In an exhibition of golf’s purest form of competition, Kevin Stadler of Bear Creek Golf Club won the 1999 CGA Match Play Championship. Stadler’s 1 up victory over 1997 CGA Match Play Champion, Jay Osmon of Great Sand Dunes Golf Course, was one that hung in doubt until the 36th and final hole. Osmon said that he and his caddie decided that the best strategy for the day was “to avoid bogeys.” For the most part this strategy worked, but in a 36-hole match that featured only 5 holes where the score didn’t stand either all square or 1 up, the 19-year old Stadler exploded from a personal slump featuring confidence, a new long putter, and phenomenal iron play. This 1997 Boys’ High School champion beat some of the best players in Colorado to earn “the biggest win of my career.”
Osmon and Stadler traded brilliant golf shots from the beginning of the first round where both birdied the 570-yard 1st hole. When Osmon sank a 35-foot putt on the par-4 3rd to go 1 up, Stadler turned up the heat to birdie four of the next five holes and take a 3 up lead. Stadler’s first mistake, a bogey on 9, was the beginning of a see-saw battle that continued for remainder of the match. Osmon eagled the par-5 10th, but he gave it back when he bogeyed number 11 to remain 2 down. Osmon came on strong to even the match with a par on 14 and take the lead with a par on 16. Stadler’s putter remained consistent as he made par on 17 and 18 to finish the first 18 holes 1 up.
In the afternoon round, Osmon birdied the first hole again to square the match. His second birdie of the day, on the par-4 3rd put him 1 up, and gave him his last lead of the day. Stadler birdied the par-4 6th again in the second round to square the match. The match remained even through 27 holes, and the humidity and pressure started to weigh on the opponents. Booming a 325-yard drive off the 10th tee, Osmon pressured himself on the green by conceding Stadler’s par putt, then sinking his own. Stadler took the lead on the long par-4, 11th as Osmon missed his 6 foot putt for par. Choosing his 3-iron over his driver for the next two holes, and making his best shot of the week on his approach to 13, Stadler remained 1 up with consecutive pars. Osmon appeared to have a psychological advantage over Stadler as he recovered to make par on the 15th after his tee shot landed behind a tree, and Stadler’s temper flared when he missed a 5-foot par putt to even the match with 2 holes to play. The par-3, 17th continued to confound Osmon as he clubbed up to a 4-iron and still left his tee shot short and in the bunker. Stadler made his two-putt for par and to go 1 up with one to play. Both players made par on 18th and shook hands, Stadler the Champion.
Round of 64
Todd Vernon, Meridian GC, def. Kirk Adams, Maroon Creek GC, 7 and 5
Jason Rauzi, Green Gables CC, def. Nicolas Babl, Twin Peaks GC, Forfeit
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, def. Kelly Crone, Legacy Ridge GC, 1 up
Scott Vanhofwegan, Collindale GC, def. Jeremy Albert, Collindale GC, 4 and 2
Brandon White, Greeley CC, def. Robin Bradbury, Coal Creek GC, 1 up
Jason Schram, Collindale GC, def. andrew Achziger, Collindale GC, 3 and 2
Mark Spenner, Hyland Hills GC, def. Tom Wells, Broadmoor GC, 3 and 1
Lloyd Price, Legacy Ridge GC, def. Robert West, Meridian GC, 5 and 3
Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC, def. Gregory Smith, Meridian GC, 5 and 3
Thomas Hart, Los Verdes GC, def. John Hulwick, Pinehurst CC, 4 and 3
Stephen Barlow, Bear Creek GC, def. Ken Sady, Cotton Ranch GC, 1 up
Bret Guetz, Columbine CC, def. Tony Giarratano, Highlands Ranch GC, 5 and 4
Brandon Tompkins, Fort Collins CC, def. Joel Farkas, Green Gables CC, 6 and 5
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, def. Garrett Froggatte, Gleneagle GC, 2 and 1
Kevinstadler, Bear Creek GC, def. Michael Nytes, Collindale GC, 5 and 4
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC, def. Dr. Bill Iverson, Ft. Collins CC, 1 up
Jason Hause, South Suburban GC, def. Daniel anderson, Patty Jewett GC, 6 and 4
Chris Hill, Saddle Rock GC, def. Steve Lechner, Hyland Hills GC, 4 and 2
Dave Hunn, Collindale GC, def. Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC, 1 up
Mark Hirsch, Meadow Hills GC, def. Joe Liley, Lakewood CC, 2 and 1
Tim Bruny, Collindale GC, def. Douglas Rouse, Hiwan GC, 1 up
Mark Achziger, Greeley CC, def. Craig Ouellette, Legacy Ridge GC, 1 up
Michael Plate, Ogallala CC, def. Steve Stoltz, Fort Collins CC, 2 and 1
Ben Mcconahey, Cherry Hills CC, def. James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC, 4 and 3
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, def. Dan Liddell, Cattails GC, 3 and 2
Carl Juengst, Meridian GC, def. andrew Parkin, Hyland Hills GC, 1 up
Geoff Nuwash, Fort Collins CC, def. Matthew Tani, Riverdale GC, 6 and 5
Jesse Bertsch, Fox Hollow GC, def. Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 2 and 1
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, def. Floyd Stephens, Fort Collins CC, 4 and 3
Tyler Tarpley, The Ranch CC, def. Scott Ferguson, Collindale GC, 3 and 2
Darren O’donnell, Los Verdes GC, def. Kelly Weinette, Cattails GC, 5 and 4
Dan Sniffin, Flatirons GC, def. Pat Bowe, Hyland Hills GC, 2 and 1
Round Of 32
Jason Rauzi, Green Gables CC, def. Todd Vernon, Meridian GC, 19 holes
Scott Vanhofwegan, Collindale GC, def. Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 5 and 4
Jason Schram, Collindale GC, def. Brandon White, Greeley CC, 19 holes
Lloyd Price, Legacy Ridge GC, def. Mark Spenner, Hyland Hills GC, 5 and 4
Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC, def. Thomas Hart, Los Verdes GC, 1 up
Bret Guetz, Columbine CC, def. Stephen Barlow, Bear Creek GC, 3 and 2
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, def. Brandon Tompkins, Fort Collins CC, 3 and 2
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC, def. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC, 19 holes
Jason Hause, South Suburban GC, def. Chris Hill, Saddle Rock GC, 5 and 4
Mark Hirsch, Meadow Hills GC, def. Dave Hunn, Collindale GC, 4 and 3
Mark Achziger, Greeley CC, def. Tim Bruny, Collindale GC, 2 and 1
Ben Mcconahey, Cherry Hills CC, def. Michael Plate, Golf Club Colorado, 19 holes
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, def. Carl Juengst, Meridian GC, 4 and 3
Geoff Nuwash, Fort Collins CC, def. Jesse Bertsch, Fox Hollow GC, 5 and 4
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, def. Tyler Tarpley, The Ranch CC, 1 up
Darren O’donnell, Los Verdes GC, def. Dan Sniffin, Flatirons GC, 4 and 3
Round Of 16
Scott Vanhofwegan, Collindale GC, def. Jason Rauzi, Green Gables CC, 1 up
Jason Schram, Collindale GC, def. Lloyd Price, Legacy Ridge GC, 19 holes
Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC, def. Bret Guetz, Columbine CC, 2 and 1
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC, def. David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 5 and 4
Mark Hirsch, Meadow Hills GC, def. Jason Hause, South Suburban GC, 2 and 1
Ben Mcconahey, Cherry Hills CC, def. Mark Achziger, Greeley CC, 4 and 2
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, def. Geoff Nuwash, Fort Collins CC, 2 up
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, def. Darren O’donnell, Los Verdes GC, 1 up
Quarterfinal Round
Jason Schram, Collindale GC, def. Scott Vanhofwegan, Collindale GC, 19 holes
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC, def. Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC, 5 and 3
Ben Mcconahey, Cherry Hills CC, def. Mark Hirsch, Meadow Hills GC, 2 up
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, def. Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 3 and 2
Semifinal Round
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC, def. Jason Schram, Collindale GC, 5 and 4
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, def. Ben Mcconahey, Cherry Hills CC, 1 up
Final Round
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC, def. Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC, 1 up
