Some Early Upsets

Medalist Jake Kelley of Columbine Country Club and University of Denver teammate Chris Korte of Lone Tree Golf Club, the No. 2 seed, won their first-round matches Tuesday in the 117th CGA Match Play, but the third and fourth seeds were ousted at The Club at Ravenna in Littleton.

Kelley, who shot a course-record 63 for the tees he was playing in Monday’s stroke-play qualifier, scored a 4 and 3 victory Tuesday over Stephen Fernandes of CommonGround Golf Course in the round of 64.

And Korte (pictured), who posted a 65 on Monday, defeated University of Northern Colorado golfer Li Chen of Legacy Ridge Golf Course 2 and 1 in their opening match.

But falling Tuesday were third-seeded Tristan Rohrbaugh, a former 3A state high school champion who plays out of Ironbridge Golf Club (3 and 1 to Pierce Aichinger of Glenmoor Country Club), and No. 4 seed Isaac Petersilie, a DU golfer from Colorado Springs Country Club (1 up to Cole Anderson of the Country Club of Colorado).

Joining Kelley and Korte in advancing to the round of 32 were the three reigning CGA Players of the Year (Kyler Dunkle-open division, Chris Thayer-mid-amateur) and Robin Bradbury-senior). Also moving on were 2016 CGA Amateur champion Colin Prater of The Broadmoor Golf Club, 2015 Match Play winnner Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course, and several 2017 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifiers: Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club, Ross Macdonald of the Country Club at Castle Pines, Daniel Pearson of The Fox Hill Club and former 5A state high school champion Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins Country Club.

Two rounds of matches will be contested on Wednesday, setting the stage for the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday and the 36-hole final on Friday.

For results from the Match Play, CLICK HERE.