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Fitzgerald Claims Title as 2020 National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Champion
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Fitzgerald Claims Title as 2020 National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Champion
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Caine Fitzgerald, PGA, Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course, won the National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Championship on August 18, 2020, at Saddle Rock Golf Course. Fitzgerald is a 4-time champion of this event with titles in 2005, 2008 and 2011.
Fitzgerald has other notable accomplishments in the Colorado PGA, as well. In 2012, he was named the Colorado PGA Professional Champion. The Dow Finsterwald Colorado Section PGA Player of the Year was awarded to him in 2013 and 2019.
This year, Fitzgerald had the opportunity to be paired with top players in the Section and previous winners of the National Car Rental Assistant Championship. Ben Lanting, PGA, Bear Creek Golf Club, is a two-time defending champion, winning in 2018 and 2019. Geoff Keffer, PGA, Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club, won three years in a row - 2013, 2014 and 2015.
In a field of 40 players, the left-handed Fitzgerald made his mark with an impressive 8-under-par 64 in the first round, carding 8 birdies and an eagle. Lanting was at 4-under-par 68 at the end of the first day. Though playing with defending champions, Fitzgerald had more fun than one might consider as he played with some of his good friends, and commented, “I played very well. I hit well most of the day and putted well. It added up to a very good day. It is fun to play good golf and watch good golf - one lends itself to the other. You feed off of good energy and we saw a lot of good golf shots. It was a great day with some really good people.”
On day two, though, Fitzgerald started with some nerves, knowing it is hard to back up a good first round with a second one. “I started off a little shaky, not my best off the first tee. It was a little sloppy. I didn’t hit it the way I wanted. I felt a little nervy, like I just was not comfortable. But I birdied the second hole, which settled me down a little bit. Ben came out blazing. It was awesome. He really put the pressure on. I didn’t hit a good tee shot on 5. Ben had a good one. Easily, if he makes it and I miss, it would have been a tie game. But I made an eightfoot putt for par and that really settled me in for the day.”
Lanting started the second round with three birdies on the first four holes. Unfortunately, he had a double and a triple bogey on eight and 10, which resulted in finishing second overall with a 4-under par. Lanting comments, “Hats off to Caine. He played so solid the last two days. He earned it.”
Fitzgerald finished the second round with a 5-under-par 67. He dominated the field with a total score of 13-under-par 131, which was 9 strokes ahead of the rest of the field. Keffer, who claimed third place, commented, “It was fun to watch Caine. That was the best I’ve seen him play, both days.” Coming in fourth was Ryan Wrobleswski, PGA, Assistant Professional at Cherry Hills Country Club.
The top four earned qualifying spots into the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, on November 12-15, 2020.
Sherry Andonian, PGA, Teaching Professional at Valley Country Club, caddied for Fitzgerald and Keffer.
Filling the four alternate spots, in order of selection, National Car Rental Colorado Assistant Professional are Grant Jackson, PGA, Assistant Professional at Championship Saddle Rock Golf Course; Christopher Hyten, PGA, Assistant Professional at Castle Pines Golf Club; Saddle Rock Golf Course, August 17-18, 2020 Jack Cavanagh, Assistant Professional at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve; and Jeff Carter, PGA, Assistant Professional at Murphy Creek Golf Course. 1 2 3 Caine Fitzgerald Ben Lanting Goeff Keffer 64-67--131 -13 68-72--140 -4 70-74--144 E Saddle Rock Golf Course had fantastic conditions 4 Ryan Wroblewski 72-73--145 +1 for the Championship. Many thanks to Head Alternates - in order Professional, Zane Zwemke, for hosting the event and also to Golf Course Superintendent, Kevin 5 Grant Jackson 75-72--147 +3 Kallas. 6 7 Christopher Hyten Jack Cavanagh 74-74--148 +4 76-73--149 +5 Click here for the complete results. 8 Jeff Carter 76-76-152 +8 Qualifiers for the 2020 National Car Rental Assistant Professional Championship (Joining Fitzgerald)
Ben Lanting, PGA Bear Creek Golf Club
Geoff Keffer, PGA Lakewood Country Club
Ryan Wrobleswski Cherry Hills Country Club
