Ross Macdonald put a big-time exclamation mark on his successful title defense Sunday at the 36th CGA Western Chapter Championship.

The University of Colorado golfer from the Country Club at Castle Pines played his final nine holes of the event in 7-under-par 29 at The Bridges Golf & Country Club in Montrose. That torrid stretch gave Macdonald a nine-stroke victory in the 36-hole event.

The 22-year-old from Castle Rock (left) finished with a 6-under-par 65 — the best championship flight score on Sunday by six shots — to post a 6-under 136 total. That made Macdonald the first back-to-back winner of the championship since Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Rick DeWitt accomplished the feat in 2001 and ’02. DeWitt won the Western Chapter title five times.

On the back nine Sunday, Macdonald recorded two eagles — on No. 10 and 17 — and added birdies on 11, 12 and 18 to shoot the 29. It marked the first time Macdonald has ever broken 30 for nine holes on a championship course, and the 65 is his low tournament score ever. In addition, he can never remember making two eagles in nine holes before.

Macdonald needed just 11 putts to negotiate the greens on the back nine on Sunday.

“That was really cool,” Macdonald said of his 29. “Going into 18, the only thing I was thinking about was shooting 29, which I’d never done in my life. That was definitely a good way to go out.”

Macdonald had started out his title defense by being 3 over par after five holes on Saturday. But he closed with three straight birdies that day for a 71. On Sunday, he was 1 over par through nine holes when things turned on a dime.

He made a 20 footer for eagle on 10, a 25 footer for birdie on 11 and a 10 footer for birdie on 12. He parred the next four holes, twice getting up and down, including making a 20 footer on No. 16.

On No. 17, he hit a 5-iron from 235 yards to a foot for another eagle. Then he rolled in a downhill slider from 15 feet on No. 18 to close with a birdie.

“It was really nice to put that round together — and that nine — to come in with a good margin of victory,” Macdonald said.

And the result — going back-to-back in the Western Chapter — was satisfying considering Macdonald originally wasn’t planning to play in the event.

“I feels really good,” he said. “Two weeks ago, I looked at it and didn’t have anything on my schedule (for this week). I just thought it would be a good one to play in. And I think it’s always good to pay respect and go back and defend a title. I’ve been playing really well the last five or six months so I felt really good. And I thought of this (course) as a good challenge — and a good challenge to see if I could go back to back.”

Macdonald now owns four CGA titles, having also won the Colorado Junior Amateur in back-to-back years (2013 and ’14).

As he noted, the CU golfer has been performing well in recent months, having placed second in both the Pac-12 Conference Championships and the CGA Match Play.

First-round leader Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course tied for second place at 145 after a second-round 76 on Sunday. Sharing runner-up honors with him was Cameron Barnhardt of Dalton Ranch Golf Club, who closed with a 74. Blake Schneiter placed fourth at 146 after his second straight 73.

Meanwhile, the senior title was decided in extra holes on Sunday.

Scott Sullivan (left) of Bookcliff Country Club in Grand Junction tied three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club in regulation, with both players finishing at 2-over-par 144. But Sullivan broke the tie on the first playoff hole by making a par while Polk recorded a bogey.

Sullivan shot a 3-under-par 68 on Sunday, improving on his first-round score by eight. He played his final 14 holes of regulation in 4 under par. For the day, he made six birdies and three bogeys.

Polk birdied his final hole of regulation — No. 9 — to force the playoff. He finished the day with three birdies, three bogeys (including the playoff) and a double bogey.

Placing third among the seniors on Sunday was 2017 CGA Senior Player of the Year Keith Atkins of Highland Meadows Golf Course, who closed with a 71.

For scores from the Western Chapter Championship, click on the following: OPEN, SENIOR.

Erwin (left), a left-hander who teamed with Steve Irwin to win the 2016 CGA Four-Ball Championship, had an eventful first round, making seven birdies, five bogeys and only six pars.

Also carding a sub-par total on Saturday was Kelby Breidel of Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction, who posted a 70 after making five birdies.

Among those tied for third place at 71 going into Sunday’s final round is defending champion Ross Macdonald, a University of Colorado golfer who plays out of the Country Club at Castle Pines. Also sharing third place are Jason Browder of Dos Rios Golf Club, Sean Thomas of Meridian Golf Club and Cameron Barnhardt of Dalton Ranch Golf Club.

Meanwhile, leading the senior division is Owen Ellis of Flatirons Golf Course, who fired an even-par 71, making five birdies and five bogeys.

Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, is a shot back after a five-birdie day. Matt Hall of Redlands Mesa Golf Club sits in third at 73.

The 36-hole championship will conclude on Sunday.

For scores from the Western Chapter Championship, click on the following: OPEN, SENIOR.

The Bridges Golf & Country Club (left) in Montrose will host the 36-hole stroke-play event, which runs Saturday and Sunday. Ninety-nine players are signed up for the competition.

Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines, who won last year’s open division by three strokes, will be back to defend his title. The University of Colorado golfer has put up some notable finishes in the last few months, placing second individually in the Pac-12 Conference Championship and being runner-up in the CGA Match Play.

Also in the open field are Chris Carlson of Highlands Ranch Golf Club, a former CGA Mid-Amateur champion who placed third in the Western Chapter last year, and former CGA Four-Ball champion Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course.

Defending his senior division championship this weekend will be Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North. Likewise competing among the seniors are Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year, and 2017 Senior POY Keith Atkins of Highland Meadows Golf Course.

For Saturday’s pairings in the Western Chapter Championship, CLICK HERE.

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
 

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
 

CGA Western Chapter Championship
At Par-71 The Bridges in Montrose

OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Drew Trujillo, Bridges G & CC 69-70–139
Branden Barron, South Suburban Family Sports 67-73–140
Jack Adolfson, Fox Hill Club 69-73–142
Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC 73-70–143
Michael Jones, Eagle Vail GC 73-72–145
Kyle Fanning, CommonGround GC 75-71–146
Robert Barnhardt, Hillcrest GC 72-74–146
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC 70-76–146
Barry Erwin, CommonGround GC 74-73–147
Billy Ramsey, Lone Tree GC 74-73–147
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC 76-72–148
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC 69-80–149
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC 74-75–149
Trevor Mckune, Pinehurst CC 71-78–149
Cory Olsen, Murphy Creek GC 74-76–150
Kelby Breidel, Black Canyon GC 71-79–150
Kermitt Barrett, Hillcrest GC 79-71–150
Chris Berg, Tiara Rado GC 72-79–151
Joey Haack, Aspen GC 70-82–152
Jared Bickling, Glenwood Springs GC 76-77–153
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC 78-77–155
Nicolas Karavites, Glenmoor CC 78-77–155
Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC 80-76–156
Ryan Siggins, Dalton Ranch GC 81-76–157
Tony Komatz, Eagle Ranch GC 73-84–157
Corey M Stanton, Breckenridge GC 78-81–159
Sam Phillips, Flatirons GC 82-79–161
Jim Miller, Haymaker GC 82-80–162
Joey Saad, Bookcliff CC 79-83–162
Taylor Foust, CommonGround GC 79-85–164
Jacob Hebbel, The Links at Cobble Creek 82-83–165
William Berg, Tiara Rado GC 82-83–165
Brian Huston, Silver Spruce GC 86-83–169
Steven Buchanan, River Valley Ranch GC 88-81–169
Paul Bersagel, Eagle Vail GC 86-85–171
Triston Quigley, Rifle Creek GC 89-82–171
Sey Johnson, Tiara Rado GC 81-91–172
Steve W Womacks, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C 87-88–175
Michael Wommack, Haymaker GC 96-81–177
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC 88-90–178
David Lawien, Tiara Rado GC 87-NC
Jay Wilson, Eagle Ranch GC 81-WD
Jeremy Lederer, Bridges 76-WD

SENIOR CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC 68-67–135
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC 72-72–144
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC 72-72–144
David Delich, Broadmoor GC 70-76–146
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC 70-76–146
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC 77-70–147
Mr. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 70-78–148
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC 72-76–148
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC 77-72–149
Scott Patterson, Eagle Ranch GC 73-76–149
John Vanderbloemen, Haymaker GC 78-73–151
Phil Herrera, Lincoln Park GC 72-79–151
Robert Polk, Colorado GC 81-70–151
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower Golf Club 72-80–152
Dave Woodruff, Bridges G & CC 76-76–152
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 77-76–153
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado 74-79–153
Matt Hall, Bookcliff CC 79-74–153
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC 77-78–155
Cary Dilzell, The GC at Redlands Mesa 78-78–156
Mike Trujillo, Bridges G & CC 77-80–157
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 83-74–157
John Meredith, Pole Creek GC 75-84–159
John Sostmann, Raccoon Creek GC 83-78–161
David Draper, Green Valley Ranch GC 78-85–163
Dennis Truitt, Kennedy GC 84-87–171

SENIOR FIRST FLIGHT
Rick Pirog, Clubs at Cordillera 72-79–151
Stuart Jones, Redlands Mesa GC 84-81–165
Eric Pocius, Salida GC 85-82–167
Jeff Kadereit, Redlands Mesa GC 82-85–167
Mark Adolfson, Fox Hill Club 80-88–168
Ken Bailey, Telluride GC 92-85–177
Stan Cole, Eagle Ranch GC 93-87–180
Jeff Price, Redlands Mesa GC 89-95–184
Larry Phillips, Adobe Creek National GC 92-93–185
Ricky Houtris, Lincoln Park GC 93-92–185
Daniel Earl Boehm, Lincoln Park GC 108-95–203
Wayne L Klassen, Littleton GC 101-NS

Go to CGA Western Chapter Results Archive