Aiming High

The winners of each of the last five CGA Senior Amateurs will be looking to add to their victory total in the event when the championship is held for the 46th time this week.

Meridian Golf Club in Englewood will host the tournament for the first time since 1992, when now-Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Hamer claimed the first of his two CGA Senior Amateur titles.

The 54-hole championship, limited to players 51 and older, will run Tuesday through Thursday (Sept. 19-21). In an effort to eventually match the age criteria for the U.S. Senior Amateur, which is limited to players 55 and older, each year beginning in 2017 the eligibility for CGA senior events will rise one year. So next year, for instance, the minimum age will be 52. From 2021 and beyond, competitors must be at least 55.

The former CGA Amateur champions scheduled to compete at Meridian include Kevin Ott of The Club at Rolling Hills (2016 winner), Bill Fowler of Rolling Hills (2015), Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club (2014), Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (2013), David Delich of The Broadmoor Golf Club (2012), Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club (2005, ’07 and ’09), Kelly Crone of Highlands Ranch Golf Club (2003) ad Charlie Post of Colorado Golf Club (2000).

Other former CGA senior champions entered include Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club, Tom Musselman of Telluride Ski & Golf Club, Guy Mertz of the Fox Hill Club and Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club, who won the 2017 CGA Senior Match Play.

Also in the 84-man field are 2016 U.S. Senior Open qualifier John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo., 2016 CGA Senior Player of the Year Robin Bradbury of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve and 2017 CGA Super-Senior Stroke Play champion Gary Albrecht of CommonGround Golf Course.

The field will be cut to the low 40 players and ties after two rounds.

For Tuesday’s first-round pairings, CLICK HERE.