The
SUMMIT The SUMMIT is the official digital magazine of the Colorado PGA August 2021
Alice Plain, PGA Golf Professional of the Year 2021 Special Awards Issue
The Official Magazine of the Colorado PGA The SUMMIT is produced by the Colorado PGA Colorado PGA Staff CEO/Executive Director Eddie Ainsworth, PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1593 C (719) 761-6125 Education Director Holly Champion, PGA hchampion@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1591 C (217) 232-1790 Junior Golf Manager Samantha Crawford scrawford@pgahq.com P (303) 966-1597 C (720) 884-6130 Operations Manager Justin Limon, PGA jlimon@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1588 C (720) 390-1160 Business Development & Marketing Director Erinn Lopez elopez@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1594 C (719) 393-2644 Tournament Director 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/Comms. Manager Cathy Thompson cthompson@pgahq.com P (303) 996-1589 C (303) 918-0396 Colorado PGA WORKS Fellow Elizabeth Whan ewhan@pgahq.com C (626) 993-8747 Field Staff Career Consultant Keith Soriano, PGA ksoriano@pgahq.com C (720) 841-1006 PGA Jr. League Regional Manager Anthony Vitale, PGA avitale@pgahq.com C (561) 267-1208
Colorado PGA Officers Jim Hajek, PGA President | 2021-2022 Fossil Trace Golf Club
West Chapter Officers Jeff Boyer, PGA President | 2019-2021 Eagle Ranch Golf Course
Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA Vice-President | 2021-2022 Country Club of Colorado
Luke Brosterhous, PGA Vice-President | 2019-2021 Catamount Ranch and Club
Mike O’Donnell, PGA Secretary | 2021-2022 Fort Carson
Steve VanDyke, PGA Secretary | 2021 River Valley Ranch GC
Ben Welsh, PGA Honorary President | 2021-2022 Frost Creek
Ed Marzec, PGA Honorary President | 2019-2021 Red Sky Golf Club
Board of Directors Mark Bacheldor, PGA | 2020-2022 UCCS PGA Golf Management Program
West Chapter Board of Directors Tom Apple, PGA | 2019-2021 PGA Member
Andy Benson, PGA | 2021 University of Denver Golf Club Jeff Boyer, PGA | 2019-2021 Eagle Ranch Golf Course Joe Carlton, PGA | 2021-2023 Legacy Ridge Golf Course Bob Doyle, PGA Past District 9 Director Life Member Kyle Heyen, PGA Past District 9 Director Hiwan Golf Club
Mark Matz, PGA | 2021-2022 Beaver Creek GC Alice Plain, PGA | 2018 - 2023 Vail Golf Club James Pratt, PGA | 2021-23 Aspen Golf Club Kenny Thayer, PGA | 2019-2021 PGA Member Max Twarjan, PGA | 2020-2022 Maroon Creek Club
Charles ‘Vic’ Kline, PGA Past District 9 Director
Colorado PGA REACH Trustees Spencer Zinn, Chairman CCO, West Edge
Ed Marzec, PGA | 2019-2021 Red Sky Golf Club
John Andrew Brigadier General USAF - Retired
Jim Miller, PGA | 2018-2023 Sonnenalp Golf Club
Tom Bauerle Owner - Colorado Golf and Turf
Josh Miller, PGA | 2019-2021 GOLFTEC
Dan Bennett Investor/Partner, Southwest Greens Management
CJ Perry, PGA | 2020-2022 West Woods Golf Course Keith Stilwell, PGA | 2020-2022 Cheyenne Shadows Golf Course Dave Troyer, PGA | 2019-2021 PGA Member Independent Directors Theo Gregory Spencer Zinn
Anne Broholm CEO | AHEAD
Maj. Gen. Barbara Faulkenberry, USAF, Retired - Corporate Director: Callon Petroleum; USA Truck Walter Glover EVP/COO - U.S. Olympic Endowment Theo Gregory Colorado Springs Sports Corp. Assistant to the CEO Tom Gunnerson VP Investments, Wells Fargo Dominic Karaba President - Specialty Lending and Business Banking - UMB Bill Keller Lieutenant Colonel USAF, Retired Eric Kenealy Chairman - Mackinaw Holding Corp. Sandy King Entrepreneur/Songwriter Bob Lally Navy Captain, Retired George Lee VP - Ameriprise Financial Services Adam McDiarmid Regional Manager - 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 Corporation Mike Talaga Credit Analyst - Janus Hendeson Bill Vogeney Chief Revenue Officer Ent Credit Union
Dr. Phil Brown President/Founder, Six Points Consulting Dr. Stephen Davis Cheyenne Mountain Dental Group Brad Dombaugh CEO - PSA Worldwide Corp.
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 eight 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.
What's Inside 5
President’s Report It's Award Season
6
Executive Director’s Report Colorado PGA Proud
8
District Director Report/PGA of America News Updates on Governance
9
Career Services News Controlling What You Can
Colorado PGA News 10 2021 Colorado PGA Special Award Recipients Announced 15 Golf Professional of the Year is Anything but Plain and Simple Membership News 18 Membership Update Colorado PGA REACH News 22 A New Home is a Game Changer! 24 Meet our 2021 PGA of America and Colorado PGA REACH Scholarship Recipients 28 Fun at Fort Carson Ivy Pro-Am! Quarter Century Club 30 Quarter Century Club Inductees: Jeff Boyer, PGA and Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Tournament News 33 Eisenhower Pro-1 AM 34 Rudosky Takes Home Title of 2021 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion 36 True Temper Points Race
37 38 39 40 41
Junior Golf News 2021 Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Championship Onto the Subregionals First JGAC Major Champs of 2021 Taking a Final Bow With An Exclamation Point
4 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
President's Message
It's Award Season! Congratulations!
Awards season is often thought of as March and April; you know, that time of year for the Critics’ Choice, SAG, Oscars, etc... which showcases and honor their talents. For the Colorado PGA, award season is August when we announce the “best of the best” of Colorado PGA Professionals. You have heard it from our Officers, Board and CEO, as well as members and leaders of other sections, for years that the Colorado Section is best in the USA. We know it is thanks to our extraordinary membership. This may be best shown in the diversity of this year’s award winners which stem all around the Section from the Springs to Ft. Collins to Vail and Steamboat. In addition, our CPGA Member’s talents come from every type of golf operation - public, private, military and resort facilities. I was fortunate to co-chair the awards committee for two years – keep in mind that this committee is made up of past winners so serving on it meant you had done great things yourself. The committee members fully understand what it takes to separate themselves from the crowd and recognize talent and effort. Like me, each of them has no choice to be humbled reading through the applications from our amazing professionals. This is neither an easy nor small task as each candidate is deserving in their own right. From dozens of applications, this group is asked to narrow down to one single outstanding Colorado PGA Professional in each category. I thank the committee and chairs for their challenging and difficult work. If you were nominated for an award, I congratulate you as someone in the CPGA recognizes what you bring to the table. I encourage you to maintain the vision, the effort, keep striving to improve because that is who you are, and we thank you for continuing to make magic happen at your facility. The cream rises to the top and we may see your name on an award or two in the near future. For the award winners in 2021, my sincere congratulations and we all look forward to celebrating with you in late October at Colorado Golf Club. I could not be more honored as the President when making the phone call to each of the winners saying, “Congratulations, you are the Colorado PGA Section Award winner!” I hope my 2022 phone call is to you – it would be my honor. Sincerely,
Jim Hajek, PGA President Colorado PGA Head Professional Fossil Trace Golf Club jhajek@cityofgolden.net P (303) 277-8752 C (303) 746-7416
5 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Executive Director's Message
Colorado PGA Proud My Fellow PGA Professionals, Pride/prīd/, a feeling of deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated with. The above definition clearly sums up my feelings after reviewing this month’s SUMMIT Magazine. With the turn of just about every page I couldn’t help but feel proud of the achievements of our Colorado PGA Family. I’ve always been a big fan of Alice Plain, our 2021 Golf Professional of the Year, but after reading her story, I’m an even bigger fan. To read about all she has accomplished despite being a female in a male dominated industry is inspiring. Not only has Alice found success, but she also takes the time to mentor others. She is a true leader that leads by example. An example we all should strive to follow. I’d like to add my congratulations to all our Award Winners this year. You make us all very proud! Several years ago, we had a vision to rebrand our Section’s Foundation. Through our Board of Director’s leadership, the decision was made to recruit a Board of Trustees outside of our Colorado PGA Professionals to help us spread the word of what we are accomplishing through the game of golf and help us grow financial support. I am proud to inform you that our Trustees hit it out of the park on July 21st during our Annual Colorado PGA REACH Invitational at The Golf Club at Bear Dance, and we were able to net just over $90,000.00 for our Foundation! Today our Colorado PGA Professionals, along with the Colorado Section and our Foundation, Colorado PGA REACH, are accomplishing some quite amazing things through the game of golf. What once was a vision, is now turning into a reality. As more and more people hear about what we are doing, support for our programs continue to grow. I am so very thankful and proud to be a PGA Member of the Colorado Section! My sincerest thanks for the opportunity to serve all of you. I’m excited for what the future has in store for us, and I look forward to seeing each of you soon at one of our upcoming Championships, or one of our Fall Membership Meetings. Please remember to always reach out if we can ever assist you. Straight Down the Middle. Very Respectfully,
Eddie Ainsworth, PGA CEO/Executive Director Colorado PGA eainsworth@pgahq.com C (719) 761-6125
6 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
PGA of America News
Updates on Governance Congratulations to Section Award Winners!
As we pass the midway point of the golf season in District 9, I hope this note finds everybody healthy and having a busy golf season. Congratulations to all the Colorado Section award winners that are being celebrated in this magazine! There have been a couple of governance changes approved by the PGA Board of Directors in the last couple months regarding membership classifications. The Board, at the recommendation of the Education, Employment and Membership committees, voted to approve the addition of an Affiliate status. Affiliate status will allow individuals who do not meet Associate eligibility criteria to complete Level 1 of the PGA Professional Golf Management Program. Affiliates must then meet all Associate eligibility to register as an Associate in Level 2 to progress toward PGA of America Membership. Affiliates are not Associates of Members of the Association, do not enjoy any rights and privileges of membership, do not receive an identification card, and are not covered by the Life, Liability Insurance or Member Assistance Program. The Board also approved a recommendation from the Membership Committee of the concept to provide a soft landing and continued affiliation with the PGA of America for those Associates who completed all PGA Education requirements and earned the 28 experience credits but have not fully passed the PAT. Individuals meeting those criteria will now have the option to transfer to the newly created B-25 Associate status at the end of their Acceptable Progress time frame. Those who transfer may remain B-25 until fully passing the PAT requirement needed for election to PGA Membership. An Associate classified as B-25 must earn MSR and pay National and Section Associate dues and will have normal Associate rights and privileges. As of today, we are still planning for a full crowd at the Ryder Cup in September at Whistling Straits. All PGA Members and one (1) guest are invited to attend. With the current uptick in the new COVID variants, we are hopeful that all the great events that are part of the Ryder Cup are still able to happen. The 105th PGA of America Annual Meeting is scheduled for November 2-5 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. We look forward to getting back to meeting in person and conducting the business of the association. This meeting will also be livestreamed, and I encourage all those who are able to either attend the meetings in Milwaukee or watch the events online. I am looking forward to getting to the Colorado Section in person sometime soon. As always, please reach out to me anytime if I can be of help.
Jared Barnes, PGA District 9 Director PGA of America Head Professional Cedar Ridge Golf Course jbarnes@pga.com
8 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Career Services News
Controlling What You Can
"Nobody ever ran out of time, they just didn't make it a priority." As I spend more and more time with PGA Members, Associates, and Students in the field, the compression of time that they experience is a common refrain. There always seems to be more to do than time allows. I often come back to something that one of my friends and former Colorado PGA President, Ty Thompson, once told me:
“Nobody ever ran out of time, they just didn’t make it a priority.” With that in mind, here are a few tips for effectively managing your time: 1. Prioritize your work. Stephen Covey, co-author of First Things First, offers an organizational tool for your to-do list based on how important and urgent different tasks are. Looking at what goes into making up your day, where do your work activities fit in these categories?
Important and urgent — Tasks that must be done. Do them right away. Important but not urgent — Tasks that appear important, but upon closer examination aren’t. Decide when to do them. Urgent but not important — Tasks that make the most “noise,” but when accomplished, have little or no lasting value. Delegate these if possible. Not urgent and not important — Low-priority stuff that offer the illusion of “being busy.” Do them later. 2. Don’t add to your plate. What are you agreeing to that is preventing you from accomplishing your top priorities? Is it something that could be delegated to someone in outside services or another staff member? 3. Plan your day. I know some of you think it takes too much time to make a checklist or plan the next day, but believe me you will get more done if you do! Depending on your personality, try one of these options: The night before — At the end of the day, take 15 minutes to put together a list of the next day’s most important or urgent task. First thing in the morning — Arrive a few minutes early and make your urgent to-do list (see #1). This may prove to be the most productive part of your day. 4. Eliminate distractions, particularly social media distractions. Your smartphone is extremely useful, but it’s also addictive and among the biggest time wasters of your day. It may take a true exercise in willpower, but occasionally turn off your phone to maximize your time. Instead of being “always on,” plan certain times of day to catch up on email, call people back, and respond to texts that are not urgent.
5. Take care of yourself. Rest when you can. Sometimes Netflix should take second place to sleep no matter how good the series is! The days are getting shorter, and cooler temperatures are in the not-so-distant future. Hopefully some of these tips will help make the journey to the end of the season a little easier.
Keith Soriano, PGA, ARWC
PGA of America Career Consultant Serving the Colorado and Utah Sections of the PGA ksoriano@pgahq.com (720) 841-1006
9 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News
2021 Colorado PGA Special Award Recipients Announced!
Every spring, the Special Awards Committee, a cohort made up of the previous year's award winners, is guided by two members of the Board of Directors in naming the best of the best within the Colorado PGA Section. This year, the 2021 Special Awards Committee is made up of Chairman, Keith Stilwell, PGA, and Joseph Carlton, PGA, the Special Awards Committee CoChair, along with the 2020 Special Award Winners. The Colorado PGA congratulates the 2021 Special Award Recipients! The following recipients are true examples of the Section's reputation as "the experts in the game and business of golf." Alice Plain, PGA Vail Golf Club Golf Professional of the Year Alice Plain, PGA Director of Golf at Vail Golf Club, is being awarded the highest honor given annually by the Colorado PGA, Golf Professional of the Year. Having been elected to membership in 1996 and spending her last 13 years at Vail Golf Club, Alice has truly been able to make a lasting impact within the industry during her time in the valley. She has had the opportunity to mentor over 35 PGA-PGM Interns and over nine PGA Professionals over the course of her career and looks forward to continuing to act as mentor for young PGA Professionals. Plain has been serving as a West Chapter Board Member and Committee member for the Section and was recently re-elected to the West Chapter Board this past year for an additional three-year term. This will be Plain's eighth award, with the 2017 Merchandiser of the Year ~ West Chapter and 2017 Horton Smith Award ~ West Chapter being her most recent. Alice takes pride in the culture she has created at Vail Golf Club, one that is supportive with a team-oriented environment and one where they can have fun on a daily basis!
10 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News Ethan Malzahn, PGA Denver Country Club Assistant PGA Golf Professional of the Year
The 2021 Assistant Professional of the Year Award goes to Ethan Malzahn, Assistant Professional at Denver Country Club. Malzahn came to the Club four years ago and was tasked with growing the junior program: managing four PGA Jr. League Teams, seeing an increase in participation from 18 to over 60 juniors this past year, an Operation36 program, and is responsible for an overall junior participation increase by over 125 children - total program consists of over 275 children. With his help, the DCC’s PGA Jr. League is one of the fastest-growing junior programs at the Club! With a dedicated, passionate, and positive energy, Malzahn manages his time effectively operating a first-class junior golf program, club fitting, tournament operations, retail management, membership relations, and teaching 400 lessons a year. Malzahn is an ambassador for and committed to the Colorado PGA Section.
Leighton Smith, PGA Leighton Smith Golf Teacher of the Year Award
For excellence in golf instruction, Leighton Smith, PGA, of Leighton Smith Golf, is awarded Teacher of the Year. Based on seeing a need for true “coaching” and not just “instruction,” Smith started his own coaching business in 2017. His business, The Tribe, focuses on long-term technical development, goal setting, and creating momentum. Also in 2017, he joined the Education Committee and was the Player Development Award Winner. In addition to leading dozens of PGA HOPE clinics and volunteering at high school golf clinics, in 2020, Smith operated his golf programs out of five facilities in Colorado Springs and The Tribe program grew over 200%. Smith’s legacy is his impact on the game and he enjoys coaching because it allows him to be a guide in someone’s golf story! Smith is an incoming Colorado PGA Board Member, Fall 2021.
Brad Skupaka, PGA GOLFTEC HQ Professional Development Award
Through his outstanding and continuing contributions in developing and improving educational opportunities for PGA Professionals, Brad Skupaka, PGA, is awarded the 2021 PGA Professional Development Award. Skupaka is involved in the development and implementation of training the 700+ coaches at GOLFTEC, who leave feeling inspired and excited to return to their own students. He has a positive influence on the careers of many PGA Professionals as they help to grow the game. Skupaka also has appeared in over 200 Golf Channel segments presenting content and raises money for several charitable organizations; raising over $20,000 since 2019!
11 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News Jeremy Beck, PGA GOLFTEC HQ Bill Strausbaugh Award
Jeremy Beck, PGA, celebrating 20 years with both GOLFTEC HQ and as a PGA Member, embodies the Bill Strausbaugh Award - an award presented to a PGA Member who has shown outstanding integrity and a commitment to mentoring PGA Professionals. His career has centered around mentoring and developing fellow PGA Members through GOLFTEC’s values of team, passion, innovation, integrity, improvement, and fun. He was involved in developing Welcome2Golf which drove golfer demand in Denver and he is a frequent speaker at annual PGA Shows and employment consultant meetings. As the COO, GOLFTEC is the #2 employer of PGA Members: hiring 100+ per year. GOLFTEC launched the “Pass your PAT” year-long mentorship program aimed to help aspiring golfers pass and continue onto membership. Beck’s focus is on diversifying the game of golf by serving on an industry collaboration DE&I task force and through launching “GOLFTEC Cares” to significantly expand their community impact!
Rick Cole, PGA Life Member Warren Smith Award
The Warren Smith Award is given to a PGA Professional for his/her outstanding contributions to the game and to the Section. A golfer since age 11, who has given over 9,000 lessons during his time as a PGA Professional, and hosted three LPGA Tour events, the 2021 Warren Smith Award is presented to Rick Cole, PGA. Previously, Cole was named the 2016 Colorado PGA Section Senior Player of the Year and the 2019 Bill Strausbaugh Award Winner. Cole has taught and mentored often without charge, simply out of his passion and love for the game of golf. His past students have become outstanding instructors in the PGA themselves, some attaining “top 50” status. Mentoring, building relationships, and being an ambassador for golf are his top priorities. The Colorado Open Tournament Committee member, says his greatest quality of leadership is that of listening. In 2016, at age 64, he tied for first place in the Colorado Section Championship!
Stefanie Ferguson, PGA Experience Golf Player Development Award
Lead instructor at CommonGround and ExperienceGolf, Stefanie Ferguson, PGA, is named the 2021 PGA Player Development Award recipient. Ferguson had 1,018 students last year through lessons, camps, Junior programs, adult programs, season-long programs, and others; totaling roughly 5,000 individual visits. ExperienceGolf and Ferguson have programming for every type of golfer and time availability. She is committed to growing the game of golf through the Committed Player Program, Welcome2Golf, Adult and Youth Operation36, the Hale Irwin Junior Program targeting juniors looking to play at the collegiate level, Colorado Golf Association Outreach programs, Big Brothers Big Sisters programs, helping Special Olympics and Girl Scouts, and others! In addition, Ferguson serves on the Women’s Tournament Committee, is the LPGA Education Coordinator, was named to Golf Digest’s Best Young Teachers 2021-2022 list, and won the 2021 Colorado Avid Golfer CAGGY Award for Best Instructor for Women - Staff Pick.
12 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News Jason Witczak, PGA The Club at Pradera Youth Player Development Award The recipient of the 2021 PGA Youth Player Development Award, Jason Witczak, PGA Director of Instruction at The Club at Pradera, is deeply committed to growing the game of golf, as a father to three young players himself. In addition to his Elevation Junior Golf Academy, a significant contribution Witczak made was through launching The Saguaro Junior Golf Academy at Arrowhead Country Club in Arizona. He made weekly trips to work with Arrowhead’s juniors and train their instruction team. Witczak is now running simultaneous youth programs and PGA Jr. League Teams at both Pradera and Arrowhead. Witczak’s passion is building core family memories that his golfers will carry throughout their lives. He believes that peaking interest in golf at a young age will create excitement and enthusiasm through their entire family. Through this outlook, he had a record of 910 juniors in his programs last summer. Witczak tailored his programs to each age group to create a pathway through Club programming, helped secure 40+ scholarships over the past five years, and has represented the PGA Jr. League via a CBS Special.
Paul Surniak, PGA Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club Patriot Award
Paul Surniak, PGA Director of Instruction at Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club at Fort Carson, with 12 years of service at the Club, is the recipient of the 2021 Patriot Award for his contributions and support to the United States Armed Forces and its Active Duty personal and Veterans. The PGA HOPE, the Salute Military Golf Association, where he is the chapter head, and the Wounded Warrior Project promotions are created and/or coordinated by Surniak, including social media, digital media, and radio spots. Along with his large Junior program on base for military families, Surniak coordinates individualized classes for active-duty soldiers from the hospital’s pain clinic, which has become a popular rehabilitation program at Fort Carson. His PGA HOPE programs have waiting lists every season. Surniak is passionate about the morale and welfare of wounded warriors, disabled veterans, and their families and has worked with national Veteran charities. Surniak is a previous winner of the Colorado PGA REACH Pillar Award for Supporting Our Military.
Tristen Fay, PGA Fort Collins Country Club Private Merchandiser of the Year
A first-time award winner, Tristen Fay, PGA Head Professional at Fort Collins Country Club, is the recipient of the 2021 Private Merchandiser of the Year. He has four simple principles that shape his merchandising philosophy - member service, product selection, visual displays and sound fiscal management, with member service being the cornerstone for any successful merchandising operation. Fay deems, “We position our shop as a unique retail destination with a selection and service you won’t find anywhere else.” Since joining Fort Collins Country Club in 2016, the shop revenue has increased by 60%.
13 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News Jim Miller, PGA Sonnenalp Golf Club Resort Merchandiser of the Year
This year’s Resort Merchandiser of the Year is awarded to the 2007 Private Merchandiser of the year, Jim Miller, PGA, the General Manager at the Sonnenalp Club in Edwards, Colorado. His merchandising philosophy is to be meaningful and help cultivate deeper connections with the members and guests of Sonnenalp, ensuring that the products and energy in the golf shop match the new Sonnenalp Club culture (the Club saw a 6 million dollar renovation in 2016). The consistent relentlessness and willingness to try new things in the club are the reasons Jim feels the success of the club continues to grow each and every year.
Cody Hasten, PGA Haymaker Golf Course Public Merchandiser of the Year
Head Professional at Haymaker Golf Club, Cody Hasten, PGA, is the recipient of the 2021 Public Merchandiser of the Year. As a tourist destination, a strategic merchandising philosophy is key for Hasten and his team, as he contributes his success to being more efficient in focusing their buying to a customer-specific preference. In identifying that there are two distinctly different customer groups in their market, out-of-town vacationers and locals, Hasten has to maintain credibility to both markets. Season pass holders and new members complete questionnaires that ask about preferred brands, thus Hasten and his team are able to keep a pulse on the customer’s needs, keeping inventory fresh and relevant.
Caring for Customers with a Creative Edge Stretch, move sweat - ahead performance gear is engineered for comfort and freedom of movement with breathable wicking materials. Get ahead in the game with head-turning style, premium construction, and fit that won’t quit.
14 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News
Golf Professional of the Year is Anything but Plain and Simple Alice Plain, PGA, Director of Golf at Vail Golf Club in Vail, Colorado, has been selected as the 2021 Colorado PGA Golf Professional of the Year! The highest honor given annually by the Colorado PGA goes to a member for their overall performance including leadership, service, and promotion of the game of golf, and it’s evident that Ms. Plain embodies each and every one of those pieces.
“I’m so excited and honored to win this award. I’ve worked really hard in my career, and I never thought I would win this award – it’s incredibly rewarding to be recognized for this type of award.” Having grown up in South Bend, Indiana, Alice was exposed to golf at a young age, and as she would say, “I was the last hope within the family to pick up the sport.” Her father intentionally introduced her and her three other siblings to lifelong sports, and while Alice admitted to playing more soccer while growing up, she always came back to golf because it meant spending time with her dad. In fact, when asked who was an influential role model
15 AUGUST 2021
in her early years, she was quick to share the relationship she had with her father, George Plain, as he became a good friend and mentor to her while growing up as they spent a lot of time on the course. He never pressured or pushed her to focus on golf, which is something she appreciated.
Entering her 25th year with the Colorado Section, Alice can admit that the challenges she faced while growing up and trying to play golf as a female in a male dominated industry prepared her for her career today. She wasn’t allowed to play on her high school golf team, as they didn’t have a women’s team at the time. It wasn’t until she had to organize a meeting with the President of Hanover College, where she was enrolled at the time, plus, the roster of the men’s golf team, to allow Alice to play competitively at a collegiate level. “They [members of the men’s team] went to bat for me. It was huge – I wasn’t alone in my fight, and they wanted me to be a part of the team. It set the stage for me. They knew I could compete, and it gave me
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News
Alice and her father, George Plain after winning the Indiana State Amateur at Evansville Country Club Evansville, Indiana, 1988
confidence on the course and in life to know that I could compete in a man’s world.” After two seasons with the men’s team, Plain transferred to Oklahoma State University, where she helped lead the women’s golf team to finish third in the 1989 National Championship. Following graduation, Plain moved to Colorado to embrace the true beauty of The Centennial State and all it had to offer: golf and skiing (both of which she loved dearly). Growing up as a member at South Bend Country Club in South Bend, Indiana, Plain remembers a conversation she had with the PGA Head Professional at the time, Mr. John Guyton, who echoed her dad’s philosophy of the importance of lifelong sports. “’You can make a career out of this sport,’ and that always stuck with me,” recalls Plain. So when Alice found herself working for Mike Steiner, the PGA Head Professional of Singletree Golf (now known as Sonnenalp Club), the light bulb went off, and she found herself enrolling in the PGA Apprentice (now Associate) Program. She immediately recognized her connection to teaching during her first winter in Colorado – she taught skiing at Vail Resorts, and was quick to see how what she was doing in the snow could translate to the fairways. As the Director of Golf at Vail Golf Club, Plain wears many hats within the Club, but one of her favorite things about her role is the opportunity she has to mentor future PGA
16 AUGUST 2021
Professionals. “It helps us as an industry,” she shared when asked why she enjoys that piece of her career. “You have to challenge them, and you have to teach them. It’s important to take the time to spend with them to expose them to everything we do on and off the golf course.” It’s clear that Alice’s leadership has made a lasting impact and impression on the Club and her peers. Trey Johnson, PGA Assistant Professional at Vail Golf Club, can attest, “She gives you the space and operation to make it your own, while providing guidance along the way. She’s always great about checking in along the way.” Nathan Mead, PGA Head Professional at Vail Golf Club, reiterated that through her leadership style, she’s created a culture that allows for freedom, yet “always has our backs - to the end, even to a fault. She supports us through and through and you never feel alone with something or trapped in a box.” That’s something Alice has continued to strive for at Vail Golf Club. George Hart, PGA Assistant Professional at Vail Golf Club, was quick to share that Alice "puts all of her staff in situations to succeed." The culture, impact and environment she has created during her time is something she would like to be remembered for, as she sees their team “as a family. We all chip in to help each other. It doesn’t matter what your title is, we’re in this together.” A true testament to Alice’s leadership was how she and her fellow peers handled the 2020 COVID pandemic. Ms. Plain stepped up to the plate without being asked and led the “Eagle County Golf Council” through the navigation of how golf could be played safely throughout the uncharted waters of the pandemic.
1989 Oklahoma State Women's Golf Team finished third at Stanford University Golf Course NCAA Div 1 tournament. From the left: Shelia Dills(Lugebuel), Eva Dahlof, Marnie McGuire, Coach Ann Pitts, Carolyn McKenzie and Alice Plain
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA News "We were able to agree all together, which was huge. It was important to be on the same page through all of this, and it was even better that we had the support of the Colorado Section as well.” Plain and four of her colleagues met with Eagle County Health Officials regularly to determine the safest way for golfers to enjoy the sport all while being in compliance with CDC guidelines. At one point, Plain was faced with her own challenge when she received a phone call from Health Officials informing her that five members of her Vail Golf Club staff needed to be placed in a 10 day quarantine. “Our staff didn’t skip a beat, and they never complained once,” Alice shared. “We had four members of our staff running golf operations for 10 days, and we were completely booked for those 10 days. Our guests didn’t notice that we were so short staffed, and all I could think was, the culture we’ve created has prepared us for times like these. This is how we function.” Alice and Heivan Garcia
While some might say that 2020 wasn’t ideal with all the challenges it brought, Alice found light in the darkness that was 2020. Seven years ago, Alice met a young man by the name of Heivan Garcia, while playing hockey, as he worked at the Dobson Ice Arena in Vail through the Vail Recreation District. “He had such a great personality, he was a soccer player – he won the 2012 State Soccer tournament with Battle Mountain High School, but he had never played golf!” So Plain took it upon herself to introduce him to the world of golf and got him set up with clubs, a bag and of course her expertise in the game. As they became friends over the years, Heivan shared his personal story with Alice and she learned that he was here on a resident card and didn’t have his citizenship.
So Alice did what she does best. “Through working here, I was able to meet a retired attorney who was in town to play a few rounds of golf! He was able to connect me with an immigration attorney in Denver.” The entire process for Heivan extended over the course of two years, and last September, he obtained his citizenship in a swearing-in ceremony in front of the Colorado National Monument in Grand Junction, Colorado, outside of course. “It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life – so much so that Heivan and I want to start a non-profit that can help others obtain their citizenship.” Plain deems this as her “retirement project” and hopes to have the opportunity to help others in The Valley like Heivan. The power of golf can often be underestimated, or forgotten, but when we meet PGA Professionals such as Alice, we are quickly reminded how incredibly rewarding, powerful and impactful the sport and industry can be. “She’s a role model for everyone – for the industry, Vail Golf Club and future members of the PGA. She truly is a shining example of a PGA Professional.”
Alice and Nathan Mead, PGA at the top of Vail Pass
17 AUGUST 2021
Alice would like to give a special thanks to all who have helped her get to where she is today. She would like to especially thank Ann Pitts – her Coach at Oklahoma State "for giving me an opportunity to play and compete on the OSU Women’s Golf Team."
The SUMMIT
Membership News
ROXANNE
Membership News
An update on our Colorado PGA Members
By The Numbers Members - 754 | Associates - 102 Total – 856 Male Members - 806 | Female Members – 50 124 – Management positions (MP, A-4, A-9, A-11, A-13) 281 – Club Professionals (A-1, A-2, A-7, A-8) 127 – Instructors (A-6, A-10, A-12, A-14) 23 – Expanded Career Paths (A-15 thru A-24) 145 – Life Members (LM, LMM, LMA, LMC) 54 – Other Categories (A-3, A-5, F, RM, RSV)
New Members and Associates The Colorado PGA welcomes and congratulates new members and associates to the Section and to the PGA of America! For some, this is the first time they have joined our Section, while others might be returning. Members Ernie L. Hamby, PGA | RSV William D. Howenstine, PGA | A-8 | CC of the Rockies Tyler J. Lowry, PGA | A- 13 | Cheyenne Shadows GC at Fort Carson Associates Brian P. Belz | B-8 | Maroon Creek Club Andrew T. Connell | B-8 | Ridge at Castle Pines North Colby J. Geeker | B-8 | Cheyenne Shadows GC@Ft Car John C. Jenkins | B-8 | Cheyenne Shadows GC@Ft Car Jax C. Jones | B-8 | Walnut Creek Golf Preserve Erik D. Lundberg | B-8 | Connor R. O'Grady | B-8 | Highland Meadows Golf Course Eric J. Urbina | B-8 | Country Club at Castle Pines
Welcome Wagon Welcome to the following members and associates who have recently joined the Colorado PGA. Henry W. Bernard | B-8 | TPC - Colorado | previously in the Rocky Mountain Section Stephanie M. Curran, PGA | A-8 | Cherry Hills Country Club | previously in the Carolinas Section Russell R. Herndon, PGA | A-8 | Country Club at Woodmoor | previously in the Southwest Section John R. Lynch, PGA | A-1 | Telluride Ski & Golf Resort | previously in the Aloha Section Troy R. Persson, PGA | A-4 | previously in the North Florida Section
18
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Membership News
Classification or Location Changes in Colorado Colorado PGA Members and Associates are always on the move. The following have changed classification or location within the Colorado PGA. We wish them the best of luck! William J. Bernhardt, PGA | A-8 | King's Deer Golf Club | previously an A-1 Black Bear Golf Club David W. Fischer, PGA | A-6 | Blackstone Country Club | previously an A-6 at GOLFTEC - DTC Andrew C. Hedrick, PGA | A-4 | Red Sky Golf Club | previously an A-20 at Colorado Golf & Turf Gregg C. Jones, PGA | LMA | previously LM William J. Margetich, PGA | A-6 | Cherokee Ridge Golf Course | previously an A-6 at GOLFTEC - Chapel Hills Kyle M. McGee, PGA | A-1 | Optimum Golf | previously an A-20 at Honma Golf USA. Briana P. Morris, PGA | RSV | Denver Country Club | previously an A-8 at Denver Country Club Robert T. Nelson, PGA | A-1 | Kennedy Golf Course | previously an A-8 at Kennedy Golf Course Guy E. Patterson, PGA | RSV | previously an A-8 at Red Hawk Ridge Golf Club Devon J. Puleo, PGA | A-1 | Wellshire Golf Course | previously an A-1 at Kennedy Golf Course Courtney L. Rudolph, PGA | RSV | previously an A-8 at Indian Peaks Golf Course Kelly Sardella | B-8 | Cherry Creek Country Club | previously a B-8 at Omni Interlocken Resort Zachary Svendsen | B-8 | Cherry Creek Country Club | previously a B-8 at The Club at Rolling Hills Jeremiah T. Velez | B-6 | Comet Golf | previously a B-8 at Riverdale Golf Club Eric A. Wenaas, PGA | RSV | previously an A-13 at Prairiewood Municipal Golf Course Ryan Wroblewski, PGA | A-8 | Colorado Golf Club | previously an A-8 at Cherry Hills Country Club
On the Move The following members have relocated outside of the Colorado PGA. Michael D. First, PGA | A-1 | Spanish Peaks Mountain Club | previously at Telluride Ski & Golf Resort Alex J. Kline | B-6 | Troy Burne Golf Club | previously at GOLFTEC - Lakewood John M. Murray, PGA | LM Ryan L. Sholty | B-8| Pleasant View Golf Course | previously at Pins & Fins, LLC Samuel W. Veigele, PGA | A-1 | TPC of Louisiana | previously at TPC - Colorado
Be Sure To Register: Click Below
Air Force Academy Hotel Rooms Available, First Come First Serve Click Here to Reserve 19
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Membership News
Happy Birthday! August 1 Madeline Kern Eloy Vendegna, PGA
August 11 Eddie Ainsworth, PGA Nathan Erickson, PGA
August 2 Brandon England, PGA Kenneth Everett, PGA Jim Eyberg, PGA Mark Franz, PGA Jonathan Kaye, PGA
August 12 Steve Atherton, PGA Tyler Parsloe, PGA Dan Sommers, PGA Sonny Williams, PGA Corey Zoller, PGA
August 3 Wayne Leighton, PGA Robert Satterwhite, PGA Amy Stubblefield, PGA
August 13 Russell Clark, PGA Brian Gott, PGA Joseph Kamby, PGA
August 4 Per Dohlvik, PGA Chris Murzyn, PGA
August 15 Maxwell Bigford Katherine Milstead, PGA Michael O’Donnell, PGA Adam Perko, PGA Darryl Wilson, PGA
August 5 Ryan Bakken, PGA Joseph Herbert, PGA Robert Skvorecz, PGA
August 16 Stephen Glowacki, PGA Adam Johnson, PGA
August 6 John Dunlop, PGA Scott Matthews, PGA August 17 Michael Weingartner, PGA Robert O’Neill, PGA David Royar, PGA August 7 Bradley Alston, PGA August 18 Michael Goff, PGA Patrick Kilbride, PGA Robert O’Hara, PGA Ian Scott, PGA August 19 Gary Allacher, PGA August 8 Brad Gannaway, PGA Ryan DeHaan, PGA Robert Trowbridge, PGA August 9 Scott Hart, PGA Garrett Hoffman William Loeffler, PGA Terra Shehee, PGA
August 20 Miles Hains, PGA Bryan Heim, PGA Nicole Poulos, PGA Nathaniel Weber
August 10 Joseph Assell, PGA Eric Feely, PGA Shannon Hanley, PGA Joseph Tolla
August 21 Eric Urbina Jesse Weeks, PGA
20
AUGUST 2021
August 22 Brian Erickson, PGA Ryan Finnegan-Rocha, PGA Jake Larkowski, PGA Gary Marsh, PGA August 23 Michael Clinton, PGA Evan Schultz August 25 Craig Hatch, PGA Geoffrey Keffer, PGA Jeff Ulvedal, PGA August 26 Willard Benner, PGA Stephen GrandPre Douglas Wherry, PGA August 28 Michael Kahler, PGA Michael Ritter, PGA Courtney Rudolph, PGA Todd Schafersman, PGA August 29 Christopher Boehm, PGA August 30 Brian Brown, PGA August 31 Ty Walker, PGA September 1 Jonathan Atencio Micah Rudosky, PGA Tray Shehee, PGA September 2 Al Pryor, PGA September 3 Tristen Fay, PGA John Lynch, PGA September 4 Robert Haldeen, PGA Andrew Hilts, PGA
September 5 Graham Cliff, PGA Erin Diegel, PGA Micah Partridge, PGA Ty Thompson, PGA
September 18 Jerred McKinney, PGA
September 19 Randy Burross, PGA Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA September 6 Matthew Magley, PGA Dow Finsterwald Sr., PGA Tyler Peterson, PGA Lonnie Reed, PGA September 7 Cory Boillot, PGA September 20 Rich Zulkoski, PGA Alicia Bakken Isaac Calden, PGA September 8 Jeffrey Trace Kea, PGA September 21 Bob Lewis, PGA Remington Post, PGA Craig Parzybok, PGA Kurt Zolbe, PGA September 22 Eric Goettsch, PGA September 9 Peter Mogg Jr., PGA Robert Cherry, PGA Tim Stevens, PGA Nathan Corsbie, PGA Zachary Dobrota September 23 Benjamin Spiers, PGA Andrew Donner Michael Stubblefield, PGA Geoffrey Hiland, PGA Randy Kahn, PGA September 10 Cade Benson, PGA September 24 Stan Fenn, PGA September 11 Austin Thomas, PGA Yukon Helene, PGA Jason Young, PGA September 25 Leo Calabro, PGA September 12 Toby Isaacs, PGA James Davidson, PGA John Rogala, PGA Steven Grove, PGA Brett Walton, PGA Daniel Harvanek, PGA Seth Watkins Alec Simmons, PGA September 26 September 14 Tyler Lowry, PGA Richard Hartman, PGA September 27 September 15 Robert Nelson, PGA Samantha Crawford September 28 September 17 Luke Lemon James Edfors, PGA Kent Heusinkveld, PGA September 29 Behrod Keshtavar Vincent Downie, PGA Joshua Miller, PGA Nicholas Nuzzo, PGA Austin Vannice
The SUMMIT
ROXANNE Colorado PGA REACH News
A New Home is a Game Changer! Eighth Home Presentation at the Colorado PGA REACH 2021 Invitational! The Colorado PGA REACH Foundation held its annual Colorado PGA REACH Invitational Golf Tournament on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at The Golf Club at Bear Dance. Known for being the largest fundraiser of the year, this event was another huge success raising over $90,000 to support its many programs! One of the special moments of the day was the presentation of keys to a mortgage-free home to combat wounded Veteran and deserving recipient former U.S. Army Sergeant William ‘Jaye’ VanBoening. “I have never in my life been around so many people who cared about a single purpose. That really touches me. It makes me want to do the same thing for other people,” comments VanBoening, “It was amazing. The people! The people are what made it special.” VanBoening joined the Active-duty U.S. Army in November 2006 and was stationed at Ft. Carson, Colorado, from 2007-2010, with the 360th Transportation Company. During this time, he deployed for 15 months to Iraq. Following his tour, he was then stationed at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, with the 101st Airborne Division from 2010-2014 where he deployed twice more to Afghanistan. VanBoening was honorably discharged in January 2014. “I was in a really bad stretch after my last deployment. We lost a lot of people…
22 AUGUST 2021
Finally, I listened to other people and found help at the Combat Veteran Center,” shared VanBoening. For four days a week for two consecutive years, his focus was working hard through therapies and counseling sessions. He wants to encourage others needing help to ask for it. “Get help. There are organizations out there willing to help.” One of the therapies VanBoening utilized is known as Dark Room Therapy. This is a passion of his and he is making his own dark room in the new home he received in late April. Also, he plans to open a gallery space where others can work in the studio and host a show. “My goal is to give back 22% of every piece of artwork sold, every workshop fee, every event cost, to organizations across the country [like Military Warriors Support Foundation] who help save Veteran lives and make their lives more accessible and more stressfree,” stated VanBoening. The percentage is in honor of the 22 Veterans per day who commit suicide. During the home presentation, Eddie Ainsworth, CEO and Executive Director of the Colorado PGA, said of VanBoening, “He served from 2006-2014 and he is still serving today.”
Pictured above: Colorado PGA REACH Trustees and Colorado PGA Officers with VanBoening.
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News Ainsworth also expressed many thanks to supporters of the day and months leading up to the event: Ken Eakes, Executive Director of Military Warriors Support Foundation; Mark Lapides, Wells Fargo Regional Banking District Manager from Colorado South; Brandon Dastrup, Wells Fargo District Manager for the Pikes Peak Market; Stuart Bruening, PGA General Manager at The Golf Club at Bear Dance and Dan Bennett, both from Southwest Greens; Joe Assell, PGA and GOLFTEC (Ty Walker, PGA Denver Tech Center); the Colorado PGA REACH Trustees and Colorado PGA Officers.
VanBoening at a club-fiiting appointment with Brent Mahlman, PGA, GOLFTEC-DTC.
VanBoening was fitted for clubs at GOLFTEC upon his arrival to Colorado and then participated in the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational. He was escorted into the Invitational with bagpipes followed by the trumpeter playing the National Anthem. When asked what it was like to walk into the home he received, he said “It was unbelievable! It took my breath away. My daughter and I had been bouncing around a lot because of the things I was dealing with - to finally have that stability is a game-changer.” This new home allows for VanBoening to focus on his mental health and build a strong foundation. He finally feels he and his family are in a space where they can be stable. VanBoening lives with his daughter and service dog, Maggie, outside of St. Louis, Missouri. VanBoening expressed gratitude to all who helped make the day and home possible for him. “I can’t thank them enough. Keep it up! Everybody was so nice. It makes me want to be a role model, especially to my daughter, because that’s what everybody was here for me today.” Personal and financial mentorship will be provided by Military Warriors Support Foundation to VanBoening for the next three years to assure he is given the necessary tools to be successful with this newly attained investment. Eakes commented, “The Military Warriors Support Foundation was honored to partner with the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation to sponsor another combat wounded hero home at their annual golf fundraiser.”
The continued success of this home presentation is attributed to the many organizations that work together toward the common goal of facilitating a smooth and successful transition of our nation’s combat wounded heroes. The Military Warriors Support Foundation evaluates and selects deserving combat wounded heroes to receive mortgagefree homes. Wells Fargo contributes and remodels homes that it then donates to the program and the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation, through its Supporting Our Military Pillar, provides the avenue to donate the home. Southwest Greens, through the profits of its MileHigh Golf Trail Program featuring The Golf Club at Bear Dance, Colorado National Golf Club, Plum Creek Golf Course and Riverdale Golf Course, provides the funding for the home. Funds raised from the Colorado PGA REACH Invitational will support the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation and it’s three pillars – Supporting Our Military, Youth Development, and Inclusion. In addition to the above organizations, the Colorado PGA extends thanks to the trustees, corporate sponsors and friends who supported the event. VanBoening tees off on the 17th hole.
23 AUGUST 2021
To visit VanBoening’s website of artwork, click here.
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News
Meet our 2021 PGA of America and Colorado PGA REACH Scholarship Recipients! 20 Students Awarded Scholarships in Colorado Family members of Colorado PGA Professionals have been awarded five (5) National Scholarships and 20 Colorado PGA REACH Scholarships! One of the five National awards is the coveted $5,000 John Cox Scholarship. The other four students will be receiving $2,000 PGA of America Scholarships. The PGA Assistance Fund Scholarship provides college scholarships to children and grandchildren of PGA Members based on evidence of academic achievement during high school or college. All applicants who met the qualifications for a PGA of America Scholarship, whether they received PGA of America funding or not, are eligible to be considered for financial aid from the Colorado Section. Therefore, the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation has awarded 20 $1,000 college scholarships for the 20212022 academic year. These scholarships are a small token of our appreciation to our Colorado PGA Professionals giving their time to make a positive difference in the lives of others through the game of golf.
PGA of America John Cox Scholarship and Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Scholarship Recipient
Golfers and non-golfers alike have been receiving these scholarships since 2008. Over $424,000 has been awarded to Colorado students - $175,000 from the PGA of America and more than $249,000 from the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation. Congratulations to the many students and their families for their academic achievements! Meet the scholarship recipients:
Kennedey Johnson Child of Chris Johnson, PGA University of North Alabama
24 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News
PGA of America Scholarship and Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Tanner Ausec Child of Tim Ausec, PGA University of Wisconsin - Whitewater
Wyatt Hough Child of Hank Hough, PGA Umpqua Community College
Thomas Noonan Child of Thomas Noonan, PGA United States Naval Academy
Courtney Thompson Child of Ty Thompson, PGA Boise State University
25 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News
Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Tyler Meyers Child of Randy Meyers, PGA Mesa State College
Rudolph Zupetz Child of Rudy Zupetz, PGA Colorado State University
Abby Zulkoski Grandchild of Rich Zulkoski, PGA Colorado State University
Jennifer Gillotti Child of Jeffrey Gillotti, PGA Concordia University
Tray Shehee Child of Tray Shehee, PGA & Terra Shehee, PGA University of Northern Colorado
Brandon Sanger Child of Kevin Sanger, PGA Grand Canyon University
Lauryn Heiny Child of Greg Heiny, PGA Missouri State University
26 AUGUST 2021
Lindsay Hanson Child of Jeff Hanson, PGA Regis University
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News
Colorado PGA REACH Foundation Scholarship Recipients
Emma Bryant Child of Matt Bryant, PGA University of Denver
Taylor Linnemeyer Child of Joe Linnemeyer, PGA University of Dubuque
Kellen O'Donnell Child of Michael O'Donnell, PGA University of Colorado at Colorado Springs
Samantha Fuhrer Child of Tim Fuhrer, PGA The New School, NY
Matthew Perkins Child of Jeffrey Perkins, PGA Colorado Christian University
Callie Rafferty Child of Jeff Rafferty, PGA University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Emily Nielsen Child of Mitchell Nielsen, PGA Colorado State University
27 AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Colorado PGA REACH News
Fun at Fort Carson Ivy Pro-Am! We'd like to say a special 'thank you' to all of those who played in our annual event hosted by Cheyenne Shadows Golf Club at Ft. Carson! In conjunction with the Warrior Transition Battalion and active-duty soldiers at Ft. Carson, for the last 12 years, the Colorado PGA has paired one professional or associate with three military personnel to form a four person scramble! The day from start to finish was full of fun, beverages and even a special guest appearance by Major General Matthew McFarlane before the teams took to the course! Congratulations to Tyler Jeffers (Active Duty AirForce), Mark Dunivan (RET), Robert Beyer (RET) and Joseph Carlton, PGA Head Professional at Legacy Ridge GC, for taking home first place! We are so thankful for the continued support of our Military Veterans and the Colorado PGA REACH Foundation, specifically through the
Jim Edfords, PGA with his group at the 12th annual Ivy Pro-Am
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) Program. PGA HOPE introduces golf to Veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6-8 week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. All programs are funded by PGA REACH and supplemented by the Colorado PGA so the cost of programming is free to all Veterans! If you're interested in hosting PGA HOPE Programs at your facilities, please reach out to Holly Champion at HChampion@PGAHQ.com. The fun didn't just stay out on the course that afternoon though! We were thrilled to share the afternoon with local junior golfers for an afternoon of Birdie Ball, corn-hole and a bounce house! Loads of fun was held by all! We'd like to also thank our sponsor, Tito's Handmade Vodka, for the oncourse refreshments throughout the duration of the round. A huge thank you is in order to our wonderful volunteers, John and Sandi Andrew for taking care of the golfers on the course with beverages and cigars throughout the round! We look forward to hosting this tournament again in 2022 with Cheyenne Shadows! An afternoon of fun on the range with Birdie Ball and a bounce-house!
28
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Quarter Century Club
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 lapel pin. This month, the Colorado Section is proud to feature Quarter Century Club Members Jeff Boyer and Doug Rohrbaugh.
Jeff Boyer, PGA
General Manager, Eagle Ranch Golf Club Where did you grow up? I grew up in Cody, Wyoming. What was your first introduction to the game of golf? My family lived by Olive Glenn Golf & Country Club in Cody. My father got me started when I was about seven or eight. Soon after that, I joined the junior golf program run by the Olive Glenn Golf Professionals at the time, Johnny Miles and Steve Samuels. Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I worked at the golf course growing up and didn't know what to do in college. A high school guidance counselor suggested I pursue the golf industry as a career and helped me find the PGM program at Ferris State University. What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? I am so fortunate to have had some great mentors in the golf business. Andy Spano, Steve Satterstrom and Mark Johnson were three PGA Golf Professionals who really helped me to get to my position at Eagle Ranch. The education, experience, and connections I have made through the PGA have helped me make a living and enjoy a great lifestyle. What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? · PGM Internships at Olive Glenn G & CC in Cody and Colleton River Plantation, Hilton Head Island, SC, · Assistant Professional at Vail Golf Club, Estancia Club in Scottsdale and Beaver Creek Golf Club · General Manager at Eagle Ranch since 2001. What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? I feel that I have worked hard to offer opportunities for kids to learn and enjoy the game. What hobbies do you have outside of golf? Hiking, camping, trail running, travel If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be? My grandfather, my father, my son, and me.
30
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Quarter Century Club PGA National or Section Committees you have served on: Currently the President of the Colorado West Chapter PGA and have served on the Section Junior Golf and Education Committees. PGA Awards you have received: Colorado West Chapter Junior Golf Leader 2012, West Chapter Warren Smith Award 2015, West Chapter Bill Strausbaugh Award 2017, and West Chapter Golf Professional of the Year 2019. Community service you have been involved with or been recognized for: Vail Valley Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association (HSMAI), Eagle Chamber of Commerce, Town of Eagle Marketing & Events Committee
This or That?
Short par 5 or short par 3? Match Play or Stroke Play? Pizza or tacos? Music on or music off on the course? Morning or evening person? Favorite fast-food chain? Shorts or pants on the course? Chocolate or vanilla?
Short par 3 Stroke play Tacos Off, but fine with someone else's music playing Evening Moe's BBQ Shorts Chocolate Vanilla Swirl
Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA
Teaching Professional, The Snowmass Club Where did you grow up? I grew up in Portland, Oregon. What was your first introduction to the game of golf? I was introduced to the game on a par 3 course when I was 15 years old. Why did you choose to become a PGA Golf Professional? I choose to become a PGA Professional to compete against the best. What makes you most proud about being a PGA Professional? Passing on to others what I have learned from the game and making the game more enjoyable for others makes me proud.
31
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Quarter Century Club What golf facilities have you been employed at and in what capacity? · Meridian Valley Country Club - Seattle, WA · Overlake Country Club - Bellevue, WA · PGA West - LaQuinta, CA · Executive Director Aspen Jr Golf Foundation Aspen, CO · River Valley Ranch Golf Club - Carbondale, CO · Ironbridge Golf Club - Glenwood Springs, CO What do you feel is the most meaningful contribution to the game of golf you have made? I have introduced the game to over 400 kids through the Aspen Jr. Golf Foundation. What hobbies do you have outside of golf? My hobbies include skiing and fly fishing. If you could have a dream foursome, who would it be and why? Because my family is the most important people in my life, my dream foursome consists of my father and two sons. PGA National or Section Committees you have served on: Colorado PGA Tournament Committee PGA Awards you have received: Colorado PGA Player of the Year Colorado PGA Sr Player of the Year
This or That?
32
Short par 5 or short par 3? Match Play or Stroke Play? Pizza or tacos? Music on or music off on the course? Morning or evening person? Favorite fast-food chain? Shorts or pants on the course? Chocolate or vanilla?
AUGUST 2021
Par 5 Match play Pizza Music On Evening In-N-Out Burger Pants Vanilla
The SUMMIT
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 EISENHOWER GOLF CLUB (BLUE) $50
REMEMBERING 9/11
MILITARY APPRECIATION PRO-1 AM PLAYERS MUST BE REGISTERED FOR THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP TO BE ELIGIBLE, AS THIS IS THE OFFICIAL PRACTICE ROUND FOR THE SECTION CHAMPIONSHIP PROFESSIONALS PLAYING FOR SKINS POT WORTH $2,000+ FOOD, DRINKS AND GAMES FOLLOWING THE ROUND
REGISTER TODAY!
Tournament News
Rudosky Takes Home Title of 2021 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion!
Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion, Micah Rudosky, PGA Head Professional Conquistador Golf Course
Westminster, CO – The final round of the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship certainly did not disappoint! With the final back nine being an intense back-and-forth battle between Micah Rudosky, PGA Conquistador Golf Course, Barry Milstead, PGA Valley Country Club, Ron Vlosich, PGA Life Member and Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Snowmass Club. Rudosky walked off 18 green with his first Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship title. The Head Professional from Conquistador Golf Course posted back-to-back fiveunder-par rounds of 66 to take home the title of the 2021 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Rudosky was sharp throughout the day, carding 6 birdies and an eagle on hole 12. This win will take Rudosky back to the Senior PGA Professional Championship, set to be played in Florida later this fall, for a back-to-back appearance in the Championship.
34
AUGUST 2021
“I felt pretty confident going into round two, but you’ve got a lot of guys right in the area, so you can’t back off, because you won’t make it to the next stage, so it was a little stressful. I felt like if I just played my game, I’m going to have a chance to go to Florida for that Senior PGA Championship,” Rudosky noted after the round. Rudosky had a strong field to battle against to claim his victory, as both Ron Vlosich, PGA and Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, both previous Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champions, stayed close behind, tying for second, and both posting 66 for their second round. One of his closest competitors, entering the day also tied for first, was Barry Milstead, PGA: “I had one bad hole, plain and simple.” Milstead headed to the 12 tee-box with a onestroke lead but was unable to bounce back after his first shot took him out of bounds on the left side of the fairway, ultimately leading to card a triple-bogey. In all, 12 players finished the event in red numbers.
The SUMMIT
Tournament News Lanting wasn’t even going to be on the bag for Rider, as he was supposed to fly to Utah on Sunday for the Korn Ferry qualifier, but due to flight cancelations, he was unable to make it to the qualifier after all. So as any good assistant professional would, he hopped on the bag for day two with Kirk at the drop of a dime. With the conclusion of Tuesday's round and the tournament, congratulations are in order for the following members who qualified for the eight (8) spots in the 2021 Senior PGA Professional Championship, which is scheduled to be held at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, October 21-24, 2021. 1. Micah Rudosky, PGA, Conquistador – 66-66-132 T2. Ron Vlosich, PGA, Life Member – 69-66-135 T2. Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, Snowmass Club – 69-66-135 4. Barry Milstead, PGA, Valley Country Club – 66-70-136 T5. Kirk Rider, PGA, Bear Creek GC – 72-67-139 T5. Chris Johnson, PGA, CC at Woodmoor – 68-71-139 T5. Patrick Reidy, PGA, The Club at Inverness – 66-73-139 T8. Peter Mogg, PGA, Roaring Fork – 69-71-140 Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Golf Instructor at The Snowmass Club
As the only female in the field this week, and Tuesday's round marking her ninth round of golf in the last eight days, the most consecutive golf she’s ever played backto-back-to-back, Sherry Andonian, PGA of Valley Country Club, remained resilient throughout the day, firing a 71 to follow up Monday's 69, with 4 birdies and 4 bogeys, finishing tied for 8th, and first on the alternative list. “It was a battle,” Sherry expressed following the completion of her round.
Filling the five (5) alternative slots, in order of selection, are: 1. Sherry Andonian, PGA, Valley Country Club – 69-71-140 2. Rick Cole, PGA Life Member – 69-72-141 3. David Arbuckle, PGA Life Member – 75-66-141 4. Doug Montgomery, PGA, Gott Golf – 71-70-141 5. Perry Holmes, PGA, CO. National Golf Club – 74-69-143
The Ranch Country Club was in great shape, with the greens looking particularly pristine, although running a touch faster, this course has played host to many Colorado Section events over the years. “It’s great to have all the Another notable accomplishment from today, Kirk Rider, Section Professionals out here for these events. The PGA Bear Creek, will attend his first PGA Senior course is in great shape, the weather was great and the Championship this year in Florida. “I had a number in my golf solid too. I love having the members out here to play mind, and when my caddie [Ben Lanting, PGA Bear our course and see our facility and look forward to hosting Creek] shot 67 back-to-back in his rounds last week, I future Section events!” Mark Avery, PGA Head Professional knew, 67 was my number today. I knew walking up 18, I at The Ranch Country Club, shared following the had to make the birdie” and that’s just what he did. A conclusion of the event. “20-foot slider down the hill” and in the hole sealed Rider’s 67 for the afternoon, and his ticket to the Senior The Colorado Section and the 54 participants of the Senior Championship. “I feel more comfortable right now than I Championship would like to thank Avery and his staff for did going into the National Assistant PGA Professional their warm welcome and for providing such great course Championship back in 2009, and knowing that Ben will accommodations. The Section would also like to thank the be coming with me, just to have him with me on the bag presenting sponsor, Cadillac, as well as the supporting is going to give me the confidence I need,” Kirk sponsors, PGA TOUR, Golf Channel and John Deere for commented after his round today. Wildly enough, making this event the success that it was.
35
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
project x series point race In conjunction with True Temper, the Colorado PGA is excited to announce the return of the True TemperProject X Series Points Race! The following six (6) Pro-Only Events will be used to determine the Points Race Champion for 2021:
Stroke Play #1: Columbine Country Club - April 5th Stroke Play #2: Boulder Country Club - April 12th Stroke Play #4: The Club at Rolling Hills - June 1st Stoke Play #5: King's Deer Golf Club - June 16th Section Championship: Eisenhower Golf Club - September 13th - 15th West Chapter Championship: Sonnenalp Club - September 27th - 28th *Stroke Play #3 was cancelled*
**Members do not have to be using True temper shafts at the beginning of this "points race" - but must be playing at least eight (8) true temper iron shafts at the west chapter championship to be eligible for the purse in this series**
current leaderboard through stroke play #5 place | player | Club affiliation | Points 1. Geoff Keffer | Lakewood Country Club | 1,402.50 pts 2. Grant Jackson | Saddle Rock Golf Course | 1,298.50 pts 3. Kyle Voska | The Links Golf Course | 1,023.40 pts 4. Doug Rohrbaugh | The Snowmass Club | 812.50 pts 5. Tyler Parsloe | Jake's Academy | 697.50 pts 6. Mark Matz | Beaver Creek Golf Club | 686.50 pts 7. Caine Fitzgerald | Meadow Hills Golf Course | 616.90 pts 8. Ben Lanting | Bear Creek Golf Club | 612.00 pts 9. Mark Avery | The Ranch Country Club | 584.50 pts 10. Ron Vlosich | Life Member | 577.90 pts
PAYOUT (PURSE: $5,000) 1ST PLACE: $2,000 2ND PLACE: $1,500 3RD PLACE: $1,000 4TH PLACE: $500
ROXANNE
Colorado PGA Jr. League News
2021 Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Championship We are right around the corner from the 2021 Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Championship! This year's National Car Rental PGA Jr. League Championship will be one to remember. The addition of a 17U Championship will make this year even better than before. Participation in PGA Jr. League has been outstanding this year, and we are looking at a record number of eligible leagues that can create an All-Star team. We are anticipating 55 teams to participate in the 2021 Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Championship. With this increase, we had to adjust our initial plans for the 2021 Colorado PGA Jr. League Section Championship. Below you will find the updated details for the Section Championship.
Date and Location August 21-22, 2021 Pinery Country Club, 6900 N Pinery Pkwy, Parker, CO 80134 Event Details 13U Teams will play a 9-hole scramble stroke play on either Saturday or Sunday All 17U Teams will play on Sunday Programs with both a 13U and 17U All-Star teams will be scheduled to play on Sunday. Tee Times will begin at 8:00 AM each day. 13U Teams will consist of 8 players per team. 17U Teams will consist of 6 players per team. Your 13U team will divide into 4 two-person teams and play a two-person scramble. Your 17U team will divide into 3 two-person teams and play a two-person scramble. Your 13U team score will consist of the lowest 3 of 4 scramble scores. Your 17U team score will consist of the lowest 2 of 3 scramble scores. One 13U team and one 17U team will advance to the Regional event at The Ridge Golf Club in Sioux Center, Iowa on September 4-5, 2021. Any ties determining who will advance to the Regional will be determined in a scorecard playoff (Procedures to be announced). We will be awarding the overall first, second, and third place teams for the event following play on Sunday. Eligibility 13U Players must be at least 10 and not older than 13 years of age on July 31, 2021 (League age). 17U Players must be at least 14 and not older than 17 years of age on July 31, 2021 (League age). All Players, Captains, and Coaches MUST be registered with PGA Jr. League in 2021.
37
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Junior Golf News Deadlines Please submit your All-Star Team Rosters by end of day Monday, August 9. Tee times will be released by end of day Wednesday, August 11.
Click Here to Submit
Your 2021 All-Star Roster Now!
Anthony Vitale, PGA
PGA Jr. League Regional Manager avitale@pgahq.com (561) 267-1208
Samantha Crawford Junior Golf Manager scrawford@pgahq.com (720) 884-6130
Onto the Sub-Regionals Drive, Chip & Putt Updates
As our 2022 Local Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers have come and gone; we want to congratulate all of the qualifiers who will be advancing to the next stage. We hosted nine local qualifiers with three qualifiers from each age division. A huge thank you to all of our volunteers, host facilities and PGA Professionals for hosting our Local Drive, Chip and Putt Qualifiers! Our host local facilities and PGA Professionals include: Murphy Creek Golf Course - Leslie Core-Drevecky, PGA Eagle Ranch Golf Club - Jeff Boyer, PGA Collindale Golf Course - Vince Buelk, PGA University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch - Andy Benson, PGA Colorado National Golf Club - Matt Schalk, PGA CommonGround Golf Course - Dave Troyer, PGA Walnut Creek Golf Preserve - Brian Carlson, PGA West Woods Golf Club - Bobby Quaratino, PGA Eisenhower Golf Club - Stephen Wallace, PGA We are excited to move into the Sub-Regional Qualifiers and to host the Regional Qualifier again this year come September. Sub-Regional Qualifiers: August 14, 2021 - Murphy Creek Golf Course August 28, 2021 - Thorncreek Golf Course Regional Qualifier: September 19, 2021 - Colorado Golf Club We can’t wait to see who will advance from the Regional to the National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club on April 3, 2022!
38
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Junior Golf News
First JGAC Major Champs of 2021
47th Colorado Junior PGA Championship held at Country Club of Colorado Matthew Wilkinson makes birdie in playoff for boys title in Colorado Junior PGA; Jessica Mason prevails by one for girls victory By Gary Baines Click Here For Full Article The last week and a half of June treated Matthew Wilkinson of Centennial and Jessica Mason of Westminster pretty well, all things considered. That stretch was capped off on Wednesday [June 30] with victories by the two in the Colorado Junior PGA, the first major championship of 2021 for the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado. Those wins at the Country Club of Colorado in
Matthew Wilkinson and Jessica Mason earned the hardward on Wednesday at the Country Club of Colorado.
Colorado Springs come on the heels of qualifying for the U.S. Junior Amateur last week in the case of Wilkinson, and of a runaway 4A girls state high school title in the case of Mason. For Wilkinson, a senior-to-be at Arapahoe High School, the outcome was another satisfying step in an impressive 2021. This year, in addition to his victory on Wednesday and qualifying for the U.S. Junior Am, he won a JGAC event at Collindale last week, an IMG Academy Junior World qualifier and a tournament in North Carolina. He also went to the quarterfinals of the CGA Match Play. “It feels pretty good,” he said. “It’s just nice to see all the hard work I’ve put in the last four years now paying off. It’s exciting, fun times, I guess. But there’s still a lot more I’d like to achieve. This is just another thing to check off the bucket list. As for the girls tournament, Mason trailed by a stroke entering Wednesday’s final round but emerged with her first victory in a JGAC major and her second big-time win in the last eight days. “It feels really good,” the 17-year-old senior-to-be at Holy Family High School said. “My game is in a great spot and both of my (wins the last two weeks) mean a lot to me. I can still improve my short game for sure, but my ball-striking has been real good since the (AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior, where she placed third among the girls). I feel great about my game right now, to be honest.” “I made it kind of interesting at the end, but I won so that’s all that matters,” said Mason, who, like CGA Women’s Match Play and Stroke Play champion Leigha Devine, receives instruction from impending Colorado Golf Hall of Fame inductee Ed Oldham. For all the scores from the Colorado Junior PGA click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
39
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Junior Golf News
Taking A Final Bow
45th Colorado Junior Amateur Championship 20-stroke victory — in her final JGAC event — gives Emma Bryant her third JGAC major title, and her family its seventh; Charlie Flaxbeard prevails for boys victory in Colorado Junior Amateur By Gary Baines Click Here For Full Article Emma Bryant, an Aurora resident and Eaglecrest High School graduate, lapped the field this week, prevailing by a mind-boggling 20 strokes in what she said was her final Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado tournament ever.
Emma Bryant, daughter of PGA Professional Matt Bryant, won her third JGAC major, while Charlie Flaxbeard captured his first.
“It’s kind of like it’s not believable that I won by that much, if I’m being honest,” said Bryant, who will play her college golf at the
University of Denver beginning in the fall. “I played really, really well, but I feel like I left shots out there. I’m very happy but it just feels unreal that it was by that much. “Obviously, I definitely wanted to play well” with this being her JGAC finale. All-time records aren’t complete for the Colorado Junior Amateur, which dates back to 1979 for the girls, but it’s a good bet that Bryant set the standard for largest victory margin. Just by way of example, current LPGA Tour standout Jennifer Kupcho won the Colorado Junior Amateur by nine in 2014, current social media sensation Paige Spiranac prevailed by 10 in 2010, and two-time CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion Becca Huffer captured her title by eight in 2005. Bryant — who plays out of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club where her dad Matt is the PGA general manager and her mom Julie is the director of operations for the Colorado Open Golf Foundation — went 69-69-70 for an 8-underpar total of 208. For the week, she carded 14 birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey. Meanwhile, the boys tournament was much closer, though Charlie Flaxbeard of Greenwood Village did emerge with a two-stroke victory after posting 71-69 the final two rounds at Legacy Ridge. “I’ve been thinking about this for a while,” said Flaxbeard, a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Cherry Creek High School. “One of my goals coming into the season was to win a three-day event out here. So it’s huge, you know? It’s a real confidence-booster.” Flaxbeard came on strong in the final round to claim the title. He used three straight birdies in the middle of his round — on holes 8 (15 feet), 9 (40 feet) and 10 (3 inches) — to take the outright lead, added another birdie on 13, then “just held on for dear life,” as he put it. For all the scores from the Colorado Junior Amateur, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS.
40
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Junior Golf News
With An Exclamation Point 71st Colorado Junior Match Play Held at City Park July 26-28 Pitch-in birdie on 19th hole lifts Longmont's Ben Harding to boys title in Colorado Junior Match Play; CU-bound Morgan Miller wins girls championship for second straight year By Gary Baines Click Here For Full Article It’s very likely that Wednesday [July 28] marked the first time that the boys and girls finalists competed for the Colorado Junior Match Play titles while in the same foursome. And, in keeping with the distinctive nature of the finals, both champions had to rally from significant deficits to prevail. And the boys winner ended his match in extra holes by pitching in for birdie from 45 feet at City Park Golf Course in Denver.
Ben Harding of Longmont and Texan Morgan Miller had memorable runs to the title at City Park Golf Course
Ben Harding of Longmont, who had never won a Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Tour event, much less a JGAC major, took care of both issues by holing out from 15 yards for birdie on the first extra hole to defeat Jordan Jennings of Montrose, who had led the match 2 up with three holes left in regulation. And it should be noted that Jennings very nearly drained his bunker shot for birdie on the 19th hole after Harding had made his, Jennings’ ball finishing just 6 inches short of the cup. For Harding, a 16-year-old junior-to-be at Silver Creek High School, his reaction to pitching in to win the title was relief as much as anything. After all, he had played 69 holes of competitive golf — all walking while carrying his bag in very hot conditions — over the course of two days. “I was just happy it was over, I guess,” said the player from Twin Peaks Golf Course. “It’s been a lot of golf in two days. And on the girls side, Morgan Miller of Cedar Park, Texas, who recently verbally committed to play her college golf at the University of Colorado, won the title for the second straight year, marking the first time that’s happened in the Colorado Junior Match Play since Somin Lee went back to back in 2008-09. This time, Miller defeated Grace Young of Highlands Ranch, 3 and 2, in the finale. Miller capitalized on her summer trip to Colorado for the second straight year to claim the Junior Match Play title. “That’s why I came here. I wanted to win back-to-back,” the 17-year-old senior-to-be said. “I knew it was going to be tough because all these girls are good. I just took it one match at a time. I had a bye the first day (as one of the top seeds), so that saved some energy. That’s what did it. For the match play brackets, click on the following: BOYS, GIRLS
41
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
President's Club | $20,000 and above
Colorado Golf and Turf
PGA Tour
Tom Bauerle
National Car Rental
Diamond | $10,000
Masek Golf Cars Jason Masek
Rolex
Platinum | $7,500
Jani-King Colorado AvidGolfer
Gil Sanchez
Allen Walters
The Consummate Pro Tom Cotter
True Temper David Walker
Gold | $5,000 Breckenridge Distillery Mike Horan
42
AUGUST 2021
Colorado Golf Expo Lynn Cramer
The SUMMIT
Thank You to Our Sponsors!
Silver | $2,500
Bronze | $1,000
43
AUGUST 2021
The SUMMIT