qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur and was low senior amateur in the Rocky Mountain Open, is also entered.

The field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after two rounds.

Worth noting: Until this year, the CGA Senior Amateur was known as the CGA Senior Stroke Play.

For Tuesday’s first-round pairings, CLICK HERE.

In sports, it’s often not how you start, but how you finish that’s most important.

For that, Ray and Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club are thankful.

The Makloskis trailed 2015 CGA Father/Son champions Jason and Kyler Dunkle of the Club at Pradera by three shots going into Sunday’s final round of the inaugural CGA Parent/Child Championship at Rollingstone Ranch Golf Club in Steamboat Springs. And after opening with a triple bogey in Sunday’s foursomes stroke play format, and the Dunkles making a birdie on No. 2, the Dunkles’ lead stood at a whopping seven shots.

But the Makloskis, who each won a significant CGA individual title in 2012, not only made up that deficit, but Jimmy Makloski drained a 7-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole to give him and his dad the title.

The Makloskis closed with an even-par 72 after posting a 67 in Saturday’s Chapman Scotch format to finish at 5-under 139. A year after beating the Makloskis by five in the CGA Father/Son, the Dunkles carded a 76 Sunday — making three double bogeys in a five-hole stretch in the middle of the round — to check in at 140.

Jimmy Makloski and Kyler Dunkle were Colorado State University teammates last season, but Dunkle has since left the program.

“Especially after being close last year, we put this one on the calendar wanting to get it,” said Jimmy Makloski, winner of the 2012 CGA Junior Stroke Play.

“This means probably even more than (an individual title),” added Ray Makloski, the 2012 CGA Senior Match Play winner. “To be able to do it with your son, I’m almost as proud of this as I am of any championship (I’ve won).”

The Makloskis (left and above) posted five birdies, two bogeys and the triple bogey in the final round. They played the final four holes in 3 under par, while the Dunkles were 1 over on the same stretch, though they did likewise birdie No. 18.

Tying for a distant third Sunday — at 150 — were four-time champions Gary and Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs, and Bill and Will Fowler of the Club at Rolling Hills. In the last nine months, Bill Fowler has won the CGA Senior Stroke Play and the CGA Senior Four-Ball (with Robert Polk).

The Makloskis’ play down the stretch proved the difference at Rollingstone Ranch. In addition to their three birdies in the last four holes, they got up and down for par from a bunker on 17.

On both 15 and 16, the Makloskis picked up two shots per hole on the Dunkles.

“On 15 and 16 when we were making birdies, they we making bogeys,” Jimmy Makloski said. “Those two holes were pretty big.”

Even when they trailed the 2015 Father/Son champions by seven with 16 holes left, the Makloskis felt they had a chance.

“On this course with this format, there’s so many OBs and hazards, you’ve got to play smart and keep it pretty straight,” Ray Makloski noted. “So I knew if they had any problems at all, we could try to claw our way back into it.

“We finally got even with them (after 10 holes), then we hit it out of bounds (on 13) and they picked up two from us,” Ray Makloski said. “We were fortunate enough to make three birdies coming in and got the job done.”

Sunday marked the third CGA title for Ray Makloski, 56, and the second for Jimmy, 21.

While the Makloskis claimed the overall championship on Sunday, the Dunkles earned the victory in the net division with a 6-under-par 138 total.

The Loel and Caleb Lierman Award, given to the team with a player 18 or younger which has the lowest gross score, went to Chris and Cole Reister (left), who came in at 180 for 36 holes.

Forty-six twosomes competed in the first Parent/Child, where the teams could consist of a father/son, father/daughter, mother/son, mother/daughter, or grandparent/grandchild.

For Liza Bollinger’s photos from Sunday at the Parent/Child, CLICK HERE.
 

CGA Parent/Child Championship

At Par-72 Rollingstone Ranch GC in Steamboat Springs

Ray Makloski / James Makloski 67-72–139
Dr. Jason Dunkle / Kyler Dunkle 64-76–140
Bill Fowler / Will Fowler 71-79–150
Gary Kephart / Alex Kephart 70-80–150
Bradley Becker / David Becker 77-74–151
Larry Netherton / Steven Netherton 71-80–151
Bruce Hogg / Tyler Hogg 77-75–152
Daniel Maurer / Jim Maurer 76-78–154
Ben W Zimmerman / Paul Zimmerman 75-80–155
Grant Porter / Matt Porter 70-85–155
Pierce Trumper / Rocci Trumper 73-82–155
Chris Dillon / Steve Dillon 73-83–156
Kyle Peterson / Chris Peterson 77-79–156
Chuck Delich / Philip Delich 77-80–157
Chris Roehrkasse / Russell L Roehrkasse 71-87–158
Randy Rouse / Reid Rouse 74-84–158
Bob Cloud / Aaron Cloud 73-87–160
David Livingston / Thomas Livingston 77-85–162
Brandon McElhiney / Paul McElhiney 77-86–163
Andy Titterton / Kevin Titterton 78-86–164
Erik Patterson / Zach Patterson 79-86–165
Steve Windom / David Windom 76-89–165
Jeff Cummings / Jack Cummings 81-85–166
Daniel Becker / Robert Swift 77-90–167
Eric Scanniello / Mark Scanniello 76-91–167
Mark Strubel / Chris Strubel 78-89–167
Ben Hettich / Ryan Hettich 77-92–169
Gary Cowan / Corbin T Cowan 78-91–169
Tad Griffin / Patrick Griffin 82-87–169
Jeffrey Eitel / Danny Eitel 79-91–170
Ken Harris / David Harris 83-87–170
Larry Michaels / Greg Michaels 82-88–170
Mark Boscoe / Sam Ethan Boscoe 78-92–170
Geoff Nuwash / Norm Nuwash 82-89–171
Mikal Otten / Russell Otten 80-91–171
Don Alley / Eric Young 76-96–172
James Steigerwald / Cody Steigerwald 81-91–172
Jim Chaldekas / Greer Chaldekas 82-90–172
Dennis Weber / Andrew Weber 86-90–176
Jess Whittlef / Scott Whittlef 84-93–177
Derek Serlet / Mike Serlet 82-97–179
Chris Reister / Cole Reister 87-93–180
Mike Ballard / Mr. Jack Ballard 98-95–193
Stephen Reister / Brodie Reister 96-105–201
Wade T Pinkerton / Matthew Pinkerton 98-105–203
John Marasco / Mackenzie Marasco 87-DQ
 

Meanwhile, at the CGA Senior Match Play, which is taking place simultaneously but at The Fox Hill Club in Longmont, Guy Mertz posted the low round — an even-par 70 — at his home course in the stroke-play qualifying round for the event.

Mertz, the 2010 CGA Senior Match Play champ, made two birdies and two bogeys on the day and earned the No. 2 seed in the match play portion of the championship, which starts on Tuesday. David Delich of The Broadmoor, a three-time winner of the event, will be the top seed in the 32-man bracket as the defending champion.

The only player besides Mertz to shoot under 76 Monday at Fox Hill was 2012 Senior Match Play winner Ray Makloski of Pueblo Country Club, who carded a 72.

At the Super-Senior Match Play at West Woods, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Olive (pictured) defeated 32nd seed Howard Hankey of Foothills Golf Course 6 and 5 in the round of 32. Gunderson, a two-time Super-Senior champion and the runner-up the last two years, beat Cliff Damato of Meridian Golf Club 3 and 2. Another two-time champ, Patrick Mooney of Colorado Golf Club, advanced with a 6 and 4 victory over Robert Walker of Boulder Country Club.

Olive, Gunderson and Mooney will be compete in round-of-16 matches on Tuesday.
 

CGA Super-Senior Match Play
At West Woods GC in Arvada
Round of 32

  John Olive, Broadmoor GC (1) def. Howard Hankey, Foothills GC (32), 6 and 5
  Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (16) def. Robert Walker, Boulder CC (17), 6 and 4
  Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC (25), 4 and 3
  Pete Perry, South Suburban GC (9) def. Ken Tai, Perry Park CC (24), 4 and 2
  Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4) def. Danny Wyrick, West Woods GC (29), Withdrew
  Lonnie Miller, Meridian GC (20) def. Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC (13), 1 up
  Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (5) def. Bill Hancock, Club at Flying Horse (28), 3 and 2
  Lee Hansen, Pinehurst CC (12) def. Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan CC (21), 7 and 6
  James W Brundige, Snowmass Club (31) def. Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan CC (2), Withdrew
  Randy Miller, Boulder CC (18) def. Mark Barkley, Clubcorp Colorado (15), 4 and 3
  Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC (7) def. Cliff Damato, Meridian GC (26), 3 and 2
  Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Todd Wilcox, South Suburban GC (10), 1 up
  Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC (30) def. Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC (3), 1 up
  Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19) def. Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend (14), 3 and 2
  Fredrick Steffers, Eisenhower GC (6) def. Mike Giarratano, Highlands Ranch GC (27), 5 and 4
  Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (22) def. Bob Cloud, Commonground GC (11), 5 and 4

CGA Senior Match Play
At Par-70 Fox Hill Club in Longmont

ADVANCED TO MATCH PLAY
David Delich, Broadmoor GC (#1 seed as defending champ)
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club 34-36–70
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC 36-36–72
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC 41-35–76
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek  37-39–76
Greg A Thiesen, Fox Hill Club, the 35-41–76
Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC 37-39–76
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 40-37–77
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines North 37-40–77
Robert Polk, Colorado GC 41-37–78
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor 37-41–78
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC 41-37–78
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC 42-37–79
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 36-43–79
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC 38-41–79
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC 38-42–80
Craig Kirscht, Buffalo Run 38-42–80
Richard Kelly, Foothills GC 38-42–80
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC 39-41–80
Michael E Larson, Boulder CC 37-43–80
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines 40-41–81
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC 40-41–81
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC 38-43–81
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC 40-41–81
John Ingram, Hiwan GC 40-41–81
Tom Sweetman, Omni Interlocken Resort 39-42–81
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC 41-40–81
Brian Woody, Ridge @ Castle Pines N 39-43–82
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC 40-42–82
Jeff Anderson, Perry Park CC 40-42–82
Jim Fucillo, Inverness GC 39-43–82
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC 37-46–83
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC 41-42–83
Frank Wilson, Lakewood CC 42-41–83
Mike Campbell, Aurora Hills GC 40-44–84
Randy Kippes, Saddle Rock GC 41-43–84
Pat Bowe, Commonground GC 40-44–84
Peter O’Connell, Commonground GC 42-42–84
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC 43-41–84
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC 40-44–84
John Sostman, Meadows GC 40-44–84
Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC 40-44–84
Jay Orris, Boulder CC 44-41–85
Paul Karsen, Meridian GC 42-43–85
Louis Gerig, The Heritage @ Westmoor 44-41–85
Bobby Rennick, Ironbridge GC 43-43–86
Randall Dolan, Commonground GC 41-45–86
Ken Bailey, Telluride Ski & GC 43-43–86
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC 39-48–87
Troy Tomsick, Indian Peaks GC 41-47–88
Mike Ballard, Collindale GC 42-46–88
Jeff Bowen, Riverdale GC 43-46–89
Doug Phelps, Foothills GC 41-48–89
Dennis Weber, Hyland Hills GC 45-46–91
Dave Bullock, Cherry Hills CC 42-54–96
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC WD
Carl Peters, Twin Peaks GC WD
Steven Mace Feder, Cherry Creek CC DQ
Tony Urban, Saddle Rock GC WD
 

Now with Kyler, 18, being a golfer at Colorado State University, and a former 5A state high school champion, suffice it to say things were considerably different in the Dunkles’ return appearance at the Father/Son this weekend.

“He’s a much different golfer now than he was then,” Jason said of Kyler.

The team from the Club at Pradera cruised to the title Sunday at Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs, tying for the largest victory margin in the event since 2005: five strokes.

The Dunkles backed up their first-round 63 — in a Chapman Scotch format — with a 4-over-par 76 in foursomes stroke play, also known as alternate shot. That gave them a 5-under 139 total, making them the only team to finish under par at Ironbridge.

For each of the Dunkles, it was CGA championship No. 1. So the emotions were much different than they were back in 2010 for their Father/Son debut.

“I remember on the second day that year, I played some of the worst golf I could have possibly played,” Kyler said Sunday. “It was kind of disappointing. But it’s good to come back and almost get some revenge.

“It’s fun for me because my dad is a great golfer and he always has been. It’s always been a competition between the two of us. This was kind of one time where we’d let the competition go and play together and compete against other guys. We were able to have a lot of fun up here. It was a weekend where we could relax and hang out and play some really solid golf.”

The Dunkles weren’t at their best at their end — they played their final 14 holes in 6 over par on Sunday — but considering they were 11 under for their first 22 holes, it didn’t matter in the least. They finished the second round with two birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys.

The last bigger margin of victory in the Father/Son came in 2005, when Gary and Alex Kephart prevailed by eight. Rick and Nick Tarasiewicz also won by five, two years ago.

“There was certainly pressure today, but I didn’t feel like, ‘Wow, I hope we don’t screw this up,'” Jason Dunkle said. “When you’re 43 years old and you can hang out with your son for two days, there’s nothing better. Win, lose, draw, it was awesome.”

Kyler Dunkle claimed the 2012 5A state high school championship and redshirted this past season for CSU, leaving him four years of eligibility remaining. Jason played college golf for the University of Northern Colorado in the 1990s, and is a former head coach for the boys golf team at Rock Canyon High School, where he teaches.

“I’ve been a high school golf coach, so I’ve seen a lot of kids develop and it’s fun to see your son develop so you can go out and have a great time playing golf with him,” Jason said. Winning the title with him “is very meaningful.”

Ray and Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo Country Club, each a winner of a CGA individual championship in 2012, tied for second place on Sunday at even-par 144 with Chris and Russell Roehrkasse of Colorado Springs Country Club. The Makloskis closed with a 73 and the Roehrkasses with a 75.

The Kepharts, winner of this event a record four times, checked in at 146, in fourth place, after a 76 on Sunday.

Both the Dunkles point to their stellar 63 on Saturday — which gave them a six-stroke lead — as the key to their victory. In fact, Jason Dunkle said at one point in the round they entertained thoughts of shooting 59.

“I don’t want to say it was a fluke because we were both playing really well, but it really helps when you can start off strong and feed off each other’s energy,” Kyler said. “That’s exactly what we did. And if one of us hit a poor shot, we were able to pick each other up.”

Prevailing in the net division Sunday were Roehrkasses, who shot 66-72 for a 138 total. That was two better than the three team runners-up net-wise: Ben and Ryan Hettich (68-72) of Patty Jewett and Garden of the Gods Club, respectively; Joe and Peter Morrill of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (61-79); and Dennis and Andrew Weber of Hyland Hills (66-74).

The Loel and Caleb Lierman Award, given to the team with a player 18 or younger which has the lowest gross score, went to Dunkles.

CGA Father/Son Championship 
At Par-72 Ironbridge GC in Glenwood Springs

Jason Dunkle / Kyler Dunkle 63-76–139
Chris Roehrkasse / Russell L Roehrkasse 69-75–144
Ray Makloski / Jimmy Makloski 71-73–144
Gary Kephart / Alex Kephart 70-76–146
Kent Moore / Steven Moore 73-74–147
Robert Barnhardt / Cameron Barnhardt 71-76–147
Scott Sullivan / Kyle Sullivan 72-77–149
Ben Hettich / Ryan Hettich 73-77–150
Bruce Hogg / Tyler Hogg 74-78–152
Bill Fowler / Will Fowler 72-80–152
Jim Chaldekas / Chase Chaldekas 74-81–155
Rick Tarasiewicz / Nick Tarasiewicz 74-82–156
Brian Jeffrey Smith / Kirk Smith 79-77–156
Mike Kuzava / Blake Kuzava 73-83–156
Kyle Peterson / Chris Peterson 73-85–158
Pierce Trumper / Rocci Trumper 72-86–158
Bob Cloud / Aaron Cloud 75-84–159
Steve Dillon / Chris Dillon 76-84–160
Chuck Delich / Philip Delich 78-83–161
David Livingston / Thomas Livingston 75-86–161
Rick Rosendahl / Mitch Rosendahl 78-84–162
Robert Ernst Clever / Rob Clever 75-87–162
Jeff Eitel / Danny Eitel 81-82–163
James Steigerwald / Tyler Steigerwald 78-86–164
Michael Davis / Jenkins Davis 79-85–164
Joe Morrill / Peter Morrill 73-91–164
Mark Strubel / Chris Strubel 76-88–164
Ken Harris / David Harris 79-86–165
Geoffrey Howe / Andrew Howe 80-86–166
Steve Windom / David Windom 76-90–166
Dennis Weber / Andrew Weber 79-87–166
Tyson Shinaut / Jim Shinaut 81-85–166
John Luoma / Bill Luoma 82-87–169
Scott Walter / Cody Walter 84-85–169
Erik Patterson / Zach Patterson 79-90–169
Bradley Becker / Daniel Becker 81-89–170
Carl Merkel / Nicholas Merkel 81-90–171
Jess Whittlef / Scott Whittlef 77-95–172
Kyle Anderson / Drew Anderson 77-97–174
Kelly McLendon / Kelly McLendon 82-94–176
John Marasco / Mackenzie Marasco 86-90–176
Jocko Kaliszewski / Lukas Kaliszewski 92-94–186
Warren Androus / Lyle Androus 87-103–190
Wade T Pinkerton / Matthew Pinkerton 95-98–193
Jeff Coleman / Bill Coleman 92-102–194
Warren Seese / Alex Seese 92-103–195
Mike Ballard / Mr. Jack Ballard 88-122–210
David R Williams / Chris Williams 80-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

CLICK FOR MATCH PLAY TREE
 

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

CLICK FOR SUPER-SENIOR MATCH PLAY TREE

Go to CGA Senior Match Play Results Archive