23 -year-old Shawn Wills of The Ranch Country Club has a bright golf future ahead of him, and has already built an impressive resume as an amateur. Wills won his second CGA State Amateur Match Play title (2001 and 2003) and his third state match play championship overall (1998 CGA State Junior Match Play) by defeating CU’s Jeff Hanson of Sunset Golf Course 5 and 4 in the 36-hole final match. Wills won both State Amateur Match Play titles at Bear Creek Golf Club, which he was quick to proclaim his favorite course in Colorado while hoisting the Richard C. Campbell trophy after the match. Wills’ name will appear for the second time on the trophy of the state’s longest running championship, which contains the names of greats such as Babe Lind, Hale Irwin, Steve Jones and Brandt Jobe. Wills recently graduated from DU, and plans to turn pro this fall.
The match itself was a tremendous display of golf on one the country premier match play courses. Hanson went 1 up on Wills on the first hole, but Wills responded and was himself 1 up after three holes, and never looked back. Wills went 7 up with his birdie on 15, but Hanson won both 17 and 18 to pull within 5 up after 18. Hanson then birdied 19 to cut Wills’ lead to 4 up, But Wills responded right away and got the match back to 6 up, but Hanson birdied #7 (25th hole) to cut the lead to 5 up. Wills’ was steady on the second 18, parring every hole through 11. On the par-5 12th, (30th hole) Wills was on the fringe in two putting from 15 feet for eagle and Hanson was 50 yards shy of the green in two. Hanson pitched on to 20 feet, then made a sweeping birdie putt, which halved the hole when Wills’ eagle putt came to rest one inch from the hole. On the par-3 13th, Hanson almost found the water hazard, and Wills was 15 feet from the hole. Again Hanson chipped up to about 15 feet and made the putt, and Wills’ missed the birdie to win the match outright. On the par-5 14th (32nd hole) Wills was dormie (5 up with five holes to play), and when Hanson barely missed his birdie attempt, Wills sunk a four-foot par putt to halve the hole and take the title.
Round of 64
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC def. Michael Love, Highlands Ranch GC , 19 holes
Charlie Post, Plum Creek CC def. Aaron Weston, Meridian GC , 3 and 1
Jon Lindstrom, Meadow Hills GC def. Matthew Mccoy, Legacy Ridge GC , 4 and 3
Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC def. Tyler Capps, Inverness GC , 2 and 1
Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC def. Daniel Yoon, Meridian GC , 4 and 2
Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC def. Jeffrey Franks, Haymaker GC , 1 up
Adam Jardon, Monte Vista GC def. Luke Trammell, Indian Peaks GC , 4 and 3
Chance Wagstaff, Coal Creek GC def. Christian Sanchez, Coal Creek GC , 5 and 4
Steve Murphy, Canterbury GC def. Arnold Hoy, The Ridge at Castle Pines North , 3 and 2
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC def. Kevin Denton, Cordillera GC , 6 and 5
Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC def. Ryan Stephens, Lakewood CC , 3 and 2
Ian Ross, Springs Ranch GC def. Michael Martin, Pelican Lakes G&CC , 5 and 4
John Hayes, Columbine CC def. Bob Schuler, Wellshire GC , 2 and 1
Robert Polk, The Pinery CC def. Kane Webber, Sunset GC , 3 and 1
Kelly Crone, Deer Creek GC def. Jeff Philippe, The Pinery CC , 4 and 3
Zen Brown, Lake Arbor GC def. Pat Bowe, Hyland Hills GC , 2 and 1
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Brett Tobyne, Bear Creek GC , 6 and 4
James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC def. Billy Post, Plum Creek CC , 1 up
Matthew Randel, Flatirons GC def. Davis Butler, Cherry Hills CC , 5 and 4
Hans Albertsson, Bear Creek GC def. Tom Wells, Broadmoor GC , 2 up
Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC def. Chris Carlson, Lone Tree GC , 2 and 1
Ryan Anderson, Greeley CC def. Jack Manzi, Bear Creek GC , 5 and 4
Rick George, Castle Pines GC def. Dave Delich, The Broadmoor GC , 2 and 1
Rick Dewitt, West Woods GC def. John Olive, The Broadmoor GC , 7 and 5
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC def. Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC , 3 and 1
Ed Noordewier, Breckenridge GC def. Marc Hocking, Patty Jewett GC , 1 up
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch GC def. Dave Hunn, City Park Nine , 3 and 2
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC def. David Lee, Red Hawk Ridge GC , 3 and 1
Troy Sidabras, Collindale GC def. Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC , 20 holes
Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC def. Michael Baird, Plum Creek CC , 2 and 1
Jason Coffin, Fox Hill CC def. Len Mize, Westwoods GC , 2 and 1
Kenny Coakley, Fox Hollow GC def. Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC , 3 and 2
Round Of 32
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC def. Charlie Post, Plum Creek CC , 3 and 2
Jon Lindstrom, Meadow Hills GC def. Jim Doidge, Pueblo CC , 2 up
Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC def. Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC , 5 and 4
Adam Jardon, Monte Vista GC def. Chance Wagstaff, Coal Creek GC , 19 holes
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC def. Steve Murphy, Canterbury GC , 6 and 4
Ian Ross, Springs Ranch GC def. Sean Forey, Bear Creek GC , 4 and 2
John Hayes, Columbine CC def. Robert Polk, The Pinery CC , 5 and 3
Zen Brown, Lake Arbor GC def. Kelly Crone, Deer Creek GC , 2 and 1
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC , 5 and 4
Hans Albertsson, Bear Creek GC def. Matthew Randel, Flatirons GC , 4 and 3
Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC def. Ryan Anderson, Greeley CC , 4 and 3
Rick Dewitt, West Woods GC def. Rick George, Castle Pines GC , 3 and 2
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC def. Ed Noordewier, Breckenridge GC , 5 and 4
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC def. Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch GC , 19 holes
Troy Sidabras, Collindale GC def. Owen Ellis, Flatirons GC , 3 and 2
Kenny Coakley, Fox Hollow GC def. Jason Coffin, Fox Hill CC , 5 and 3
Round Of 16
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC def. Jon Lindstrom, Meadow Hills GC , 6 and 4
Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC def. Adam Jardon, Monte Vista GC , 4 and 3
Ian Ross, Springs Ranch GC def. Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC , 3 and 2
Zen Brown, Lake Arbor GC def. John Hayes, Columbine CC , 4 and 2
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Hans Albertsson, Bear Creek GC , 3 and 2
Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC def. Rick Dewitt, West Woods GC , 19 holes
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC , def. Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC , 21 holes
Troy Sidabras, Collindale GC def. Kenny Coakley, Fox Hollow GC , 4 and 2
Quarterfinal Round
Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC def. Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC, 20 holes
Zen Brown, Lake Arbor GC def. Ian Ross, Springs Ranch GC, 2 and 1
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Ken Sady, Eagle Ranch GC, 1 up
Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC def. Troy Sidabras, Collindale GC, forfeit
Semifinal Round
Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC def. Zen Brown, Lake Arbor GC, 3 and 2
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Luke Antonelli, Rifle Creek GC, 24 holes
Final Round
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC def. Jeff Hanson, Sunset GC, 5 and 4
