Perhaps it was a sign that great things were in store for the team from The Club at Rolling Hills when a player with a 20.4 Handicap Index made two natural birdies during Monday’s CGA Women’s Club Team Championship.
That defies the laws of probability, but nevertheless, Bev Conklin made it happen, which led to Rolling Hills capturing its first title ever at the event.
With its two highest handicappers — Conklin and Debra Rooney — shooting their best scores ever (85 and 102, respectively), Rolling Hills prevailed by four strokes out of 32 teams on Monday at Inverness Golf Club in Englewood.
In a tournament that features an ABCD stroke-play format in which the scores of four players of significantly varying abilities are added up for a gross aggregate team total, Rolling Hills posted an 82-over-par 362 tally.
Besides Conklin’s 85 and Rooney’s 102, A player Andrea Grilli carded an 86 and B player Terry Reed an 89. (The winners are pictured, from left: Grilli, Reed, Conklin and Rooney.)
“This is the first time we’ve ever won (the Club Team title) at our club,” said Grilli, who along with Reed has represented Rolling Hills at this event on multiple occasions. “Absolutely bragging rights. We’re pretty excited.”
Tying for second at 366 in the final CGA women’s championship of 2018 were Kissing Camels and Fox Hollow. Denise Cohen paced Kissing Camels with a 78, while Kelly Chapin shot 79 for Fox Hollow, making three 2s in the process. Also breaking 370 were Broken Tee (367), Foothills (368) and the Country Club at Woodmoor (368).
Defending champion Colorado Golf Club tied for 16th at 383.
As for Rolling Hills, what was the key to Conklin draining birdie putts of 10 and 18 feet and leading the way for the team with a career-best 85?
“I just really wanted to make my captain happy,” she said of Grilli. “I practiced all weekend long. I have blisters (on her hand) because I didn’t want to disappoint. We came out here Friday to play (at Inverness). Then I played Saturday and Sunday and practiced.”
With Grilli not having her best day and Reed playing about average by her standards, Reed said the key for the victory was the play of Club Team rookies Conklin and Rooney.
“This was the first time playing in this for our C and D players, and they were lights out,” Reed said. “I think that made all the difference — our C and D players playing so well.”
But Conklin and Rooney noted they couldn’t have done what they did without help from Grilli and Reed.
“Our A and B players really helped us through,” Conklin said. “It was all their encouragement, (saying) we’re just out here for fun and they really didn’t put any pressure at all on us. I am not a good green reader. They helped me where to putt. It was truly a team effort.”
Added Rooney: “I totally agree with that. Our A and B players were awesome.”
Rolling Hills finished seventh in the Women’s Club Team last year after tying for second in 2016.
On Monday, “When we did have one or two blow-up holes, then we’d get right back on track,” Reed said. “The greens were really running true and were in great shape. We really felt comfortable putting and chipping.”
For all the scores from Monday’s CGA Women’s Club Team Championship, CLICK HERE.
]]>When Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore was apprised of who stood atop the leaderboard with nine holes left in the 45th CGA Senior Amateur Championship, he noted, “It’s like a club championship.”
Indeed, with Club at Rolling Hills members Kevin Ott and Bill Fowler setting the pace throughout much of the CGA Senior Am — which just happened to be played at Rolling Hills — it had some of the flavor of an intraclub tournament.
And the final outcome on Thursday further bore that out. Ott and Fowler battled it out through the final round and ended up finishing 1-2, with Thomas Roos of Spring Valley Golf Club tying Fowler for the runner-up spot.
“This is definitely a home-course advantage, for sure,” Ott said after celebrating his 51st birthday with the victory. “… It’s got to be a couple strokes a day (advantage). It just is. It’s not an accident that (Fowler) and I were so high up (the leaderboard). It just helps. I’ve played these greens so much, I know how they’re going to break. But you still have to hit good putts.”
Ott (left and above) went wire-to-wire and fended off Fowler and Roos in claiming his first CGA championship. But it was definitely an eventful final few holes, with Ott going double bogey-double bogey-birdie, and Fowler going birdie-triple bogey-birdie.
“I tell you what: It was a rollercoaster,” Ott said of final stretch.
Ott took a three-stroke lead into the 16th hole Thursday, but a tee shot that went into the right trees, resulting in a pitch-out, led to a double bogey after he three-putted. And Fowler, last year’s champion, rolled in a 10-foot birdie to erase all of his three-shot deficit in one hole.
“I felt like I was going to do it,” Fowler said of winning a second straight title. “After I got even on 16, I thought, ‘You know what? I can do this.’ I thought it was my tournament to win, and that didn’t happen.”
Amazingly, Ott regained the lead on the 17th hole despite taking another double bogey. Both he and Fowler (left) missed the green on the par-3, and the defending champion mishit his short pitch shot from a tight lie and his ball ended up in the bunker that was between him and the hole. Fowler left his next shot — from a plugged lie — in the sand and ended up with a very costly triple bogey. Meanwhile, Ott couldn’t hold the green with his pitch, then took three to get down from there for his double bogey.
“I lost my focus,” said Fowler, a former CGA president. “After I pulled even with him through 16, I just didn’t gather myself and collect myself and play a smart 17th hole. That’s where you need a caddie to settle you down a little bit. I didn’t do what I needed to do.
“I had a little adrenaline, so I took one less club, then I mis-hit it. Then I had the tight lie, and the ball plugged in the bunker. It was a comedy of errors. “
All of which left Ott tied with Roos and one up on Fowler going into the final hole. There, Fowler hit the pin with his third shot on the par-5 and had just a foot left for his birdie. “It went down, half into the hole,” Ott said of Fowler’s approach shot. “I thought it was in. Somehow it just kind of rimmed out.”
Ott, who had driven over a ditch that crosses the 18th fairway then hit a hybrid to the front of the green, two-putted from about 70 feet for a birdie of his own. He knocked in a 3 footer and signaled the victory with a fist pump.
“I thought I gave it away after 16,” said Ott, who has competed in just a handful of CGA championships in his life. “Then Bill helped me out on 17, then I finished strong.
“This is the best win I’ve ever had by far. It’s unbelievable really. I never thought I’d pull it off.”
Ott, who also led after the first two days, closed with a 5-over-par 76 on Thursday, leaving him with a winning total of 6-over 219. “I made 10 birdies the first two days. I only made two today — and I needed those two,” Ott noted with relief.
Fowler ended up runner-up the year after winning, shooting a final-round 75. Tying him at 220 was Roos (left), who closed with a 72, matching the best round of the day on a Rolling Hills course that features very formidable greens.
Though Roos lamented parring the 18th hole — he put a 54-yard approach shot into a bunker, but got up and down for a 5 — his showing was a career-best of sorts.
“I feel good,” he said. “It’s the best finish I’ve ever had in a (CGA) major.”
Brian Woody of The Ridge at Castle Pines North placed fourth at 225, while three-time champion Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club ended up fifth at 226 as both carded 78s on Thursday.
Interestingly, while it wasn’t hard to predict that Rolling Hills members would do well at the Senior Amateur — given how confounding the greens can be for players unfamiliar with them — Ott (left) didn’t seem likely to head the local contingent. After all, Fowler was the defending champion in the event, Scott Radcliffe has won two CGA senior majors and Sean Forey was the 2010 CGA Senior Player of the Year.
But that’s part of the beauty of golf and other sports. There’s always a level of unpredictability that keeps things interesting.
After moving around as a youth — he lived in Australia and Indonesia, along with Colorado and Wyoming — Ott has resided in Colorado continuously since 1992. The Arvada resident joined Rolling Hills about 15 years ago, but interestingly, has never won an open-division club championship there.
“I’ve been second a lot,” Ott said. “Bill Fowler, Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe — they’re three of the best amateur golfers in the state. But this year I won the senior club championship with those three guys (in the field).”
And now, like those three players, Ott has earned statewide golf acclaim.
CGA Senior Amateur Championship
At Par-71 The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden
Kevin Ott, Club at Rolling Hills, 70-73-76–219
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 73-75-72–220
Bill Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 72-73-75–220
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 75-72-78–225
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 73-75-78–226
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-73-79–228
Michael Smith, Rifle Creek GC, 74-74-80–228
John Ingram, Hiwan GC, 75-76-78–229
Michael Larson, Boulder CC, 74-78-78–230
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 81-78-72–231
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 74-81-76–231
Lance Balthaser, Englewood GC, 77-79-76–232
Scott Radcliffe, Club at Rolling Hills, 75-79-78–232
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC, 76-73-83–232
Randy Dolan, CommonGround GC, 76-76-80–232
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 82-75-76–233
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 77-73-83–233
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 77-77-80–234
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills, 78-75-81–234
Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 73-82-79–234
Keith Atkins, Harmony Club, 79-77-78–234
Paul Edwards, Meridian GC, 78-75-81–234
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 80-77-78–235
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 75-79-81–235
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 79-76-80–235
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC, 75-79-82–236
Dan Falagrady, Heritage at Westmoor, 78-76-82–236
Mike Lohse, West Woods GC, 72-78-87–237
David Merritt, Meridian GC, 79-76-82–237
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 76-80-81–237
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC, 75-78-84–237
Jay Orris, Boulder CC, 78-81-79–238
James Pullin, Collindale GC, 74-85-81–240
Gary Fox, CC at Castle Pines, 82-76-82–240
Brent Timm, Pinery CC, 81-75-85–241
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 80-77-85–242
John Meredith, Indian Peaks GC, 78-81-83–242
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 84-75-85–244
Pat Bowe, CommonGround GC, 81-78-DQ
Tom Musselman, Telluride GC, 75-78-WD
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 77-79-WD
Missed the 36-Hole Cut
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek GC, 80-80–160
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 77-83–160
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 82-78–160
Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC, 80-80–160
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club, 81-80–161
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 78-84–162
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 82-80–162
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC, 81-81–162
Doug Phelps, Foothills GC, 82-80–162
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 83-80–163
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-79–163
Mark Armistead, Highlands Ranch GC, 87-76–163
Tony Goodman, Silver Spruce GC, 88-76–164
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC, 80-84–164
Mark Bedinger, Club at Rolling Hills, 81-83–164
Bill Bolgar, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 84-80–164
Eugene Cahill, West Woods GC, 80-84–164
Mark Dunivan, Silver Spruce GC, 78-86–164
Dave Mittan, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 84-80–164
Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC, 85-81–166
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood CC, 85-81–166
David Snow, Saddle Rock GC, 86-81–167
Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor, 84-84–168
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC, 80-88–168
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC, 87-81–168
Bob Rennick, Ironbridge GC, 86-82–168
Dan Grigsby, Todd Creek GC, 87-83–170
John Sostman, Meadows GC, 88-83–171
Scott Woodrum, Twin Peaks GC, 88-83–171
Paul Casey, Club at Rolling Hills, 82-89–171
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 87-85–172
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC, 83-89–172
Mark Inboden, Raccoon Creek GC, 82-90–172
Mark Breese, Indian Peaks GC, 84-88–172
Richard Kelly, Foothills GC, 87-87–174
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace GC, 88-87–175
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 88-92–180
Mark Lundquist, Fox Hollow GC, 101-92–193
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 80-WD
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer, 83-NC
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC, 80-WD
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 82-WD
Scott Fullmer, Colorado GC, 79-WD
]]>
Brian Dorfman played 110 holes of golf in three days — all in the heat of high-level competition, and all while walking, not riding — but it proved very much worth the effort.
The former Georgetown University golfer, who plays out of Cherry Creek Country Club, went a full 36 holes Friday in the finals of the CGA Match Play Championship at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden. And that was after going 38 holes in two matches on Wednesday and 36 in another two on Thursday.
But Dorfman said he wasn’t fatigued, and he showed it down the stretch in Friday’s 2-up title-clinching victory over Parker Edens of Greeley Country Club.
In one of the tightest final matches in the 112-year history of the CGA Match Play, neither player led more than 1 up until the 36th hole, when Edens conceded a 5-foot eagle putt to Dorfman to account for the final margin.
“It was an incredible match. I could not have played any better. I can say that flat out,” said Dorfman, who shot a 5-under-par 66 in the afternoon round, counting concessions. “I did my best on every shot and I made a lot of clutch putts.”
It was the third time in the last four years that the CGA Match Play final has gone the distance — a full 36 holes. In 2009, Steve Ziegler defeated Tom Gempel 1 up, and last year Michael Lee beat Jonathan Marsico by the same score.
Edens, a Colorado State University golfer who caddied for Lee as he won the title last year, led 1 up after 18 holes, having shot a 4-under-par 31 on the back nine — concessions included — in the morning round. And he also was 1 up after Dorfman bogeyed the 25th hole.
But Dorfman, who just wrapped up his Georgetown University golf career, birdied the next three holes, with the 10-footer at the 26th hole being conceded after Edens missed his par putt. Dorfman went ahead for good after getting up and down from the bunker on the 27th hole for birdie.
Dorfman saw the following hole — No. 10 at Rolling Hills — as being crucial to his win. After Edens (pictured at left) put his approach shot on the par-4 4 feet from the cup in the afternoon round, Dorfman drained a 40-foot birdie putt which forced Edens to work just to get a halve on the hole.
“After I made that bomb putt on 10, I knew it was my match to lose because I was feeling it, playing well, and I had my putter working,” said the 22-year-old Dorfman, a Greenwood Village resident. “When I have that going, I’m tough to beat.”
As it turned out, the two players matched scores for eight straight hole (Nos. 28-35), leaving Dorfman 1 up heading into the par-5 18th.
“Everybody kept telling me it’s going to be a match of runs,” said Edens, a 2010 U.S. Amateur qualifier. “(They said) he’s going to go on a run or I’m going to go on a run. Really, neither of us went on runs. If you won two holes in a row you were very lucky.”
Dorfman agreed it was a battle of attrition.
“It was very stressful all day, especially because it’s not like pars were winning (m)any holes,” he said. “You’ve got to make birdies out here. To do that you have to hit it in the fairway, you have to hit it in the right spot on the green. And that doesn’t even mean you’ll make birdie. You’ve got to hit a great putt and a lot of time it will break 4-5 feet. It was very stressful, and it wasn’t like either of us had a big lead we could ride on.”
On the 36th hole, a long drive left Dorfman just 175 yards to the pin on the 512-yard par-5. His 8-iron approach covered the flag, finishing just 5 feet past the hole. And when Edens failed to hole a pitch shot from in front of the green, he conceded to Dorfman.
All week, the 18th hole at Rolling Hills was very good to Dorfman (pictured at left with the Match Play trophy in the background). In fact, including his stroke-play round, this is how he played the par-5: birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, birdie, eagle.
In the final hole Friday, Dorfman actually almost holed out his second shot. His ball hit a couple of inches from the cup before finishing 5 feet past.
“I knew I had a little bit of adrenaline, so I knew it wouldn’t be a problem (going with an 8-iron from 175),” he said. “I just took an easy swing and it came out perfect. After I hit that shot I knew I had it.”
Despite his 31 on the back nine of the first round — and several clutch putts down the stretch — Edens was disappointed his ball-striking didn’t match what he did earlier in the week. He was the co-medalist in stroke play, and only one of his previous matches went past the 16th hole.
“I just didn’t play as well as I had all week,” Edens said. “I didn’t hit it that well today. I was not very pleased with how I drove the ball. I just wasn’t able to give myself very many opportunities at birdie because I’m hitting from the rough, and you can’t spin it much around here hitting from the rough.
“But it was a great week. It’s a great accomplishment just to be the runner-up.”
Dorfman, a Cherry Creek High School graduate, claimed his second CGA championship title, having also won the 2008 CGA Junior Match Play. He also won two college tournaments during his 2011-12 senior season at Georgetown.
“This is probably the biggest tournament I’ve ever won,” he said of the Match Play. “It’s definitely the biggest trophy and it’s got the most history. It’s 112 years old. It’s an incredible tournament. So it means a lot.”
CGA Match Play Championship
At The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden
(Seeds in Parentheses)
36-HOLE FINAL
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1), 2 up
SEMIFINALS
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28), 3 and 2
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montrose (7), 1 up
QUARTERFINALS
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse (8), 5 and 4
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28) def. Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC (4), 5 and 4
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montrose (7) def. Steven Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course (47), 2 and 1
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club (6), 2 up
ROUND OF 16
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, The Club at (49), 4 and 3
Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse (8) def. Kory Harrell, Pine Creek GC (9), 3 and 1
Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC (4) def. Ben Krueger, Pine Creek GC (20), 4 and 3
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28) def. Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek GC (21), 5 and 4
Steven Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course (47) def. Lanny Cameron, Mariana Butte Golf Course (34), 3 and 2
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montr (7) def. Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North (10), 3 and 1
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC (19), 5 and 4
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club (6) def. Nick Berry, Meadows GC (22), 5 and 3
ROUND OF 32
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC (32), 1 up
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, The Club at (49) def. Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC (48), 5 and 3
Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse (8) def. Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC (40), 3 and 2
Kory Harrell, Pine Creek GC (9) def. Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC (24), 4 and 2
Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC (4) def. Nick Zinanti, Elmwood GC (29), 20 holes
Ben Krueger, Pine Creek GC (20) def. Chris Shaw, Collindale GC (52), 5 and 4
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28) def. Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills Golf Course (5), 4 and 2
Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek GC (21) def. Will Fowler, Rolling Hills, the Club at (53), 4 and 3
Lanny Cameron, Mariana Butte Golf Course (34) def. David Oraee, Highland Hills Golf Course (2), 3 and 2
Steven Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course (47) def. John Ahern, Bear Creek GC (15), 3 and 1
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montr (7) def. Cody Kent, Red Hawk Ridge GC (39), 3 and 1
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North (10) def. David Ramsden-Wood, Denver Athletic Club (42), 2 up
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Drew Trujillo, Bridges G&CC (30), 24 holes
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC (19) def. Ben Lyons, South Suburban Golf Course (51), 19 holes
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club (6) def. Andy Yang, Highlands Ranch GC (27), 3 and 1
Nick Berry, Meadows GC (22) def. Grant Suggs, Collindale Golf Club (54), 4 and 3
ROUND OF 64
Parker Edens, Greeley CC def. Braden Baer, Ranch CC 7 and 5
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC def. Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC 19 holes
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, The Club at def. Danny Hahn, CommonGround GC 20 holes
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC def. Scott Radcliffe, Rolling Hills, the Club at 2 and 1
Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse def. Gus Lundquist, The Club at Pradera 1 up
Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC def. Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC 1 up
Kory Harrell, Pine Creek GC def. Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC 5 and 3
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC def. Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC 3 and 1
Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC def. Steve Connell, Riverdale GC 2 and 1
Nick Zinanti, Elmwood GC def. John Luoma, Colorado GC 3 and 1
Chris Shaw, Collindale GC def. George Bollinger III, Red Rocks CC 20 holes
Ben Krueger, Pine Creek GC def. Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC 5 and 4
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC def. Brett Housman, Elmwood GC 20 holes
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC def. Charles Castellano, CommonGround GC 4 and 3
Will Fowler, Rolling Hills, the Club at def. Spencer Sheets, Glenmoor CC 1 up
Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek GC def. Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC 1 up
David Oraee, Highland Hills GC def. Steve Sullivan, CC at Castle Pines 3 and 2
Lanny Cameron, Mariana Butte Golf Course def. Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC 1 up
John Ahern, Bear Creek GC def. Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC 3 and 2
Steven Kupcho, CommonGround GC def. Danny Riskam, Columbine CC 6 and 5
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club at Montrose def. Michael Love, The Club at Pradera 2 and 1
Cody Kent, Red Hawk Ridge GC def. Chun-Ji Kim, Highlands Ranch GC 3 and 2
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North def. Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC 1 up
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver Athletic Club def. Michael Tilghman, Castle Pines GC 4 and 2
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC def. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 3 and 2
Drew Trujillo, Bridges G&CC def. Dallas Perrault, Heritage at Westmoor 3 and 2
Ben Lyons, South Suburban GC def. Jonathan Dresnick, Deering Bay Y&CC 4 and 2
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC def. Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club 1 up
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club def. Erik Helton, Buffalo Run GC 7 and 6
Andy Yang, Highlands Ranch GC def. Caleb Barker, Perry Park CC 1 up
Grant Suggs, Collindale Golf Club def. Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills 1 up
Nick Berry, Meadows GC def. Stephen Fernandes, Meridian GC 6 and 5
STROKE PLAY
Advanced to Match Play
David Oraee, Highland Hills GC, 35-34–69
Parker Edens, Greeley CC, 36-33–69
Jordan Burgess, Highland Hills GC, 34-36–70
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC, 37-33–70
Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club, 37-33–70
Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC, 35-35–70
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montr, 37-34–71
Kory Harrell, Pine Creek GC, 35-36–71
Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 37-34–71
Spencer Sheets, Glenmoor CC, 34-37–71
George Bollinger III, Red Rocks CC, 35-36–71
Brendan Connolly, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 35-36–71
Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse, 37-34–71
Jonathan Dresnick, Deering Bay Y&CC, 36-35–71
John Ahern, Bear Creek GC, 36-36–72
Danny Hahn, CommonGround GC, 35-37–72
Scott Radcliffe, Rolling Hills, the Club at, 37-35–72
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 36-36–72
Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC, 37-35–72
Cameron Harrell, Pine Creek GC, 35-38–73
Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC, 37-36–73
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC, 36-37–73
Nick Berry, Meadows GC, 37-36–73
Michael Tilghman, Castle Pines GC, 38-35–73
Andy Yang, Highlands Ranch GC, 37-36–73
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC, 37-36–73
Chun-Ji Kim, Highlands Ranch GC, 36-37–73
Ben Krueger, Pine Creek GC, 36-37–73
Nick Zinanti, Elmwood GC, 35-38–73
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC, 41-33–74
Drew Trujillo, Bridges G&CC, 36-38–74
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC, 37-37–74
Lanny Cameron, Mariana Butte Golf Course, 37-37–74
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC, 36-38–74
Dallas Perrault, Heritage at Westmoor, 39-35–74
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 37-37–74
Cody Kent, Red Hawk Ridge GC, 38-37–75
Caleb Barker, Perry Park CC, 37-38–75
Stephen Fernandes, Meridian GC, 38-37–75
Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC, 38-37–75
Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC, 37-38–75
Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC, 42-33–75
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 41-34–75
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver Athletic Club, 37-38–75
Charles Castellano, CommonGround GC, 37-38–75
Cameron Brown, Sonnenalp GC, 38-38–76
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, The Club at, 40-36–76
Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC, 36-40–76
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC, 37-39–76
Steven Kupcho, CommonGround GC, 40-36–76
Ben Lyons, South Suburban GC, 39-37–76
Will Fowler, Rolling Hills, the Club at, 34-42–76
Chris Shaw, Collindale GC, 39-37–76
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC, 36-41–77
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera, 39-38–77
Gus Lundquist, The Club at Pradera, 40-37–77
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 39-38–77
Grant Suggs, Collindale GC, 36-41–77
Brett Housman, Elmwood GC, 40-37–77
Erik Helton, Buffalo Run GC, 41-36–77
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 40-38–78
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 41-37–78
Braden Baer, Ranch CC, 38-40–78
Steve Sullivan, CC at Castle Pines, 43-35–78
Failed to Qualify
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC, 40-38–78
Mike Chavez, Applewood GC, 38-40–78
Ryan Boshoven, Boomerang GL, 41-37–78
Derik Brady, Black Bear GC, 39-39–78
Stu Allen, Fox Hollow GC, 39-40–79
Mark Anderson, Columbine CC, 43-36–79
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 39-40–79
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 38-41–79
Drew Vance, Raccoon Creek GC, 35-44–79
Tyler Winslow, Lake Valley GC, 39-40–79
Jim Fucillo, Eisenhower GC, 40-39–79
Mark Bedinger, Rolling Hills, the Club at, 39-40–79
Alex Leonida, Inverness GC, 40-40–80
James Clements, Broadlands GC, 37-43–80
David Lysaught, Pinehurst CC, 39-41–80
Phil Schneider, Lakewood CC, 38-42–80
Kyle Thurman, Broadlands GC, 38-42–80
Dillon Mcdonald, Red Sky GC, 41-39–80
Brian Thomas, Saddle Rock GC, 42-39–81
John Gorell, Patty Jewett GC, 44-37–81
David Yamamoto, CommonGround GC, 39-42–81
Preston Parsons, Colorado GC, 45-37–82
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery CC, 45-38–83
Aj Morris, Maroon CC, 41-42–83
Kevin McGuire, The Club at Cordillera, 43-41–84
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 41-43–84
Joey Muckler, Meridian GC, 44-40–84
Bert Sartori, Green Valley Ranch GC, 41-43–84
Matt Reinick, Heritage at Todd Creek GC, 40-44–84
Michael Olson, Broadlands GC, 47-39–86
Grant D Wozencroft, Highlands Ranch GC, 44-44–88
Nash Bledsoe, Quail Dunes GC, 42-46–88
Parker Edens has never had much success in match-play tournaments, but in a way he’s experienced what it’s like to win the CGA Match Play Championship.
The Colorado State University golfer, who plays out of Greeley Country Club, lost in the first round of last year’s CGA Match Play, but he caddied for Michael Lee, who won the title.
This year, Lee couldn’t defend his championship in the 112th Match Play, but Edens has an opportunity to win the trophy a year after caddying for the champ.
Edens, the top seed in the event, and third-seeded Brian Dorfman of Cherry Creek Country Club advanced to the finals Thursday with two more victories at The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden. They’ll go head-to-head over 36 holes on Friday with the title on the line.
“Last year was my first time playing in this thing,” said Edens, a qualifier for the 2010 U.S. Amateur. “I lost in the first round, then I caddied for Mike and he went all the way. I’ve seen it done. Hopefully we can get it done tomorrow.
“Mike plays at Mines (which is based in Golden) and they get to play out here (at Rolling Hills) a lot. So I’ve talked to him every night about different tee shots and different holes and what he thinks. To know somebody that knows the course pretty well helps.”
Edens, a junior-to-be on the CSU golf team, posted a 5-and-4 quarterfinal victory Thursday over Andrew Cornella of The Club at Flying Horse, then cooled off red-hot David Schroeder of the Broadmoor Golf Club with a 3-and-2 win in the semifinals. (Edens is pictured above teeing off, with Schroeder watching.)
Meanwhile, Dorfman, a two-time tournament winner at Georgetown University last season, scored a 2-up quarterfinal victory over 2009 CGA Mid-Amateur champion Michael Harrington of Garden of the Gods Club, then won 1-up over Black Canyon Golf Club’s Brandon Bingaman, a Colorado Mesa University golfer.
“I actually work full-time now and haven’t been able to practice as much as I’d like,” said Dorfman (pictured at left), the 2008 CGA Junior Match Play champ. “But I’ve been hitting it good, and I’ve been getting better as the week goes on.”
In both his victories Thursday, Dorfman birdied the par-5 18th, the same hole he eagled to force extra holes in his 24-hole round-of-32 victory over Drew Trujillo on Wednesday.
“That was an incredible match,” said Dorfman, who just completed his senior season at Georgetown, though he won’t graduate until December. “That’s probably the best match I’ve ever had. But this one (in the semifinals) is probably second. I shot 3 under par and it went to the end, so it was really hard. But I played great.”
Dorfman never trailed in Thursday’ semifinals, but he didn’t go ahead for good until Bingaman bogeyed No. 17 after missing the green on the par-3.
As for Edens, after being the co-medalist in stroke play, he has had only one of his five matches go beyond the 16th hole.
In the semifinals, he faced Schroeder — the 2011 CGA Stroke Play runner-up who won his previous matches this week on hole 14 twice, 15 once and 16 once. But Edens was likewise riding a wave of momentum, and when he made four birdies in five holes starting on No. 8, he built a comfortable lead he wouldn’t relinquish.
“I’ve been on a huge roll,” Edens said, despite playing poorly over the weekend and taking second at the Dick Billehus Invitational in Greeley. “I played the practice round (at Rolling Hills) and didn’t know if I was going to like the course at all. Then on Monday I came out and shot a bogey-free 2 under. I fell in love with it on Monday. I’ve just been hitting it real well and putting lights out — best I’ve ever putted.”
Indeed, Edens has made just six bogeys in six rounds this week.
CGA Match Play Championship
At The Club at Rolling Hills in Golden
(Seeds in Parentheses)
QUARTERFINALS
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. Andrew Cornella, The Club at Flying Horse (8), 5 and 4
David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28) def. Jonathan Park, Green Valley Ranch GC (4), 5 and 4
Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montrose (7) def. Steven Kupcho, Commonground Golf Course (47), 2 and 1
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Michael Harrington, Garden of the Gods Club (6), 2 up
SEMIFINALS
Parker Edens, Greeley CC (1) def. David Schroeder II, Broadmoor GC (28), 3 and 2
Brian Dorfman, Cherry Creek CC (3) def. Brandon Bingaman, Black Canyon Golf Club @ Montrose (7), 1 up