Kent Moore wasted no time in checking off the next item on his CGA “to-do list.”
The Colorado Golf Hall of Famer, who has won virtually every CGA championship for which he’s been eligible, added the CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play title in his “rookie” season.
The 60-year-old from Cherry Hills Country Club overcame a two-stroke deficit Tuesday at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club in Aurora to prevail by one in the 60-and-over division. Former professional Don Alley of Antler Creek Golf Course in Falcon earned an eight-shot victory in the 70-and-over tournament.
Moore’s win gives him roughly 15 CGA titles, including ones in seven different individual championships — the Junior Match Play, Amateur, Match Play, Mid-Amateur, Senior Amateur, Senior Match Play and now the Super-Senior Stroke Play — an unprecedented feat in CGA competition. Moreover, he’s won CGA championships in five consecutive decades, starting with the 1973 CGA Junior Match Play at Flatirons Golf Course.
“I’ve always tried to be persistent,” Moore said. “There’s a lot better players in every tournament, but I was just persistent, and I really enjoy golf. And I somehow learned how to get it into the clubhouse reasonably well.”
Besides winning state championships individually, Moore (left and above) has teamed up with his son Steven (in the Father/Son) and with his wife Janet, a fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famer (in the old CGA/CWGA Mixed Team) to prevail in two-person events.
In individual CGA competition, “It’s one of those things where I’ve finished second many times, but I’ve barely won each one of them once,” Moore said modestly.
This time around, the Centennial resident shot an even-par 72 on Tuesday to post a 2-under 142 total. He made three birdies on the front nine — posting a 3-under 33 on that side — and three bogeys on the back in the final round. In the four-hole stretch from Nos. 4 through 7), Moore sank three putts of at least 15 feet.
Moore’s good start, combined with a rocky early patch by the other players in the lead group (Robert Polk and Robin Bradbury were both 4 over after five holes for the round), left Moore with the lead throughout the back nine.
“All of a sudden (after the opening holes) it was like, ‘Wow,'” Moore said of the turn of events.
Sean Forey of the Club at Rolling Hills matched the best score of the day — a 69 — to finish second, a stroke back of Moore. Forey hit 17 greens in regulation on Tuesday.
Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive from The Broadmoor Golf Club (73 Tuesday) and 2015 champion and first-round leader Polk of Colorado Golf Club (77) tied for third place at 145.
“I thought if I shot 67 I’d have a shot,” said Forey after missing the target score by two. “John Olive and I talked about it and we laughed because we didn’t know if we had 67 in us. As it turns out, that would have been the number. It was fun. I thought I might get lucky, but between the three of those guys (in the lead group: Moore, Polk and Bradbury) they’re good players. But I came a lot closer than I thought. (Having been six back going into the final round), I’m happy.”
Indeed, Moore was worried about someone like Forey coming from outside of the lead group and rallying in a big way to claim the title.
“I’m thinking all along, ‘Somebody in (the clubhouse) shot 67 or something, and Robert and I were playing each other and we’re both going to get drilled.'” Moore said with a relieved smile afterward.
Among those who finished at 146 was Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Club, who made a hole-in-one to go with six birdies in Tuesday’s round of 69. Johnson aced the 177-yard 15th hole with a 7-iron for his 19th hole-in-one.
In the 70-plus division, Alley (left and below) carded two straight sub-par rounds — 69-71 — to run away with the title in his first time competing in the event. The Colorado Springs resident and former PGA professional made four birdies and three bogeys on Tuesday after having nine 3s on his card on Monday.
David Farabaugh of Broadlands Golf Course finished a distant second as a 79 on Tuesday left him at 148. Roger Gunderson, the 2014 winner in this division, came in third at 150, also after a 79.
It was the first statewide victory for the 71-year-old Alley since being reinstated as an amateur about 15 years ago. Alley was a club professional at a variety of Colorado courses over the years, including South Suburban, Sunset, Valley Hi, The Broadmoor and Gleneagle, serving as head professional at Sunset, Valley Hi and Gleneagle.
But he left the golf business in 1992 and “I almost totally quit playing for more than 10 years,” Alley said. “My wife and I bought a couple of jet skis (and boated) in Lake Powell and I got to know my family all over again. It was probably one of the best things I ever did. I started playing again 12-13 years ago, and I’m playing more now than I did then — and enjoying it more.
“I didn’t miss playing golf, but I missed the competition, I missed the guys, and I missed this (referring to tournaments like the Super-Senior Stroke Play). To me, this is what golf is all about.”
And winning on Tuesday was just gravy.
“I love it. I’m proud,” Alley said. “I haven’t got too many more years I’m going to be competitive in these things.”
CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play Championship
At Par-72 Heritage Eagle Bend GC in Aurora
60 & Up Division
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC 70-72–142
Sean Forey, Club at Rolling Hills 74-69–143
John Olive, Broadmoor GC 72-73–145
Robert Polk, Colorado GC 68-77–145
David Merritt, Meridian GC 72-74–146
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC 73-73–146
Mr. Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC 77-69–146
Dave Runberg, CommonGround GC 76-72–148
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor 70-78–148
Bill Bye, Englewood GC 74-75–149
Chuck Delich, Eisenhower GC 73-76–149
Steve Scheffel, Ptarmigan CC 78-71–149
Bo Powell, West Woods GC 73-77–150
Jeffrey English, CommonGround GC 79-71–150
Patrick Mooney, Colorado GC 75-75–150
Rick George, Castle Pines GC 76-74–150
Robert Bulthaup, Valley CC 72-78–150
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC 77-74–151
Jim Reynolds, Bear Creek GC 73-78–151
Terry Hymans, Clubcorp Colorado 74-78–152
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC 77-76–153
Jeff Bowen, Riverdale GC 79-74–153
Rod Walters, Indian Tree GC 74-79–153
Steve Ivy, Ptarmigan CC 77-76–153
Jim F Pierce, Heritage Eagle Bend 74-80–154
Mark Runyan, Clubcorp Colorado 76-78–154
Bruce Hayes, Heritage at Westmoor 78-78–156
Cliff Damato, Meridian Golf Club 78-78–156
Richard Griggs, Desert Hawk GC 76-80–156
Steven Hill, Aurora Hills GC 77-79–156
Todd Wilcox, South Suburban GC 77-79–156
Bob Cloud, CommonGround GC 78-79–157
Daniel Dymerski, Columbine CC 81-76–157
Glenn Schmasow, Clubcorp Colorado 77-80–157
Ken Tai, Perry Park CC 77-83–160
Frank Wilkinson, Lincoln Park GC 79-82–161
Dave Bullock, Cherry Hills CC 81-81–162
Jerry Kaylor, Broadlands GC 82-80–162
John Sostman, Meadows GC 81-81–162
Mark Barkley, Clubcorp Colorado 83-79–162
Mike Portelance, Collindale GC 81-81–162
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC 83-80–163
Jeff Wyatt, Meadow Hills GC 83-80–163
Roger Lawson, Wellshire GC 80-83–163
Dan Schield, Indian Peaks GC 81-85–166
Terry Gillespie, Thorncreek GC 83-83–166
Danny Wyrick, West Woods GC 82-85–167
Mr Anthony w Spinuzzi, Elmwood GC 85-82–167
Terry R Swartz, Littleton GC 81-88–169
Tim Daniel, Eaton Country Club 82-87–169
Bob Fishell, Plum Creek GC 88-82–170
Chuck Fisher, Indian Tree GC 83-89–172
Paul Steinway, Harmony Club 93-80–173
Howard Hankey, Foothills GC 87-87–174
Brad Jensen, Desert Hawk GC 87-95–182
Alton Marsh, Fossil Trace Golf Club 86-NS
Terry Pettit, Ptarmigan CC 91-NC
70 & Up Divison
Don Alley, Antler Creek GC 69-71–140
David Farabaugh, Broadlands GC 69-79–148
Roger Gunderson, CommonGround GC 71-79–150
Larry Nicks, Springs Ranch GC 80-73–153
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC 78-75–153
Bill Bogdanoff, South Suburban GC 77-77–154
Bob Sims, Clubcorp Colorado 76-81–157
Kirk Miller, Estes Park GC 81-77–158
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC 77-82–159
Jim Bronner, Catamount Ranch & Club 81-79–160
Rick Pirog, Club at Cordillera 79-81–160
Jim Collins, CC at Castle Pines 79-83–162
Jim Strouse, Springhill GC 77-85–162
Lawrence Covell, CC at Castle Pines 81-86–167
Larry Pate, Fox Hollow GC 87-WD
Pete Perry, South Suburban GC 90-NS
