Plain, Mead Honored with West Chapter’s Top Awards
The Colorado PGA West Chapter announced the 2020 Award Winners at the West Chapter Virtual Spring Meeting, held on Thursday, April 15. These award recipients have been submitted as finalists for the Colorado PGA Section Special Awards. Congratulations to the award winners!
West Chapter President, Jeff Boyer, PGA, commented, “I am proud to say that I believe we had more nominees and more applications submitted than I remember in 10 years of being involved in the process. It is impressive to learn more and more about what our members are doing at their facilities and in their communities.”
- Golf Professional of the Year: Alice Plain, PGA, at Vail Golf Club
- Teacher of the Year: Nathan Mead, PGA, at Vail Golf Club
- Professional Development Award: Luke Brosterhous, PGA, at Catamount Ranch & Club
- Bill Strausbaugh Award: Alice Plain, PGA, at Vail Golf Club
- Player Development Award: Pete Roach, PGA, at Sonnenalp Club
- Youth Player Development Award: Trey Johnson, PGA, at Vail Golf Club
- Public Merchandiser of the Year: James Pratt, PGA, at Aspen Golf Club
- Private Merchandiser of the Year: Steve Grove, PGA, at Maroon Creek Club
- Resort Merchandiser of the Year: Not awarded
- Assistant Golf Professional of the Year: Andrew Firman, PGA, at Aspen Golf Club
- Warren Smith Award: Stephen VanDyke, PGA, at River Valley Ranch Golf Club
- Associate Player of the Year: Christopher Devens at Aspen Glen Club
- Senior Player of the Year: Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, at Snowmass Club
- Player of the Year: Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA, at Snowmass Club
Click to watch the 2020 Colorado PGA West Chapter Award Winner’s Video.
Joining Bacheldor on the Executive Committee: Vice President / Treasurer & PGA REACH Colorado Foundation Chair: CJ Perry, PGA, of GOLFTEC, transitions into the role of Section Vice President/Treasurer and will also serve as Board Chair of the PGA REACH Colorado Foundation, spearheading the Section’s charitable and community outreach efforts. CJ most recently served a two-year term as the Section’s Secretary. Secretary: Ben Pennymon, PGA, of Commonground GC, was elected to serve as Section Secretary. Ben previously served on the Board as an At-Large Director for the last three years. CEO/Executive Director: Steven Bartkowski was appointed as the CEO/Executive Director of the Colorado PGA Section in March of 2022.
Evergreen, Colo. – October 13, 2026 – The inaugural Colorado PGA Tour Championship delivered a fittingly dramatic finish Tuesday afternoon at Hiwan Golf Club, as Ben Lanting, PGA Assistant Professional at Bear Creek Golf Club, captured the championship with a victory over Brian Cooper, PGA Director of Instruction at Glenmoor Country Club, on the second hole of a sudden-death playoff.
Snowmass Village, Colo. – Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club, put together two outstanding rounds of golf to capture the 2026 Colorado PGA West Chapter Championship at Snowmass Club, finishing the 36-hole championship at 14-under-par and cruising to an 11-shot victory.
Lafayette, Colo., Sept. 8-9, 2026 – Stefanie Ferguson, PGA, entered the final round of the 2026 Colorado PGA Women’s Championship with a 2-shot lead and did enough over the final 18 holes to hold off a strong charge from Emily Shimkus and capture the title. Ferguson followed an opening-round 3-under-par 69 with a final-round 2-over-par 74 to finish the 36-hole championship at 1-under-par, four strokes clear of Shimkus and the 2025 Women’s Champion, Tara Morris, PGA. Ferguson was the only player in the field to finish the 36-hole championship under par.
Westminster, Colo. – Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club, entered Wednesday's final round of the 69th Colorado PGA Professional Championship with a three-shot advantage and ultimately needed nearly every bit of it. After producing the round of the championship on Tuesday, Keffer followed his brilliant 8-under-par 64 with a hard-fought 1-over-par 73 in Wednesday's final round at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve. “I just did not want to beat myself,” Keffer stated about what his game plan was heading into the final round. His three-day total of 7-under-par 209 was enough to hold off a charging Tristin Goodwin, PGA Instructor at ExperienceGolf, by a single stroke and secure his second consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championship and fifth Section Championship of his career.
Meridian Golf Club PGA Assistant leads a trio of national qualifiers alongside Justin Carlock, PGA, and Ben Lanting, PGA, at Meadow Hills
19 Exceptional PGA of America Golf Professionals and Industry Leaders Recognized for Excellence; Honorees to be Celebrated at the Colorado PGA Annual Awards Gala on November 13th
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.
A week-long celebration of women elevating their game, building connections, and paving the way for the future of golf.
Q&A with Holly Champion, PGA
