The SUMMIT - Colorado PGA Magazine - September Issue

The

SUMMIT

The SUMMIT is the official digital magazine of the Colorado PGA September 2019

VLOSICH WINS COLORADO PGA

PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

The Official Magazine of the Colorado PGA The SUMMIT is produced by the Colorado PGA

Colorado PGA Officers Ben Welsh, PGA President | 2019-2020 Frost Creek Club

Jim Hajek, PGA Vice-President | 2019-2020 Fossil Trace Golf Club Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA Secretary | 2019-2020 Country Club of Colorado Ty Thompson, PGA President | 2019-2020 Crosshairs Consulting

Board of Directors

Andy Benson, PGA | 2017-2019 University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch Jeff Boyer, PGA | 2019-2020 Eagle Ranch Golf Course Bob Doyle, PGA Past District 9 Director Life Member Kyle Heyen, PGA Past District 9 Director Hiwan Golf Club Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA Past District 9 Director Ed Marzec, PGA | 2019-2021 Red Sky Golf Club Jim Miller, PGA | 2018-2020 Sonnenalp Golf Club Josh Miller, PGA | 2019-2021 GOLFTEC Dennis Murray, PGA | 2018-2020 Valley Country Club Mike O’Donnell, PGA | 2018-2020 Fort Carson Bobby Quaratino, PGA | 2017-2019 West Woods Golf Course Chris Swinhart, PGA | 2017-2019 Thorncreek Golf Course Dave Troyer, PGA | 2019-2021 CommonGround Golf Course

Independent Directors Theo Gregory Spencer Zinn

West Chapter Officers Jeff Boyer, PGA President | 2019-2020 Eagle Ranch Golf Course

Brett Gagnon, PGA Vice-President | 2019-2020 Red Sky Golf Club Luke Brosterhous Secretary | 2017-2019 Catamount Ranch and Club Ed Marzec, PGA Honorary President | 2019-2020 Red Sky Golf Club

West Chapter Board of Directors

Tom Apple, PGA | 2019-2021 Country Club of the Rockies Jacques Deyoe, PGA | 2017-2019 Maroon Creek Club

Dr. Stephen Davis Cheyenne Mountain Dental Group Brad Dombaugh CEO - PSA Worldwide Corp.

Maj. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, Retired Corporate Director: Callon Petroleum; USA Truck Walter Glover EVP/COO - United States Olympic Endowment Theo Gregory Senior Vice President - El Pomar Tom Gunnerson Vice President of Investments, Wells Fargo Advisors Dominic Karaba President - Specialty Lending and Business Banking - UMB

Alice Plain, PGA | 2018 - 2020 Vail Golf Club

Eric Kenealy Chairman, Mackinaw Holding Corporation

Kenny Thayer, PGA | 2019-2021 Beavercreek Golf Club

Bill Keller Lieutenant Colonel USAF, Retired

Steve VanDyke, PGA | 2018-2020 River Valley Ranch GC

Bob Lally Navy Captain, Retired

Colorado PGA REACH Trustees

George Lee VP - Ameriprise Financial Services

Spencer Zinn Chairman

John Andrew Brigadier General USAF - Retired Dan Bennett Investor/Partner, Southwest Greens Management John Bond VP Sales & Marketing, Golf Division of Garb Anne Broholm CEO | AHEAD

Adam McDiarmid Regional Manager - Business Banking - UMB Scott McGraw VP of Employee Benefits Cherry Creek Insurance Group Honorable Sue Payton President - SCI Aerospace Inc. LTG Ed Soriano, US Army (Ret) Director, Bus. Dev. Global Land Forces - Northrop Grumman

Tom Bauerle Owner - Colorado Golf and Turf

Mike Talaga Credit Analyst Janus Henderson Investors

Dr. Phil Brown President/Founder, Six Points Consulting

Bill Vogeney Chief Revenue Officer Ent Credit Union

Staff

Executive Director/CEO Eddie Ainsworth, PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125 Assistant Executive Director Patrick Salva psalva@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1597 C (303) 246-1007 Tournament Director Justin Limon, PGA jlimon@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1588 C (720) 390-1160 Player Development Director Holly Champion, PGA hchampion@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1591 C (217) 232-1790 Junior Golf Manager Scott Minta sminta@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1590 C (630) 532-3230 Finance Specialist Annie O’Donnell adonnell@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1595 Marketing and Communications Coordinator Judy Malone jmalone@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1594

Field Staff

Career Consultant Keith Soriano, PGA ksoriano@pgahq.com C (720) 841-1006 PGA Junior League Regional Manager Anthony Vitale, PGA avitale@pgahq.com C (561) 267-1208

Colorado PGA

6630 Bear Dance Drive | Larkspur, CO 80118 P | (303) 681-0742 www.coloradopga.com The SUMMIT is distributed free to members and affiliates of the Colorado PGA eleven times per year.

The articles and other information contained within this publication are informational and do not necessarily represent the view or opinions of the Colorado PGA. The Colorado PGA assumes no responsibility or liability for claims made for or by any product in this publication whether reported or advertised. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the Colorado PGA is prohibited.

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What’s Inside

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President’s Report Our Mission - Your Career!

Executive Director’s Report Here to Serve You! District Director Report/PGA of America News Construction Underway at New Headquarters Colorado PGA News Colorado PGA Legend Finsterwald Turns 90 Years Young Fall Meeting and Teaching and Coaching Workshop Membership News Bacheldor Earns Master Professional Designation Quarter Century Members Member Reports Special Awards Feature Steve Atherton, PGA - Teacher of the Year Tom Buzbee, PGA - Warren Smith Award Josh Miller, PGA - Horton Smith Award Rick Cole, PGA - Bill Strausbaugh Award Tournament News Vlosich Claims Section Championship 28 Years After Winning First Title Northern Battles Back to Claim Second Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship Junior Golf News PGA Jr. League Playoffs Drive, Chip & Putt Regional Championship Recap JGAC Visits Longmong Pueblo Hosts JGAC Fall Events

September 2019

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President’s Message

Our Mission, Your Career!

How can we help you be as successful as you can be?

“L

eaders become great, not because of their power, but because of their ability to empower others. They use their position, relationships and productivity to invest in their followers and develop them until those followers become leaders in their own right. Production may win games, but People Development wins championships. The high investment in people deepens relationships, helps people to know one another better and strengthens loyalty. Because there are more leaders on the team, productivity increases.” John Maxwell defines this as Level 4 Leadership: People Development. It is with this in mind that your Colorado PGA Board of Directors developed Vision 2020 almost 5 years ago – to strengthen the resources and training for our members.

This philosophy will continue to guide your Board as we begin meeting later this fall to develop our vision for the future.

The Colorado Section of the PGA of America is considered one of the leading Sections within the PGA of America. Additionally, numerous Colorado PGA Members are considered the best of the best, and this number continues to increase annually. As they say, “Success breeds confidence” and we are always looking to improve! The Board is excited to keep planning a greater vision for the future, as we serve our Colorado PGA Members.

Very shortly, you will be receiving our Colorado PGA Membership Survey. I would ask each of you to take 10 minutes of your time and provide us your honest feedback on how we are meeting your needs under our mission of, “Serving the Member and Growing the Game.”

Quite frankly, our mission is your career. How can we help you be as successful as you can be? To do this, we need to hear from you. We need to hear from you what we should be doing that we currently are not doing? For the short term, the next 5 years and the next 10 years. Your input is vital in helping the Board of Directors chart our course for the future.

Ben Welsh, PGA President Colorado PGA Head Professional Frost Creek bwelsh@pga.com P | (970) 328-2326 C | (970) 688-0115

We will be sharing the results of the survey during our Fall Membership Meeting on Monday October 14th at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club. In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of 2019, our focus of the meeting will be Membership and Employment.

We are excited to facilitate a panel discussion on these topics. Our panel will consist of: John Easterbrook, Chief Membership Officer for the PGA of America; Bill Hughes, Master PGA Professional and Member of the PGA of America’s Membership Committee; Keith Soriano, PGA of America Employment Services Career Consultant; and yours truly representing the Colorado PGA Board of Directors. I hope I can count on you taking the time to fill out the survey and being at the Fall Meeting to discuss how we should plan for the future.

I wish you success as we wind down the golf season and I look forward to seeing you at our Section Championship, West Chapter Championship and our Fall Membership Meetings.

All the Best.

Ben Welsh, PGA Head Golf Professional President, Colorado PGA Section 970-328-2326 (Shop) 970-688-0115 (Cell)

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Executive Director’s Message

Here to Serve You!

September and October All About Connecting with Members

T

he months of September and October are clearly two of my favorite months in Colorado. It’s my favorite time of the year to Play Golf, go Hiking, and to Fly Fish. It’s also the time of the year that I get to spend the most time with you, our Colorado PGA Members. I so look forward to September with our Section Championship and Pro Assistant. In October, we have our West Chapter Fall Meeting and West Chapter Championship, along with our Section’s Fall Membership Meeting.

This is the time of the year that I so look forward to connecting with you, our PGA Members. I enjoy every time during the season I get to connect with you, but there is something extra special about connecting at the end of our season. To hear how your season has been and to hear how we can better support you going forward is so very important to me. As we come together to celebrate great accomplishments in 2019, my mind is already focusing in on how we plan to do better in 2020.

Please let me encourage you to fill out the Membership Survey that is coming your way.

Please, also, let me encourage you to speak up at our Fall Meetings, whether it be the Chapter Meeting at Aspen Glen or the Section Meeting at Heritage Eagle Bend. We value your input, as together we are all better! As the Board of Directors heads into its Business Planning sessions later this year, they will use your input in planning the strategic future of how the Colorado Section “Serves You,” our PGA Members.

It is my honor to lead a dedicated Team who strive to serve you each and every day.

Please never hesitate to ask us how we can assist you.

Eddie Ainsworth, PGA CEO/Executive Director Colorado PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com

My thanks in advance for filling out the Membership Survey, and I look forward to seeing you at one of our upcoming Fall Meetings.

All the Best.

Very Respectfully, Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Executive Director/CEO Colorado PGA 6630 Bear Dance Drive Larkspur, CO 80118 eainsworth@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125

September 2019

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PGA of America News

Construction Underway at New PGA Headquarters PGA Junior League Heads to Conclusion, PGA.Coach Update and NextGenGolf Joins PGA of America Programs

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’d like to congratulate the Colorado Section Professionals who qualified for the Senior PGA Professional Championship, including your Senior Champion Mike Northern. Best of luck to Mike, Chris Johnson, Don Hurter, Doug Rohrbaugh, Doug Wherry, Ron Vlosich and Patrick Reidy as they head to Austin, Texas, and the Omni Barton Creek Resort the first week of October. It will be the first of two consecutive Professional Championships to be held at Barton Creek, as next spring the PGA will hold the 2020 PGA Professional Championship in Austin as well. It is a fabulous resort and the golf courses are great tests. Again, best of luck to the Colorado Section Professionals!

Headquarters Update

Ron Rawls, PGA District 9 Director PGA of America Head Professional Crane Creek CC

Construction is underway on the two golf courses at the PGA Headquarters site in Frisco, Texas. Architects Gil Hanse and Beau Welling are overseeing the initial dirt moving in preparation to start the ground shaping process. While ground breaking has been underway for almost 30 days for infrastructure, center line clearing for the golf holes and construction of the practice facility, there will be an “official ground breaking” ceremony on October 18 with representatives from all key partner entities. Suzy Whaley and Seth Waugh will represent the PGA of America at this event. Gil Hanse and Beau Welling will also be in attendance, and we anticipate they will begin the ground shaping process immediately thereafter. The process is underway to choose an architectural firm to start the plans for the Headquarters building.

PGA Junior League With the 2019 PGA Jr. League season heading to its conclusion at the National Championship in October, it is a good time to reflect on the success of this program.

Through the month of June, compared to last year’s figures, captain registration was up 12 percent, player registration was up 13 percent, scholarships redeemed was up 43 percent, and the average program fee was up $29. Total registration revenue for PGA Professionals was $9.8 million, with a total economic impact of the program estimated at $56 million for 2019. The first year of the 17U division saw participation of 3,951 juniors. This program continues to grow at a fast pace, so thanks to all the Colorado PGA Professionals and Associates who are involved in PGA Jr. League in Colorado. Be sure to catch the National Championship aired on ESPN October 11-14.

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PGA of America News PGA.Coach Many Colorado golf professionals have already checked out PGA.Coach. PGA.Coach is a vehicle to help PGA Professionals understand the American Development Model (ADM) principles and how to apply them at their facilities. PGA.Coach provides a short training program for the industry and coach specific tools for PGA members. There is no cost to continued on following page continued from previous page visit the site and sign up for the training. To check it out, go to www.PGA.Coach and sign up for the training. After you complete the virtual training (which takes 2-3 hours), you will be given access to the PGA.Coach app. The app includes: •

Lesson planning, note taking and assessment tools for all ages and skill levels.

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The ability to create your own lesson plans using over 150 different ADM inspired activities.

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Preset lesson plans designed by ADM experts.

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Assessments for all ages and skill levels.

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PGA Members will be eligible to earn MSR credits for completing the PGA.Coach training.

I can’t stress too much about the value of this platform. PGA.Coach has already had a positive impact on those who have gone through the training and accessed the app. It will have a positive impact on your teaching and coaching as well, and on your development of young players. If you haven’t visited PGA.Coach, I encourage you to do so.

NextGenGolf I am excited to announce the PGA of America’s acquisition of Nextgengolf. Nextgengolf caters to golfers 15-50 years of age by proactively keeping golfers engaged through events and bringing new players into the game. Only a fraction of junior golfers go on to play college golf, and even fewer go on to play professionally.

Nextgengolf targets avid golfers before, during and after college.

The focus is on the core golfer who is considered the rest, not the best. Nextgengolf has developed three core event-based products.

Nextgengolf has a large Millennial membership base providing significant opportunity for authentic engagement.

The three core products include: •

NCCGA (targeting 18-24-year olds). This is the largest college club golf association in the world. They run competitive 2-day tournaments for non-varsity golfers (140 events annually).

They have assisted in founding and organizing 400+ college club golf teams.

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City Tour (targeting those 21 years old and older). This provides adults with social and competitive golf experiences. This currently operates in 23 cities nationwide.

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NHSGA (targeting 15-18 year-olds). They created the first annual High School Golf National Championship in 2019 and developed the first High School National Rankings.

Look for more information to come on Nextgengolf. In the meantime, check out their websites www.nextgengolf. org and www.highschoolgolf.org.

I hope all of you have a great fall season. Please contact me if you have any questions, concerns or comments.

At your service, Ron Rawls, PGA

September 2019

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Colorado PGA News

Colorado PGA Legend Finsterwald Turns 90 Years Young This Month

By Judy Malone

H

ave you ever experienced the awe of being in the presence of greatness? Just being in the same room as greatness inspires people to new levels of the possible. This is the feeling that surrounds Dow Finsterwald, PGA Life Member.

Turning 90 years old this month, greatness isn’t the only thing Finsterwald has in surplus. He also has more stories from his years in golf than are possible to share.

But being the gentleman that he is, the only person who feels the brunt of his stories is himself, which, according to him, means “You can get away with a whole lot more.”

We in the Colorado Section remember Finsterwald for the nearly 30 years he served as the Director of Golf at The Broadmoor, but before that, he was a professional golfer. Best known for winning the 1958 PGA Championship, he won 11 Tour titles between 1955 and 1963, played on four Ryder Cup Teams and served as the non-playing captain for the 1977 U.S. Ryder Cup Team.

He was known for his superb short game and was considered one of the most consistent players on the Tour in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

The Broadmoor, to honor Finsterwald’s commitment and dedication to the industry and to the Resort, renamed the Arnold Palmer Room to the Dow Finsterwald Room. There is also a hallway at the Broadmoor Golf Club filled with his memorabilia that was dedicated in 2018.

Finsterwald and Arnold Palmer were close personal friends. “When Arnold visited the Broadmoor, he never denied anyone a request – reasonable or unreasonable.

It was just his nature to be accommodating and I think that led to him getting the contract to build the South Course here,” said Finsterwald. “I tell that story because if you do the right thing, you never know when it’s going to come back to you ten-fold.” He is also a firm believer in saying “Thank You for things in the past, not to gain footing for things in the future.”

Another of Finsterwald’s favorite memories was the time he was asked by University of Colorado head football coach Eddie Crowder to take a look at Hale Irwin and evaluate if he might have a future in tournament golf. If so, he would release him from playing football at CU. Finsterwald told Crowder, “I can’t see what’s in his heart and I can’t see what’s in his head, but he has every chance in the world to be a good golfer.” Irwin went on to win three U.S. Opens.

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Finsterwald served twice as an officer of the Colorado Section. “Being a member of the Colorado Section meant something,” he remembers. “It wasn’t a walk in the park to be a member so if I could help enhance the status of another member, I was happy to do so.”

When asked what in his career he is most proud of, he quickly responded, “I feel very good about following my father into the Ohio University Athletic Hall of Fame. He was in the first class and I was inducted in 1969.”

The life-advice Finsterwald would give others is, “If you can’t tell the truth, don’t say anything.” On-the-course he would say, “Don’t brood over the last shot, be preparing to play the next shot.”

As lunch at The Broadmoor concluded, Finsterwald turned to Eddie Ainsworth, Colorado Section Executive Director/CEO, and asked, “Do you want to play a few holes? My clubs are in a cart out there.” How great that at 90 years young, he is still looking for excuses to get out on the course and swing a club.

The next time you have the opportunity to visit with Mr. Finsterwald, wish him a Happy 90th Birthday. And if you want to do something special, he has a weakness for white chocolate M&Ms and Nutter Butter cookies.

It is Finsterwald’s intent to attend the Fall Membership Meeting on October 14, 2019, at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club.

The SUMMIT

Save the Date Colorado PGA Golf Industry Summit

presented by Colorado Golf and Turf October 22, 2019 (previously the Pro-GM-Super-Club Official)

Join us as we bring together industry leaders to discuss the ever-changing landscape of the golf industry in Colorado.

We will hear from the National Golf Foundation and will discuss Employment, Government Relations and many other topics.

September 2019

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Colorado PGA News

Career Development Panel Discussion to Highlight Fall Membership Meeting

Golf Tournament to feature Doubles Golf format The Fall Membership Meeting will take place on Monday, Ocotber 14, 2019 at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf and Country Club. The meeting will feature presentations by a number of new partners, Section Business and a Career Development panel discussion. Featured on the the panel will be PGA of America Chief Membership Officer, John Easterbrook, Country Club of the Rockies General Manager, Bill Hughes, Colorado PGA President Ben Welsh and PGA of America Career Consultant, Keith Soriano.

The golf tournament will feature a new format for this year. Doubles Golf, a new program being launched by the creators of PGA Junior League. PGA Members and Associates will compete in teams of two in a scramble format.

Teaching with Technology the Focus of Teaching and Coaching Workshop Monday, September 30, 2019 - Colorado National Golf Club

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he third annual Colorado PGA Teaching and Coaching Workshop will include a new theme this year based on feedback the Education Committee has received through their survey. The workshop will continue to highlight Colorado PGA Members and Associates who are raising the bar in instruction but will have a focus on how those instructors utilize technology into their teaching.

“We feel that creating a platform to highlight the inclusion of technology into teaching will be a great benefit to our members,” noted Education Committee Chair Josh Miller. “In today’s world, being able to stay up-to-date with industry leading programs is imperative to our members. By including these companies in this workshop, we hope to be able to share first-hand examples and best practices so that our members can take this information into the off-season and use it for planning out their 2020 programs.”

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Details of the workshop are still being finalized. To date, Blast Motion, Trackman and Operation36 are just a few of the companies that will be included in the workshop.

The event will be hosted at Colorado National Golf Club in CU Golf Team’s indoor practice facility. Look for more information on the event as it is finalized.

Click here for more information

The SUMMIT

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September 2019

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Membership News

Bacheldor Earns Master Professional Designation

UCCS Program Director Becomes 16th Colorado PGA Member to Earn Distinction

By Judy Malone

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ark Bacheldor, PGA, Program Director at the UCCS PGA Golf Management program, has earned the PGA Master Professional designation, the PGA of America’s highest educational achievement.

Bacheldor joins an impressive group of Colorado PGA Professionals as the sixteenth Colorado Member to receive this honor. His came via a PGA Master Professional certification in Teaching/Coaching. He is one of just seven other PGA Professional across the country, and the first in Colorado, to have completed this particular certification. Of the more than 27,500 PGA Members and Associates, just 373 or 1 percent of the current membership, have earned Master Professional status.

A graduate of the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Professional Golf Management Program, Bacheldor returned to the UCCS PGA Golf Management Program as an instructor in 2012 and assumed the position of Program Director in 2018. He worked as an Assistant Professional and then as Head Professional at Eisenhower Golf Club for four years. Bacheldor was elected to be a member of The PGA Master Professional Program the Colorado PGA Board of Directors during the 2019 Spring (MPP 2.0), part of the PGA’s Member Membership Meeting and will begin his 3-year term in October education curriculum, was established at the 2019 Fall Membership Meeting. in 1969 to recognize PGA Members who made a significant effort to improve as “This process has afforded us the opportunity to help our golf professionals and maintain the highest students in their personal game development, as they work degree of excellence for themselves and towards passing the Playing Ability Test and becoming PGA their operations.

Golf Professionals,” reflect Bacheldor. “It was an exciting opportunity to positively impact the PGA Golf Management 16 of 410 PGA Professionals that have Program at UCCS, as we continue shaping the future of the golf earned PGA Master Professional status are industry. The Master Professional Program was an involved and memebers of the Colorado PGA. dedicated process, but it personally pushed me to affirm and deepen my understanding of the golf swing and teaching the Tom Apple, PGA game of golf. I am honored to have earned this designation and Steve Atherton, PGA hope to utilize the content of the MPP to positively impact the Mark N. Bacheldor, PGA students of the PGA Golf Management Program at UCCS.” Douglas E Carlisle, PGA Bob Doyle, PGA The PGA Master Professional Program (MPP) was established in Donald A. Fox, PGA 1969 to recognize PGA Members who have made a significant Daniel Harvanek, PGA effort to improve as golf professionals and maintain the highest Andrew D. Hilts, PGA degree of excellence for themselves and their operations.

William W. Hughes, PGA As part of its Member education curriculum, the PGA MPP Frank J. Jacobson, PGA 2.0 program was designed to ensure that PGA Professionals Eugene Miranda, PGA are prepared to meet the growing demands of the current Michael J. O'Donnell, PGA marketplace. To be eligible, the PGA Master Professional Edward Oldham, PGA Program requires a minimum of 10 years of PGA Membership.

Craig C. Palmer, PGA Christopher A. Schultz, PGA Ben P. Welsh, PGA

Master Professionals

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September 2019

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Membership News

Quarter Century Club Celebrating 25 Years of Service as a PGA Member PGA Members who have served the PGA of America with honor and pride for 25 years are elected to the Quarter Century Club. Their steadfast promotion of our great sport is recognized with a letter from the PGA President, a special Quarter Century Club certificate and a gold Quarter Century Club lapel pin.

This month, the Colorado Section is proud to feature three inductees into the Quarter Century Club. They are Cade ‘Andy’ Benson, Head Professional with University of Denver Golf; Brian Lindstrom, Instructor at Highland Meadows Golf Course; and Lawrence ‘Larry’ Mullis, III, General Manager at Silver Spruce Golf Course. Also receiving this designation is Sam Linnenburger, Head Professional at Ute Creek Golf Course. Learn a little more about these Professionals and help them celebrate this accomplishment.

Cade ‘Andy’ Benson, PGA Director of Golf University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch Where did you grow up?

I grew up in the North Denver area – Westminster, to be exact. I attended Westminster High School and then the University of Colorado at Boulder on an Eisenhower/ Evans Caddie Scholarship.

What was your first introduction to the game of golf?

A neighborhood friend invited me to play with he and his dad one day at Hyland Hills Golf Course in Westminster. I enjoyed it enough to start playing regularly and to try out for the junior high school golf team. This led into me taking a job at Hyland Hills Golf Club picking up range balls and eventually to working in the Golf Shop.

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional?

While at the CU Evans Scholar house in Boulder, a few of us were invited by the Castle Pines Golf Club staff to assist with their clubhouse grand opening and start a caddie program, which turned into a summer job for the next few years while in college. About the time I was set to leave college, Keith Schneider offered me an Assistant Professional position at Castle Pines GC, and I knew this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I took the job and have been enjoying a career as a PGA Golf Professional since that time.

What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional?

of the many players, juniors and employees that have frequented the golf clubs I have been a part of over the years. The daily interaction with our staff and customers is very rewarding to me and I am proud to help them enjoy the game of a lifetime.

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity?

Hyland Hills Golf Course | Westminster | Golf Staff Castle Pines Golf Club | Castle Rock | Caddie Master, Assistant Golf Professional Desert Highlands Golf Club | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Assistant Golf Professional The Club at Cordillera Mountain Course | Edwards, Colo. | Head Golf Professional Highlands Ranch Golf Club, now University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch | Head Golf Professional, Director of Golf

For me, it is being able to positively impact the lives

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Membership News What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made?

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional?

I have always felt that a golf club and its golf professional staff are responsible for providing quality golf programs in the community in which it resides. Hopefully, the University of Denver Golf Club has adequately supported the golfing needs of our community, as well as the Denver University golf teams, the Colorado PGA and the Colorado Golf Association.

Golf has allowed my family and I to develop and enjoy many life-long relationships over the years and hopefully, I have positively impacted some of their lives along the way, as well.

My first Assistant job was for Don Fox, PGA, in Loveland. He was a Master PGA Professional and really showed me the advantages of being a part of the community of PGA Members and the value of the education available to PGA Members.

What hobbies do you have outside of golf?

Hunting, Fly Fishing, Horseback Riding, Camping and Hiking If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why?

My dream foursome would have actually been a fivesome with a few of the most influential mentors that I worked under during my golf career – Marv Mazone, Keith Schneider, John Miller and Pentti Tofferi.

Brian Lindstrom, PGA Instructor Highland Meadows Golf Course Where did you grow up?

I was born in Denver and lived here until I was nine years old. We then moved to San Diego and Milwaukee.

What was your first introduction to the game of golf?

My first introduction was with my dad who took me to play a few times. But it was in Milwaukee where one of our homes was literally across the street from a par 3 course that locked me in. I played all the time, had a hole in one and was hooked.

September 2019

What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional?

From a selfish point of view, I would have to say that there have been many things throughout my membership and involvement in the PGA that have made me a better person. I am tremendously grateful to the employers that have given me opportunities. I also know there has been great benefit to me in having met so many people from all walks of life. And from the point of view of what I have offered others, having my membership gave me credibility to offer advice and direction to people who were learning or interested in the game. I love the game and it has been wonderful to share that passion with others.

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity?

As I mentioned earlier, I started as an Assistant at Loveland, then moved to Coal Creek. I was also at Hyland Hills in Westminster for several years. I was an Assistant and Head Pro at Eagle Bluff Golf Club in Chattanooga, Tenn., CC of West Georgia in Villa Rica, Ga., Bridgemill Athletic Club near Atlanta, and Deercroft CC near Pinehurst. I learned from some great teachers in the South and then came back to Colorado and have taught at Collindale Golf Club and Highland Meadows Golf Course.

What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made?

Two things really. First, I’ve had a great time working with kids over the years, being a bit of a big kid myself. Secondly, the service I’ve been able to provide – from the kids in school programs and playing with veterans at Fort Carson, to running a program for kids undergoing treatment at Children’s Hospital and others.

What hobbies do you have outside of golf?

Bicycling, hiking and telling dad jokes to my step-kids.

If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why?

Peter Forsberg, Joe Sakic and Milan Hejduk at Castle Pines. I had a former NHLer as a student who took to me to a lot of games when they were playing. He turned me into a huge Avs fan. I also love how those

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Membership News three are among the classiest athletes we’ve had in Colorado. Castle Pines because I love the place and used to really enjoy going to the International every year.

present

Lawrence Mullis, III, PGA

Being able to teach and coach junior golfers is meaningful to me. I have been coaching Lewis Palmer High School Golf for the past five years. I also took over as the Director of the Pikes Peak Junior Golf in 2017.

This is the same program I participated in when I was a junior some 47 years ago.

General Manager Silver Spruce Golf Course Where did you grow up?

Colorado Springs, Colorado What was your first introduction to the game of golf?

I started playing at Tyndall AFB in Florida at the age of 14 years old.

Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional?

I had always wanted to become a PGA Golf Professional, especially from watching Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer and the way they played and their development of the game. I was sitting in a computer room at Pikes Peak Community College in November of 1981 and it was 50+ degrees out, and I asked myself, “Do I really want to be in school?” So, in the Spring of 1982, I asked Lars Larsen if I could be his assistant and get into the PGA Program. He said YES. In addition, I love to teach juniors and have them excel in golf and in their life.

What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made?

What hobbies do you have outside of golf?

Working in the yard, taking the RV places and spending time with my wife.

If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why?

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Johnny Miller. I grew up following these PGA Pros and they are the reason I became a PGA Golf Professional.

www.golfforever.com

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What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional?

SAFE, GOLF-FOCUSED FITNESS

For me it is being part of a GREAT organization and having the opportunity to promote and teach the game of golf to as many people as I can.

GolfForever offers customized, video-based learning that retrains golfers to use their bodies correctly and avoid pain and injury.

What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity?

Colorado Springs Country Club | Assistant to Lars Larsen | 1982 to 1988 Pine Creek Golf Course | Assistant Professional | 1988-1995 Pine Creek Golf Course | Head Professional | 1995-1997 Woodland Park Golf Course | Director of Golf | 1997 to 2001 Silver Spruce Golf Course | Assistant Professional | 2004 to 2008 Silver Spruce Golf Course | Director of Golf | 2017 to

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DEVELOPED BY EXPERTS IN GOLF AND HUMAN BIOMECHANICS Dr. Jeremy James and Justin Leonard joined forces to create a program that builds strength and mobility in the safest way possible.

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CONTACT JON LEVY jon@golfforever.com www.golfforever.com

The SUMMIT

September 2019

17

Membership News

Membership News An update on our Colorado PGA Members By the Numbers Members - 736 | Associates - 100 Total - 836 Male Members - 698 | Female Members - 38 11th out of 41 Sections 115 – Management positions (MP, A-4, A-9, A-11, A-13) 313 – Club Professionals (A-1, A-2, A-7, A-8) 114 – Instructors (A-6, A-10, A-12, A-14) 22 – Expanded Career Paths (A-15 thru A-24) 123 – Life Members (LM, LMM, LMA, LMMA) 29 – Other Categories (A-3, A-5, HM, IN, F, RM) Generational Breakdown 1900-1926 - G.I.s 1 ( 0.1%) 1927-1945 - Traditionalists - 32 (4.3%) 1946-1964 - Baby Boomers - 246 (32.8%) 1965-1977 - Gen X - 206 (27.6%) 1978-1999 - Millennials - 259 (35.2%)

Changes in Classification

Mark Lampe | previously an A-1 | now an A-4 | Snowmass Club John Trierweiler | previously an A-8 | now an A-1 | The Fox Hill Club

New Members

The Colorado PGA welcomes new members and associates to our Section on a regular basis. For some, this is the first time they have joined our Section while others may be returning. Please join us in welcoming them!

Tanner Crisofulli | A-8 | Sonnenalp Golf Club

Michael Maves | A-8 | The River Course At Keystone

Tyler Winslow | A-8 | Lake Valley Golf Club

New Associates

The Colorado PGA welcomes our newly registered associates. Associates in the PGA of America are responsible for upholding the mission of the PGA, to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

Jacqueline Cunningham | B-8 | Murphy Creek Golf Course

Lucas Davis | B-8 | Pinehurst Country Club

Zachary Scherschligt-Rodriguez | B-8 | Thorncreek Golf Course

Happy Birthday!

September 1 Tray D. Shehee, PGA Jonathan D Atencio Micah R. Rudosky, PGA September 2 Al Pryor, PGA September 3 Robert D. Range, PGA Tristen B. Fay, PGA John R. Lynch, PGA

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September 4 Andrew D. Hilts, PGA Robert L. Haldeen, PGA September 5 Erin E. Diegel, PGA Graham T. Cliff, PGA Ty Thompson, PGA September 6 Dow H. Finsterwald Sr., PGA

September 7 William K. Parker, PGA Cory M. Boillot, PGA Tyson J Spratt Rich M. Zulkoski, PGA September 8 Kurt O. Zolbe, PGA Bob Lewis, PGA Anthony B. Chesla, PGA Craig S. Parzybok, PGA Trace Kea, PGA

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Membership News September 9 Michael E. Stubblefield, PGA Nathan L. Corsbie, PGA Benjamin E. Spiers, PGA Robert P. Cherry, PGA September 10 Cade A. Benson, PGA September 11 Jason T. Young, PGA September 12 Daniel Harvanek, PGA Steven J. Grove, PGA Alec B. Simmons James D. Davidson, PGA

September 28 Luke P. Lemon Tyler J. Aynes, PGA September 29 Austin C. Vannice Vincent J. Downie, PGA Joshua G Miller, PGA October 1 Jacob G. O’Dell, PGA Bryce Bervig, PGA

October 18 Matthew B. Kloppenburg, PGA October 20 Alexander P. Calleja, PGA Nick B. Welch, PGA October 22 Michael P. Jurca, PGA Daniel J. Lee, PGA Christopher A. Johnson, PGA

October 3 Jordan S. Londer, PGA David A. Brown, PGA

October 23 Stephen J. Arendt, PGA J R Hamblet, PGA Jacqueline M. Cunningham

September 14 Richard J. Hartman, PGA

October 4 William J. Bernhardt, PGA

October 24 James R. Owens, PGA

September 17 Behrod B. Keshtavar James A. Edfors, PGA Aaron J. Larson, PGA Kent Heusinkveld, PGA September 18 Jerred P. McKinney, PGA

October 5 Peter D. Hymes, PGA Jonathan Arnold, PGA Scott R. Ough, PGA Derek J. Rush, PGA

October 25 Todd W. McKittrick, PGA Tara G. Morris, PGA Gregory Bryan, PGA Gregg C. Jones, PGA Steven Bruening, PGA

September 19 Tyler A. Peterson, PGA Randy C. Burross, PGA Matthew R. Magley, PGA Leslie J. Core-Drevecky, PGA Lonnie Reed, PGA

October 6 Brad A. Thorberg, PGA October 7 Melissa A Isnetto Sam G. Broome, PGA

October 26 Dominic D. Principato, PGA Jay A. Ewing, PGA Eugene Miranda, PGA October 27 Bryan R. Marshall Craig S. Vollmar, PGA Grant Wittenwyler, PGA

September 20 Alicia E. Bakken

October 9 David W. Heinly, PGA October 9 Phil Gerster, PGA

September 21 Remington D. Post, PGA

October 12 Jaime M. MacDonald, PGA

September 22 John P. Kienast, PGA

October 13 Rynk M. Strothers, PGA Zachary L. Lambeck, PGA

October 29 Benjamin D. Pilon, PGA Patrick M. Tait, PGA Stan Sayers, PGA

September 23 Randy Kahn, PGA Geoffrey R. Hiland, PGA

October 14 Rick Graves, PGA Caine L Fitzgerald, PGA Jeff C. Hanson, PGA Stewart G. Koch, PGA

October 30 Kevin C. Montano, PGA Gary R Washington, PGA Ross W. McLean, PGA Judy Begin-Sloan, PGA

September 24 Austin J. Thomas, PGA Stan Fenn, PGA

October 15 Sherry Andonian, PGA Michael E. Northern, PGA

September 25 John T. Rogala, PGA Brett J. Walton, PGA

October 16 Chad J. Miller, PGA

October 31 Jeremy Beck, PGA Frank J. Jacobson, PGA Kala A Rusk

September 22 Tim Stevens, PGA

September 27 Robert T. Nelson, PGA

September 2019

October 28 Donald A. Fox, PGA

October 17 Geoffrey J. Strasser, PGA Narudol P. Yoadjarust, PGA

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The SUMMIT

Career Development

Mind the Gap

Leveraging Education to Address Your Limitations

O

ver the past two years, PGA of America Career Consultants have conducted thousands of meetings with PGA Members and Associates across the country with one goal in mind: How can we help this Member or Associate enhance his/her personal and professional life? The formula for identifying what we can do and how we can help is quite simple. It boils down to three very simple questions:

1) What do you really care about? When you know

what you value most, it becomes easier to align your actions and your work in support of what you hold most dear.

2) What do you want to accomplish? The goals you have, whether they be personal or professional, should align with what you care about most.

3) What’s holding you back? If you can identify the

delta between where you are and where you want to be, it becomes easier to begin to develop and execute plans to address the differences between the two.

As we can help you work through those questions, our jobs as consultants becomes very easy. We simply get to ask the question: How can I help? Very often that help comes in the form of developing plans to address those things which hold people back from accomplishing the things that align with what they really care about. The limitations we see usually fall into a handful of categories:

1) Values - The things that are most important to you don’t align with your current situation.

2) Geographical - The places you are willing to call home limit your opportunities.

3) Financial - Financial needs exclude certain opportunities.

4) Health - Physical limitations prohibit you from pursuing certain paths.

5) Skills & Education - You may not yet be qualified for the things you really want to do.

While some limitations, like being unable to change locations because of your spouse’s career or being physically unable to be on the lesson tee for the entire day will require significantly more time and commitment to address while your Skills and Education are completely under your control and can be addressed immediately.

Your first step is identifying and embracing your skill or education gaps, as denying them makes it significantly more difficult to navigate your career. Once the gaps have been identified, education targeted around deficient areas is the quickest remedy.

September 2019

The newly revamped PGA Lifelong Learning Program, designed to meet the needs of the working PGA Professional with flexible, on-line delivery and content designed and influenced by fellow PGA Members, is a great place to start.

Through the Specialized, Certified and Master professional programs, PGA Members can engage in career-enhancing education designed to meet the needs of an increasingly demanding golf industry.

As the PGA of America showed with the acquisition of NextGen Golf, seeking out and partnering with best-in-class providers and leaders in the industry is an effective way to augment your skill set. In addition to the Lifelong Learning Program, PGA Members across the country are seeking out and participating in education and training through Section workshops, engaging with entrepreneurial leaders like Operation 36 and GOLFTEC for experiential learning, and partnering with sister organizations like the CMAA, GCSAA and NGCOA to explore Keith Soriano, PGA, is their educational offerings. The a PGA Career Services Consultant serving opportunities for personal and the Colorado and professional growth are limited Utah Sections. He can only by your willingness to be reached at (720) engage in them.

841-1006 or ksoriano@ Once you have made the commitment to fill a skill or education gap, I encourage you to make another commitment and adopt the habit of Lifelong Learning. In the words of author Seth Godin,

pgahq.com.

“The habit of doing more than is necessary can only be earned through practice. And the habit is priceless.”

Your PGA Career Consultant is uniquely qualified and fully committed to helping you become the best version of yourself; and the decision to work with yours is completely in your control.

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Special Awards Feature

Figuring Out the Puzzle That is Each Golfer is Atherton’s Quest

By Judy Malone

PGA

Master Professional Steve Atherton has been named the 2019 Colorado Teacher of the Year. Atherton is just one of six PGA Professionals in the Colorado Section to have completed the path of Master Professional in Instruction.

“I learned early on in my career that I was interested in teaching golf,” comments Atherton. “I am extremely grateful for all of the assistance I received from past employers and other PGA Professionals as I worked to make this goal a reality. Receiving this award is a real honor, and I appreciate everyone who helped me along the way.”

Growing up in a small rural town in Illinois and having the ability to play multiple sports was a fitting beginning for the athletic Atherton. Having had some success with golf through a junior golf program from the age of 11, he decided to play during his high school years and again in community college. From there, he attended the PGM Program at Mississippi State where he got to fully experience the golf business and held internships that exposed him to a number of high-end private clubs.

“During my time at Mississippi State, I got to meet Arnold Palmer and play Augusta National Golf Club,” remembers Atherton. “These are things that a smalltown Illinois kid wouldn’t typically get to do and are what really started to drive my passion for the golf business and the golf industry.”

“I got to the point where I felt like I had built a really good resume to be a Head Professional, but I didn’t believe that was what I really wanted to do,” says Atherton. “My passion was in the area of teaching. I enjoy the analytical side of looking at the swing and figuring things out – figuring out the puzzle that is each golfer.”

Atherton came to Colorado in 2000 to teach for GolfTEC and oversaw the golf instruction there for about 12 years before moving to Eagle Springs Golf Club in Wolcott as the Teaching Professional.

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In his teaching role at Eagle Springs, nearly his entire clientele is seniors, so most lessons are designed to help senior players play better, feel better and play longer. He works with their personal trainers to build golf swings that prevent injury and helps them prolong their enjoyment of the game. He has even had the opportunity to teach a completely blind golfer, as well as several golfers who have limited ability due to amputations.

Atherton has been the invited speaker at a number of teaching workshops and was recognized as one of Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers in America from 2009 to 2015 when he turned 40 and was no longer eligible for the recognition. In 2011, he gave a presentation on hip speed in the golf swing at the National PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit. He has served on the Colorado Section’s Education Committee for five years.

The Teacher of the Year Award bestows special recognition on a Colorado PGA Professional for excellence in golf instruction, along with overall performance. What does it mean to you to receive the Teacher of the Year Award?

First of all, it’s a huge honor! I know that I’m a much better teacher today then I was back in 2008 when I received this award the first time. For me, it validates all the years of hard work I spent analyzing the swing and learning about coaching techniques. The hours and hours in a GolfTEC bay looking at data and at how the motions of the body made certain things work, understanding how people learn and taking courses to communicate more effectively ... all of these things that

The SUMMIT

Special Awards Feature I have done to become as competent as I can as a golf instructor have been recognized. It’s a great feeling.

What are the qualities you possess that you believe supported you receiving the Teacher of the Year Award?

Logic, communication skills, fun, inventive, inquisitive and skeptical. First, I tend to be very logical. I like to analyze and understand the movement of the swing.

I believe there are absolutes as to why things happen and why certain people do certain things in the swing.

Secondly, I believe I’m a good communicator. When it comes to breaking down all of the data I have collected, I am able to share the information with the client at a level they are able to understand. I try to make my lessons fun and help people have a good time learning what can be a difficult movement. I’ll never forget a colleague who said golf instruction is about “edutainment” - and I believe that’s true.

Additionally, I take pride in being inventive in coming up with new drills and ideas to help people make needed swing changes. Lastly, I’m inquisitive and skeptical by nature. I’m always questioning commonly taught fundamentals and make it a point to form my own opinions based upon research and experience.

What are two tools you use in your profession that help with your success?

The most obvious for me is the use of the FlightScope launch monitor along with video to help me fully understand what the club is doing at the point of contact, what the ball does coming off the face and what movements the student is making to produce their ball flight. This gives me quantifiable data to show students the progress they are achieving and helps me diagnose flaws. I created a ball striking challenge using the FlightScope Skills application that allows students to “test” their ability using the actual targets on our driving range. The quality of each shot is scored, and the results compiled. Each week, students can re-test to see if they are becoming more skilled and more accurate with their short game. It’s a fun way to quantify how much improvement is being made.

In addition, I have a 4D Motion System that provides real-time feedback of body movements during the golf swing. However, after 12 years at GolfTEC analyzing tens of thousands of swings with motion data, I’ve got a pretty keen eye for analyzing how subtle body movements are affecting the swing without even using the motion system.

psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella. “Pick the smallest possible target and make a confident swing to that target without thinking about much of anything else.”

I apply this philosophy to almost any sport I play from throwing darts and shooting baskets to golf. Focus small and let the movement and the athleticism, or the repetitions of a movement we worked on, get you to that spot.

To give advice, I’d say there are a lot of easily identifiable patterns and absolutes in the swing that almost all golfers will follow. It is essential to learn these patterns and to have a multitude of drills to fix any given swing flaw in case your go-to drill doesn’t quite achieve the desired result.

What is your proudest moment as a golf professional?

For me, it’s all about my students’ accomplishments.

Having a student tell me they won a tournament or had a career round or hit past a particular bunker for the first time ... that gives me the most joy. People who do this have taken something we talked about and worked at it hard enough to achieve a result they are proud of.

It makes me feel good to know I’ve helped them achieve something they couldn’t do before. That is my favorite thing in this business ... when someone appreciates what you’ve done to help them succeed.

Share something about yourself that others may not know.

I started a YouTube Channel – Joe2Jock – for sports other than golf. The concept is to help someone move from being an Average Joe to being a Jock, helping them be better at the fundamentals of a particular sport. The first video I made was for Cornhole. I thought that maybe a few hundred of my closest friends might watch it but, as of today, 79,000 people have watched Cornhole for Beginners. The next video in the works is Pickle Ball.

Something else people may not know is that I play at least a few sports better than I golf. I feel pretty good about my golf game but I’m definitely a better volleyball and softball player than I am a golfer.

As it relates to golf, what is the best piece of advice you have received and what advice would you give to others?

Of the things I read when I was a younger player that I think helped me the most was from sports

September 2019

23

Special Awards Feature

According to Warren Smith Recipient, Tom Buzbee, Inclusion Is Key to Success

By Judy Malone

Grow the game and always give back! Those in the Colorado Section likely know Tom Buzbee, PGA, recipient of the 2019 Colorado PGA Warren Smith Award, for this philosophy. His work while at Gypsum Creek Golf Course over the last eight years is an example of how he lives this attitude; however, there is much more to Buzbee’s golf career that you may be unaware of. His career is a true example of how diverse a profession in the golf business can be.

“My career in the golf business might make your head spin,” says Buzbee. “It has certainly been anything but “by the book.”

Buzbee’s beginnings in the golf business were as a teenage caddie at Green Oaks Country Club in his hometown of Pittsburgh, Pa. As it so many times happens, it was at his childhood club that he learned to love the game of golf and committed to turning his passion for the game into a career.

In the late 70s, Buzbee split his time between facilities in Iowa, Nebraska and Colorado as an Assistant Professional in the summer months and working on a maintenance crew at Georgia’s Sea Island Golf Club in the winter months.

His first year-round position was with Green Gables Country Club teaching under renown golf instructor Paul Runyan. Hosting the Denver Post Champions of Golf PGA Senior Tour event at The Gables got him interested in more of the same.

He soon found himself moving over to launch the Tournament Players Club at Plum Creek, which was the third course in the TPC network owned and operated by the PGA Tour. A discussion with Pete and Perry Dye at Plum Creek set the stage for a 7-year design and construction apprenticeship, which took him to Japan where he coordinated the design and construction of Seizanso Country Club, the highest membership-fee course in Asia in 1987.

This set him on a course to spend the next 25+ years on the development side of the golf industry where he was involved in permitting, designing, constructing and remodeling more than 40 courses in three different countries – United States, Mexico and Asia.

Returning to Colorado in 1999, Buzbee accepted the role as Vice President of Construction for the Cordillera

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development and then supervised the start-up of the Brightwater Club west of Vail. The world changed forever in September of 2011 and the golf business did too. Tom felt a calling to return to his roots in municipal golf operations.

Buzbee returned to golf operations as General Manager/PGA Professional at Gypsum Creek Golf Course where he focused on putting the fun back in golf. The small-town atmosphere really latched on to this approach with rounds played quadrupling and revenues climbing in the eight seasons he was at the helm. In addition, he was busy with a long list of junior programs and coaching the Eagle Valley Boys and Girls High School Golf Teams.

2019 is the first season that Buzbee called Flatirons Golf Course in Boulder home. There is a lot of excitement at Flatirons with a new clubhouse, an energized player development program, world class

The SUMMIT

Special Awards Feature disc golf and a wide-open attitude where almost anything goes are all up for consideration.

“The game of golf has never had a brighter future; in Boulder and all across Colorado,” comments an optimistic Buzbee. “I am passionate about player development and love introducing new players to the game! My staff and I have a full-speed ahead approach to sharing this great game with others. We share our love of this life-long sport from our hearts and show everyone that we truly care about their enjoyment of the game. I truly believe that more fun means more golf.”

The Warren Smith Award is given to a PGA professional for special contributions to the game of golf, the Colorado Section, junior golf and to their facility and their community. What does it mean to you to receive the Warren Smith Award?

For a kid who grew up on public courses and caddying in Pittsburgh, this is an incredible honor. To be mentioned in the same breath with Warren Smith is something I would have never imagined. He was one of the finest gentlemen in the game of golf and I idolized him. The golf business has brought many great things into my life, and I am so blessed to be able to give back, especially over the past 10 years or so by creating opportunity for people to “touch the golf course,” as I call it. To be recognized for this effort is so cool because there are lots of other golf professionals in the Colorado Section that are also doing a great job of this.

What are the qualities you possess that you believe supported your receiving the Warren Smith Award?

There are many things I believe in that I think have brought me to where I am today. Keep your business clean and don’t procrastinate. Keep pushing. Keep improving. Create opportunity for people. Try to be different. Work hard. There are no shortcuts to success, but knowing you helped someone enjoy the game makes it all worthwhile! Make it fun for people. They want to have fun!

What are two tools you use in your profession that help with your success?

I have way more than two! Always snooping around asking questions trying to learn. Always looking for a better way to do things. Never taking this game too seriously. Talking to the people every day. I’m not afraid to ask people what they think. I tell my staff, “If you were the owner, what would you do?” Always looking for new ideas.

I met Mr. Smith back in the fall of 1980 when I asked if he might consider me for a job at Cherry Hills. I had spent four seasons at little courses in Iowa and Nebraska. Who was I to think I had a chance to work at Cherry Hills? He really didn’t have a spot open but still invited me to come in and talk. So, I drove out and wondered, what the heck am I doing! Mr. Smith gave me two pieces of advice in that meeting that I’ll never forget. “Care about the people and share the game with them.” Caring and sharing. Whatever I tried to do over the years as I worked to make sure as many people as possible were having an opportunity to “touch the golf course,” I tried to use that advice to keep me honest about the game plan.

What is your proudest moment as a golf professional?

You know, I spent time working for the PGA Tour, spent time side-by-side with Pete and Perry Dye building incredible courses around the world and side-by-side with Jack Nicklaus in his jet talking about design projects and how we were going to build a brand new 5th hole at Pebble Beach. But none of that compares with knowing that my staff and I were able to introduce thousands of kids in Gypsum, Colo., to this great game. Working class kids whose parents didn’t play that NEVER would have set foot on the golf course if it were not for the Colorado PGA Golf in Schools Program. Every kid in the middle school in that little two stoplight town got to come to the course multiple times and have a blast with their friends. The school touched the property, so the kids could walk (most ran). So, no Birdie Ball in the gym, they came to the course for all of their sessions! Hundreds of kids every year. Some years, on the final day, we closed the front nine and they played on the course while area golf professionals came and caddied! All volunteers. I never had to pay any of my fellow professionals a dime!

Thanks to the PGA REACH grants, this all happened at no cost to the course, the school or the kids. And, these kids got to come back and hit balls with a friend and play a bit in the evening with a friend for free for the rest of the summer. All thanks to the Town of Gypsum who made the course accessible to them.

That evolved into what I believe were the biggest high school golf teams in the entire state at Eagle Valley High School. All in a little two stoplight town with cows on one side of the course and horses on the other.

Share something about yourself that others may not know.

To really get the kids excited about the game, I would make surprise appearances dressed as Spiderman.

As it relates to golf, what is the best piece of advice you have received and what advice would you give to others?

September 2019

25

Special Awards Feature

Life-Long Learner Miller Receives 2019 Colorado Horton Smith Award

By Judy Malone

I

t is fitting that someone who has a driving desire for life-long learning would be the recipient of the 2019 Colorado Horton Smith Award. Josh Miller, PGA, Vice-President of Operations at GOLFTEC, is just that person.

“It is a huge honor to me to be receiving this award,” says Miller. “Learning and seeking out educational opportunities has always been important to me and I want to make these opportunities available to others, as well. I would call myself a self-improvement kind-ofguy who didn’t grow up loving to read until I realized I just wasn’t reading the books I wanted.”

Golf has been a mainstay in Miller’s life since he was 4-years old. It was then that he got his first set of clubs and started playing golf with his mom in Tucson, Ariz.

Miller remembers being mad at his parents when he was just four because his set of clubs included a woodwood instead of a metal-wood like that of his friends.

“Eventually mom and dad came through with a metalwood,” laughs Miller. “My parents have always been extremely supportive of me and are a big part of me being as successful as I am today.”

Loving both baseball and golf, Miller made the decision to focus his efforts on his golf game when he was selected for the Broomfield High School golf team. He went on to attend the New Mexico State University PGM Program in Las Cruses but returned home to Colorado in the summers to complete internships at Saddleback Golf Club and The Ranch Country Club.

His career included stops at The Ranch, Deer Creek Golf Club, Eagle Trace Golf Club, Red Rocks Country Club and Dick’s Sporting Goods before finding his way to GOLFTEC, where he is the vice-president of operations.

“The support I get from GOLFTEC is the reason I am able to, in turn, support the Membership the way I do through my seat on the Board and my place on the Education Committee,” comments Miller. “It’s not only the time I am able to invest but also the resources that

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Joe Assell and the rest of the GOLFTEC team make available for me to share.”

Miller works tirelessly to provide leadership and mentorship to GOLFTEC staff and PGA Members alike.

He has been instrumental in bringing industry-leading presenters to Colorado to share their expertise at the annual Teaching and Coaching Summit, as well as in creating the Fall Teaching and Coaching Workshop to give many of our local instructors a platform to showcase their skills and knowledge.

The Horton Smith Award is designed to recognize a Colorado PGA member for their outstanding and continuing contributions in developing and improving educational opportunities for the PGA golf professional. What does it mean to you to receive this award?

First of all, receiving this award is a huge honor to me.

There are so many PGA Members that I respect and consider to be friends who have won this award in the past. To put my name on the same award as Horton Smith Award winners I have worked with and looked up to like Ed Oldham, Ty Walker, Patrick Nuber, Chad Miller, Andy Hilts and even some college friends from New Mexico State who are involved in the Sun Country

The SUMMIT

Special Awards Feature Section is extremely humbling.

Learning, in general, has always been important to me. So much so, in fact, that I seek out educational opportunities and try to do my absolute best. To be the recipient of an award that focuses on something that throughout my life has always come to the top of the list of priorities for me is extremely special. I hope that the work I do on the Education Committee shows that this is important to me and that I do my best to make sure our membership has great opportunities for continuing their educational quests.

What are the qualities you possess that you believe supported you receiving the Horton Smith Award?

For me, it is two things: Always put my best foot forward and Because I have my own desire to learn, it makes me want to help others have that opportunity.

I am a firm believer in the adage that you are good at the things you desire for yourself. People who are acquainted with me know that it is a personal ambition of mine to continue to learn and improve. I’ve never been one to stay stagnant or to think I have all the answers; in fact, I am always on a quest for more information in an effort to do my best with what’s in front of me. When I was asked to be a part of the Section’s Education Committee, I made it a point to do the best I could to bring educational opportunities to our Membership

My advice to others would be to surround yourself with the best people possible. This applies not only to the people you hire but also to the people you work for. I think that we are all at our best when we keep quality people around and above us.

What is your proudest moment as a golf professional?

The cliché answer to this is certainly this award.

Because I never imagined winning a Section award, this is truly a proud moment for me. Besides that, I think sharing the successes of my students is pretty awesome. I have a student that I have continued to work with for the past six years who is now playing collegiate golf in Wisconsin, winning JGAC tournaments and even winning a college tournament.

Being a part of his success is something that is very special to me.

Tell us something about yourself that others may not know.

Not many people know that me and my wife took a six-week trip to Europe where all we had was a roundtrip plane ticket to Munich and home from London, a train pass and $5,000. We stayed in hostels, did a lot of walking and saw a ton of history. It was something great for us to do prior to having our children and it certainly brought us closer together. We completely disconnected and figured things out along the way.

Looking back on this, I realize that this experience has helped us, on some level, make life on a day-to-day basis easier to figure out.

What are two tools you use in your profession that help with your success?

Follow-up and organization. I have the opportunity to run, as well as to attend, a number of meeting. I would hope that anyone who works with me at GOLFTEC or on the Education Committee knows that if I am tasked with an issue, I am absolutely going to follow-up and not let anything fall to the way-side.

As it relates to golf, what is the best piece of advice you have received and what advice would you give to others?

I believe we are all very impressionable early in our careers so to reference Ed Oldham from The Ranch Country Club, who was my first employer, shouldn’t be a surprise. Through both his words and his actions, and not knowing what direction my career might yet take, Ed encouraged me to learn everything I possibly could about all aspects of the golf industry. Additionally, he urged me to set daily goals for myself so that I would stay challenged to succeed and to continue to learn.

Because this was so impactful for me, I try to do teach those Professionals who work with me the same thing.

September 2019

27

Special Awards Feature

Cole, Head Professional at Eaton Country Club for the Last 34 Years, Earns Bill Strausbaugh Award “Golf does not build character but reveals it.” That is a motto Rick Cole, the 2019 Colorado PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner lives his life by, while also freely admitting that he may, at times, fall short at this endeavor. With his primary focus being to build relationships, with those individuals, in his sphere of influence, it is understandable that Cole is the recipient of an award given for integrity, commitment to mentoring and making an impact on the careers of other PGA Professionals.

“I appreciate the various opportunities the business of golf has provided me and my family,” comments Cole. “I get to share, not only the golf swing, but also life strategies, career planning and mentoring, all while developing great friendships.

“I appreciate being a part of this great Colorado Section and of The PGA of America. Thank you for presenting me with this award, I am very humbled,” he finishes.

Although Cole was born in Denver, he spent his first 10 years living in southwestern Nebraska where he first became curious about the game, while watching his parents play golf at the Elks Club in McCook. At age 11 he began playing golf at a small par-3 course in Littleton, where his family had a membership. Like many in the business, he exchanged working at the course for free golf and soon the hook was set. Playing Tuesday morning junior golf, with the other 50 kids, gave him the competitive itch, one that was a stepping stone to his playing on the College golf team at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego.

Cole’s work experience can be summed up quickly. Out of college, he worked his first year at Balboa Park Golf Course in San Diego. His love for the Rocky Mountains lead him back to Colorado where he took his next position at Columbine Country Club. In 1985, committing to at least three years, he accepted a position at Eaton Country Club where he remains today. That was 34 years ago.

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“I have worked at a golf course every year of my life since I was just 11 years old,” says Cole. “Eaton, the Country Club and the town, have been a great place for my career and for my wife and I to raise our family. I must say that it has been a very gratifying and enjoyable journey.”

The Bill Strausbaugh Award is presented to a Colorado PGA Member who has shown outstanding integrity, commitment to mentoring PGA Professionals and has made a significant impact on the careers of PGA Professionals. What does it mean to you to receive this award?

First of all, I know that there are many sectional professionals who are more deserving of this award than I am. I was very surprised that I was nominated and then to get the call from President Welsh that I received the award, I was completely humbled. It is an honor to receive an award from what a lot of us consider to be the best Section in the country. It is thrilling, exciting and rewarding to know that some of the things you have done along the way have helped those you have worked with to reach their goals, as well. That’s the exciting part for me.

A specific example that comes to mind is an assistant I

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Special Awards Feature had, that went on to learn and adopt the same system of teaching that I use, “The Golfing Machine”. After becoming one of the top instructors in Colorado, he was recognized as the Colorado Teacher of the Year. That was as much a highlight for me, as it was for him. It is very rewarding to see those who have come through our club, succeed in the golf profession.

What are the qualities you possess that you believe supported you receiving the Bill Strausbaugh Award?

Being able to have a listening ear. My wife taught me that and she is my strongest mentor in teaching me how to listen. Also, having compassion and empathy for those around me is important.

What are two tools you use in your profession that help with your success?

I like to be involved in people’s lives and challenge them to uphold good work ethics. For me, it starts by developing a relationship with someone. Once that relationship is built, it is much easier to hold them accountable and I think they appreciated it. We are living in a world where there isn’t much accountability and what I find is that even with our young people, they are still looking for someone to lead them into developing professional standards.

As it relates to golf, what is the best piece of advice you have received and what advice would you give to others?

I have a picture in my basement that I think helped me understand the game a little more over the years. The saying on the picture is, “Golf does not build character but reveals it.” This is a motto I believe holds truth, and encourages me to examine area of my own life on which to improve.

Father-Son Championship (now known as the CGA Parent-Child Championship) with my son, Mitch, in 2001. Although not the most monetarily satisfying victory, it was one of the most fun memories we made together.

Tell us something about yourself that others may not know.

There are two things:

1. On the lighter side, I was able to give my wife

her engagement ring on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines Golf Course, on a February night, in the pitch dark. It’s a fun and long story that we enjoy telling friends, plus, it serves as a great memory for us.

2. On a more serious side, in 1993, I was

diagnosed with a vocal-cord disorder called spasmodic dysphonia that affects the quality of the voice and the vocal cords. An interesting statistic about this disorder is that about 95 percent of individuals who develop this condition are let go from their jobs, within three years, because of their inability to communicate effectively. Through the support of my family and that of the Board and the membership at the Eaton Country Club, I did not become a part of that statistic. I owe them a lot for their support during that difficult time, as well as over the last 20+ years that they have stood behind me.

Also, Be Present. That is one of the most useful pieces of advice I received from a friend of mine in this last year. When you are with people, make sure you are present with them.

The advice I would give to someone else is two-fold. I saw a quote from Jack Nicklaus a few years ago that says, “Success in life and golf depends on two things: how you manage your environment and how you manage yourself.” Also, something UCLA basketball coach John Wooden liked to pass along to everyone was, “If you fail to prepare then you prepare to fail.” Both of these, I believe, are pieces of good advice to both follow and to pass along to others.

What is your proudest moment as a golf professional?

Watching my children & grandchildren grow up and enjoy the game of golf. In particular having the opportunity to play and win the Colorado Golf Association

September 2019

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Tournament News

Vlosich Claims Section Championship 28 Years After Winning First Title Life Member Claims $10,000 First Place Prize

A

ge is just a number to Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member. At 62, Ron became the oldest person on record to claim the Colorado PGA Professional Championship on Wednesday, September 11. In doing so, he claimed the title for the fourth time and the first time since winning three in-a-row from 1991 through 1993.

“It means a lot,” noted Vlosich following the championship. “I don’t win that often anymore so it’s a real treat to be able to do it again.”

Vlosich entered the final round with a two-shot lead after posting rounds of 69-71. Vlosich opened the final round with three consecutive pars before a birdie at the par-4 fourth hole extended his lead

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Vlosich watches as his tee shot finds the fairway at the par-4 16th hole.

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Tournament News to three shots. He followed that up with back-to-back bogeys opening the door for 2001 champion Micah Rudosky to make a charge.

Rudosky, the PGA Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course, posted two birdies to tie Vlosich at the turn.

Momentum quickly shifted back Vlosich’s way though as an errant tee shot on the par-4 10th hole led to a bogey for Rudosky and a “routine” birdie at the par-5 eleventh.

Vlosich maintained his lead throughout the back-nine.

He ran into potential trouble though at the par-3 seventeenth as an errant tee shot left him with a precarious lie Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member, knocks in a short putt to claim the 2019 Colorado PGA Professional up against the back lip of the Championship. Watching on is Ryan Wroblewski, PGA Assistant Professional from Cherry Hills CC who finished tied for fifth place. bunker. He displayed incredible touch and left his second shot a foot from the hole and was able to tap-in his par putt to maintain his lead.

“I had to try and get cute and hit the hero shot,” Vlosich noted.

In winning, Vlosich became the third player ever to win the Colorado PGA Professional Championship on four occasions. He joins Jack Sommers and Fred Wampler.

“It’s a good crowd,” Vlosich noted when referring to Sommers and Wampler. “It’s nice to be listed in that company, for sure. Especially at my age; everything is just a bonus anymore.”

While everyone in the championship was vying for the title, they were also competing for eight qualifying spots into the 2020 PGA Professional Championship. Ironically, Vlosich was one of the players that were ineligible to advance based on his classification with the PGA of America.

Earning the qualifying spots based on the 54-hole results were Rudosky; Ben Honaman, PGA Head Professional at Lakewood Country Club; Erik Billinger, PGA, University of Denver Men’s Golf Coach; Michael Zaremba, PGA, General Manager at Desert Hawk at Pueblo West; Seth Terpstra, With his victory, Vlosich claimed the keys to a one-month lease on a PGA, Instructor at GOLFTEC – DTC; and Ryan Cadillac XT4 courtesy of John Elway Cadillac at Park Meadows.

Wroblewski, PGA, Assistant Professional at Cherry Hills CC. Three players finished tied for the last two qualifying positions. Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, Instructor at Snowmass Club and Geoff Keffer, PGA, Assistant Professional at Lakewood CC were able to claim the last two places.

Vlosich claimed a first-place prize of $10,000, the first time ever that the prize money for first place reached that amount. He also earned the keys to a one-month lease to a Cadillac XT4, courtesy of John Elway Cadillac at Park Meadows.

September 2019

31

Tournament News

Qualifiers for the 2020 PGA Professional Championship Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa | Austin, Texas April 26 - 29, 2020

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Micah Rudosky, PGA Conquistador Golf Course

Ben Honaman, PGA Lakewood CC

Erik Billinger, PGA University of Denver

Michael Zaremba, PGA Desert Hawk

Seth Terpstra, PGA GolfTEC - DTC

Ryan Wroblewski , PGA Cherry Hills CC

Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Snowmass Club

Geoff Keffer, PGA Lakewood CC

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Tournament News COLORADO PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP MERIDIAN GOLF CLUB SEPTEMBER 9-11, 2019

QUALIFIERS (Note: Ron Vlosich, PGA is not eligible to advance) 1 Ron Vlosich

Life Member

2 Micah Rudosky

Conquistador

T3 Ben Honaman

Lakewood CC

T3 Erik Billinger

University of Denver

T5 Michael Zaremba Desert Hawk

T5 Seth Terpstra

GolfTEC - DTC

T5 Ryan Wroblewski Cherry Hills

T8 Doug Rohrbaugh Snowmass Club

T8 Geoff Keffer

Lakewood CC

69-71-72--212 70-73-70--213 73-72-71--216 73-69-74--216 75-71-71--217 69-73-75--217 74-68-75--217 72-76-70--218 75-73-70--218

-4 -3 E E +1 +1 +1 +2 +2

$10,000.00 $4,250.00 $2,775.00 $2,775.00 $2,133.33 $2,133.33 $2,133.33 $1,700.00 $1,700.00

ALTERNATES - IN ORDER T8 Sherry Andonian T11 Matt Schalk

T11 Eric Bradley

T13 Caine Fitzgerald T13 John Ogden

Valley

Colorado National GC

Catamount Ranch and

Meadow Hills

Cherry Hills

72-73-73--218 74-72-73--219 71-77-71--219 70-76-74--220 73-76-71--220

+2 +3 +3 +4 +4

$1,700.00 $1,450.00 $1,450.00 $1,200.00 $1,200.00

DID NOT QUALIFY T13 Zane Zwemke

T16 Barry Milstead

T16 Scott Sommers

T16 Patrick Reidy

T16 Alexandra Braga 20 Remington Post

T21 Bill Hancock

T21 Jeff Hanson

T21 David Steinmetz T24 Tray Shehee

T24 Chris Johnson

T24 Gregory Kohr

T27 Tyler Parsloe

T27 Douglas Rikkers T27 Kyle Voska

T27 Jason Witczak

T27 Ken Krieger

T27 Brian Carlson

T27 Nate LeBlanc

T34 Mike Weingartner T34 Seth Kaplan

T34 Bryson Hotchkiss T37 Kevin Bolles

T37 John Lynch

T37 Bryan Heim

T37 Visanu Tongwarin T37 David Arbuckle

T42 Vince Buelk

T42 Gregg Jones

T42 Scott Walter

T42 Rich Lash

T46 Thomas Noonan T46 Andrew Hedrick T46 Paul Lobato

T49 Dustin Miller

T49 Mark Avery

T49 Rob Hunt

T52 Joshua Miller

T52 Nathan Mead

T52 Trey Johnson

T52 Kory Thurman

T56 Mike Swan

T56 Tristen Fay

T56 Alexander Calleja T56 Ed Marzec

60 Jeff Carter

T61 Joseph Carlton

T61 Nick Welch

63 Ethan Malzahn

T64 Jacques Deyoe

T64 Kristyn Crippen 66 Kirk Trowbridge 67 Dan O'Shaughnessy 68 Philip Linares

69 Dan Sniffin

Saddle Rock GC

Valley

TaylorMade Golf Company The Club at Inverness

Denver

Raven Golf Club at Three Littleton Golf & Tennis Red Sky GC

The Club at Inverness

Ute Creek GC

The CC at Woodmoor

Heather Gardens

Jake's Academy

Red Hawk Ridge

The Links Golf Course

The Club at Pradera

Cheyenne Country Club

Walnut Creek Golf Preserv Telluride Ski

Thorncreek GC

El Dorado

Ridge at Castle Pines - N Boulder

Ironbridge

Columbine CC

Legacy Ridge GC

Springs Ranch GC

Collindale GC

Sand Creek

PGA Member

Optimum Golf

Boulder

CC at Castle Pines

Meridian

Black Bear

The Pinery Country Club The Links Golf Course

GolfTEC-Hdqrts

Vail

Vail

Denver

Crested Butte

Fort Collins

Country Club of Colorado Red Sky Golf Club- Norman Riverdale GC

Legacy Ridge GC

Highland Meadows GC

Denver

River Valley Ranch GC

Cherry Hills

MetaGolf Learning Center Meadow Hills

Trent Wearner Golf Academ Omni Interlocken

74-72-74--220 77-73-72--222 74-73-75--222 71-74-77--222 70-76-76--222 77-77-69--223 74-79-71--224 75-73-76--224 73-71-80--224 74-76-75--225 75-74-76--225 78-76-71--225 76-75-75--226 73-78-75--226 73-77-76--226 72-76-78--226 74-79-73--226 73-75-78--226 81-74-71--226 73-79-75--227 75-72-80--227 77-78-72--227 76-75-77--228 75-77-76--228 75-75-78--228 74-78-76--228 77-77-74--228 74-76-79--229 80-73-76--229 75-73-81--229 75-70-84--229 73-78-79--230 76-74-80--230 79-76-75--230 78-74-79--231 72-81-78--231 71-84-76--231 78-73-81--232 76-75-81--232 76-78-78--232 75-79-78--232 80-72-81--233 79-74-80--233 72-83-78--233 77-78-78--233 76-76-82--234 74-79-82--235 77-77-81--235 76-79-81--236 72-82-83--237 75-80-82--237 82-73-83--238 76-76-87--239 76-79-85--240 75-80-86--241

+4 +6 +6 +6 +6 +7 +8 +8 +8 +9 +9 +9 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +10 +11 +11 +11 +12 +12 +12 +12 +12 +13 +13 +13 +13 +14 +14 +14 +15 +15 +15 +16 +16 +16 +16 +17 +17 +17 +17 +18 +19 +19 +20 +21 +21 +22 +23 +24 +25

$1,200.00 $975.00 $975.00 $975.00 $975.00 $850.00 $750.00 $750.00 $750.00 $650.00 $650.00 $650.00 $525.00 $525.00 $525.00 $525.00 $525.00 $525.00 $525.00 $400.00 $400.00 $400.00 $318.00 $318.00 $318.00 $318.00 $318.00 $270.00 $270.00 $270.00 $270.00 $251.67 $251.67 $251.67 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00 $250.00

September 2019

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Tournament News

Northern Battles Back to Claim Second Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship M

ike Northern started the year on the bench dealing with a bulky back. The PGA Life Member from Colorado Springs, Colo. could barely finish an eighteen-hole round. As the season went on, Northern battled back to get on the course and on Tuesday, battled back against the field to claim the 2019 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship.

“I had a muscle back there that would spasm during my golf swing,” noted Northern. “The more I played, the longer into the round I got, the more it would spasm. My chiropractor and my massage therapist talked and worked together a bit and they were able to get it to release.”

Northern started the second round tied for second after posting a one-under-par 69 during the first round. “I hit it really (well) in the first round but struggled with the putter. I spent some

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Mike Northern, PGA Life Member, knocks in a pivotal birdie putt at the par-4 17th hole during the final round of the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship.

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Tournament News time on the putting green last night trying to figure things outs,” noted Northern, who routinely stays in his RV at the host facility between rounds. “I really just needed to get out of my own way.”

Northern played his opening nine in three-under-par 32 pulling into the lead and gaining momentum on the field.

That strong start came to a screeching halt though when Northern made back-to-back bogeys at the 14th and 15th holes. He didn’t worry though as he kept looking forward.

“I didn’t look at the leaderboard,” Northern noted. “I thought about it on 16 because I bogeyed 14 and 15 but I didn’t. I just tried to make a couple birdies coming in to make up for those two bogeys.”

Northern ran into tree trouble at the par-5 16th and was lucky to find his second shot after the ball careened across the fairway, nearly out of sight. He played a long third shot towards the green and after an uphill chip, rolled in a six-foot par putt.

Chris Johnson, PGA General Manager at the Country Club at Woodmoor watches as his tee shot finds the fairway at the par-4 18th hole during the final round. Johnson claimed second place, one shot behind champion Mike Northern.

Northern had to survive a late charge by Chris Johnson, PGA, General Manager at the Country Club at Woodmoor, who was playing two groups in front of Northern. Johnson, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion, made five birdies during his round, including birdies at two of his last three holes, to post a two-underpar 138.

Not knowing what Johnson was doing in front of him, Northern hit his second shot into the par-4 17th to 6 feet but was faced with a downhill putt. He watched as the ball trickled towards the hole and finally fell in, giving him a one-shot lead.

On his final hole, Northern played a similar approach shot and was left with another downhill putt for birdie. The putt wasn’t to be but Northern tapped in for birdie and a one-shot victory.

While the time off was frustrating for Northern, it helped reinvigorate him when he was healthy enough to return. “Ultimately, I think the time off was pretty good for me,” he said following the awards ceremony. “I had a different perspective when I came back (from the injury) and was really ready to compete again.”

57 players registered for the event. They were competing for seven spots in the 2019 Senior PGA Professional Championship to be played October 3 – 6, 2019, at Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa in Austin, Texas. Bill Loeffler, the 2007 Senior PGA Professional Champion, was already exempt into the championship.

Don Hurter, PGA Director of Instruction at Castle Pines Golf Club plays his second shot into the par-4 18th hole at the Club at Inverness. Hurter claimed third place in the championship.

Joining Northern and Johnson in qualifying were Don Hurter, PGA Director of Instruction at Castle Pines Golf Club; Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Sales Rep with Anderson Ord; Doug Wherry, Director of Instruction at Jake’s Academy; Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member; and Patrick Reidy, PGA Instructor at The Club at Inverness.

Click here to access the complete results

September 2019

35

Tournament News

Qualifiers for the 2019 Senior PGA Professional Championship Omni Barton Creek Resort & Spa | Fazio Foothills & Coore Crenshaw Courses Austin, Texas | October 3-6, 2019

36

Mike Northern, PGA Life Member

Chris Johnson, PGA The CC at Woodmoor

Don Hurter, PGA Castle Pines Golf Club

Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Snowmass Club

Doug Wherry, PGA Jake's Academy

Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member

Patrick Reidy, PGA The Club at Inverness

Doug Montgomery, PGA Gott Golf

Sherry Andonian, PGA Valley Country Club

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Tournament News

Fitzgerald Claims Blackstone Country Club Pro Am with Impressive 7-Under-Par 65 C

aine Fitzgerald, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course rode two hot streaks on his way to posting a seven-under-par 65 to claim victory at the Blackstone Country Club Pro Am on Monday, August 5, 2019. Fitzgerald, who started on the par-4 10th hole, made four birdies in a row starting at the par-4 15th hole to make the turn with a four-under 32. After making the turn, he made six consecutive pars before closing with three straight birdies beginning at the par-4 seventh. In all, Fitzgerald made eight birdies during his round with just a single bogey.

Coming in second place was Alexandra Braga, PGA Assistant Professional at Denver Country Club. Not to be outdone by Fitzgerald’s impressive round, she notched eight birdies of her own on her way to posting a fiveunder-par 65.

Coming in tied for third were Dave Detweiler, PGA Life Member and Perry Holmes, PGA Director of Instruction at Colorado National Golf Club. Each player posted a three-under-par 69.

In the 3-2-1 Net Team content, PGA Life Member Scott Hart led his team to victory. He partnered with Bill Myers, Marcus Aden and Bill Ellingson to finish at 25-under-par 111. Coming in second place in the team event was Detweiler who partnered with Kodi Hooper, Scott Forsyth and Jim Hofstra to finish at 19-under-par 117.

Click here to see the full results

Johnson, Hebert Share Greeley Country Club Pro Am Title C

hris Johnson, PGA General Manager at The Country Club at Woodmoor and Andrew Hebert, PGA Assistant Professional at Indian Peaks Golf Course both finished at three-underpar 67 to finish tied for first at the Greeley Country Club Pro-Am. Johnson made five birdies during his round to go with two bogeys. Hebert made four birdies to just one bogey.

Coming in third place was Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course. Fitzgerald, the leader in the season-long OMEGA Dow Finsterwald Player of the Year race, tied Johnson and Pete Norwood for the most birdies in the event. Norwood, the PGA Director of Instruction at MetaGolf Learning Center, finished in solo fourth place.

In the team event, Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club was able to lead his team to victory. He partnered with Lonnie Barnhouse, Frank Grabowski and Jon Lindstrom to post 109 points in the Low Gross/Low Net Stableford event. Their round was highlighted by a hole-in-one from Grabowski.

Finishing tied for second were teams led by Paul Lobato, PGA Head Professional at Meridian Golf Club and Ed Kujalowicz, PGA Head Professional at Springs Ranch Golf Course.

September 2019

37

Tournament News

True Temper Project X Series Leaderboard Place | Name | Facility | Points 1 | Ron Vlosich | Life Member | 2493 2 | Micah Rudosky | Conquistador Golf Course | 1800 3 | Erik Billinger | University of Denver | 1512.5 4 | Ben Honaman | Lakewood Country Club | 1350 5 | Doug Rohrbaugh | Anderson Ord | 948 T6 | Seth Terpstra | GolfTEC - Denver Tech Center | 900 T6 | Michael Zaremba | Desert Hawk at Pueblo West | 900 T6 | Ryan Wroblewski | Cherry Hills Country Club | 900 9 | Remington Post | Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks | 802.5 10 | Michael Weingartner | Thorncreek Golf Course | 728.17 In conjunction with True Temper, the Colorado PGA will be conducting a “Points Race” for those Colorado PGA Members playing True Temper Shafts during four of our Championships this year. These championships include: • Stroke Play #4 at Highland Meadows Golf Club | May 29, 2019 • West Chapter Stroke Play Championship at Eagle Ranch Golf Course | June 25, 2019 • Section Championship at Meridian Golf Club | September 9-11, 2019 • West Chapter Championship at Aspen Glen Club | September 30 - October 1, 2019 (worth double points!)

Members will be playing for a $5,000 purse! $2,000 for 1st Place !

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The SUMMIT

Tournament News

Dow Finsterwald Colorado PGA OMEGA Player of the Year 1 | Caine Fitzgerald | Meadow Hills Golf Course | 5508.15 2 | Doug Rohrbaugh | Anderson Ord | 3854.5 3 | Geoff Keffer | Lakewood Country Club | 3736.47 4 | Jason Witczak | The Club at Pradera | 2691.93 5 | Michael Weingartner | Thorncreek Golf Course | 2688.54 6 | Chris Johnson | The Country Club at Woodmoor | 2631.92 7 | Ron Vlosich | Life Member | 2516.5 8 | Ben Honaman | Lakewood Country Club | 2408.8 9 | Ryan Bakken | Thorncreek Golf Course | 2177.47 10 | Brian Gott | Gott Golf | 2102.78 11 | Visanu Tongwarin | Legacy Ridge Golf Course | 2098.67 12 | Sherry Andonian | Valley Country Club | 2094.3 13 | Micah Rudosky | Conquistador Golf Course | 1958 14 | Patrick Reidy | The Club at Inverness | 1662.17 15 | Mark Avery | The Pinery Country Club | 1647.03 16 | Jeff Carter | Riverdale Golf Courses | 1623.5 17 | Kyle Voska | The Links Golf Course | 1617.75 18 | Bill Hancock | Littleton Golf & Tennis Club | 1575.15 19 | Barry Milstead | Valley Country Club | 1534 20 | Eric Bradley | Catamount Ranch and Club | 1515.7 21 | Erik Billinger | University of Denver | 1512.5 22 | Remington Post | Raven Golf Club at Three Peaks | 1483.5 The Top-22 Players will earn an exemption into the CoBank Colorado Open in the following year.

Colorado PGA Women’s Player of the Year 1 | Sherry Andonian | Valley Country Club | 1,393.30 2 | Alexandra Braga | Denver Country Club | 687.50 3 | Rachel Cavalier | Boulder Country Club | 470 4 | Stefanie Ferguson | The Pinery Country Club | 413 5 | Tara Morris | Country Club at Castle Pines | 325

Senior Colorado PGA OMEGA Player of the Year 1 | Doug Rohrbaugh | Snowmass Club | 4992.5 2 | Chris Johnson | The Country Club at Woodmoor | 3759.92 3 | Rick Cole | Eaton Country Club | 3024.67 4 | Ron Vlosich | Life Member | 2967 5 | Mike Northern | Life Member | 2590.75 6 | Brian Gott | Gott Golf | 2266.45 7 | Sherry Andonian | Valley Country Club | 2222.3 8 | Don Hurter | Castle Pines Golf Club | 2094 9 | Patrick Reidy | The Club at Inverness | 2052.17 10 | Doug Wherry | Jake’s Academy | 2044

Colorado PGA Associate Player of the Year 1 | Ben Lanting | Bear Creek Golf Club | 5741.92 2 | Patrick Grady | University of Colorado | 2320.17 3 | Seth Zacks | The Club at Ravenna | 1527.5 4 | Cody Kent | The Club at Ravenna | 1264 5 | Brian Baltzer | Loveland, The Olde Course at | 898 6 | Mark Franz | Saddle Rock Golf Course | 856.72 7 | Tyler Winslow | Lake Valley Golf Club | 732 8 | Brandon Wood | Saddle Rock Golf Course | 714 9 | Benjamin Pennymon | The Pinery Country Club | 660 10 | Brandon Howard | Legacy Ridge Golf Course | 588

September 2019

39

Junior Golf News

The Pinery Plays Host to Epic Weekend of PGA Junior League Timm Golf Academy Claims PGA Jr. League Title in Colorado

I

t was a beautiful weekend at The Pinery Country Club for the Colorado PGA Jr. League Qualifier, Semifinals and Championship Matches. During Saturday’s Qualifier, 27 teams competed for their chance to move on to the Final Four held immediately following on Sunday.

Earn the first qualifying spot in the Semi-Finals for the second year in-a-row with a score of 19-under-par 89, was the team from Timm Golf Academy captained by Rick Timm, PGA.

With daylight waning, Mt. Oxford, 1. Timm Golf Academy captained 2. Elevation Junior Golf Academy

by Paul 3. Team Aurora Klatt, PGA 4. Mt. Oxford Associate from The Ranch Country Club, came in with the day’s third team score of 104 making it a three-way tie for the qualifying spots.

Championship Results

Sunday “Fun Day” brought the Semifinals matches where Timm Golf Academy and Elevation Junior Golf Academy conquered their opponents, Mt. Oxford and Team Aurora, respectively. The consolation match led the afternoon off as Mt. Oxford and Team Aurora battled through the heat. Team Aurora emerged victorious with 7.5 points versus Mt. Oxford’s 4.5 points.

The Elevation Junior Golf Academy Team, captained

by PGA Professional Jason Witczak, PGA Director of Instruction at The Pinery Country Club and The Club at Pradera, opened the day with an impressive four-under-par team score of 104. They would soon by joined by Team Aurora captained by Dan O’Shaughnessy, PGA Head Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course who also posted a four-under-par 104. The championship match started with both teams neck-in-neck for the first flag. However, some crucial

40

The SUMMIT

Junior Golf News birdies and putts led the Timm Golf Academy team to victory, claiming the championship with 10.5 points over Elevation JGA’s 1.5 points.

Congratulations to all players, Captains and Coaches for a terrific season of PGA Jr. League in Colorado!

Colorado PGA Jr. League Results Timm Golf Academy Aurora Elevation JGA Mt. Oxford Mt. Cameron Capitol Peak Bross North Bross South Crestone Peak The Links Mt. Yale Mt. Sneffles Mt. Elbert North Maroon Black Bear Columbine/Glenmoor Pikes Peak Keystone South Maroon Flying Horse Eisenhower Mt. Princeton First Tee of Pikes Peak Mt. Evans CCA Bulldogs Mt. Columbia Mt. Shavano

September 2019

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Junior Golf News

Centennial State Hospitality First Colorado-based Drive Chip & Putt Regional a hit, but no Coloradans advance to National Finals; Iowan puts up amazing total following 367-yard drive

By Gary Baines – 09/08/2019

Colorado Golf Club has hosted a Senior PGA Championship and a Solheim Cup, and will have a U.S. Mid-Amateur under its belt within two weeks.

But what does Robert Polk, one of the original members of the Parker club and a current member of its board, have to say about what CGC did on Sunday — becoming the first Colorado site for a Drive Chip & Putt Regional?

“This is the best thing Colorado Golf Club has ever done,” the CGA Tournament Committee chairman said as he did volunteer duty Sunday at the driving station.

“I’m on the board here and if they’ll allow us, I’d vote for this every single year. This is so spectacular. For the future of the game; that’s why this is so exciting. It’s so much fun and these kids are so good. And they all seem like really good kids.”

And, apparently, some of the competitors can flat out perform.

On a day that Coloradans were shut out of qualifying for the 2020 DCP National Finals, Mateo Rascon of Burlington, Iowa went where no player has gone before — at least around these parts. He not only won the boys 14-15 age division, earning him a berth to the DCP National Finals that will take place on April 5 at Augusta National on the eve of the Masters. But with a perfect score in a Drive Chip & Putt competition being

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225 points, Rason scored 205.

Mateo Rascon hit a 367-yard drive on Sunday.

Officials from the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado who have run DCP events in the state for the seven seasons the competition has been around have never seen a score more than 200, much less one in the very upper reaches of the 100s.

Rascon hit all three of his drives through the grid — in other words, more than 300 yards — with one measuring 367. And this was into a headwind, though the shot is somewhat downhill. The performance earned him a perfect 75 points for driving. The 14-yearold also chipped in one of his three balls, and sank a

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Junior Golf News 15-foot putt — again, one of his three attempts in that discipline.

Jack Chambers was one of the top-finishing Coloradans on Sunday, placing third in boys 14-15.

When Coloradan Jack Chambers, who ended up finishing third out of 14 competitors in boys 14-15, saw Rascon’s score posted, “I was just thinking it’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in golf,” he said.

To put the 205 total into perspective, the high DCP score posted in the 10 Regional competitions last year was a 179. Matthew Troutman of Louisville, Ky., hit that mark last September at a Regional in Ooltewah, Tenn.

“My highest score has been 150 (before this),” said Rascon, who has competed in all seven seasons of DCP. “I thought I was going to do well after my first drives, but I wasn’t expecting that high.”

by a Coloradan, a runner-up showing in girls 12-13.

Boonta said she personally felt more pressure than at Regionals out of state last year. “I tried to minimize the pressure as much as I could. My parents were super supportive. They said that they didn’t expect anything and that they were going to be proud of me no matter what. But I think it’s kind of all in my head — just pressure that I put on myself.”

But Boonta is all the more appreciative of the opportunity she had to compete at Augusta earlier this year.

“I look back and see how lucky I was,” she said.

Connor Jones was the top-placing Coloradan on Sunday, finishing runner-up in boys 7-9.

Rascon said he has never before played golf at altitude.

“The drives (Sunday) actually felt pretty normal. I guess it’s because it’s downhill and the altitude is a little different. I probably carried the ball a little more.”

Two Coloradans placed in the top three in their age/gender divisions on Sunday. Connor Young of Lakewood was second in boys 7-9, finishing 16 points behind the winner, and Chambers was third in boys 14-15, ending up 55 points behind Rascon’s sky-high number.

Rascon will be making his second trip to the DCP National Finals, having finished second at Augusta National in the boys 10-11 competition in April 2017.

Neither Young nor Chambers had made it past the first round of the three rounds of qualifying tournaments before this year.

“It was amazing,” Rascon said of competing at the site of the Masters. “The Regionals were at Hazeltine. I won there, and I had no clue what it was going to be like (at the National Finals). When I got there, it was like heaven.

“I felt pretty good,” the 9-year-old Young said. “It was kind of hard for me because I didn’t know (champion Chase Hughes of Oklahoma City) was going to put up that big of a score. But I feel really good about (a runner-up finish).”

“I’m really excited (to go back). It was crazy the first time.”

Said Chambers: “I’m pretty happy (with third place). I probably wasn’t going to get 205 points anyway.”

But no Coloradans will be joining Rascon at the 2020 DCP National Finals after three locals competed at that level earlier this year, one in 2018 and three in 2016.

An official helps Ashton Edwards, son of CU men’s golf coach Roy Edwards, celebrate a made putt on Sunday.

All three Coloradans who played in the 2019 National Finals were at Colorado Golf Club on Sunday, but none came close to earning a second straight trip to Augusta National — which required winning one of the eight age/gender divisions on Sunday.

Coloradan Chunya Boonta placed second at the DCP National Finals in April, but won’t be making a return trip in 2020.

Chunya Boonta of Centennial placed eighth in the girls 14-15 Regionals, while two-time National Finalist Caitlyn Chin of Greenwood Village was fifth in girls 12-13, and Grady Ortiz of Colorado Springs was 14th in boys 7-9.

“The hard part is that there’s more pressure for Coloradans coming in,” given that the Regional was being held in-state for the first time, said Boonta, who in April posted the highest-ever National Finals finish

September 2019

The Regionals are the third of four stages of the DCP, preceded by Locals and Sub-Regionals and followed by the National Finals at the site of the Masters.

In DCP events, contestants score points in each discipline — driving, chipping and putting — based on how they place in each, with the points added together for a cumulative total.

DCP is sponsored by the Masters, the USGA and the PGA of America. The competition is limited to players 7-15. This is the seventh season of the event.

Prior to 2019, only three Coloradans had qualified for the DCP National Finals: Chin, Luke Trujillo and Arielle Keating in 2016, and Kaden Ford in 2018.

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Junior Golf News

Drive Chip & Putt Regionals At Colorado Golf Club in Parker INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONS AND COLORADO FINISHERS (Points noted: Drive+Chip+Putt=Total)

BOYS 7-9 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Chase Hughes, Oklahoma City 44-55-46—145 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 2. Connor Young, Lakewood 33-36-60–129 11. Marcel Barnhill, Pueblo 24-22-46–92 12. Gage Poulsen, Timnath 34-4-50–88 14. Grady Ortiz, Colorado Springs 24-12-24—60 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline Young (putting) GIRLS 7-9 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Lydia Boles, Ballwin, Mo. 11-41-50—102 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 5. Taya Snow, Castle Rock 12-40-36–88 10. Chloe Johnson, Parker 9-27-31—67 11. Kaia Chand, Denver 10-17-23–50 14. Addison Moreno, Fort Collins 12-3-22–37 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None BOYS 10-11 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Steven Berzack, Lebanon, Mo. 58-45-50—153 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 9. Crew Fitzgerald, Parker 39-26-50–115 10. Cooper Kelly, Centennial 23-36-40–99 12. Ashton Edwards, Boulder 23-8-60–91 14. Noah Ramsey, Arvada 8-3-50—61 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None GIRLS 10-11 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Reese Wallace, South Barrington, Ill. 39-45-50—134 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 5. Landry Frost, Colorado Springs 27-41-41–109 11. Jadie Wilson, Denver 19-3-45–67 14. Halle Schmahl, Highlands Ranch 3-4-36–43

BOYS 12-13 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Duff Mckay, Dallas 59-37-60—156 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 5. Gavin Amella, Castle Rock 40-37-65–142 6. Austin Barry, Fort Collins 39-55-45—139 11. Kaden Devenport, Windsor 47-3-60—110 12. Charlie Doyle, Colorado Springs 43-6-60–109 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline (Or Tied for First) Amella (chipping) GIRLS 12-13 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Yana Wilson, Henderson, Nev. 61-45-60–166 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 5. Caitlyn Chin, Greenwood Village 32-27-55–114 6. Alexandra Remaklus, Commerce City 16-32-55–103 14. Brooke Hudson, Parker 15-11-45—71 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None BOYS 14-15 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Mateo Rascon, Mediapolis, Iowa 75-65-65–205 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 3. Jack Chambers, Carr 60-35-55—150 9. Grant Samuelson, Parker 0-55-65–120 14. Zachary Caldarella, Parker 0-21-55—76 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None GIRLS 14-15 (14 competitors) Advances to National Finals 1. Ali Mulhall, Green River, Wyo. 68-40-50–158 Coloradans Who Failed to Advance 5. Maryn Harlow, Fort Collins 33-45-45–123 8. Chunya Boonta, Centennial 35-21-41—97 10. Emily Cheng, Colorado Springs 16-26-50—92 Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None For all the scoring from Sunday, CLICK HERE.

Coloradans Who Won Individual Discipline None

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Junior Golf News

JGAC Swings Into Longmont Sunset, Twin Peaks Host Tour and Series Events

T

he Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado made its second stop of the Fall Swing at Twin Peaks and Sunset Golf Course’s in Longmont this past weekend (September 7-8).

Playing conditions were great at both golf courses and the scores reflected that.

After Day 1, Hunter Swanson held a 2-shot lead with an opening round of 2-under 68. For Swanson, it was a tale of two nines – 2 bogies and 2 birdies on the front side lead to an even par 35 and 2 birdies and 7 pars on the back side saw him jump to the top of the leaderboard.

Parker Paxton and Gavin Hagstrom were both tied in second position after posting rounds of even par 70.

Both players were over par on their front nines but played their back nines under par to post the even par rounds. They both headed in to Sunday 2 shots back of Swanson.

With a tightly compact leaderboard heading into Sunday, there was sure to be some excitement.

Swanson, Paxton and Ryder Heuston all fired final rounds of even-par 70. For Swanson and Paxton, it was to finish first and second, respectively, while Heuston’s final round vaulted him from 4th position onto the podium.

On the girls’ side, Kaylee Chen and Ashley Kozlowski were deadlocked at 4-over-par after round 1 with the pair firing 74s. Rachel Penzenstadler was in third position with a first round 76.

Kozlowski fired a final round 74 to solidify third position while Chen fired a 72 and Penzenstadler at 70 to finish the 36 holes deadlocked at 6 over par.

On the first playoff hole, Penzenstadler drained her 20-foot birdie putt with Chen sitting inside of her putting for a birdie of her own. Chen rolled her 10footer by on the right side and Penzenstadler claimed victory.

In the JGAC Series divisions we had a number of good scores as well.

The Boys 11-13 Division was tightly contested. Landon Houska lead after Day 1 with a 5-over par 75. Tyler Long, Tiki Jaffe and Ross Miller were 1 back heading into Sunday after the trio shot 76, with Charlie Tucker beginning Sunday 2 back after carding a 77.

September 2019

Sunday was all about Tyler Long. Long carded a 4-over par 74, which vaulted him up the leaderboard and gave him a 1-shot victory over Nathan Kim (+11) and 3 shots over Charlie Tucker (+14).

The Boys 14-15 Division was captured by Yusuke Ogi with a pair of 77s over the two days to win by 2 over Bielly Phasay (76-80) and 3 over Benjamin Chin Jr. (76-81).

The Boys 16-18 Crown went to Benjamin Lenahan who posted a 14-over par total with rounds of 79 and 75.

The Girls 11-13 Division was dominated by Alena Kasanicky. Kasanicky ran away from the field with rounds of 72 and 74 to finish the 36-holes 17 shots clear of second place. Ashleigh Wilson captured second place with rounds of 87-76, while Madeline Bante finished in third with rounds of 85-85.

Jessica Morrissey captured victory in the Girls 14-18 Division. Morrissey won by 2 shots over Sarah Young (85-79) and by 7 over Lily Kate Nelson (85-84).

Just down the road at Sunset GC the 10 & Unders teed it up.

Jeffrey Chen captured victory in the Boys 6-8 Division with rounds of 55 and 46 to finish at 29-over par for the two days. Brayden Destefano fired stellar rounds of 31 and 33 to post 8-under par and capture the Boys 9-10 Division.

In the 6-10 Girls Division, Taylor Wilson came out on top with a 4-shot victory over Adrielle Miller. Wilson posted rounds of 39, 41 to finish at +8, while Miller posted 44, 40 to finish at +12.

Full Results: Series & Tour – Twin Peaks | 10 & Under – Sunset

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Junior Golf News

JGAC Fall Events Kick Off in Pueblo Chen, Agelopoulos Claim Tour Titles

By Scott Minta – 8/26/2019

T

he Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado made its first Fall Tour stop of 2019 at Pueblo Country Club on August 24-25.

Playing conditions were great for the competitors, not too much wind and a shorter golf course helped produce great scores across the board.

After Day 1, Bo Wardynski and Tyler Tyson both held a share of the lead with a pair of 1 over par 72s. For Wardynski, it was a tale of two nines, 4 bogies and 1 birdie on the front side lead to a 3 over par 38 but 2 birdies and 7 pars on the back side saw him jump up the leaderboard.

For Tyson, it was steady golf throughout his round.

Two early bogies on holes 2 and 3 could have set the tone for his round but birdies on 9 and 10 followed by a bogey on 11 and 7 straight pars to close gave him the co-lead heading into Sunday.

Carter Surofchek was lurking only 1 back after his 73 on day one, with Christian Agelopoulos and Jackson Rottschafer only 2 back after rounds of 74.

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With a tightly compact leaderboard heading into Sunday, there was sure to be some fireworks. Leaders Wardynski and Tyson both faded during the final round, Wardynski carding a 74 to finish the tournament 3 back, in third position, and Tyson a 77 to finish 6 back.

Second place finisher Jack Larson began the day 3 back and after 2-over par 37 on the front nine sat 6 shots back of the lead. However, a red hot back nine of 3 under 33 vaulted him up the leaderboard and secured his solo second-place finish at 3-over par.

The eventual champion, Agelopoulos, began his final round at 3-over par and 2 back. A front nine of 3-under par 32 provided him a 3-shot lead, which he never relinquished. A back nine of 1-over par 37 was good enough for Agelopoulos to finish the two days at 1-over par and a 2-shot victory.

On the girls’ side, Kaylee Chen and Aubri Braecklein were deadlocked at even par after round 1 with the pair firing 72s. Taylor Bandemer was in third position with a first-round 76.

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Junior Golf News

The girls did not shift positions after the close of round 2. Chen and Braecklein were tied with 9 holes to play, but Chen’s back-nine 38 to Braecklein’s 40 was enough to secure victory.

The Boys 14-15 Division needed a playoff to decide the champion between Alex Lund and Will Rinehart after both players tired at +17 after the two days. Rinehart won on the first playoff hole with a par.

Bandemer, beginning the day 4 shots back, cut that deficit to 3 after a front-nine 36. However, a back-nine 38 was not enough to challenge Chen as she finished 3 shots behind the eventual champion, securing third position.

The Boys 16-18 Crown went to Richard (Trey) Valdez who posted a 7-over par total with rounds of 76 and 71.

Across town, at Elmwood Golf Course, the JGAC Series kids began their fall campaigns.

Great scores were contagious from Pueblo CC as our series members fired some low numbers at Elmwood Municipal Golf Course.

Grady Ortiz captured victory in the Boys 6-8 Division with rounds of 38 and 41 to finish at 11-over par for the two days. Brayden Destefano fired great rounds of 35 and 37 to post 4-over par and capture the Boys 9-10 Division.

The Boys 11-13 Division was tightly contested. Will Balliet lead after Day 1 with a 7-over par 77. Talen Turnbaugh was 4 back heading into Sunday after an 81, with Nathan Kim and Trae Lundberg beginning Sunday 5 back after carding 82s.

In the 6-10 Girls Division, Adrielle Miller came out on top with a 2-shot victory over Taylor Wilson. Miller posted rounds of 41, 42 to finish at +15, while Wilson posted 41, 44 to finish at +17.

The Girls 11-13 Division was a two-horse race for most of the weekend. Alena Kasanicky and Ashleigh Wilson were only separated by 2 shots after the 36 holes with Kasanicky capturing victory. Kasanicky bettered Wilson on Day 1 with an 80 to Wilson’s 82 and both players fired great final rounds of 76.

Leanne Telle was in full control for the entirety of the tournament in the Girls 14-18 Division. Telle captured victory by 7 shots with rounds of 78, 82.

Full Results: Tour – Pueblo CC | Series – Elmwood GC

Sunday, however, was all about Nathan Kim. Kim carded a 4-over par 74, which vaulted him up the leaderboard and gave him a 2-shot victory over Will Balliet (+18) and 5 shots over Talen Turnbaugh and Trae Lundberg (+21).

September 2019

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