It was a day of firsts at the CGA Four-Ball Championship on Sunday at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

Let’s count the ways:

— Jon Lindstrom and Richard Bradsby, both of Lakewood Country Club, became the first team to win consecutive CGA Four-Balls since Rick DeWitt and Mike Glaesel did the trick in 1998 and ’99.

— With a 23-under-par 193 total for three rounds, they set the tournament scoring record, relative to par, since the Four-Ball went to a 54-hole format in 2011.

— With the victory, Lindstrom became the first person to win the CGA Four-Ball at least four times. He had been tied for the most titles in the event, with Steve Irwin, another Lakewood CC member. Prior to the last two years, Lindstrom won in 2002 with Rick Larson and in 2012 with Dean Clapp.

Despite playing their last six holes in even-par on Sunday, Lindstrom and Bradsby prevailed by two strokes. They followed up their back-to-back rounds of 64 with a 7-under-par 65 on Sunday.

Through 54 holes, the partners never recorded a better-ball bogey. (They’re pictured above and below, with Lindstrom in the striped shirt.)

“I’m going to create a conflict for Lindstrom next year” for this event, runner-up Alex Buecking said with a smile on Sunday.

The victory at Legacy Ridge marked the 10th CGA championship for the 50-year-old Lindstrom, who has claimed four Four-Balls, three Mid-Amateurs, two Two-Mans (with Clapp) and one Mid-Amateur Match Play.

“I like winning CGA events, so that’s awesome,” Lindstrom said. “I like team events. There used to be the two-man event, and I won that a couple of times too. It’s a lot of fun playing with somebody (as a teammate).”

Meanwhile, the 49-year-old Bradsby owns two CGA titles, both in the Four-Ball. Lindstrom and Bradsby also finished second in the event, in 2014.

“It’s special absolutely” to win CGA state titles, Bradsby said. “It’s amazing.”

Bradsby provided the spark in Sunday’s final round by shooting a 4-under 32 on his own ball on the front nine, making six 3s on that side.

“Richard played great today,” Lindstrom said.

“And John was killing it the other two (days),” Bradsby added.

With Lindstrom throwing in a birdie, he and Bradsby posted a 5-under 31 on the front nine. Then Lindstrom drained an 8-foot birdie putt on No. 11 and Bradsby an 18-foot birdie on 12. Even with no more birdies after being 7 under through 12, it was good enough.

“Obviously the week was great,” Lindstrom said. “We did a good job of ham and egging it. There were three or four times one of us was out of the hole and the other guy ended up making birdie on that hole. It couldn’t have worked out better.”

As for their recent success in the Four-Ball, Lindstrom points to the two meshing as partners.

“We’re both members at Lakewood and we play a lot of golf together — both as opponents and partners,” he said. “We know each other’s games. We both go out and try to win it on our own, and if the other guy helps out, great. As opposed to putting pressure on, expecting the other guy to play well. We both do that really well, I think. Neither one of us gets pissed off if the other guy hits a bad shot.”

Claiming second place for the second time in the last three years on Sunday were Buecking, of Columbine Country Club, and Trent Isgrig of Cherry Hills Country Club. Buecking, who won the 2009 title with Irwin, also placed fourth last year, with Sean Crowley.

Buecking and Isgrig, who shot a tournament-low 62 in the first round, had sterling opportunities at birdies at holes 6, 7, 9 and 10 on Sunday, but didn’t convert any of them, costing themselves a chance at the title.

They closed with a 66 for a 195 total.

“We had a good time, but we’re a little disappointed,” Isgrig said. “The turning point was 6, 7, 9 and 10. We should have made at least two or three (birdies), and we didn’t make any of them. That was the difference, no doubt.”

Jake Staiano, the 2017 CGA Player of the Year, and Pierce Aichinger of Glenmoor Country Club fired an 8-under 64 on Sunday to tie for third place at 197. Staiano also placed third last year, with then-Colorado State University teammate Blake Cannon.

Also at 197 were Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course and Chris Thayer of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve — winners of a CGA Match Play and two CGA Mid-Amateurs, respectively — and Alan Boyko of CommonGround Golf Course and Dean Siskowski of Collindale Golf Course. Nosewicz and Thayer carded a 66 on Sunday, and Boyko and Siskowski a 68.

(Pictured above, from left, are Nosewicz, Buecking and Thayer.)

In all, six teams out of 60 broke 200 for the 54-hole event. 

For all the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

Two years ago, the Columbine Country Club member teamed up with Jason Enloe to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball. In 2009, he paired with Steve Irwin to win the CGA Four-Ball. And in 2016, he and Trent Isgrig, who now plays out of Cherry Hills Country Club, finished runner-up in that same CGA event.

And this week, it appears Buecking and Isgrig will make another run at the CGA Four-Ball title.

The pair (pictured, with Isgrig at left) bolted from the gate on Friday, shooting a 10-under-par 62 at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster in the opening round of the scratch better-ball event.

Buecking and Isgrig made an eagle (by Isgrig on the par-5 11th) and eight birdies on Friday to grab a two-stroke lead in the 54-hole event.

Defending champions Jon Lindstrom and Richard Bradsby of Lakewood Country Club went bogey-free with eight better-ball birdies to shoot a 64 and hold down second place. Lindstrom, a three-time winner of this event, shot a 7-under-par 65 on his own ball in round 1, while Bradsby posted a 69.

Another team of former champions sits in third place, at 7-under 65. Sam Marley and James Richardson of South Suburban Golf Course won this title on 2015. On Friday, Marley, a University of Northern Colorado golfer, carded a 66 on his own.

Tied at 66 are 2017 CGA Player of the Year Jake Staiano and Pierce Aichinger from Glenmoor Country Club, and Alan Boyko of CommonGround Golf Course and Dean Siskowski of Collindale Golf Course.

The championship will continue through Sunday.

For all the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.
 

Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club and Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course, along with Alex Buecking of Columbine Country Club and Trent Isgrig of CommonGround Golf Course stayed in a share of the lead as they matched 6-under-par 66s to go into Sunday’s final round with 14-under 130 totals. Irwin and Buecking won the CGA Four-Ball title together in 2009.

Buecking and Isgrig have yet to make a bogey through 36 holes as they posted six birdies on Saturday. Irwin, a two-time champion, and Erwin have made two bogeys total to go alone with 16 birdies.

Meanwhile, Macdonald and Schmitz, from the Country Club at Castle Pines and Colorado Golf Club, respectively, carded the best round of the tournament so far — by two strokes — in following up a 69 with a 62. They trail the leaders by one after racking up 11 birdies best-ball on Saturday, posting 11 3s on their card.

Dallas Massey of South Suburban Golf Course and John Hayes of Commonground are the only other team at 135 or better as they hold fourth place at 132.

Sunday’s final round will begin with a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

For interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
 

CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster

Alex Buecking, Columbine CC / Trent R Isgrig, Commonground GC 64-66–130
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC / Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek GC 64-66–130
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines / Ryan Schmitz, Colorado GC 69-62–131
Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC / John Hayes, Commonground GC 67-65–132
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC 70-66–136
Ben Sherlund, Colorado GC / Zach Fowlds, Colorado GC 66-70–136
Joel Perez, Colorado National GC / Ben Gibson, Fox Hollow at Lakewood 69-67–136
Brooks Ferring, Lakewood CC / Carey Sullivan, Lakewood CC 70-66–136
Wesley Martin, Commonground GC / Adam Muhleisen, City Park GC 70-67–137
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood CC / Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC 72-65–137
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC / Michael Bartley, Meadow Hills GC 70-67–137
Andy Dannewitz, The Club at Ravenna / Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC 70-68–138
Dean Siskowski, Ptarmigan CC / Bill Severin, Ptarmigan CC 69-69–138
 Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek GC / Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek 71-68–139
Gregory Pattison, Heritage at Westmoor / Eric Miller, Heritage at Westmoor 69-70–139
Garrett Mortimer, Boomerang Golf Links / Jake Jacobs, Flatirons GC 69-71–140
Tristan Sanders, Commonground GC / Tim Kratz, Commonground GC 69-71–140
Arnold Hoy, Colorado GC / Nicholas Engen, Colorado GC 68-72–140
Michael Love, Colorado GC / Brian McCloy, Colorado GC 72-70–142
Bryan Pieper, Boulder CC / Greg Stringari, Meridian GC 74-68–142
Chace Nathe, Collindale GC / Andrew Sinner, Collindale GC 75-67–142
Chris Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs CC / Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines North 73-70–143
Bob Chandler, Foothills GC / Gary Albrecht, Commonground GC 73-70–143
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC / Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor 73-70–143
Jeff Woods, Meadow Hills GC / Kevin Walden, Meadow Hills GC 69-75–144
Eddie Lee, Broadlands GC / Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC 76-69–145
Andy Brooks, Commonground GC / Sam Solomon, Todd Creek GC 73-73–146
Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club / Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins CC 75-71–146
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League / Pat Bowe, Commonground GC 77-69–146
James Richardson, South Suburban GC / Justin Gold, South Suburban GC 73-73–146
Bret Ludwick, Olde Course at Loveland / Richard Schneider, Olde Course at Loveland 75-72–147
Jack Huffman, Eagle Ranch GC / Cory Nolan, Gypsum Creek GC 72-75–147
Mr Cole M Campbell, Lake Arbor GC / Kyle Shinkle, Lake Arbor GC 73-74–147
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 70-77–147
Chris Didonato, Broadlands GC / Joe Larsen, Riverdale GC 74-74–148
Kevin Welch, Thorncreek GC / Chad Lounsbury, Adobe Creek National GC 74-74–148
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC / Steve Kass, Aurora Hills GC 73-75–148
Todd Beckman, Indian Peaks GC / Curt Confer, Indian Peaks GC 75-76–151
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC / Troy Tomsick, Indian Peaks GC 76-75–151
Raphael Martorello, Cherry Creek CC / Shane Thomas, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C 78-75–153
Jayson Holland, Springhill GC / Matt Conger, Saddle Rock GC 78-76–154
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC / Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC 82-73–155
Scot Mortimer, Flatirons GC / Mike Bretzke, 78-77–155
Bob Cloud, Commonground GC / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 80-78–158
Phil Lane, Broadmoor GC / Scott A Blackmun, Broadmoor GC 79-82–161

Irwin and Barry Erwin of Murphy Creek Golf Course made nine birdies in opening with an 8-under-par 64. And that total was matched by Buecking and Trent Isgrig of CommonGround Golf Course, who had eight birdies in a bogey-free round.

Irwin also won this event in 2004 with Pat Diaz. As for Buecking, he and Jason Enloe of Dallas advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in May.

Two other players who competed in that national four-ball tournament in the spring, Ben Sherlund and Zach Fowlds of Colorado Golf Club, are in third place after shooting a 66 on Friday. Dallas Massey of South Suburban Golf Course and John Hayes of CommonGround hold down the fourth spot at 67 after making an eagle on the 18th hole in round 1.

A total of 45 two-person teams are competing in the scratch best-ball stroke-play event. The 54-hole tournament continues through Sunday.

The CGA Four-Ball was originally scheduled for early May, but a snowstorm caused it to be postoned.

For interactive scores, CLICK HERE.
 

CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-72 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster

Trent R Isgrig, Commonground Golf Course / Alex Buecking, Columbine Country Club — 33-31–64
Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek Golf Course / Steven Irwin, Lakewood Country Club — 30-34–64
Ben Sherlund, Colorado Golf Club / Zach Fowlds, Colorado Golf Club — 30-36–66
Dallas Massey, South Suburban Golf Course / John Hayes, Commonground Golf Course — 35-32–67
Nicholas Engen, Colorado Golf Club / Arnold Hoy, Colorado Golf Club — 36-32–68
Garrett Mortimer, Boomerang Golf Links / Jake Jacobs, Flatirons GC — 35-34–69
Dean Siskowski, Ptarmigan Country Club / Bill Severin, Ptarmigan Country Club — 34-35–69
Joel Perez, Colorado National Golf Club / Ben Gibson, Fox Hollow at Lakewood — 34-35–69
Tristan Sanders, Commonground Golf Course / Tim Kratz, Commonground Golf Course — 35-34–69
Gregory Pattison, Heritage at Westmoor / Eric Miller, Heritage at Westmoor — 33-36–69
Ross Macdonald, Country Club at Castle Pines / Ryan Schmitz, Colorado Golf Club — 34-35–69
Jeff Woods, Meadow Hills Golf Course / Kevin Walden, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-33–69
Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood Country Club / Richard Bradsby, Lakewood Country Club — 36-34–70
Wesley Martin, Commonground Golf Course / Adam Muhleisen, City Park GC — 34-36–70
Andy Dannewitz, The Club at Ravenna / Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-34–70
Brooks Ferring, Lakewood Country Club / Carey Sullivan, Lakewood Country Club — 33-37–70
Bob Schuler, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Jim LeMar, Meadows Golf Club — 33-37–70
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills Golf Course / Michael Bartley, Meadow Hills Golf Course — 36-34–70
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek / Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek Golf Course — 37-34–71
Michael Love, Colorado Golf Club / Brian McCloy, Colorado Golf Club — 36-36–72
Cory Nolan, Gypsum Creek Golf Course / Jack Huffman, Eagle Ranch GC — 34-38–72
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club / Curt Jenkins, Lakewood Country Club — 36-36–72
Andy Brooks, Commonground Golf Course / Sam Solomon, Todd Creek Golf Club — 36-37–73
Chris Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs Country Club / Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines North — 37-36–73
James Richardson, South Suburban Golf Course / Justin Gold, South Suburban Golf Course — 35-38–73
Bob Chandler, Foothills Golf Course / Gary Albrecht, Commonground Golf Course — 35-38–73
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf Club / Steve Kass, Aurora Hills Golf Club — 35-38–73
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club / Dennis Fields, Heritage at Westmoor — 34-39–73
Kyle Shinkle, Lake Arbor Golf Club / Mr Cole M Campbell, Lake Arbor Golf Club — 35-38–73
Joe Larsen, Riverdale Golf Club / Chris Didonato, Broadlands Golf Club — 35-39–74
Bryan Pieper, Boulder Country Club / Greg Stringari, Meridian Golf Club — 35-39–74
Kevin Welch, Thorncreek Golf Club / Chad Lounsbury, Adobe Creek National Golf Club — 38-36–74
Bret Ludwick, Olde Course at Loveland / Richard Schneider, Olde Course at Loveland — 37-38–75
Chris Schwartz, Harmony Club / Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins Country Club — 38-37–75
Chace Nathe, Collindale Golf Club / Andrew Sinner, Collindale Golf Club — 38-37–75
Curt Confer, Indian Peaks Golf Club / Todd Beckman, Indian Peaks Golf Club — 38-37–75
Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks Golf Club / Troy Tomsick, Indian Peaks Golf Club — 36-40–76
Eddie Lee, Broadlands Golf Club / Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC — 38-38–76
Dave Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League / Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course — 39-38–77
Shane Thomas, Colorado Avidgolfer Passport C / Raphael Martorello, Cherry Creek Country Club — 40-38–78
Matt Conger, Saddle Rock Golf Course / Jayson Holland, Springhill Golf Course — 40-38–78
Scot Mortimer, Flatirons Golf Course / Mike Bretzke, — 41-37–78
Phil Lane, Broadmoor Golf Club / Scott A Blackmun, Broadmoor Golf Club — 41-38–79
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course / Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club — 38-42–80
Dan Deppen, Broadlands Golf Club / Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC — 42-40–82