Fitzgerald Goes Wire-to-Wire to Capture Senior Crown
Longmont, Colo. - What a difference a day makes as cloudy skies and cool temperatures greeted the players on day two of the Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship, compared to hot and sunny temperatures during the opening round.
Caine Fitzgerald, PGA Head Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course, took a 3-shot lead into the final round after a 3-under-par 67 on day one. “The 3-under on day one was fortunate, the golf course is very difficult and is tough to make putts, Fitzgerald said.” Three back of Fitzgerald to start the day was the 2012 and 2013 senior champion, Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Instructor at River Valley Ranch Golf Course, and four back was the 2022 and 2023 champion Matt Schalk, PGA General Manager at Colorado National Golf Club.
Fitzgerald began the day with an opening bogey on #1 and followed it up with a par on #2 and “was fortunate to make a 30-footer on #3 for birdie to get back to even, Fitzgerald said.” Six straight pars led to an even par 35 on the front nine. Nipping at Fitzgerald's heels was 2021 Champion Micah Rudosky, PGA Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course, who came out of the gates hot, carding four birdies in his first seven holes en route to a front nine of 4-under-par 31 and only two shots off Fitzgerald’s lead. Rudosky cooled off on the back nine, shooting a 1-over-par 36 to finish at even par for the championship.
Schalk’s front nine consisted of three birdies and two bogies, which put him three shots off Fitzgerald’s lead with nine holes to play in the final round. Rohrbaugh carded eight pars and one bogey on his opening nine holes to put him four shots back of the lead.
Fitzgerald had a shaky start to his back nine. “Holes 10, 11, and 12 are a very uncomfortable stretch of the golf course for me, Fitzgerald said.” Fitzgerald bogied that three-hole stretch to sit on the 13th tee tied with Schalk and Rudosky.
Schalk’s front nine consisted of three birdies and two bogies, which put him three shots off Fitzgerald’s lead with nine holes to play in the final round. Rohrbaugh carded eight pars and one bogey on his opening nine holes to put him four shots back of the lead.
Fitzgerald had a shaky start to his back nine. “Holes 10, 11, and 12 are a very uncomfortable stretch of the golf course for me, Fitzgerald said.” Fitzgerald bogied that three-hole stretch to sit on the 13th tee tied with Schalk and Rudosky.
After a pair of birdies on #14 from Fitzgerald and Schalk, the two headed to the 15th tee tied at one-under-par with four holes to play, Fitzgerald parred holes #15, #16, and #17, while Schalk played those holes in one-over-par, giving Fitzgerald a one-shot lead as they headed to the 36th and final hole. “I honestly didn’t try to make very many putts; my mindset was never this had to go in,” Fitzgerald said.
After great tee shots, both hit the green in regulation with Schalk 30 feet away and Fitzgerald 20 feet away. Schalk hit a fantastic putt which caught the bottom lip and stayed out, meaning Fitzgerald had to two-putt for the Championship. Fitzgerald lagged his first putt up to two and a half feet and knocked that putt down, claiming his first Colorado Senior PGA Professional Championship.
Along with Fitzgerald, the Colorado Section will send seven other qualifiers, including exempt player Matt Schalk (in total, 9 players), to the 37th Senior PGA Professional Championship at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Florida, later in October.
A huge thanks to the presenting partner for all our Major Championships, Colorado Golf & Turf, and Tom Bauerle, Drew Hunter, and Reed Tomlinson for their continued support of all Colorado PGA events.
Qualifiers for the 37th Senior PGA Professional Championship:
1. Caine Fitzgerald, PGA (Meadow Hills Golf Course) | 67-72—139 (-1)
T2. Micah Rudosky, PGA (Conquistador Golf Course) | 73-67—140 (E)
T2. Matt Schalk, PGA (Colorado National Golf Club) | 71-69—140 (E) - Exempt Player
4. Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA (River Valley Ranch Golf Course) | 70-71—141 (+1)
T5. Bobby Quaratino, PGA (West Woods Golf Club) | 76-70—146 (+6)
T5. Ron Vlosich, PGA (PGA Life Member) | 75-71—146 (+6)
T5. Michael Zaremba, PGA (Desert Hawk at Pueblo West) | 73-73—146 (+6)
8. Scott Sommers, PGA (Optimum Golf - Thornton) | 74-74—148 (+8)
9. Chris Johnson, PGA (Country Club at Woodmoor) | 76-73—149 (+9)
1st Alt. Barry Milstead, PGA (Valley Country Club) | 73-76—149 (+6)
2nd Alt. Bill Hancock, PGA (Meadow Hills Golf Course) | 72-77—149 (+6)
3rd Alt. Rick Cole, PGA (PGA Life Member) | 73-76—149 (+6)
4th Alt. Perry Holmes, PGA (Columbine Country Club) | 72-77—149 (+6)
5th Alt. Ken Krieger, PGA (PGA Life Member) | 77-72—149 (+6)
