Friday was a long time coming for Tom Musselman.
Three-hundred and sixty-four days, to be exact.
But on Friday the 13th, the 54-year-old golfer from Telluride Ski & Golf Club finally earned the trophy that barely eluded him a year ago.
After being forced to settle for second place at the CGA Senior Match Play in 2013, Musselman made a very satisfying move up to the champion’s spot this week.
The former Kentucky state amateur champion won two matches Friday at the Pinery Country Club in Parker, claiming the Senior Match Play title with a 2-and-1 victory over Steve Bell of Denver Country Club.
“This means a lot just because I really focused and practiced over the winter to get ready for this campaign in early June,” Musselman said. “The whole goal was to try to get my game in shape for this event. I was aiming for this one.”
Another Tom, Tom Warren of Fossil Trace Golf Club, earned the CGA Senior-Senior Match Play championship for players 60 and older by defeating Roger Gunderson of Aurora Hills Golf Course, 2 and 1 in Friday’s final.
Musselman, who lost a 2-up final match to Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course on June 14, 2013, avenged that defeat in Thursday’s quarterfinals.
“I had so much confidence going into that final (last year), then all of a sudden I was 4 or 5 over par and get beat. It was disturbing,” said Musselman, a hotel developer from Kentucky who purchased a home in Telluride in 2000. “I knew where Harry was on the board this entire week, and I told him that. He is a competitor. We went at it. I was 3 under par just to beat him. That was my best-played match. I was psyched. I had everything dialed in — and I had to play well. I was watching all week and hoping we’d get to play.”
Then after ousting Larry Netherton of Highlands Ranch Golf Club 4 and 3 in Friday morning’s semifinals, Musselman never trailed in the title match.
Bell looked likely to square the match on the par-4 seventh after Musselman’s tee shot ended up against the trunk of a tree and he was in the front greenside bunker in three. But with Bell having a 5-foot par putt, Musselman holed out a 30-foot sand shot (left) for par, leading to a halve of the hole.
“All of a sudden I hole that damn thing out,” he said. “I know that kind of shook Steve up a little bit.”
Then Musselman won the eighth with a 6-foot birdie and the ninth with a par to go 3 up.
Bell cut the deficit to 1 down when Musselman made bogeys on 10 and 12. But Musselman birdied No. 13 with an up-and-down from the sand, made a 45-foot birdie putt on No. 16, and two-putted from 50 feet for par on No. 17 to claim the victory. Bell (left) lost despite birdies at Nos. 15 and 16, and a lipped-out birdie putt on 17.
“I felt good about most of the way I played, but I had a couple of shaggy-dog holes in the middle of the round that put me down a little bit,” Bell said. “I got a little adrenaline at the end and birdied 15 and 16 and I hit a really good putt on 17 that I thought was going to go. It feels a little bit better when you birdie two of the last three holes.”
In the Senior-Seniors, Warren (below) held the lead for most of the day against Gunderson, the 1998 CGA Senior Match Play champ who had knocked off Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive in the semis. The 61-year-old Warren never trailed after making three consecutive birdies on Nos. 4-6. Still, things were all square after 14, but Warren won Nos. 15 and 17 with pars, the latter after Gunderson hit a shot out of bounds.
The win was especially satisfying considering Warren just got back into tournament golf three years ago after not playing competitively for about a decade.
“I used to play a lot of competitive golf and I took 10 years off and I forgot how much fun it was,” he said.
In his younger years, Warren qualified for two U.S. Junior Amateurs, losing to a young Texan named Ben Crenshaw in one match.
“He was a year older than me and he had a caddie and a coach and a little gallery,” Warren recalled. “I thought, ‘I better find myself another career.’ I just remember watching him hit it 50 yards past me and making 30 footers when I’m shaking on 3 footers.”
On Friday, the 70-year-old Gunderson was in decent shape until his tee shots suddenly went awry coming down the stretch.
“I hit a lot of good shots but I put myself into too many bad positions off the tee coming in,” he said. “I drove the ball really well all week until the last six or seven holes, then I couldn’t keep it on the planet.”
While Gunderson obviously would have like to have won another state title, making it to the super-senior final was an accomplishment by itself.
“I had no expectations coming in,” he said. “I have not been playing well. To get this far, I feel pretty fortunate.”
CGA Senior Match Play and Super-Senior Match Play Championship
At Par-72 Pinery CC in Parker
(Seeds in Parentheses)
SENIOR MATCH PLAY
Round of 64
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (1) def. Jim Dawson, Hyland Hills (64), 6 and 5
Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (32) def. Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (33), 2 and 1
Jeff Sweet, Murphy Creek Golf Course (16) def. Rick George, Castle Pines GC (49), 3 and 2
Mike Larson, Boulder Country Club (17) def. Pat Bucci, West Woods Golf Club (48), 5 and 4
Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club (8) def. Peter O’Connell, Commonground Golf Course (57), 6 and 5
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Ted Warner, Greeley Country Club (40), 5 and 4
Randall Dolan, Commonground GC (56) def. Robin Bradbury, Legacy Ridge GC (9), 20 holes
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club (41) def. Ronald Swartzwelder, Commonground Golf Course (24), 4 and 3
Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek Golf Course (4) def. Robert West, Cherry Creek Country Club (61), 19 holes
Jim LeMar, The Meadows GC (36) def. Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett Golf Course (29), 23 holes
Brent Timm, Pinery Country Club (13) def. Mike Campbell, Aurora Hills GC (52), 4 and 3
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (45) def. Bradley Becker, Plum Creek G & CC (20), 1 up
Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course (5) def. Bo Powell, West Woods Golf Club (60), 2 and 1
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood Country Club (28) def. Charlie Post, Colorado GC (37), 1 up
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines North (12) def. Don Sall, Broadmoor Golf Club (53), 3 and 2
Lance Balthaser, Englewood Men’s Golf Club (21) def. Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (44), 2 and 1
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2) def. David Draper, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club (63), 5 and 4
Scott Patterson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (31) def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course (34), 7 and 5
Rick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett Golf Course (15) def. Chuck Delich, Eisenhower Golf Club (50), 1 up
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (47) def. John Ingram, Colorado Golf Club (18), 3 and 2
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC (58) def. Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek Golf Club (7), 2 and 1
Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (39) def. Eric Hoos, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (26), 4 and 3
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10) def. Laird Middleton, Coal Creek Mens Golf Club (55), 7 and 6
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s (42) def. Ray Makloski, Pueblo Country Club (23), 3 and 2
John Sostmann, Meadows Golf Club (3) def. Mark Barkley, Canongate Colorado (62), 4 and 3
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek MC (30) def. Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance Golf Club (35), 2 and 1
Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (51) def. David Delich, Broadmoor GC (14), 3 and 2
Scott Crone, Pinehurst Country Club (46) def. John Applegate, Meadow Hills Golf Course (19), 20 holes
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club (6) def. Craig Stephenson, Saddle Rock Golf Course (59), 2 and 1
Bob Kubiak, South Suburban Golf Course (27) def. Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC (38), 5 and 4
Brian Harris, Denver Country Club (11) def. Richard Kelly, Heritage at Westmoor (54), 6 and 5
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (22) def. Doug Jones, Tiara Rado Golf Course (43), 2 and 1
Round of 32
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (1) def. Brian Woody, Ridge at Castle Pines North (32), 2 and 1
Mike Larson, Boulder Country Club (17) def. Jeff Sweet, Murphy Creek Golf Course (16), 2 and 1
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Sean Forey, Bear Creek Golf Club (8), 4 and 2
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club (41) def. Randall Dolan, Commonground GC (56), 7 and 5
Jim LeMar, The Meadows GC (36) def. Patrick Horvath, Murphy Creek Golf Course (4), 4 and 3
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (45) def. Brent Timm, Pinery Country Club (13), 1 up
Pat Bowe, CommonGround Golf Course (5) def. Jake Jacobson, Lakewood Country Club (28), 1 up
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines North (12) def. Lance Balthaser, Englewood Men’s Golf Club (21), 19 holes
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2) def. Scott Patterson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (31), 21 holes
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (47) def. Rick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett Golf Course (15), 3 and 2
Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (39) def. Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC (58), 4 and 3
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10) def. Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk Golf Course Men’s (42), 5 and 3
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek MC (30) def. John Sostmann, Meadows Golf Club (3), 1 up
Scott Crone, Pinehurst Country Club (46) def. Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch Golf Club (51), 19 holes
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club (6) def. Bob Kubiak, South Suburban Golf Course (27), 2 and 1
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (22) def. Brian Harris, Denver Country Club (11), 3 and 2
Round of 16
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (1) def. Mike Larson, Boulder Country Club (17), 3 and 1
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor Country Club (41), 2 and 1
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (45) def. Jim LeMar, The Meadows GC (36), 5 and 4
Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course (5) def. Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines North (12), 20 holes
Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (47) def. Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club (2), 22 holes
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10) def. Gary Fox, Country Club at Castle Pines (39), 2 up
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek MC (30) def. Scott Crone, Pinehurst Country Club (46), 7 and 5
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (22) def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Country Club (6), 4 and 2
Quarterfinals
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (1), 3 and 2
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (45) def. Pat Bowe, Commonground Golf Course (5), 2 up
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10) def. Bob Chandler, Heritage at Westmoor (47), 3 and 1
Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek MC (30) def. Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club (22), 4 and 3
Semifinals
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC (45), 4 and 3
Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10) def. Art Cudworth, Raccoon Creek MC (30), 20 holes
Final
Tom Musselman, Telluride Ski & Golf Club (25) def. Steve Bell, Denver Country Club (10), 2 and 1
SUPER-SENIOR MATCH PLAY
Round of 32
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (1) def. Tony C Key, Valley Country Club (32), 6 and 5
David Farabaugh, Broadlands Golf Club (16) def. Kirk Miller, Estes Park Golf Club (17), 4 and 3
Steve Stultz, Country Club at Castle Pines (8) def. Tom Lawrence, Lakewood Country Club (25), 6 and 4
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace Golf Club (24) def. Gary Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club (9), 20 holes
Bob Cloud, Bear Creek Golf Club (4) def. Loren Warburg, Fox Hollow at Lakewood (29), 4 and 3
Jim Collins, Country Club at Castle Pines (13) def. Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan Country Club (20), 19 holes
Frank Hernandez, Boomerang Golf Links (5) def. Danny Wyrick, West Woods Golf Club (28), 4 and 3
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (12) def. John Boyles, Pinery Country Club (21), 2 up
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (2) def. Jocko Kaliszewski, Bear Dance Golf Club (31), 6 and 5
Dan Grigsby, Legacy Ridge Golf Course (18) def. Mark David Winski, Commonground Golf Course (15), 2 and 1
Bob Berglund, Pinery Country Club (26) def. Dan Birnley, Conquistador Golf Course (7), 20 holes
Fredrick Steffers, Patty Jewett Golf Course (10) def. Ken Tai, Perry Park Country Club (23), 4 and 3
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills Golf Club (3) def. Marc Sims, Eisenhower Golf Club (30), 19 holes
Tom Keltner, Lakewood Country Club (19) def. Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch Golf Course (14), 2 and 1
Jim Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend G & C (6) def. John Leamon, Littleton Golf & Tennis Club (27), 2 up
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (11) def. Richard Barg, Meadow Hills Golf Course (22), 6 and 4
Round of 16
David Farabaugh, Broadlands Golf Course (16) def. Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC (1), 5 and 4
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace Golf Club (24) def. Steve Stultz, Country Club at Castle Pines (8), 1 up
Jim Collins, Country Club at Castle Pines (13) def. Bob Cloud, Bear Creek Golf Club (4), 21 holes
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (12) def. Frank Hernandez, Boomerang Golf Links (5), 2 and 1
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (2) def. Dan Grigsby, Legacy Ridge Golf Course (18), 3 and 2
Fredrick Steffers, Patty Jewett Golf Course (10) def. Bob Berglund, Pinery Country Club (26), 6 and 4
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills Golf Club (3) def. Tom Keltner, Lakewood Country Club (19), 4 and 3
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (11) def. Jim Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend G & C (6), 3 and 1
Quarterfinals
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace Golf Club (24) def. David Farabaugh, Broadlands Golf Club (16), 1 up
Jim Collins, Country Club at Castle Pines (13) def. Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado (12), 2 and 1
John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (2) def. Fredrick Steffers, Patty Jewett Golf Course (10), 1 up
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills Golf Club (3) def. Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor (11), 3 and 2
Semifinals
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace Golf Club (24) def. Jim Collins, Country Club at Castle Pines (13), 2 and 1
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills Golf Course (3) def. John Olive, Broadmoor Golf Club (2), 2 and 1
Final
Tom Warren, Fossil Trace Golf Club (24) def. Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills Golf Course (3), 2 and 1
