Kevin Stadler of Bear Creek Golf Club was crowned the 102nd CGA State Amateur Match Play champion after defeating University of Denver player Anthony Giarratano on his home course 3 and 2 in a remarkable 36-hole final match at the prestigious Country Club at Castle Pines. For Stadler, the son of PGA Tour pro Craig Stadler, this is his second CGA Match Play title, as he won this state championship in 1999 in Fort Collins. Afterward he was quick to congratulate the younger Giarratano on a strong performance, and was as relieved as he was happy that the long road to becoming a state champion had concluded. Stadler, who earned PAC 10 player of the year honors and was named second team all-American at the University of Southern California, stated that this was his likely last season as an amateur.
The match itself was extremely well played. Stadler took a 1 up lead on the first hole, and finished the first 18 holes strongly enough to take a 4 up lead into the second 18. Stadler built his lead to 5 up on the 23rd hole, only to have Giarratano birdie the next hole to get it back to 4 up. Stadler birdied the 27th hole to go 5 up again, but Giarratano won the 30th to pull within 4. Stadler was dormie (up as many holes as are remaining) at 4 up on the 32nd hole needing only to halve any hole the rest of the way to win the match. Giarratano fought back with a 15-foot birdie to cut Stadler’s lead to 3 up. On the 33rd hole, Giarratano lipped out a 4-foot birdie putt with Stadler already in with par halving the hole and giving Stadler the 3 and 2 victory.
Round of 64
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Chris Rayl, CC of Colorado, 4 and 3
Matt Parkin, Hyland Hills GC def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC, 4 and 3
Larry Netherton, Lone Tree GC def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 6 and 5
Rick George, Castle Pines GC def. Kenny Coakley, Bear Creek GC, 1 up
Mike Glaesel, Indian Tree GC def. Richard Ronning, Lakewood CC, 3 and 2
Brandon Dornseif, Lakewood CC def. Matt Marino, Country Club of Colorado, 1 up
Ken Sady, Cotton Ranch GC def. Matthew Zions, Omni Interlocken, 4 and 3
David Maurstad, Murphy Creek GC def. Bill Boyd, Highland Hills GC, 2 and 1
Harry Johnson, Sonnenalp GC def. Joseph Young, Flatirons GC, 20 holes
Louie Lee, Raccoon Creek GC def. Matthew Brunk, Collindale GC, disqualified
Jon Lindstrom, Murphy Creek GC def. Trey Treadwell, Eisenhower GC, 5 and 4
Garrett Froggatte, Gleneagle GC def. Miles Philpy, Spreading Antlers, 8 and 6
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Davis Butler, Cherry Hills CC, 5 and 4
Derek O’Neill, Lone Tree GC def. Chance Wagstaff, Coal Creek, 6 and 5
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch GC def. Michael Davis, Meadow Hills GC, 1 up
Tyler Capps, Inverness Golf Club def. Tom Wells, Broadmoor GC, 19 holes
John Hayes, Columbine CC def. Nolan Martin, Fort Carson, 2 and 1
Aaron Weston, Meridian GC def. Jerry Ledzinski, Eisenhower GC, 4 and 3
Matt Strong, Wellshire GC def. Spence Black, South Suburban GC, 3 and 2
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC def. Clint Dudley, Twin Peaks GC, 4 and 2
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC def. Brandon White, Greeley CC, 3 and 1
Blake Mastalir, Denver CC def. Ray Rodriguez, Fort Morgan GC, 1 up
Patrick Bowe, Hyland Hills GC def. Kronin Kelley, Rolling Hills CC, 5 and 4
Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines def. Bret Guetz, Columbine CC, 1 up
Rick DeWitt, West Woods GC def. John Buffalo, Walking Stick GC, 6 and 5
Robert Polk, Pinery CC def. Kane Webber, Sunset Golf Course, 4 and 3
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Dan Silva, South Suburban GC, 19 holes
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC def. Peter Tobin, Meridan GC, 5 and 4
Todd Novak, Vail GC def. Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC, 1 up
Michael Love, Lone Tree GC def. Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC, 2 and 1
Leif Olson, Lakewood CC def. Ryan Anderson, Greeley CC, 4 and 2
David Delich, Broadmoor GC def. Drew Stoltz, Fort Collins CC, 5 and 4
Round Of 32
Matt Parkin, Hyland Hills GC def. Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC, 4 and 2
Larry Netherton, Lone Tree GC def. Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 2 and 1
Mike Glaesel, Indian Tree GC def. Brandon Dornseif, Lakewood CC, 4 and 2
Ken Sady, Cotton Ranch GC def. David Maurstad, Murphy Creek GC, 19 holes
Harry Johnson, Sonnenalp GC def. Louie Lee, Raccoon Creek GC, 4 and 2
Jon Lindstrom, Murphy Creek GC def. Garrett Froggatte, Gleneagle GC, 19 holes
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Derek O’Neill, Lone Tree GC, 4 and 3
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch GC def. Tyler Capps, Inverness Golf Club, 6 and 5
Aaron Weston, Meridian GC def. John Hayes, Columbine CC, 4 and 2
Matt Strong, Wellshire GC def. Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 3 and 2
Blake Mastalir, Denver CC def. Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC, 3 and 2
Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines def. Patrick Bowe, Hyland Hills GC, 19 holes
Robert Polk, Pinery CC def. Rick DeWitt, West Woods GC, 2 and 1
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC, 1 up
Todd Novak, Vail GC def. Michael Love, Lone Tree GC, 2 up
David Delich, Broadmoor GC def. Leif Olson, Lakewood CC, 19 holes
Round Of 16
Robert Polk, Pinery CC def. James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC, 3 and 2
Matt Parkin, Hyland Hills GC def. Larry Netherton, Lone Tree GC, withdrew
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch GC, 2 up
Ken Sady, Cotton Ranch GC def. Mike Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 2 and 1
Jon Lindstrom, Murphy Creek GC def. Harry Johnson, Sonnenalp GC, 4 and 2
Matt Strong, Wellshire GC def. Aaron Weston, Meridian GC, 3 and 1
Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines def. Blake Mastalir, Denver CC, 4 and 3
David Delich, Broadmoor GC def. Todd Novak, Vail GC, 4 and 3
Quarterfinal Round
Matt Parkin, Hyland Hills GC def. Ken Sady, Cotton Ranch GC, 1 up
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Jon Lindstrom, Murphy Creek GC, 1 up
Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines def. Matt Strong, Wellshire GC, 21 holes
David Delich, Broadmoor GC def. Robert Polk, Pinery CC, 2 up
Semifinal Round
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Matt Parkin, Hyland Hills GC, 6 and 5
Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines def. David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 3 and 1
Final Round
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC def. Anthony Giarratano, CC at Castle Pines, 3 and 2
