It was fist-pump mania this week for Nick Nosewicz, and Friday was certainly no exception.
The golfer from Meadow Hills didn’t hesitate to celebrate key shots at the 115th CGA Match Play — and not just when he drained crucial putts.
“I don’t think I ever fist-pumped in my life on a tee box, and I did it like nine times this week, which tells you how bad I wanted this,” he said. “I wanted it maybe more than anybody has wanted this trophy before. It infuenced every shot — not only the putts I made, but the tee balls that I hit.”
And apparently, all the fist-pumping self-motivation paid off in the end as Nosewicz claimed the Match Play title Friday at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.
Besides making him very happy, the victory gave the golfer from Aurora an interesting distinction. He struck a blow for mid-amateur golfers by becoming the oldest winner of the CGA Match Play since 1994.
Nosewicz, 31, never trailed in the 36-hole final, defeating Connor Klein of Lone Tree Golf Club 4 and 3 for the title.
The last golfer older than Nosewicz when he won the CGA Match Play was Mark Crabtree, who was 38 when he prevailed in the event for the fourth time in 1994. Crabtree has since been inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
“This win is probably bigger than anything I’ve ever won before,” said Nosewicz (pictured left and above), a former pro. “This was quite a treat. To be part of it and be against all these great college players is something special, and it elevates my game to another level.”
Nosewicz comes from a well-known golfing family largely based in Colorado. Most notably, his grandfather, Ed Nosewicz Sr., won four CGA Senior Match Play titles and was inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame in 2005.
On Friday, Nick Nosewicz dedicated his victory in one of the state’s most prestigious championships to Ed Sr., who will turn 91 later this month.
“Last year I played really well all week (in the CGA Stroke Play, finishing second) — and he was in the hospital on kidney dialysis at that time — so to get another chance this year …,” said Nosewicz, general manager at Lenny’s Ski and Golf, which is named for his dad. “This trophy is going straight to his (grandfather’s) house and he’s going to have it for at least a good week. He’ll be 91 July 21 and he probably still knows more about the game than I ever will.”
On Friday, Nosewicz won his fifth match in three days by beating the 21-year-old Klein (left), the reigning national Division II junior college individual champion.
Nosewicz, who started playing state tournaments again in 2013 after regaining his amateur status, built a huge lead in the finals and then held Klein at bay. Nosewicz was an amazing 7 up through 16 holes. Through 17, Klein was 4 over par, which was out of character after winning five straight matches this week.
“It was definitely a struggle this morning,” Klein said. “I didn’t hit any of the shots I would have liked, and my putting was pretty bad. My speed control was horrible.
“(After the first 16 holes) I was so far down I couldn’t think that far ahead. I just had to start somewhere because obviously I hadn’t been getting anything done. I just had to start small and work from there. But I wasn’t really able to get too much going. I’d find parts of it here and there, then I’d lose it for a few more holes and he’d win a few back so it was hard to get back into it.”
Klein (left) did throw a bit of a scare into Nosewicz by winning four straight holes in the middle of the match (Nos. 18 through 21) — three of them with birdies — to cut the deficit to a manageable 3 down.
“That definitely helped,” said Klein, who will continue to play college golf for at least part of next season at South Mountain Community College in Arizona. “I figured if I got off to a good start, anything could happen.”
Suffice it to say the rally got Nosewicz’s attention.
“I was absolutely concerned. I was scared,” he said. “There’s no second-guessing that. I felt like I was against the ropes a little bit. But I didn’t want it to slip. I remembered it’s not over until it’s over, and I hit a couple of good shots.
“The guy (Klein) played good. He had the eye of the tiger. But … I know what it feels like to finish runner-up. I hate losing and I didn’t want to go home without that trophy.”
Klein wouldn’t cut his deficit any more during the second 18, but did get back to 3 down with a par on the 30th hole and then again with a 16-foot birdie on the 32nd hole.
But Nosewicz (left) closed out the match with a 3 1/2-foot par putt on the next hole as Klein had to blast out of a fairway bunker and missed a 9-foot par putt that would have prolonged the contest.
Less than a minute after the walking off the green, Nosewicz was still in a bit of disbelief, saying, “Did I just win this thing?”
Indeed, he had. The medalist in stroke-play qualifying to start the week, Nosewicz finished the final day 1 under par for 33 holes. Klein was 2 over.
“I’m obviously a little bit disappointed but it was fun,” Klein said. “It was definitely a long grind of a day but it was nice to make it to the finals. I haven’t done that before.”
As for Nosewicz, he was happy to be the golfer to prevail out of a formidable field that included many outstanding college players — the kind who usually win the Match Play.
“I feel strong for 31,” he said. “I reminded myself that I work hard and I’m strong. I can kind of hang with some of these young kids.”
But early this year, Nosewicz wondered if he really would be able to hang with the kids moving forward. That’s after he tore a labrum in his left shoulder while moving snowboards at Lenny’s Ski and Golf. He spent eight weeks in a sling.
“I was wondering if I’d ever be able to play at the level I did last year, where I had a chance (to win state championships),” he said. But Nosewicz did fully recover, and on Friday he did himself, his friends and his family proud.
“I know (family members) have won a lot so it’s a big shadow to kind of come up from underneath them all,” he said. “I have some big roots in my genes. I think they’re all going to be pretty happy. The competition here this week is just as good as any mini tour. At 31 to feel like I can prevail is pretty awesome.”
CGA Match Play Championship
At CommonGround GC in Aurora
36-HOLE FINAL
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16), 4 and 3
SEMIFINALS
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16) def. Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC (12), 2 up
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC (35), 1 up
QUARTERFINALS
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16) def. Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC (56), 2 and 1
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC (12) def. Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera (13), 5 and 4
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC (7), 4 and 3
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC (35) def. Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC (6), 1 up
ROUND OF 16
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16) def. Cody Kent, The Club at Ravenna (1), 3 and 2
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC (56) def. Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC (8), 3 and 1
Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera (13) def. Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor (36), 6 and 4
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC (12) def. Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch (5), 1 up
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines (18), 2 and 1
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC (7) def. Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC (42), 2 up
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC (35) def. Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan CC (51), 2 and 1
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC (6) def. Jake Kelley, Columbine CC (22), 2 up
ROUND OF 32
Cody Kent, The Club at Ravenna (1) def. Cole Cunningham, Valley CC (33), 21 holes
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16) def. Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban FS (48), 6 and 5
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC (8) def. Tanner Jenson, Ridge at Castle Pines N. (25), 3 and 2
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC (56) def. Matt Robertson, Foothills GC (24), 3 and 2
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor (36) def. Braden Baer, Legacy Ridge GC (4), 3 and 2
Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera (13) def. Wilson Belk, CC of Colorado (20), 2 and 1
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch (5) def. Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC (28), 4 and 3
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC (12) def. Pierce Aichinger, CJGA Club (21), 3 and 2
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. Evan Buchalski, CJGA Club (34), 2 and 1
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines (18) def. Josh Gardella, Highlands Ranch GC (50), 4 and 2
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC (7) def. Steven Kupcho, Heritage at Westmoor (39), 3 and 2
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC (42) def. Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC (10), 5 and 4
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC (35) def. Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC (3), 1 up
Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan CC (51) def. Drew Vance, Fox Hollow GC (19), 19 holes
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC (6) def. Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC (27), 2 and 1
Jake Kelley, Columbine CC (22) def. Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC (54), 2 and 1
ROUND OF 64
Cody Kent, The Club at Ravenna (1) def. Jeffrey Leavitt, Omni Interlocken Resort (64), 3 and 1
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC (33) def. Blake Young, Trinidad GC (32), 5 and 4
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC (16) def. Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch GC (49), 3 and 2
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban FS (48) def. Zach Tripp, Foothills GC (17), 5 and 4
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC (8) def. Garrett Harrison, Bookcliff Country Club (57), 1 up
Tanner Jenson, Ridge at Castle Pines N. (25) def. Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Club (40), 2 up
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC (56) def. Andrew Tapia, Elmwood GC (9), 3 and 2
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC (24) def. Erik Young, CommonGround GC (41), 19 holes
Braden Baer, Legacy Ridge GC (4) def. Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC (61), 3 and 2
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor (36) def. Jake Staiano, CJGA Club (29), 4 and 3
Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera (13) def. Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC (52), 3 and 2
Wilson Belk, CC of Colorado (20) def. Behrod Keshtavar, Colorado Natl. GC (45), 3 and 1
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch (5) def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC (60), 2 up
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC (28) def. Brian Craig, CommonGround GC (37), 4 and 3
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC (12) def. Joel Perez, Colorado National GC (53), 3 and 2
Pierce Aichinger, CJGA Club (21) def. Trevor Glen, CJGA Tournament Club (44), 5 and 3
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC (2) def. David Lindquist, CommonGround GC (63), 6 and 5
Evan Buchalski, CJGA Club (34) def. Trevor McKune, Pinehurst CC (31), 3 and 2
Josh Gardella, Highlands Ranch GC (50) def. Lamar Carlile, City Park GC (15), 4 and 3
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines (18) def. Clint Miller, Meadow Hills Golf Course (47), 5 and 4
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC (7) def. Zach Fowlds, Colorado GC (58), 6 and 5
Steven Kupcho, Heritage at Westmoor (39) def. Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC (26), 2 and 1
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC (10) def. Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC (55), 3 and 2
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC (42) def. Chris Dillon, CommonGround GC (23), 1 up
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC (3) def. Andy Wilson, CommonGround Golf Course (62), 1 up
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC (35) def. Sean Kato, Highland Hills Golf Course (30), 3 and 2
Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan CC (51) def. Kolton Kyne, Divide Ranch & Club (14), 2 and 1
Drew Vance, Fox Hollow GC (19) def. Jonathan Kuzava, Columbine CC (46), 3 and 2
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC (6) def. Quade Mitchell, Highlands Ranch GC (59), 5 and 4
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC (27) def. Dallas Perrault, Heritage at Westmoor (38), 4 and 3
Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC (54) def. Sam Marley, South Suburban GC (11), 3 and 2
Jake Kelley, Columbine CC (22) def. John Gorell, Patty Jewett GC (43), 3 and 2
STROKE-PLAY QUALIFYING
Qualified for Match Play
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 32-34–66
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 37-30–67
Braden Baer, Legacy Ridge GC, 33-35–68
Spencer Painton, Green Valley Ranch, 36-32–68
Chris Korte, Lone Tree GC, 32-37–69
Jacob Allenback, Walking Stick GC, 35-34–69
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 35-35–70
Andrew Tapia, Elmwood GC, 35-35–70
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 35-35–70
Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 34-37–71
Kyler Dunkle, Club at Pradera, 37-34–71
Colin Prater, Broadmoor GC, 36-35–71
Kolton Kyne, Divide Ranch & Club, 33-38–71
Sam Marley, South Suburban GC, 36-35–71
Connor Klein, Lone Tree GC, 39-33–72
Drew Vance, Fox Hollow GC, 37-35–72
Ross Macdonald, CC at Castle Pines, 37-35–72
Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 35-37–72
Pierce Aichinger, CJGA Club, 37-35–72
Jake Kelley, Columbine CC, 36-36–72
Wilson Belk, CC of Colorado, 36-36–72
Chris Dillon, CommonGround GC, 35-38–73
Sean Kato, Highland Hills Golf Course, 33-40–73
Tanner Jenson, Ridge at Castle Pines N., 35-38–73
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest GC, 34-39–73
Jake Staiano, CJGA Club, 36-37–73
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 35-38–73
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Ironbridge GC, 38-35–73
Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 34-39–73
Blake Young, Trinidad GC, 37-37–74
Cole Cunningham, Valley CC, 36-38–74
Trevor McKune, Pinehurst CC, 36-38–74
Evan Buchalski, CJGA Club, 38-36–74
Nathaniel Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 35-39–74
Neil Tillman, Heritage at Westmoor, 37-37–74
Brian Craig, CommonGround GC, 39-35–74
Steven Kupcho, Heritage at Westmoor, 34-41–75
Dylan Wonnacott, Fox Hill Club, 39-36–75
Dallas Perrault, Heritage at Westmoor, 37-38–75
Adam Griffith, Thorncreek GC, 36-39–75
Erik Young, CommonGround GC, 36-39–75
John Gorell, Patty Jewett GC, 39-36–75
Trevor Glen, CJGA Tournament Club, 35-40–75
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch GC, 38-38–76
Josh Gardella, Highlands Ranch GC, 37-39–76
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 36-40–76
Hayden Nicholaides, South Suburban FS, 38-38–76
Behrod Keshtavar, Colorado Natl. GC, 38-38–76
Jonathan Kuzava, Columbine CC, 37-39–76
Dillon McDonald, Red Sky GC, 39-38–77
Gus Lundquist, Colorado GC, 36-41–77
Ethan Freeman, Glenmoor CC, 38-39–77
Zach Fowlds, Colorado GC, 41-36–77
Glenn Workman, Desert Hawk GC, 41-36–77
Tyler Bricker, Ptarmigan CC, 40-37–77
Garrett Harrison, Bookcliff Country Club, 37-40–77
Joel Perez, Colorado National GC, 37-40–77
Quade Mitchell, Highlands Ranch GC, 37-41–78
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 39-40–79
David Lindquist, CommonGround GC, 41-38–79
Dylan Mitchell, Lakewood CC, 37-42–79
Jeffrey Leavitt, Omni Interlocken Resort, 33-46–79
Andy Wilson, CommonGround Golf Course, 40-39–79
Failed to Qualify
Marc Shirazi, Greeley CC, 40-39–79
Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 39-40–79
Bretton Krantz, Ptarmigan CC, 41-38–79
Tyler Winslow, Ute Creek GC, 36-44–80
Matthew Goddard, Ptarmigan CC, 37-43–80
Jack Cummings, Omni Interlocken, 37-43–80
Michael Passananti, Southridge GC, 41-39–80
Alex Neumyer, CommonGround GC, 40-40–80
Jackson Vacek, Harmony Club, 42-39–81
Eric Mccreesh, Saddle Rock Golf Course, 42-39–81
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 43-39–82
Matt Weiss, Spring Valley GC, 40-42–82
Bridger Ryan, Broadlands GC, 40-42–82
Richard Brown, South Suburban GC, 45-37–82
Christopher Raap, CJGA Club, 38-44–82
Grant Dinkel, Flatirons GC, 45-37–82
Collin Tedesco, Plum Creek GC, 41-41–82
Patrick Horvath, CommonGround Golf Course, 39-44–83
Will Fowler, Club at Rolling Hills, 44-40–84
Justin Allenback, Walking Stick GC, 41-44–85
