Colorado Springs, CO, September 17, 2025 - Day two of the Colorado PGA Professional Championship was a carbon copy of day one, with cool temperatures and sunny skies greeting the players as they arrived at Flying Horse North for “moving day.” Up for grabs this week is the Ralph “Rip” Arnold Memorial Trophy, eight qualifying spots into the National PGA Professional Championship at Bandon Dunes in 2026, and a $75,000 purse, which is the largest purse in the history of the championship.

Among the day one leaders to get an early start on day two was Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club. Keffer teed off at 8:00 am and got off to a tough start, bogeying three of his first six holes. “I just got some bad breaks on my opening nine, leading to the three bogies,” Keffer stated. A much-needed birdie on the 18th jump-started Keffer, and he carried that momentum on his closing nine. “I hit a couple close and had a couple of two-putt birdies [on the back nine],” Keffer stated. Keffer carded five birdies with no bogies on his back nine for a closing 31 and second round 69 to sit at seven-under-par for the Championship.

Three back of Keffer’s lead is Ben Lanting, PGA Assistant Professional at Bear Creek Golf Club. “I feel very tired, rollercoaster is the only way to describe it,” Lanting said, after having another up-and-down day at Flying Horse North. Lanting carded an eagle, five birdies, two bogies, and two double bogies to card a one-under-par 71 for his second round and sit at four-under-par for the Championship and in the running to capture his first Colorado PGA Professional Championship title. “This one means the most to me out of anything I play in,” Lanting said, “I had a stretch of three seconds in a row [2021, 2022, 2023], and fifth last year, this is why I practice, this is why I work hard, to win the Section Championship would mean so much.”

Then, as the afternoon wave had begun play, the storms rolled in and play was suspended at 2:45 pm. The delay would last two hours and eight minutes before play would ultimately resume at 4:53 pm. After the delay, temperatures had dropped a few degrees, and the sun began to poke its way through the clouds from time to time, but a soft golf course meant birdies were there for the taking. Players took advantage of the soft conditions with Dustin Miller, PGA Director of Instruction at The Swing Bays, Bill Hancock, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course, Micah Rudosky, PGA Head Professional at Conquistador Golf Course, and Chris Hyten, PGA Assistant Professional at Castle Pines Golf Club all firing rounds under par to jump up multipe spots and into the Top 5 heading into the final round.

Miller and Hyten finished at three and five under par, respectively, for the second round, putting them in a tie for second place at six-under-par and one shot behind Keffer. Miller’s round consisted of five birdies and two bogies. “I stayed patient throughout the round and didn’t try to force anything,” Miller said. “I knew when I could be aggressive and when I needed to stay with planned shots.”

“I hit the ball as good as I ever have,” Hyten stated, after a brilliant bogey-free 67 in round two. “I really never had a par putt longer than five feet. That doesn’t happen very often to anyone, so to be able to go bogey-free and put up a low number was huge,” Hyten said, as he is looking to capture his first Colorado PGA Section Championship. He tees off in the final group with Miller and Keffer at 11:00 am on Wednesday.

Vaulting up to solo fourth and two shots off Keffer’s lead was Bill Hancock, “I putted pretty well, but I got off to a great start with the eagle on 10,” Hancock stated. Four more birdies and two bogies followed the eagle the rest of the round, and led to Hancock’s second round 68. “I just played pretty solid, no major mess-ups,” Hancock said.

In a tie for fifth with Lanting is Micah Rudosky, after a second round 69 consisting of four birdies and one bogey. “I hit a few solid iron shots, but it was my short game and putter that kept my round going,” Rudosky said. The four-time champion is three shots behind Keffer’s lead and tees off in the final round at 10:50 am alongside Hancock and Lanting.

Colorado PGA Professional Championship - Top 10 Heading Into The Final Round

1. Geoff Keffer, PGA | Lakewood Country Club | 137 (-7)

T2. Chris Hyten, PGA | Castle Pines Golf Club | 138 (-6)

T2. Dustin Miller, PGA | The Swing Bays | 138 (-6)

4. Bill Hancock, PGA | Meadow Hills Golf Course | 139 (-5)

T5. Ben Lanting, PGA | Bear Creek Golf Club | 140 (-4)

T5. Micah Rudosky, PGA | Conquistador Golf Course | 140 (-4)

T7. Henry Bernard, PGA | TPC Colorado | 141 (-3)

T7. Matt Schalk, PGA | Colorado National GC | 141(-3)

T7. Caine Fitzgerald, PGA | Meadow Hills Golf Course | 141 (-3)

10. Kelli McKandless, PGA | Murphy Creek Golf Course | 142 (-2)