Jon Lindstrom of the Heritage at Westmoor became the inaugural Colorado Golf Association Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational champion with an impressive 5 and 4 victory in the final match over Bill Fowler of The Club at Rolling Hills. For Lindstrom, the 2008 CGA Mid-Amateur champ, this was his second individual CGA title and sixth CGA victory overall.
This was also Lindstrom’s second CGA victory in as many tries this year, as he won the CGA Four-Ball Championship with partner Dean Clapp earlier this month, putting him on somewhat of a winning streak.
“You can’t win them all unless you win the first two,” he said jokingly after the trophy presentation.
But the way Lindstrom is playing this season is no laughing matter.
Lindstrom, who was the No. 2 seed entering the tournament, lost the first hole at Heritage Todd Creek when Fowler made birdie, but won the next two holes to take a 1 up lead–a lead he would never relinquish. Both players made birdie on the par-5 4th hole, but a Fowler bogey on #5 allowed Lindstrom to go 2 up. Both players again matched birdies on hole #6, but Lindstrom went 3 up with another birdie on the par-3 7th.
Lindstom (pictured below) would hold this lead until his next birdie on the par-4 12th which put him up 4. He then went 5 up when Fowler made bogey on the next hole, and the match ended 5 and 4 when both players made par on the par-5 14th hole, at which point Lindstrom’s impressive round featured five birdies and no bogies.
“I’ve had some time off from work this season and I’ve taken full advantage of it to compete as much as I can,” said the 2008 CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year. “So far it’s paid off.”
Fowler (who was only one-over when the match ended) said “Lindstrom just made too many birdies and no mistakes. I kept waiting for him to make a bogey but it became clear that wasn’t going to happen.”
Lindstrom defeated Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course, the runner-up in last year’s CGA Mid-Amateur, 3 and 1 in their semifinal match earlier in the day to advance to the finals. This was his closest match of the tournament having won each of his other two matches 3 and 2.
Fowler earned his place in the finals with a convincing 4 and 3 upset of top-seeded Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club in the morning’s other semifinal match.
Invitations and seeding for the 24-man event were based on tournament performance by players in 2011.
CGA Mid-Amateur Match Play Invitational
At Heritage Todd Creek GC in Thornton
Round of 32
Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club had a bye
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera def. Jeb Savage, Rifle Creek Golf Club 5 and 4
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban Golf Course had a bye
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills Golf Course def. Steve Sullivan, The CC at Castle Pines 3 and 2
Alex Buecking, Columbine Country Club had a bye
Paul Erdman, Colorado National Golf Club def. Mike Larson, Boulder Country Club 4 and 3
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills Country Club had a bye
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills Golf Course def. Clint Miller, Meadow Hills Golf Course 21 holes
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor had a bye
Tim Fitzgerald, Meridian Golf Club def. Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills Golf Course 3 and 2
Danny Hahn, Commonground Golf Course had a bye
Charles Santaularia, Willis Case GC def. Andy Moore, The Olde Course at Loveland 2 and 1
Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines Golf Club had a bye
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC def. Tristan Sanders, Commonground Golf Course 3 and 1
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC had a bye
Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek Country Club def. Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills 3 and 1
Round of 16
Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club def. Michael Love, The Club at Pradera 6 and 5
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills Golf Course 2 and 1
Alex Buecking, Columbine Country Club def. Paul Erdman, Colorado National Golf Club 4 and 3
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills Country Club def. Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills Golf Course 1 up
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor def. Tim Fitzgerald, Meridian Golf Club 3 and 2
Danny Hahn, Commonground Golf Course def. Charles Santaularia, Willis Case GC 21 holes
Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC def. Jonathan Marsico, Castle Pines Golf Club 2 and 1
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC def. Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek Country Club 3 and 1
Quarterfinals
Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club def. James Kurtenbach, South Suburban Golf Course 3 and 2
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills Country Club def. Alex Buecking, Columbine Country Club 19 holes
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor def. Danny Hahn, Commonground Golf Course 3 and 2
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC def. Blair Matthews, CommonGround GC 19 holes
Semifinals (AM)
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills Country Club def. Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club 4 and 3
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor def. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 3 and 1
Final Match (PM) – VIEW SCORECARD
