2023 COLORADO SENIOR PGA PROFESSIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

Schalk Successfully Defends Senior Section Title

Fort Collins, Colo. - Sunny skies and hot, humid temperatures greeted players as they arrived at Fort Collins Country Club for the final round of the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship. Players were fighting for eight qualifying spots and five alternate positions when the day began, and the leaderboard was bunched with many players vying for the chance to head to the Senior PGA Professional Championship.


With a front nine of 3-over-par 38, Matt Schalk, PGA General Manager at Colorado National Golf Club, sat one shot off the lead. “I was upset. The golf course was perfect, the greens were perfect, and I was just not scoring well,” Schalk stated. He woke up on the first six holes of the back nine, birding five of those six to take a three-shot lead with three holes to play. Schalk finished with three closing pars and a back nine 31 to finish at 69 for the day and a 5-under-par total of 137, leading to a 3-shot victory.


When asked about what defending this title meant to him, he stated, “I still think the Colorado Section is one of the strongest playing sections in the country. I want to make myself as known in Colorado golf as possible. To win this tournament twice confirms I am a great player and puts me in the same category as some of the greats to play in this section.”

Joining Schalk at the PGA Golf Club in October are Micah Rudosky, PGA Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course, Chris Johnson, PGA General Manager at The Country Club at Woodmoor, Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Instructor at River Valley Ranch, Bill Hancock, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course, David Lopez, PGA Head Professional at Meridian Golf Club, Michael Zaremba, PGA Head Professional at Desert Hawk at Pueblo West, Perry Holmes, PGA Instructor at Colorado National Golf Club, and first-time senior Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Head Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course. 

The Colorado Section of the PGA would like to thank the national presenting partner Cadillac, local presenting partner Colorado Golf & Turf, Tom Bauerle, Drew Hunter, and their entire team for their fantastic support of the Section. We would also like to thank our supporting partners Sterling Cut Glass, 1st and 10th Tee Bars, and BioSteel, for their support of this event. 

Fort Collins Country Club was in phenomenal shape for both days, even after receiving 1.8 inches of rain overnight on Monday. Golf Course Superintendent Chris Davis and his team did a fantastic job all week, and we could not be more appreciative of their efforts. A big thank you to Head Golf Professional Tristen Fay, PGA, and his phenomenal professional team for all of their hard work and dedication in helping make this tournament a huge success.

Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship Qualifiers:
*1. Matt Schalk, PGA | Colorado National GC | 68-69—-137 (-5)
T2. Micah Rudosky, PGA | Conquistador GC | 69-71—-140 (-2)
T2. Chris Johnson, PGA | CC at Woodmoor | 68-72—-140 (-2)
4. Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA | River Valley Ranch GC | 69-72—-141 (-1)
5. Bill Hancock, PGA | Meadow Hills GC | 71-72—-143 (+1)
T6. David Lopez, PGA | Meridian GC | 76-70—-146 (+4)
T6. Michael Zaremba, PGA | Desert Hawk at Pueblo West | 72-74—-146 (+4)
8. Perry Holmes, PGA | Colorado National GC | 77-70—-147 (+5)
9. Caine Fitzgerald, PGA | Meadow Hills GC | 77-71—-148 (+6)
*Matt Schalk, PGA is except into the Senior PGA Professional Championship due to his victory in 2022.

Alternates (In Order):
1st: Ron Vlosich, PGA | Life Member | 76-72—-148 (+6)
2nd: Jason Brandt, PGA | The Links GC | 77-72—-149 (+7)
3rd: Grant Jackson, PGA | Murphy Creek GC | 73-76—-149 (+7)
4th: Barry Milstead, PGA | Valley CC | 69-80—-149 (+7)
5th: Paul Lobato, PGA | Castle Pines GC | 78-72—-150 (+8)

Full Results Senior Championship Photo Album
By Steven Bartowski July 29, 2026
Seven Others to Join Rudosky and Represent the Colorado PGA Section (COPGA) in the 2026 Senior PGA Professional Championship at Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club in Gold Canyon, AZ.
By Steven Bartowski May 26, 2026
A week-long celebration of women elevating their game, building connections, and paving the way for the future of golf.
By Steven Bartowski March 26, 2026
Q&A with Holly Champion, PGA
By Steven Bartowski February 19, 2026
Q&A with Jordan LeBlanc, PGA
By Steven Bartowski January 19, 2026
Q&A with Geoff Keffer, PGA
By Steven Bartowski November 18, 2025
Q&A with David Havens, PGA
By Holly Champion November 6, 2025
Matz of Beaver Creek Golf Club Honored with Golf Professional of the Year; Keffer of Lakewood Country Club Claims 10th Dow Finsterwald Player of the Year Honor of his Career
By Steven Bartowski October 1, 2025
Vail, Colo. - September 30, 2025 - In a thrilling conclusion to this year's Colorado PGA West Chapter Championship, Chris Kennedy of Murphy Creek Golf Course emerged victorious after a tightly contested battle that needed to be settled via a sudden-death playoff. Kennedy posted rounds of 68 and 71 to finish at 1-under-par (139), securing the win on the first playoff hole over Justin Carlock of Eaton Country Club, who matched the same two-day total after a brilliant second round of 4-under-par 66, the lowest round of the tournament. Carlock’s charge up the leaderboard showcased clutch shot-making and nerves of steel, but Kennedy’s consistent play across both days proved enough to edge out the win. “Today is my Dad’s birthday, and he passed away 2 years ago, so to win this championship today makes it extra special,” Kennedy said. Kennedy’s final round consisted of three birdies and four bogies to finish at 1-under-par for the 36 holes and dead even with Carlock. Finishing in a tie for third were John Gorell, Associate Professional, and Chris Johnson, PGA, General Manager, both from The Country Club of Woodmoor, who both finished at even par for the 36 holes. Johnson was the 2010 West Chapter Champion. Finishing in solo fifth place was 2025 Section Champion, Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club, after firing rounds of 71-70 for a two-day total of 1-over-par. Capturing victory in the Senior Division was PGA General Manager Chris Johnson. Johnson fired rounds of 68-72 to post an even par total and a five-shot victory. A huge thanks to all of our partners for the West Chapter Championship. Tom Bauerle, Drew Hunter, and Reed Tomlinson of Colorado Golf & Turf and Club Car, Chris Garton and Jake Coldirons of Creative Travel Brands, Ryan Helin of 2nd Swing Golf, Chase and Derby McGee of Links & Peaks, Kevin Neff of Sterling Cut Glass, Dylan Toups and Jeff Wood of Perry Weather and Lara Burchfield of CMC Designs for their support of this championship and the Colorado PGA West Chapter. Last but certainly not least is our fantastic host facility, Vail Golf Club, and its dedicated staff. PGA Director of Golf, Trey Johnson, PGA Head Golf Professional, Andrew Villescas, Golf Course Superintendents Andy Beske, and Dan McFadden, and their entire grounds staff for having the course in peak championship condition for the entire tournament. Colorado PGA West Chapter Championship Final Leaderboard 1. Chris Kennedy (Murphy Creek Golf Course) —68-71—-139 (-1) 2. Justin Carlock (Lakewood Country Club) —73-66—139 (-1) T3. John Gorell (Country Club at Woodmoor) —71-69—140 (E) T3. Chris Johnson, PGA (Country Club at Woodmoor) —68-72—140 (E) 5. Geoff Keffer, PGA (Lakewood Country Club) —71-70—141 (+1) 6. Ben Lanting, PGA (Bear Creek Golf Club) —70-73—143 (+3) 7. Glen-Michael Mihavetz (Red Sky Golf Club) —72-72—144 (+4) T8. Kirk Trowbridge, PGA (MetaGolf Learning Center) —74-71—145 (+5) T8. Mike Weingartner, PGA (Colorado Golf Academy) —73-72—145 (+5) T8. Shaun Wright, PGA (Red Sky Golf Club) —72-73—145 (+5) T8. Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA (River Valley Ranch Golf Course) —71-74—145 (+5)
By Scott Minta September 18, 2025
Seven Others Qualify to Join Keffer at Bandon Dunes Next April at the 2026 PGA Professional National Championship Colorado Springs, CO, September 17, 2025 - The final round of the 68th Colorado PGA Professional Championship was pushed back two hours from the scheduled 7:30 am start time due to the second round not being completed the night before. The second round resumed at 7:30 am on Wednesday morning and concluded at 8:35 pm. The cut was made at +9, and final round tee times were off and running at 9:30 am, with the leaders teeing off at 11:00 am. That final group included two-time Colorado PGA Professional Champion Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club. Keffer began the day with a one-shot lead and was determined to hoist the Ralph “Rip” Arnold Memorial Award Trophy for a third time. After birdies on one and four and an eagle on five, Keffer had jumped to 11-under-par and held a five-shot lead over his closest competitor. Keffer had seven pars, two birdies, and two bogies over his next 11 holes. “Knowing where I was at, just tried to make low stress pars the whole way,” Keffer said. Then, after low-stress golf over the last 11-hole stretch, Keffer stood on the 17th tee with the golf tournament pretty much won. He could very easily lay up and secure his par, which he did the exact opposite of. Knocking a mini driver on the green to 30 feet and rolling in the eagle putt to jump to 13-under-par. “Getting that one to go in on 17 was just a bonus,” Keffer stated. After a par at the last, Keffer posted a final round 66 and an eight-shot victory in a truly dominant wire-to-wire finish. Keffer captures his first section championship triumph since he won the trophy back in 2020 at Valley Country Club. “We have so many great players in this section that anytime I can be around the top, it is always great,” Keffer said. This win is Keffer’s seventh for the Colorado PGA tournament season, and extends his lead atop the Dow Finsterwald Player of the Year List to 1,548 points with only the Pro-Assistant, Masek Match Play Finals, and the West Chapter Championship left on the 2025 Colorado PGA tournament calendar. Keffer’s win qualifies him for the 2026 PGA Professional Championship, his seventh consecutive PPC. Along with Keffer, seven others will join him at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort on April 26-29, 2026. Finishing in a four-way tie for second place, with a 54-hole total of 211, 5-under-par, were Henry Bernard, PGA Assistant Professional at TPC Colorado; Matt Schalk, PGA General Manager at Colorado National Golf Club; Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Head Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course, and Ben Lanting, PGA Assistant Professional at Bear Creek Golf Club. Joining those five at Bandon Dunes next April will be solo sixth finisher and four-time section champion, Micah Rudosky, PGA Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course, who fired rounds of 71-69-72 for a three-day total of 212, 5-under-par. A huge thanks to all of our partners of the Colorado PGA Professional Championship. Tom Bauerle, Drew Hunter, and Reed Tomlinson of Colorado Golf & Turf and Club Car, Chris McCallum of Titleist, and Anthony Gabriel of Footjoy, Steven Vigil of Nike Golf, Shaun Haberstroh, Chris Brown, Sam Marley, and Chris Kurth of Taylormade Golf, and Mike Marsilli and Marcus Gregory of Callaway Golf. To our local partners, Chase & Derby McGee of Links & Peaks, Dr. Little of The Golf Clinic, Erin Bates of Liquid Death, Taylor Erkman of Strackaline, Samantha Masciarelli of 1st and 10th tee bars, Zach Ledvina of Maui Jim, and Kelly Jobe of Sterling Cut Glass, for their support of this championship and the Colorado PGA. Last but certainly not least is our fantastic host facility, Flying Horse North, and its dedicated staff. PGA General Manager, Glenn Wallace, PGA Director of Golf, Jacob O’Dell, PGA Head Golf Professional, Mack Borowicz, and Golf Course Superintendent, John Doncilovich, and his entire grounds staff for having the golf course in peak championship condition for the entire week. In the solo seventh position was Chris Hyten, PGA Assistant Professional at Castle Pines Golf Club. Hyten shot rounds of 71-67-75 for a three-day total of 213, 4-under-par. Hyten qualified for his fourth PGA Professional Championship and first since 2022 at Todd Creek. The eighth and final qualifier for Bandon Dunes is Bill Hancock, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course. Hancock defeated Dan Sniffin in a one-hole playoff after making a birdie on the par-5 5th hole. Hancock fired a final round of 75 after rounds of 71 and 68 on days one and two.