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)