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Keffer Wins the Colorado PGA Professional Championship
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Keffer earns his second PGA Championship Title, taking the lead after round two
Geoff Keffer, PGA, Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club, won the Colorado PGA Professional Championship by three strokes at Valley Country Club September 14-16, 2020. This is the second time Keffer has won the Section Championship with his previous win being in 2016.
On day one, three-time champion Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, Teaching Professional at The Snowmass Club, carded an incredible 66 and had a miraculous par save on the 8th hole. He was up by one stroke, Keffer was in second with a 67, and Dale Smigelsky, Life Member, was in third with a 68.
Day two, Keffer pulled ahead for the lead, carding a second round of 67. Rohrbaugh slid to second after carding a 3-under-par 69. Smigelsky was still in third, but after carding a 72, he was six strokes behind the leader.
President of the Colorado PGA, Ben Welsh, presents the trophy to Keffer, who also claimed a $10,000 check for the win. It was an exciting final round and it started off with all eyes focused on Keffer and Rohrbaugh. But, Smigelsky had an impressive start to the day with five birdies on the front nine to climb from third place to within one stroke of Keffer.
Smigelsky shares, ““I got hot. I knocked it close in a lot of spots on the front nine. I was at 5-under-par at the turn and was within one of Geoff. But it switched when he made a great up-and-down on 10 for birdie and I three-putted for par. Geoff just has too much firepower. He ran away from us.” Smigelsky carded a 6-under-par round and placed second with a 10-under-par overall.
Each day Keffer played the back 9 better than the front, taking about nine or 10 holes to see a putt go in. “Once you see one go in, then it makes it easier to make more,” comments Keffer. When asked about the final round, Keffer comments, “Dale was just firing birdies left and right. He shot 5-under on the front. I had two bad bogeys and I finished even. But then, watching the putt go in on 10 and 11, I knew I was still in the lead. The 12th hole should be an easy drive for me, but I don’t think I have hit that fairway in two years. I hit it to a bad spot in the right trees, hit a good little pitch up to the front part of the green and made a good par. Then I had good pars the rest of the way. Thought I made birdie on 16, but my putt was just fast. Honestly, I didn’t look at the leaderboard until we were
Rohrbaugh double bogeyed the 13th hole and had slipped into third place sharing the position with Micah Rudosky, Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course. Rodusky had a great final round of 68 to move him up in the ranking. They both finished the tournament 7-under par.
Valley Country Club Director of Golf, Barry Milstead, PGA, comments, “It was a great tournament. The Section did a great job setting up the course and the players played well to make as many birdies as they made. It was great to have everybody out.”
After Colorado experienced a surprise winter storm the week prior to the event, Valley had some maintenance issues to overcome, but the players were happy with the conditions. Smigelsky comments, “On a golf course like this, some of us have a chance because it’s not a bombers golf course. When we get to playing some of the really long golf courses that are more open, Geoff and Caine separate themselves. This is a golf course that gives us a chance – guys like Doug and I – who don’t bomb it like those guys.” Having won the Stroke-Play at Valley at the beginning of the season, Smigelsky was looking forward to playing here again. Keffer also spoke highly of Valley, “I just love this place. This is one of my favorite courses around. Barry is
Keffer makes his way up the 18th hole at Valley CC
Geoff Keffer and Dale Smigelsky congratulate each other. awesome. Everybody here is great.”
The top nine PGA Professionals qualify for the 54th PGA Professional Championship on April 25-28, 2021, at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Earning the qualifying spots based on the 54-hole results are: Geoff Keffer; Dale Smigelsky; Micah Rudosky; Doug Rohrbaugh; Kyle Voska, Teaching Professional at The Links Golf Course; Alexandra Braga, Director of Instruction at Denver Country Club; Chris Hyten, Assistant Professional at Castle Pines Golf Club; and Doug Wherry, Director of Instruction at Jake’s Academy. Three players tied for the last qualifying position and Ryan Bakken, Assistant Professional at Thorncreek Golf Course, was able to claim that place.
The Colorado PGA and the 128 participants of the Section thank Valley Country Club for hosting the Colorado PGA Professional Championship presented by Club Car and OMEGA. Thanks also go to supporting sponsors and partners Titleist/Footjoy, TaylorMade Golf Company, Nike, the Golf Channel and the PGA TOUR.
To see the full results of the 2020 Colorado PGA Professional Championship, click here.
PGA Golf Club | Port St. Lucie, Florida | April 25-28, 2021
Geoff Keffer, PGA Lakewood Country Club Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA The Snowmass Club Chris Hyten, PGA Castle Pines Golf Club Dale Smigelsky, PGA Life Member Kyle Voska, PGA The Links Golf Course Doug Wherry, PGA Jake’s Academy
Micah Rudosky, PGA
Conquistador Golf Course Alexandra Braga, PGA
Denver Country Club
Ryan Bakken, PGA Thorncreek Golf Course
True Temper Project X Series Leaderboard
Place | Name | Facility | Points
(Point Values Include the Section Championship)
1 | Geoff Keffer | Lakewood Country Club | 4,360.5 2 | Dale Smigelsky | Life Member | 2,700 3 | Doug Rohrbaugh | The Snowmass Club | 2,680.5 4 | Ben Lanting | Bear Creek Golf Club | 1,881 5 | Grant Jackson | Saddle Rock Golf Course | 1,880.65 6 | Ron Vlosich | Life Member | 1,855 7 | Caine Fitzgerald | Meadow Hills Golf Course | 1,800.5 8 | Chris Johnson | The Country Club at Woodmoor | 1,410.75 9 | Micah Rudosky | Conquistador Golf Course | 1,350 10 | Tyler Parsloe | Jake's Academy | 1,292
In conjunction with True Temper, the Colorado PGA is again conducting a “Points Race” for those Colorado PGA
Members playing True Temper Shafts during seven (7) events this year. These events include: • Stroke Play #1 at Valley Country Club | June 1 Stroke Play #2 at The Ranch Country Club | June 8 • Stroke Play #3 at The Pinery | June 15 Stroke Play #4 at Valley Country Club | June 22 • Stroke Play #5 at Eisenhower Golf Club | September 2 • Section Championship at Valley Country Club | September 14-16, 2020 • West Chapter Championship at Aspen Glen Club | October 5-6, 2020
Members will be playing for a $5,000 purse! $2,000 for 1st Place/$1,500 for 2nd/$1,000 for 3rd/ $500 for 4th
