Fitzgerald Claims Low Professional Title as Grall and Ams Win Team Contest

Thornton, Colo. – The Colorado PGA Section (COPGA) held its fourth Corona Premier® Pro-Am event this past Monday at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton, Colorado. A venue that played as great as Todd Creek wouldn’t be possible without the help of host and Head Golf Professional Grant Payton and his entire golf staff. The course played tough with thick rough penalizing wayward shots, but mild conditions helped scores as the morning round was nearly perfect up until an hour rain delay with a few holes left to play. After play resumed and the morning shotgun wave was completed, it was decided the weather would take a turn for the worse resulting in a cancellation of the afternoon shotgun.

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Todd Creek Golf Club is no easy course playing at a par-72, but with the recent rain, the course was gettable for many of our Professionals, and gettable it was for one Professional in Caine Fitzgerald, PGA, Meadow Hills Golf Course. With six birdies on the day and only two bogeys, Fitzgerald finished his round with a 4-under-par 68. Caine controlled his ball well as the day continued, going three under on his back nine and placing first in the field amongst par-3 scoring average. Coming in second is also a familiar name in Geoff Keffer, PGA, of Lakewood Country Club. Keffer had another strong performance Monday as he also had six birdies on the day, including three in a row coming at the 12th, 13th, and 14th as he carded a 2-under-par 70 for his round.

The team competition on Monday was a 1-2-3 Net contest, with each team needing to take 1 score on the Par 3 holes, 2 scores on the Par 4 holes, and 3 scores on the Par 5 holes. It was a tight leaderboard but it was the team of Rob Grall, Aiden Mann, Mike Schalk, and Jeff Walker who scored the lowest, beating out the runner-up team of Rohrbaugh by two strokes to finish with a 13-under-par 131. Finishing in a tie for second were the teams of Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, River Valley Ranch Golf Course, and Barry Milstead, PGA, Valley Country Club as their groups both finished their days at 11-under-par.

The Corona Premier® Hole of the Week was on the Par 5 8th hole at Todd Creek. The 580-yard hole is straightaway downhill but has plenty of thick trouble right of the fairway. A good tee shot lands short of the wide dirt path cutting across the fairway and leaves about a 230-yard shot into an undulating green protected by small bunkers along the right side.

Monday’s Pro-Am at Todd Creek was host to over 100 players across 25 groups and is the first Pro-Am back since the cancellation of the Fort Collins Pro-Am back on June 5th due to rain. It also marks the fourth of the 15 Corona Premier® Pro-Am events during the 2023 Colorado PGA tournament season. The Corona Premier® Pro-Am Series will be back in one week with a Ladies Pro-Am on June 19th at the Ranch Country Club in Westminster, Colorado, as the section runs Stroke Play #5 and the West Chapter Pro-Pro Championship June 14th and 15th.

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Steve VanDyke, PGA, Elected as President of Colorado PGA’s West Chapter, Alongside Newly Appointed At-Large Directors

By Steven Bartowski • 19 Apr, 2024

Larkspur, CO - The West Chapter of the Colorado Professional Golfers' Association (COPGA) proudly announces the election of Steve VanDyke, PGA, as its newest President, alongside the appointment of esteemed At-Large Directors. PGA of America Golf Professional Steve VanDyke brings a wealth of experience and a profound dedication to the West Chapter PGA of America Golf Professionals and Associates, making him an ideal candidate to lead the West Chapter. With an almost 20-year career as a Class A PGA of America Golf Professional and a passion for the sport that shines through in every endeavor, VanDyke is poised to steer the Colorado PGA West Chapter toward a future marked by excellence. "It is an honor and a privilege to serve as President of the West Chapter PGA," said Steve VanDyke, PGA. "I am deeply committed to advancing the interests of our members, promoting the growth of golf at all levels, and fostering a vibrant and supportive community within the region. Together with my fellow directors and the entire West Chapter membership, I look forward to charting a course that ensures the continued success and vitality of the West Chapter PGA." Joining President VanDyke in this new chapter of leadership is a group of distinguished At-Large Directors whose expertise and vision will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of the Colorado PGA West Chapter. These directors bring diverse perspectives, extensive industry knowledge, and a shared commitment to advancing the golf industry and enhancing the professional lives of PGA of America Golf Professionals. The newly appointed At-Large Directors are: Cody Hasten, PGA Head Professional at Haymaker Golf Course Jim Pratt, PGA General Manager at Aspen Glen Golf Club (beginning a new term) Continuing with their At-Large Director roles are: Loren Forney, PGA Member Trey Johnson, PGA Assistant Professional at Vail Golf Club Mark Matz, PGA Head Professional at Beaver Creek Golf Club Tim Tafoya, PGA Director of Golf at Tiarado Golf Course We would like to thank Luke Brosterhous, PGA, who served selflessly as West Chapter President before VanDyke. During his term, Luke was instrumental in raising the standards for education and the West Chapter Cup Matches. Luke will now slide into the Honorary President role on the Board. Their combined talents and dedication to the principles of the Colorado PGA will undoubtedly enrich the West Chapter's initiatives and programs, benefitting both members and the broader golfing community. "We are thrilled to welcome Steve VanDyke as our new West Chapter President and to introduce our esteemed At-Large Directors," said Cathy Matthews-Kane, PGA President of the Colorado PGA Section. "Under their leadership, we are confident that the West Chapter PGA will continue to thrive and uphold its legacy as a beacon of excellence for the members of the chapter. We are also excited to welcome Mr. VanDyke to the Section Board of Directors as West Chapter President." For media inquiries or further information, please contact: Steven Bartkowski CEO/Executive Director Colorado PGA Section PGA REACH Colorado Foundation 303.996.1593 sbartkowski@pgahq.com About the Colorado PGA West Chapter: The West Chapter of the Colorado PGA encompasses those Members and Associates that work west of the Continental Divide in the state of Colorado. The West Chapter is made up of approximately 100 Members and Associates with over 50 facilities being located in the Chapter. The West Chapter is governed by Officers elected by the Chapter Membership. The Core Purpose of the Chapter is to deliver the member programs and services of the Colorado PGA on the Western Slope. The West Chapter provides continuing education, pro-only, and pro-am tournaments.