Robert Polk had already accomplished plenty in golf, but on Friday he joined some elite company.
By winning the CGA Senior Stroke Play at Cornerstone Club in Montrose, the Parker resident became one of just four individuals who have claimed the Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play titles in the same calendar year.
Previously accomplishing that feat were John Olive (1997, 2001 and 2002), John Golden (1993 and ’95) and Larry Eaton (1981 and ’85). Olive and Eaton, by the way, are members of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
“That’s some very good company,” Polk said. “Anytime you’re mentioned in the same breath as people like that, it’s pretty tall cotton.”
The 54-year-old member of Colorado Golf Club continued his trend of winning the Senior Stroke Play every other year (2005, 2007 and 2009) by firing a 3-under-par 69 Friday to overtake second-round leader Harry Johnson of Edwards. Polk was the only player to finish under par for three rounds on the Greg Norman-designed Cornerstone course. His 1-under 215 total was good for a three-stroke winning margin over Denver’s Hal Marshall, who closed with a 72 and who made 13 birdies in three days.
First-round leader David Delich of Colorado Springs (75-221) placed third, while Johnson (78-222) and David Brown of Lafayette (74-222) tied for fourth. Steve Murphy of Elbert (77-225) finished seventh in his title defense.
“I played about as good as I could play today,” said Polk, who recorded five birdies and two bogeys in the final round. His 69 matched the low round of the week at Cornerstone and was one of just four sub-par scores the course yielded during the tournament. On the front nine alone on Friday, Polk was hitting the ball well enough to make three birdie putts inside of 3 feet.
The impressive final day — he came from two strokes behind entering Friday — was a welcome change of pace for Polk, who had struggled in the final round of both the CGA Stroke Play (77) and the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open (76).
“After playing so poorly on the final day of the Stroke Play and the Senior Open, I wanted to play a good strong round today, and I was able to do that,” he said. “That takes a little of the sting out.”
Polk, who owns a corporate travel agency, said that his 2007 victory in the CGA Mid-Amateur, for players 25 and older, is his biggest win, “but for some reason this feels real good. I played real well, so it feels as good as anything (I’ve won). It’s very satisfying.”
Polk posted the only sub-par round on Friday. After playing just one practice round at Cornerstone, he improved his score each day, going 74-72-69.
The victory marked Polk’s fifth major CGA title since 2005, as he’s captured three Senior Stroke Plays, a Senior Match Play and a Mid-Amateur. He’s also been named CGA Senior Player of the Year each of the last two years.
Fellow Colorado GC member Ronald Knapp finished at 228 to win the Super Senior Division (60 and older) and place T13 overall.
Polk wasn’t alone in sweeping his age division of major CGA championships in 2009. Last month, Steve Ziegler of Broomfield became the first player in 24 years to win the CGA Match Play and Stroke Play in the same year.
CGA SENIOR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP
At Par-72 Cornerstone Club in Montrose
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 74-72-69–215
Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC, 77-69-72–218
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 70-76-75–221
David Brown, Flatirons GC, 76-72-74–222
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 73-71-78–222
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 75-74-74–223
Steve Murphy, Black Bear GC, 73-75-77–225
Robin Bradbury, Omni Interlocken GC, 74-79-73–226
Pat Bowe, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 74-75-77–226
Larry Netherton, Highlands Ranch GC, 73-79-75–227
Frank Fager, Black Bear GC, 76-75-76–227
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 73-74-80–227
Ronald Knapp, Colorado GC, 77-75-76–228 (Super Senior Champion)
Guy Mertz, Fox Hill CC, 75-77-76–228
Brian Mooney, Lake Valley GC, 77-72-79–228
Gary Albrecht, CommonGround GC, 79-77-73–229
Jerry Beren, Coal Creek GC, 78-77-74–229
Steve Bell, Denver CC, 75-74-80–229
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills CC, 79-77-74–230
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 76-79-75–230
Dave Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 76-74-80–230
Dennis Lucero, Lincoln Park GC, 73-75-82–230
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC, 76-79-77–232
Carl Juengst, Meridian GC, 75-79-78–232
Chuck Fisher, Riverdale GC, 80-72-81–233
Charlie Post, Colorado GC, 83-76-75–234
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC, 73-84-77–234
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC, 73-79-82–234
Bill Boyd, Highland Hills GC, 83-75-77–235
Tom Gorton, Dalton Ranch GC, 81-76-78–235
Steven Coyer, Eagle Springs GC, 76-80-79–235
Bob Chandler, CommonGround GC, 79-80-77–236
Grant Porter, The Ridge at Castle Pines North, 80-78-78–236
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC, 86-74-77–237
Randy Miller, Boulder CC, 76-82-79–237
John Sostmann, Columbine CC, 79-80-79–238
Rich Trout, Rolling Hills CC, 78-81-82–241
Bruce Hogg, Colorado Springs CC, 79-78-85–242
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC, 76-84-84–244
Richard Barg, Aurora Hills Golf Course, 79-80-86–245
Kronin Kelley, The Heritage at Westmoor, 77-77-93–247
Dennis Fields, West Woods GC, 80-80-90–250
MISSED CUT
Terry Hymans, Heather Ridge CC, 80-81–161
Cary Dilzell, The GC at Redlands Mesa, 84-78–162
David Woodruff, Bridges G & CC, 78-84–162
Kenneth Tai, Perry Park CC, 84-78–162
James Pullin, The Olde Course at Loveland, 82-80–162
Nick Lusero, Salida GC, 80-83–163
Steve Summers, Broadmoor GC, 81-82–163
Steven Linnemeyer, Hillcrest GC, 80-84–164
Patrick Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 85-79–164
Jim Lemar, The Meadows GC, 85-79–164
Craig Capps, Grand Lake GC, 80-84–164
Art Doyle, Elmwood GC, 80-85–165
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC, 85-82–167
Charles Ogren, Collindale GC, 78-89–167
Bill Holmes, Boulder CC, 87-80–167
Mark Heaton, Broadlands GC, 85-83–168
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, 82-86–168
Bill Burns, Hillcrest GC, 87-81–168
Tom Mesch, Lakewood CC, 88-80–168
Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch GC, 87-81–168
Scott Crone, Highlands Ranch GC, 82-86–168
Tom Turner, Ptarmigan CC, 89-79–168
Dan Grigsby, Riverdale GC, 89-80–169
Jim Kronus, Lincoln Park GC, 88-81–169
Mark Runyan, Murphy Creek GC, 88-81–169
John Mohar, Elmwood GC, 89-80–169
Richard Baker, Bookcliff CC, 87-83–170
Jeff Wagner, Fox Hollow GC, 87-86–173
Didier Chaumillon, Colorado National GC, 88-87–175
Phil Herrera, Lincoln Park GC, 86-90–176
Craig Loper, Springs Ranch Golf Club, 90-88–178
Kirby Brooks, Divide Ranch & Club, 84-94–178
Terry Heinz, The Links at Cobble Creek, 92-87–179
Dan Choate, Divide Ranch & Club, 95-86–181
Bill Bye, Saddle Rock GC, 92-89–181
Hugh Jeffries, The Links at Cobble Creek, 88-NC
Larry Pate, Fox Hollow GC, 91-NC
Don Berthiaume, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 90-WD
