Two veterans of cold-weather golf were in their element during Sunday’s final round of the CGA Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.
Danny Riskam of Columbine Country Club and Pete Mangold of Cherry Creek Country Club (pictured) played college golf in less-than-ideal conditions at Northwestern and Army, respectively, so they seemed to feel right at home in Sunday’s temperatures, which hovered in the 35-40-degree range.
The result was that the pair rallied from a three-stroke deficit to win the Four-Ball title by one shot.
“This was Army golf out there today — 35-40 degrees and rain,” said Mangold, a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point. “You just grind it out. I would say easily we had a much better attitude than any team out there. I think that’s the thing that won it for us.”
Riskam, a former mini-tour player, and Mangold followed up a best-ball 64 in cool conditions on Saturday with a 3-under-par 68 in the final round. That gave them an 11-under-par 202 total, which was one better than first- and second-day leaders James Kurtenbach and Tim Fitzgerald, who closed with a 72. Kurtenbach and Fitzgerald could have forced a playoff with a par on their final hole, but both players made bogey on the par-4 ninth and had to settle for second place.
Brian Richmeier and Andrew Dannewitz, both of Meadow Hills, finished third at 204.
In the senior division of the first CGA championship of the year, Keith Masters and John Applegate of Meadow Hills (pictured at left) defeated Ken Sady and Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch in a two-hole playoff to win the title after the two teams matched scores each day — 66-69-68 for a 10-under 203 total. Applegate got up and down from a greenside bunker, making a 4-foot birdie putt at the par-5 11th hole for the victory.
It was the first CGA titles for all four of the winners on Sunday, when bone-chilling cold made playing good golf a big challenge.
“It was kind of a war of attrition with this weather,” said Riskam, who was reinstated as an amateur in 2007 after his years as a pro. “It snowed on the way in here this morning. I played so much golf like this at Northwestern that it kind of made me feel like I was back in college. Springtime in Chicago is 40 and sleet.
“It’s important on days like this not to get ahead of yourself. We tried to stay positive, stay patient and not force the issue. To be honest, I didn’t think we’d win at 202 “¦ but we’re just thrilled.”
Riskam, the runner-up in last year’s CGA Mid-Amateur, helped the team’s cause greatly by shooting 71-66-71 on his own ball. (“Given the weather conditions, that might be some of the best three days of golf I’ve ever played,” he said. “Shooting 208 this week is something I’ll remember for long time.”) And Mangold chipped in enough birdies to get the team over the top. Riskam and Mangold carded just two bogeys in 36 holes.
All in all, it wasn’t a bad result considering the Four-Ball marked Mangold’s first CGA event ever.
“Looking at Danny, I said, ‘I guess I just signed myself up for some more,'” Mangold noted.
Mangold, now a 30-year-old investment advisor, has an interesting background, both in and out of golf. During his five-year stint in the Army, he served a tour of duty in Iraq — where the temperatures were a sharp contrast to Sunday’s — and he represented the U.S. Army while competing in military golf tournaments both nationally and internationally.
As for Riskam, he’s a former college teammate of Luke Donald, currently the No. 2-ranked player in the world.
“I stay in touch with (Donald) a little, but we run in different circles,” Riskam said. “I hang out with Pete Mangold and he hangs out with Davis Love.”
After years of trying to hammer out a living as a competitive golfer, Riskam is much happier these days as a co-owner of an advertising agency who likes to dabble at high-level amateur golf.
“It’s so much easier to play golf for a trophy than a check,” the 32-year-old said. “If we hadn’t won today, I still have to put together a bassinet tonight (for a baby due to arrive in three weeks). It takes a lot of the pressure out of it when your livelihood doesn’t depend on it.”
CGA Four-Ball Championship
At Par-71 Legacy Ridge GC in Westminster
OPEN DIVISION
View Leaderboard and Scorecards
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC / Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek CC 70-64-68–202
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC / Tim Fitzgerald, Highlands Ranch GC 63-68-72–203
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC / Andrew Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC 65-68-71–204
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC / Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor 64-72-69–205
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC / Alex Buecking, Columbine CC 70-67-69–206
Ed Mate, Commonground GC / Bill Fowler, Bear Creek GC 67-72-69–208
Steven Moore, Cherry Hills CC / Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC 70-70-68–208
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC / Joe Young, Flatirons GC 73-71-68–212
Brandon Avery, Ptarmigan CC / Mickey Speck, Loveland Mens Golf Assoc 69-71-74–214
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC / Wyck Brown, Lakewood CC 73-73-69–215
Philip Zacharias, Commonground GC / David Gilman, Green Valley Ranch GC 69-75-72–216
Wesley Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills / Joe Boeckenstedt, The Courses at Hyland Hills 70-73-73–216
Chris Pratz, Springs Ranch GC / Bob Athey, CC of Colorado 72-70-75–217
Brian D. Zenk, South Suburban GC / Joseph Smith, South Suburban GC 71-74-73–218
Wes Georges, Garden of the Gods Club / Timothy Nowak, Ute Creek GC 73-70-75–218
Steve Redmond, Raccoon Creek GC / Perry Rickel, Colorado Golf Club 72-71-75–218
Will Myer, Denver CC / Reed Myer, Denver CC 71-71-77–219
John Perry, Avid Golfer Passport / David Hunn, Collindale GC 69-77-74–220
Chris Clark, Columbine CC / Bob Sherrill, Columbine CC 73-75-72–220
Casey Hannen, Fossil Trace GC / Greg Michaels, Legacy Ridge GC 73-77-72–222
Andy Brooks, Legacy Ridge GC / Eric Butler, Four Hills CC 72-72-79–223
Doug Moore, Lone Tree GC / James Tatro, Lone Tree GC 75-72-76–223
Tom Sweetman, Fox Hill Club / Brad Miller, Omni Interlocken Resort 78-73-75–226
Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC / Greg Gibb, Lone Tree GC 74-74-79–227
Jay Orris, Boulder CC / James Mchose, Boulder CC 76-75-78–229
Paul Yoon, Pueblo CC / Paul Cormier, Pueblo CC 77-79-80–236
Matt Keeler, River Course at Keystone / Ryan Clancy, Hyland Hills GC 78-81-80–239
Tad Willenbrock, Glenmoor CC / Tyler Engel, Castle Pines GC 72-72-WD
Steven Basler, Highlands Ranch GC / Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC 70-74-DQ
Joseph Palombo, Riverdale GC / William Mills, Riverdale GC–85-79-NS
SENIOR DIVISION
View Leaderboard and Scorecards
x-indicates won playoff
x-John Applegate, Meadow Hills GC / Keith Masters, Meadow Hills GC 66-69-68–203
Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC / Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 66-69-68–203
Scott Radcliffe, Rolling Hills CC / Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC 69-69-67–205
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC / Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC 67-67-72–206
David Delich, Broadmoor GC / Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC 67-71-69–207
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill CC / Tony Workman, Fox Hill CC 70-71-68–209
Gary Albrecht, Commonground GC / Bob Chandler, Commonground GC 70-68-71–209
Steve Bell, Denver CC / Steve Murphy, King’s Deer GC 71-71-69–211
Grant Porter, Commonground GC / Jim Lemar, The Meadows GC 66-75-71–212
Pat Bowe, Commonground GC / Dave J Brown, Rmgcsa Golf League 72-71-69–212
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC / Jerry Kidney, Overland Park Mens Club 72-69-71–212
Randal Gaddis, Lone Tree GC / Jerry Beren, Coal Creek Mens GC 67-72-74–213
Steve Stultz, The CC at Castle Pines / Louie Lee, The CC at Castle Pines 72-70-71–213
Bradley Becker, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. / Steve Kass, Meridian GC 71-72-70–213
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek Men’s Club / Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 73-72-69–214
Thomas Roos, Plum Creek Golf & C.C. / Dennis Fields, Fox Hollow at Lakewood 71-74-70–215
Brian Mooney, Colorado National GC / Bruce Hayes, Lake Valley GC 72-68-75–215
Tom Ritchie, Meridian GC / Rick George, Castle Pines GC 73-71-71–215
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC / Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC 68-75-73–216
Darrell Perry, Westwoods GC / Gregory Hand, West Woods GC 74-70-73–217
Russ Hickman, Fort Collins CC / Rich Trout, Rolling Hills CC 72-71-75–218
David Brown, Highlands Ranch GC / John Sostmann, Columbine CC 75-71-73–219
Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC / Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC 77-76-71–224
Dave Bell, Hiwan GC / Mark Davidson, Hiwan GC 76-77-73–226
Mark Runyan, Blackstone CC / John Evans, Saddle Rock GC 76-77-74–227
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC / Ron Perry, Lake Arbor GC 78-78-74–230
Mark Barkley, Blackstone CC / Craig Connor, The Links GC 79-79-78–236
Bob Bauers, Boulder CC / Gary Potter, Denver CC 75-80-85–240
Mike Becky, The CC at Castle Pines / Mike Giarratano, The CC at Castle Pines 73-76-NC
Michael S Smith, Bear Creek GC / Kevin Haney, Bear Creek GC 80-78-WD
