If the way the first CGA championship of 2018 ended is any indication, it could be one memorable season.

The 37th CGA Senior Four-Ball culminated in spectacular fashion on Wednesday at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada.

With his partner out of the hole and his two opponents less than half the distance from the cup, former CGA president Bill Fowler drained a 60-foot-plus birdie putt on the second hole of sudden death to give he and Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club their second Senior Four-Ball title in the last three years.

“It was probably one of the most exciting finishes of golf I’ve had in a long time,” Fowler said at the trophy presentation. “I’ll be celebrating that for a while.”

Fowler, from The Club at Rolling Hills, and Polk handed Guy Mertz and Tony Workman of The Fox Hill Club their second similar playoff loss in the CGA Senior Four-Ball. In 2012, Jerry Kidney and Daniel Dymerski defeated Mertz and Workman on the fifth hole of a playoff when Dymerski sank a 15-foot birdie putt.

“Did you see it bounce up when it hit the hole?” Mertz said of Fowler’s putt. “If he misses that (and it goes by quite a bit), we probably win with a 4. At worst we go on. That was twice as long as any putt I saw go in the whole tournament. It’s one of those turnarounds that you just … But that’s golf. It happens. But it’s happened to us twice now.”

Said Workman: “It was a hell of a putt.”

On a cold and sometimes rainy final day, Polk and Fowler shot the best score on Wednesday — a 4-under-par 68 — to rally from three strokes down going into the final round. With Polk getting up and down for birdie on the final hole of regulation, they finished with a winning total of 12-under-par 204. (The winners are pictured, with Fowler at right above and at left below.) 

It was the fourth CGA Senior Four-Ball title for Polk, who won with different partners in 2005 and ’07 before earning the trophy with Fowler in 2016. Only Bert Welz, with five, has won this tournament more, while Kidney has also captured four titles. Polk and Fowler also qualified for the first U.S. Amateur Four-Ball, played in 2015, and were one of the older twosomes in the field.

In the CGA Senior Four-Ball, Polk and Fowler have finished in the top three five of the last six years.

“I hope he has me back next year,” Fowler said with a smile. “I didn’t have my A game for the whole three days. He’s always looking on the free-agent market for somebody better.”

Said Polk, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year: “We are a good team. Bill is real steady. I tend to make some birdies, but I tend to knock it off the golf course every now and then. Bill covers me when I take leave.”

That includes the second hole of the playoff, the par-4 11th. There, teeing off before Fowler as usual, Polk put two tee shots out of bounds right leaving his partner on his own for the hole. Fowler, who turns 55 on Thursday, responded with a nice drive, but pulled his 8-iron approach a little, leaving his ball on the far left side of the green while the pin was on the right side. Mertz and Workman both had makeable birdie putts in the 25-foot range.

“I was tending the flag because I couldn’t do anything else,” said Polk, 62. “I had a real peaceful feeling. The greens were slow and they were hard to putt. We had so many that we thought we made that didn’t go in. But I’m sitting there holding the flag and going, ‘I think he’s going to make this.’ Halfway, I go, ‘Oh my!’ That sucker was right in the middle for a long time. It was a great putt.

“They had two (good looks) with putts, but after something like that the hole looks like a thimble.”

Both Workman and Mertz ended up two-putting for par.

As for Fowler’s thinking on his birdie putt:

“I was back there and I thought, ‘I’ve got nothing to lose. I really don’t,'” he said. “They’re up there for a two-putt par. I’ve got to just not three-putt. I wanted to get up there in the 3- or 4-foot range for a two-putt par. I just kept my head still, hit a really solid putt and hit my line. About halfway there, I said, ‘That’s on line, it’s not going to be very far away, it looks like it’s the right speed.’ As it got closer and closer and closer, I thought, ‘Man, that has a chance.’ Then all of a sudden, it was not on the green anymore. I just had this overwhelming feeling. I could not believe that I just did what I did.

“If you look at the scorecard, Robert played really well for three days and I played OK. It was really, really fun for me to contribute in that big way at the very end.”

In falling for the second time in a playoff in this event, Mertz and Workman (left, with Mertz in gray) carded scores of 66-68-70 and didn’t make a better-ball bogey in the tournament.

Tying for third place, one out of the playoff, were second-round leaders Mark Hirsch of Lone Tree Golf Club and Michael Davis of Meadow Hills Golf Course, and Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe of The Club at Rolling Hills. Forey and Radcliffe closed with a 70 and Davis and Hirsch with a 72.

Forey and Radcliffe, who won the CGA Senior Four-Ball together in 2003 — Forey also won with a different partner in 2008 — on Wednesday earned the super-senior division title, which is limited to partners who are both 62 or older. The two 65-year-olds lapped the field in that division, winning by six strokes.

“I’ve been out of action (on the state scene competitively) for quite a while, so it feels really good to me,” said Radcliffe, the president of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame. “Winning never gets old — anything — so I’m happy as heck. It’s renewed my interest in playing more golf.”

Said Forey: “We’ve won or tied for the super-seniors a few times. It’s always fun to win. But it’s always hard to come up one short (of the playoff for the overall title). Today was tough conditions and we just didn’t get it done.”

Finishing second among the super seniors were Dave Merritt and Bill Stevens of Meridian Golf Club, who shot a final-round 73.

For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.

Hirsch and Davis posted a better-ball score of 5-under-par 67 on Tuesday at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, which gives them a one-stroke lead.

But eight opposing teams are within five strokes of the lead going into the final day, including three former champions in this event.

Hirsch and Davis made six better-ball birdies and one bogey in the second round, giving them an 11-under 133 total in the scratch four-ball event.

One back of the leaders are Guy Mertz and Tony Workman of The Fox Hill Club, who carded a 68 on Tuesday.

In third place, at 135, are 2003 champions Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe of The Club at Rolling Hills, who shot a second-round 70. For the second straight day, Forey contributed an eagle to the cause.

Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and Bill Fowler of Rolling Hills, the 2016 winners, are in fourth place, three out of the lead, after a 71 on Tuesday.

In the super-senior division, for players 62 and older, Forey and Radcliffe retained their three-stroke lead.

Bill Stevens and Dave Merritt of Meridian Golf Club hold down second place with a 138 total following their second-round 70. John Applegate and Keith Masters, the 2011 CGA Senior Four-Ball champs, are in third place at 139.

Wednesday’s round will conclude the 54-hole event, the first championship of the CGA season.

For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.

Thirteen teams broke 70 in round 1 of the scratch better-ball competition at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, with 2016 champs Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club and Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills, and 2003 winners Sean Forey and Scott Radcliffe, both also from Rolling Hills, sitting atop the leaderboard.

Polk also won the Senior Four-Ball title in 2005 and ’07, while Forey also won in 2008.

Polk and Fowler, a former CGA president, made a better-ball eagle, six birdies and a bogey on Monday. Polk carded a 67 on his own ball. (Polk and Fowler are pictured, with Polk at left.)

Radcliffe, the president of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, and Forey also recorded a better-ball eagle, six birdies and a bogey in round 1.

Sharing third place at 66 with two rounds remaining in the Senior Four-Ball are Guy Mertz and Tony Workman from The Fox Hill Club, and Mark Hirsch of Lone Tree Golf Club and Michael Davis of Meadow Hills Golf Course. Hirsch posted a 68 on his own ball and Mertz a 70.

Defending champions Doug Moore and Raymond Kelley of Lone Tree Golf Club opened with a better-ball 73.

In the super-senior division, for players 62 and older, Forey and Radcliffe’s 65 is good for a three-stroke advantage over Bill Stevens and Dave Merritt of Meridian Golf Club.

The CGA Senior Four-Ball will continue through Wednesday.

For scores, click on the following: SENIORS, SUPER-SENIORS.

With the CGA and CWGA merging at the beginning of this year, 22 differerent CGA championships/tournaments are on tap — a dozen on the men’s side and 10 on the women’s.

The schedule starts with the CGA Senior Four-Ball, set for Monday through Wednesday (April 30-May 2), and likely will conclude with the finals of the season-long CGA Team Interclub sometime in October.

The lineup is highlighted by the “majors”. On the men’s side, that’s the 118th CGA Match Play June 18-22 at The Club at Ravenna in Littleton, and the CGA Amateur Aug. 2-5 at Pinehurst Country Club in south Denver. As for the women, the Women’s Stroke Play is set for June 20-22 at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker, with the 103rd Women’s Match Play scheduled for July 10-13 at The Fox Hill Club in Longmont.

The first women’s championship of 2018 will be the Brassie May 21-22 at The Club at Flying Horse in Colorado Springs.

Back to the CGA season opener, next week’s 37th annual Senior Four-Ball will be held at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, which this year opened its newly remodeled clubhouse.

The field for the 54-hole scratch event will feature 50 teams, with all players age 52 and older, and a separate super-senior competition for golfers 62 and older.

Six teams that have won the championship are back intact. That includes defending champions Doug Moore and Raymond Kelley of Lone Tree Golf Club, Robert Polk and Bill Fowler (2016; Polk also won with different partners in 2005 and ’07), David Delich and Bruce Hogg (2014), Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton (2009 and ’13), John Applegate and Keith Masters (2011), and Scott Radcliffe and Sean Forey (2003; Forey also won in 2008). Another former champ in the field is Robert Beiersdorf (2015), who this year is teaming up with Ed Spenner.

Also scheduled to compete at West Woods are Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore and partner Steve Bell, who lost on the third hole of a super-senior playoff to Crone and Netherton last year; Pat Bucci, winner of the 2017 CGA Senior Match Play and a regular at West Woods, and partner Bob Schuler; Robin Bradbury, the 2016 CGA Senior Player of the Year, and partner Owen Ellis; and Gary Albrecht, winner of the 2017 CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play, and partner John Ingram.

For tee times for the Senior Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

“I was trying to get some good mental thoughts,” he said. “I feel like I’ve got a good solid swing that I can repeat, but golf gets into your head. I found a video — it was one of Tiger Woods’ thoughts. What Tiger does, he has the 10-yard rule. If he hits a bad shot, he envisions a line 10 yards in front of him. As soon as he passes that line, the bad thoughts are gone. I really tried that. It got me at least to stop thinking about the bad shots. I was able to come back from bogeys to get a birdie (and from being 3 down after three holes in his semifinal match). That was the single biggest thing — and focusing on each shot, which I’m normally horrible at.”
 

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
ROUND OF 16
  Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC def. John Olive, Broadmoor GC, 1 up
  Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC def. Pete Perry, South Suburban GC, 3 and 2
  Don Alley, Antler Creek GC def. Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC, 1 up
  Lee Hansen, Pinehurst CC def. Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC, 2 and 1
  James W Brundige, Snowmass Club def. Randy Miller, Boulder CC, 10 and 8
  Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC def. Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC, 3 and 1
  Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC def. Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 4 and 2
  Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor def. Fredrick Steffers, Eisenhower GC, 2 and 1
QUARTERFINALS
  Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (16), 8 and 7
  Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4) def. Lee Hansen, Pinehurst CC (12), 3 and 2
  Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Randy Miller, Boulder CC (18), 2 and 1
  Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19) def. Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (22), 2 and 1
SEMIFINALS
  Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4), 1 up
  Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19), 2 and 1
FINAL
  Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8), 19 holes
 

Mertz, the 2010 winner of the Senior Match Play, won two of the first three holes and led throughout against Polk, a three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year.

Joining Mertz (pictured) in winning two matches on Wednesday to make the semis were Kary Kaltenbacher of Glenmoor Country Club, Robert West of Cherry Creek Country Club and Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club, who beat 2012 champion Ray Makloski of Pueblo Country in 20 holes in the quarterfinals. Oneth prevailed with a bogey on the 20th hole, where Makloski carded a double bogey. Makloski had been 3 up through 13 holes.

In Thursday’s semis, Kaltenbacher will face West and Mertz will take on Oneth. The winners will meet for the title on Thursday afternoon.

Meanwhile, in the CGA Super-Senior Match Play at West Woods Golf Club in Arvada, Steve Scheffel of Ptarmigan Country Club and Jeffrey English of CommonGround Golf Course won two matches each on Wednesday and will meet in Thursday morning’s championship match. Each player has defeated a two-time Super-Senior Match Play champ along the way, English taking down Roger Gunderson of CommonGround in Tuesday’s round of 16, and Scheffel dominating Patrick Mooney of Colorado Golf Club in Wednesday’s quarterfinals, 8 and 7.

In Wednesday afternoon’s semifinals, Scheffel edged Don Alley of Antler Creek Golf Course, 1 up, as the players halved the last five holes with pars. And English topped Doug Jones of Tiara Rado Golf Course, 2 and 1.

CGA Senior Match Play
At The Fox Hill Club in Longmont
ROUND of 16
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC (16) def. Jay Gomer, Indian Peaks GC (32) 2 up
Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines North (9) def. John Ingram, Hiwan GC (25) 1 up
Brian Woody, Ridge @ Castle Pines N (29) def. Bob Chandler, Foothills GC (13) 19 holes
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC (5) def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC (12) 19 holes
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club (2) def. Bradley Becker, Plum Creek GC (15) 6 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado GC (10) def. Jim Jagels, Hiwan GC (7) 1 up
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC (3) def. Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor (14) 7 and 5
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC (27) def. Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC (22) 2 and 1
QUARTERFINALS
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC (16) def. Gary Driber, Ridge at Castle Pines North (9) 7 and 6
Robert West, Cherry Creek CC (5) def. Brian Woody, Ridge @ Castle Pines N (29) 2 and 1
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill Club (2) def. Robert Polk, Colorado GC (10) 3 and 2
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC (27) def. Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC (3) 20 holes

CGA Super-Senior Match Play
At West Woods GC in Arvada
QUARTERFINALS
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (16), 8 and 7
Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4) def. Lee Hansen, Pinehurst CC (12), 3 and 2
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Randy Miller, Boulder CC (18), 2 and 1
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19) def. Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (22), 2 and 1
SEMIFINALS
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC (8) def. Don Alley, Antler Creek GC (4), 1 up
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC (23) def. Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC (19), 2 and 1
 

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