In just the first nine days of June, Nick Tarasiewicz has accumulated several months worth of good memories.
He made the first hole-in-one of his life when he drained a pitching wedge from 147 yards at Valley Hi Golf Course in Colorado Springs on June 1.
Six days later, Tarasiewicz celebrated his 24th birthday. Then on Sunday, he and his dad, Rick, won their first CGA championship by claiming the Father/Son title at the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction.
“I’m starting out the summer right,” Nick said.
After being runner-up in this championship four years ago, the Tarasiewiczes were eager to move up to the top position — and they did just that.
“We’ve been playing this for six or seven years, and we finished second at Cougar Canyon (in 2009),” Rick Tarasiewicz said. “The No. 1 spot is a better feeling. It’s awesome.”
The Tarasiewiczes, who play out of Patty Jewett Golf Course, held off four-time champions Gary and Alex Kephart on Sunday to earn the Father/Son title.
The Tarasiewiczes, who led after the first round, shot an even-par 72 in Sunday’s foursomes (alternate-shot) format, giving them a five-stroke victory. They finished with a two-day total of 9-under-par 135 after firing a 63 in Saturday’s Chapman Scotch format.
The Colorado Springs residents overcame a triple-bogey 8 on the fifth hole Sunday.
“We were both concerned” after the snowman, Rick Tarasiewicz said. “But I said, ‘This is where champions show what they’re made of.'”
The Tarasiewiczes responded to the adversity by making birdies on each of the next three holes, sinking putts of 1, 8 and 20 feet in the process.
“Nick was putting lights out today,” said Rick, a 51-year-old Army retiree who was runner-up in the senior division of the Colorado Springs City Championship last year.
The Kepharts, from Eisenhower Golf Club, have won the Father/Son in 2005, ’07, ’10 and ’11, but they had to settle for runners-up this time around. Their 72 on Sunday left them with a 4-under 140 total for the weekend.
“As soon as the Kepharts said (congratulations), my dad got a little emotional,” Nick said. “He teared up a little.”
Nick Tarasiewicz is no stranger to high-level amateur competition. In fact, three years ago, he was a medalist in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. This was likely his final CGA Father/Son as he’s tentatively planning to turn pro next month and get his feet wet on the Dakotas Tour.
Hayden and George Nicholaides of South Suburban Family Sports eagled the 10th hole and also fired a 72 on Sunday, giving them them third place at 142. They captured the Loel and Caleb Lierman Award, given to the team with a player 18 or under which has the best gross score.
Meanwhile, low-net honors on Sunday went to Brandon Warnke of Adobe Creek National Golf Course and Larry Warnke of Redlands Mesa, who were 13 under par for two days.
CGA Father/Son Championship
At Par-72 Golf Club at Redlands Mesa in Grand Junction
Rick Tarasiewicz / Nick Tarasiewicz 63-72–135
Gary Kephart / Alex Kephart 68-72–140
Hayden Nicholaides / George Nicholaides 70-72–142
Mark Miller / Morgan Miller 68-75–143
Stan Woodworth / Josh Woodworth 66-78–144
Dallas Massey / James Massey 73-72–145
Bruce Hogg / Tyler Hogg 72-74–146
Mark Fowler / Brandon Fowler 72-74–146
Bill Fowler / Will Fowler 67-80–147
Rick Rosendahl / Mitch Rosendahl 70-77–147
Bradley Becker / David Becker 74-78–152
Jeff Eitel / Mr. Danny Eitel 75-78–153
Randy Rouse / Reid Rouse 74-79–153
Gene Mccolley / Zac Mccolley 75-80–155
Patrick Griffin / Tad Griffin 75-80–155
Robert Barnhardt / Cameron Barnhardt 70-85–155
Ryan Hettich / Ben Hettich 73-82–155
Thomas E Moore / Benjamin Moore 73-82–155
Chuck Delich / Philip Delich 78-78–156
Brandon Warnke / Larry Warnke 75-82–157
David Livingston / Thomas Livingston 72-87–159
Jim Chaldekas / Chase Chaldekas 78-81–159
Steve Dillon / Chris Dillon 76-84–160
Colby Smith / Doug Skelton 75-87–162
Larry Phillips / Sam Phillips 78-84–162
Gregg Mueller / Terry Mueller 79-84–163
Ken Harris / David Harris 75-88–163
Derek Schouten / Tom Schouten 81-83–164
Don Alley / Eric B Young 73-91–164
James Steigerwald / Tyler Steigerwald 78-86–164
Larry Michaels / Greg Michaels 79-85–164
Jim Hollingsworth / Brian Hollingsworth 72-93–165
Brian Cramer / Arlo Cramer 81-85–166
Paul Grant / Alex Grant 79-88–167
Dennis Weber / Andrew Weber 82-87–169
John Luoma / Bill Luoma 80-89–169
Gary Driber / Brandon Driber 84-86–170
Harold Erker / Grant Erker 90-84–174
Jess Whittlef / Scott Whittlef 84-92–176
Mark Boscoe / Sam Ethan Boscoe 80-97–177
Warren Androus / Lyle Androus 88-94–182
Jocko Kaliszewski / Lukas Kaliszewski 87-96–183
Wade T Pinkerton / Matthew Pinkerton 81-104–185
Steve J Bockenstedt / Scott Bockenstedt 87-100–187
Warren Seese / Alex Seese 84-104–188
Dr. Michael Smith / Bob Smith 88-102–190
Jerry Holder / Charles Holder 87-107–194
Richard Defries / Hans Defries 93-101–194
John Marasco / Mackenzie Marasco 89-107–196
