CU player Luke Symons of Valley CC defeated CU teammate Derek Tolan of South Suburban Family SC 2 and 1 in the 36-hole final match to win the 108th CGA Match Play Championship at Plum Creek Golf and Country Club. For Symons, who won the 2007 CGA Western Chapter Championship, this was his second overall CGA individual victory.
Tolan took early control of the match taking a 2 up lead through 6 holes. Symons then turned it on and incredibly made six consecutive birdies. Tolan weathered the storm however, and with the help of an eagle on 11 was able to keep a 1 up lead. Symons’ birdie on 12 squared the match, but Tolan answered with a birdie on 13 to regain a 1 up lead. Tolan ran the lead up to 3 up through 17, but Symons made birdie on 18 to cut it back to 2 up.
On the second 18, Symons made birdies on 2 and 3 to pull the match back to all square through 21. Tolan proceeded to make birdies on 5 and 6 to regain a 2 up lead through 24. Symons once again responded to Tolan by making a birdie on 7 and an eagle on 8 to square the match through 26. Symons took his first lead of the match on the 31st hole when Tolan made bogey on 13. Perhaps the most crucial moment came on 16 (34th hole of the match), when both players hit their approach shots within five feet of hole. Tolan’s birdie attempt slid past the hole, and Symons was able to rattle his in to take a 2 up lead with two holes to play. The match ended on the 35th hole (the par-3 17th) when both players made par giving Symons the 2 and 1 victory.
This marks the 22nd time a CU Buffalo has won this event, and the 13th time it was won by an active team member as Symons will be a junior this fall. Symons’ name will be engraved on the Richard C. Campbell trophy joining past champions such as Brandt Jobe, Hale Irwin and Steve Jones. The trophy will reside at Valley Country Club (Symons’ home club) for the next 12 months.
Tolan’s runner-up finish was his second, as he lost in 2005 to another CU teammate Patrick Grady. Tolan is the current CGA Public Links Champion, and will be a senior this fall at CU. He and Symons, who were classmates at ThunderRidge HS as well, will be sharing a house this fall with three other CU teammates.
ROUND OF 64 RESULTS
Zen Brown, Indian Tree GC def. Brian Nichols, Columbine CC – 2 and 1
Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree GC def. Michael Spaulding, Lone Tree GC – 1 up
Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC def. Steve Sullivan, The CC at Castle Pines – 2 and 1
Dan Kleckner, Pinehurst CC def. Chuck James, Legacy Ridge GC – 4 and 2
Matthew Brunk, Collindale GC def. Mike Rockouski, Highlands Ranch GC – 4 and 3
Taylor Stamp, Broadmoor GC def. Robin Bradbury, Omni Interlocken – 1 up
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family Sports Center def. Joseph Schwark, Broadlands GC – 3 and 2
Brian Larson, Omni Interlocken def. Kelly Crone, Deer Creek GC at Meadow Ranch – 5 and 4
Jim Grady, Omni Interlocken def. Brian Gott, Murphy Creek GC – 4 and 2
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC def. Steve Ziegler, The Ranch CC – 2 and 1
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC def. David Lysaught, Pinehurst CC – 3 and 2
Nick Flaa, Highland Hills GC def. Kory Harrell, Eisenhower GC – 2 and 1
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Tyler Parsloe, The Meadows GC – 2 and 1
Adam Pladson, Fitzsimons GC def. Zachary Zaremba, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West – 2 and 1
Jamie Marshall, The CC at Castle Pines def. JR Burroughs, Pinehurst CC – 5 and 4
Tom Gempel, The Pinery CC def. Sean Hedden, Heritage Todd Creek – 1 up
Devin Schreiner, Hillcrest GC def. Rick Ewing, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West – 5 and 4
Jim Knous, Ironbridge GC def. Bryan Olshock, Omni Interlocken – 4 and 3
Matt Riggs, Cherry Hills CC def. Michael Martin, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 4 and 3
Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC def. Marc Silva, Boomerang Golf Links – 6 and 5
Brian OHara, Lakewood CC def. Derek Fribbs, Plum Creek G & CC – 1 up
Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken def. Derek Carleo, Elmwood GC – By Default
Richard Lash, Haymaker GC def. Branden Barron, South Suburban Family Sports Center – 3 and 1
Justin Spray, CC of Colorado def. Danny Hahn, Inverness Hotel & GC – 5 and 4
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Kyle Beard, The Pinery Country CC – 4 and 3
Brendan Connolly, The CC at Castle Pines def. Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC – 3 and 2
Doug Manske, Hillcrest GC def. Ronald Stewart, Hiwan GC – 2 up
Stuart Allen, Fox Hollow GC def. Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC ““ 20 holes
Robert Polk, Colorado GC def. Walter Koelbel, Cherry Hills CC – 3 and 1
Klinton Krieger, Ptarmigan G & CC def. Adam Joiner, Aspen Glen GC – 5 and 4
Henry Bissell, The Meadows GC def. Matthew Schovee, Cherry Hills CC – 3 and 1
Mark Hubbard, Pinehurst CC def. Mike Lohse, West Woods GC – 8 and 6
ROUND OF 32 RESULTS
Zen Brown, Indian Tree GC def. Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree GC – 1 up
Dan Kleckner, Pinehurst CC def. Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC – 3 and 1
Matthew Brunk, Collindale GC def. Taylor Stamp, Broadmoor GC ““ 2 and 1
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family SC def. Brian Larson, Omni Interlocken ““ 2 up
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC def. Jim Grady, Omni Interlocken – 2 up
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC def. Nick Flaa, Highland Hills GC – 2 and 1
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Adam Pladson, Fitzsimons GC ““ 3 and 2
Jamie Marshall, The CC at Castle Pines def. Tom Gempel, The Pinery CC ““ 6 and 5
Devin Schreiner, Hillcrest GC def. Jim Knous, Ironbridge GC ““ 2 up
Matt Riggs, Cherry Hills CC def. Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC ““ 1 up
Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken def. Brian OHara, Lakewood CC ““ 2 and 1
Justin Spray, CC of Colorado def. Richard Lash, Haymaker GC ““ 3 and 2
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Brendan Connolly, The CC at Castle Pines ““ 2 and 1
Stuart Allen, Fox Hollow GC def. Doug Manske, Hillcrest GC ““ 5 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado GC def. Klinton Krieger, Ptarmigan G & CC ““ 2 and 1
Mark Hubbard, Pinehurst CC def. Henry Bissell, The Meadows GC – 4 and 3
ROUND OF 16 RESULTS
Zen Brown, Indian Tree GC def. Dan Kleckner, Pinehurst CC ““ 1 up
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family SC def. Matthew Brunk, Collindale GC ““ 1 up
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC def. Kyle Danford, Fort Collins CC ““ 6 and 5
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Jamie Marshall, The CC at Castle Pines ““ 19 holes
Matt Riggs, Cherry Hills CC def. Devin Schreiner, Hillcrest GC ““ 1 up
Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken def. Justin Spray, CC of Colorado ““ 4 and 2
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Stuart Allen, Fox Hollow GC ““ 6 and 4
Robert Polk, Colorado GC def. Mark Hubbard, Pinehurst CC ““ 20 holes
QUARTERFINAL RESULTS
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family SC def. Zen Brown, Indian Tree GC ““ 3 and 2
Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC def. James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC ““ 4 and 2
Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken def. Matt Riggs, Cherry Hills CC ““ 7 and 6
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Robert Polk, Colorado GC ““ 2 and 1
SEMIFINAL RESULTS
Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family SC def. Steve Irwin, Lakewood CC ““ 4 and 3
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Patrick Grady, Omni Interlocken ““ 3 and 2
FINAL MATCH RESULTS
Luke Symons, Valley CC def. Derek Tolan, South Suburban Family SC ““ 2 and 1
