Former CSU player John Hayes of Columbine Country Club shot 68 in the final round for a 14-under par total of 270 to win the 69th CGA State Amateur Championship at Glenmoor Country Club by four strokes. For Hayes, the first alternate in this year’s U.S. open Championship, this is his second CGA individual state championship title, as he won the CGA State Junior Stroke Play in 2000. Hayes had taken the lead in the second round with his course-record 64 (that included three bogies), and never looked back. On Sunday, he took a three stroke lead into the final round and had a shaky front nine making the turn at one-over par. He got back on track on the back nine, making eagle on the par-5 12th, birdie on the par-4 15th, and he birdied the par-5 18th for the fourth consecutive day to seal the victory.
Darrin Hall also shot 68 in the final round for a total of 274 to earn the CGA runner-up Silver Medal. Hall, a former Mullen High School stand-out, will play for the University of New Mexico as a walk-on sophomore having red-shirted his freshman year. Hall finished one stroke ahead of CSU player Nate Pettitt of Collindale Golf Course, who shot 70 in the final round to finish tied for third at 275. Joining Pettitt at 275 was 2005 CGA Two-Man Team champion Michael Baird of Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, who also shot 70 on Sunday. Baird’s CGA Two-Man Team partner, Derek Tolan of South Suburban Family Sports Center, shot 71 in the final round to finish fifth at 276. Tolan, who also finished as runner-up in the CGA Public Links and as finalist in the CGA State Amateur Match Play this year, recently finished as Low Amateur in the Denver Open Championship. 2004 CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club and Legacy High School junior Steve Ziegler of The Ranch Country Club tied for seventh at 277.
Hayes attributed his win to his wedge play and putting. “When I hit the fairway out here (Glenmoor), I had a lot of wedge-shots in. I was dead-on with my wedge ““ in fact I thought I was going to hole five or six shots approach shots this week that just missed the hole and left short birdies.”
When asked if he would return to Boulder Country Club (host of the 2006 championship) to defend his title, Hayes replied, “That’s an interesting question. I have not decided if or when I am going to turn pro, so we’ll have to see.”
Hayes was awarded the N.C. “Tub” Morris trophy, which will be displayed at his home club, Columbine Country Club, for the next year. His name will be etched on the trophy as well, joining the names of past champions that include Hale Irwin, Steve Jones and Brandt Jobe.
FINAL RESULTS
John Hayes, Columbine Country Club, 68-64-70-68–270
Darrin Hall, Lakewood Country Club, 71-67-68-68–274
Nate Pettitt, Collindale Golf Course, 67-68-70-70–275
Michael Baird, Red Hawk Ridge Golf Course, 68-69-68-70–275
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family Sports Center, 73-66-66-71–276
Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club, 71-68-70-68–277
Steve Ziegler, Ranch Country Club, 72-70-65-70–277
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 73-71-68-69–281
Ryan Anderson, Greeley Country Club, 67-71-72-71–281
Scott Mendelsohn, Kennedy Golf Course, 70-67-75-69–281
Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken Resort and Golf Club, 72-70-70-71–283
Drew Stoltz, Ft. Collins Country Club, 67-77-71-69–284
Kenny Coakley, Fox Hollow Golf Course, 71-72-71-71–285
Derek O’Neill, Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel, 71-73-72-71–287
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor Country Club, 68-73-75-71–287
Dan Silva, South Suburban Golf Course, 73-72-69-74–288
Dustin Mills, Indian Tree Golf Course, 73-70-73-72–288
Tyler Symons, Valley Country Club, 70-79-72-68–289
David Delich, Broadmoor Golf Club, 68-76-72-73–289
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club, 74-75-73-68–290
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek Golf Course, 75-70-66-79–290
Rick DeWitt, West Woods Golf Club, 72-75-70-75–292
Zen Brown, Indian Tree Golf Club, 67-71-77-78–293
David Yamamoto, Red Rocks Country Club, 77-69-76-72–294
Jamie Marshall, Country Club at Castle Pines, 76-71-71-76–294
Scott Thomas, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 75-75-72-72–294
Eric Winder, Bookcliff Country Club, 70-73-77-75–295
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills Country Club, 68-73-77-77–295
Christopher Roehrkasse, Colorado Springs Country Club, 72-75-77-72–296
Martin Prazak, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 73-77-72-74–296
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 73-76-76-72–297
David Lysaught, Pinehurst Country Club, 71-73-76-78–298
Matthew Brunk, Pelican Lakes Golf & Country Club, 75-75-79-70–299
Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree Golf Club & Hotel, 75-68-84-72–299
Bryan Hackenberg, Riverdale Golf Courses, 70-74-73-83–300
Jeff Philippe, Pinery Country Club, 75-74-76-76–301
Branden Barron, South Suburban Golf Course, 73-77-75-80–305
Matt Strong, Wellshire Golf Course, 71-79-78-78–306
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 75-75-78-79–307
Ray Makloski, Pueblo Country Club, 72-78-88-77–315
Steve Murphy, Canterberry Golf Course, 77-73-80-WD–WD
MISSED CUT
Kelly Crone, Deer Creek Golf Club at Meadow Ranch, 79-72–151
Pat M. Diaz, Meridian Golf Club, 79-72–151
Jonathan Rogers, Fairway Pines Golf & Country Club, 75-76–151
Michael Harrington, Kissing Camels Club, 77-75–152
Matt McCoy, Legacy Ridge Golf Course, 80-72–152
Michael Unger, Arrowhead Golf Club, 74-78–152
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 73-79–152
Michael Love, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 78-74–152
Riley Andrews, Links Golf Course, 76-77–153
Jim Grady, Omni Interlocken Resort and Golf Club, 78-76–154
Brady Garr, West Woods Golf Club, 79-75–154
John Zerwin, Ranch Country Club, 81-73–154
Tyson Shinaut, Pinery Country Club, 79-75–154
Chase Wortmann, Bookcliff Country Club, 78-77–155
Matthew Gutowski, Broadlands Golf Course, 82-73–155
Scott Forsyth, Meridian Golf Club, 76-79–155
John Scott, Wellshire Golf Course, 77-78–155
David Hoffman, Antler Creek Golf Course, 75-80–155
Mitch Perry, Sonnenalp Golf Club, 79-76–155
Bill Boyd, Highland Hills Golf Course, 77-78–155
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree Golf Course, 77-78–155
Fred Birner, Pueblo Country Club, 73-83–156
Ryan Husted, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 80-77–157
Patrick Mullin, Eisenhower Golf Club, 77-80–157
Sey Johnson, Tiara Rado Golf Course, 79-78–157
Jeff Haskins, Keystone Ranch Golf Course, 80-78–158
Greg Goode, Aurora Hills Golf Course, 79-79–158
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban Golf Course, 85-74–159
Bryce Babcock, Broadlands Golf Course, 80-79–159
Pat Bowe, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 80-79–159
Michael Ventimiglia, Broadlands Golf Course, 83-78–161
Clinton Miller, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 81-81–162
David Williams, Cherry Creek Country Club, 80-82–162
Jeff Donnelly, Lakewood Country Club, 83-80–163
Lon Herbert, Mira Vista Golf Course, 80-83–163
Steve Boswell, Mira Vista Golf Course, 80-84–164
Chuck Schmidt, Heritage at Westmoor, 85-80–165
Garrick Kriegh, Coal Creek Golf Course, 88-78–166
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 89-85–174
Todd Huss, Patty Jewett Golf Course, 89-90–179
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club, 88-WD–WD
