Chalk One Up

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Ron Vlosich has long been one of the Colorado PGA’s top players, and just since turning 50, he’s qualified for five U.S. Senior Opens and two Senior PGA Championships.

Despite that, the Lakewood resident had never won the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship.

Until Tuesday, that is.

The 60-year-old PGA Life Member (pictured) shot a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 in Tuesday’s final round to prevail by one stroke at Valley Country Club in Centennial.

Vlosich, a five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year and two-time runner-up in the Colorado Open, finished with a 9-under 135 total after playing his final five holes in 3 under. He made just one bogey over the 36-hole tournament. Tuesday’s victory was worth $1,125.

Finishing a stroke behind Vlosich was defending champion Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, who closed with a 70 after going 1 over for his final five holes.

Mike Zaremba of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, the 2005 champion, tied for third place at 137 with Don Hurter of Castle Pines Golf Club. Hurter posted a final-round 68 and Zaremba a 70.

Those four players, plus Valley head professional Barry Milstead, Rick Cole and Bill Hancock, qualified for the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, scheduled for Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Milstead, Cole and Hancock tied for fifth place on Tuesday. Bill Loeffler, who placed 11th at Valley, was exempt into the national tournament by virtue of winning it in 2007.

Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship
Aug. 14-15, 2017 (final) at Par-72 Valley CC in Centennial

1. Ron Vlosich 69-66–135
2. Mike Northern 66-70–136
T3. Don Hurter 69-68–137
T3. Mike Zaremba 67-70–137
T5. Rick Cole 68-70–138
T5. Barry Milstead 69-69–138
T5. Bill Hancock 71-67–138
T8. Chris Johnson 67-72–139
T8. Doug Rohrbaugh 68-71–139
10. Sherry Andonian-Smith 71-69–140

For complete results, CLICK HERE.