Glenn Workman has already put together a stellar summer, golf-wise, but when it comes to success, the more the merrier.
The University of Wyoming golfer, who plays out of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, has put himself in position to add the CGA Amateur Championship title to his list of accomplishments this year as he will take a three-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round at the Sonnenalp Club in Edwards.
On a day in which just one player — Isaac Petersilie of Colorado Springs Country Club — shot in the 60s — Workman finished Saturday’s round where he started it, up by three. The 21-year-old two-putted for birdie on the final hole to shoot a 1-over-par 72, which left him with a 4-under-par 209 total.
So far this summer, Workman (left) has won the Wyoming State Amateur, finished low amateur in the Wyoming State Open and runner-up in the Wyoming State Match Play, won the Springer tournament in Colorado Springs and placed second in the Pueblo city championship.
“My game, I feel like, has always been there, but I’ve approached the game differently this summer,” Workman said. “I’ve stuck to a mental process I have, focused on working hard, putting golf first and being competitive every time I play — every time I practice, even. It’s made a big difference in my game. I’ve stayed more focused than I ever have on golf. My game is good because I’ve been working harder at it.
“I’ve been treating golf like a job this summer.”
And the approach seems to be paying off again this week. Through 54 holes, Workman has made two eagles and 11 birdies.
“It’s been good to see how I’ve been playing this summer. I’ve been solid,” he said. “I’ve just got to keep up the streak — just keep playing like I know how to play.
“Three shots is nothing in golf; it’s really not. So much can happen tomorrow. I’m going to play hard and focus on what I’ve been doing, like the last few days.”
Only one player besides Workman is under par through 54 holes at Sonnenalp. Cole Nygren (left) of Colorado National Golf Club, who finished fifth in the CGA Amateur last year, overcame a lost-ball double bogey on the 11th hole to shoot an even-par 71 on Saturday. The recent Cal Poly graduate, who is playing in one of his final amateur tournaments, stands at 1-under 212 after a day which included four birdies, two bogeys and a double.
“I’m playing pretty conservatively,” the 23-year-old said. “I can be a little more aggressive. I hit a lot of drivers during the practice round and it’s a very scoreable golf course if you can hit driver accurately. You have a lot of short shots in. But I haven’t hit a single driver so far in the tournament. I’ve hit 2-iron, 3-iron or 4-iron off pretty much every tee. If I need to push a little (on Sunday), especially on the par-5s, I’m going to pull the driver out. We’ll just have to see how everyone is playing.”
As far as catching Workman on Sunday, “Obviously it depends on how Glenn plays,” Nygren said. “If he goes out with a three-shot lead and shoots at least a few under, it’s going to take something pretty special to catch up to him. But each one of my rounds could have easily been 3 or 4 under par.”
Three local college players checked in at even-par 213 through three rounds: Colorado State University’s Jake Staiano of Glenmoor Country Club, the University of Denver’s Petersilie, and the University of Northern Colorado’s Sam Marley, who plays out of South Suburban Golf Course.
Petersilie carded six birdies and three bogeys in his 3-under-par 68, while Staiano had a 71 and Marley a 72.
The Sonnenalp course has proven relatively difficult all week, but Saturday moreso than the previous days. The greens were so fast on a couple of holes that more than one player putted his ball off a green.
“If you don’t put it in the right spot on this course, these greens are going to kick your butt,” Staino said. “If you’re above the hole at all, good luck.”
A couple of weeks ago, Staiano (left) finished eighth overall at the CoBank Colorado Open, earning low-amateur honors by seven strokes. But he said his game hasn’t been quite as sharp this week.
“I’ve been sort of battling all week,” the two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier said. “I just don’t have my best stuff out there. … Shoulda, woulda, coulda, but it could have been super low (on Saturday). My putting and chipping let me down. I know 71 doesn’t look bad, but it could have been better for sure.
“To see that I can have my ‘C’ game and still be able to shoot (71) on a course where everybody seems to be struggling a little bit, there’s definitely positives to take from it. Obviously I’m not anywhere out of the tournament, for sure.”
In all, eight players will go into the final round within five strokes of Workman.
The lead group of Workman, Nygren and Petersilie will tee off for Sunday’s final round at 9:10 a.m., while Staiano, Marley and Trevor Glen of Legacy Ridge Golf Course will tee it up at 9 a.m.
For scores from the Sonnenalp Club, CLICK HERE.
For Sunday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
