Rudosky Successfully Defends Section Championship Title
Thornton, Colorado, September 21, 2022 - In true Colorado fashion, weather for day three of the 2022 Colorado PGA Professional Championship was nothing short of interesting. With a 30 degree drop in temperatures on the range this morning, and intermittent rain throughout the round, a 2022 Champion was crowned: Mr. Micah Rudosky, PGA of Conquistador Golf Course!
Firing rounds of 69-70-69, for an 8-under-par total, Rudosky's win today marks the third of his career. "10 years ago, this course (Todd Creek Golf Club) ate me up - to be able to come out here this week and put together three great rounds was great!" said Rudosky on his victory. "To be apart of the small group of players who have won 3 or more times, is special. It feels really good." Having taken home his first Colorado PGA Championship title back in 2001, "Ha, I mean, why is it that it's taken 20 years to figure it out? I'm hitting longer off the tee than I've ever been." It's evident his longer tee shots certainly paid off. The other pay off? The purse. "I can't believe to see the money we played for this week, and what Club Car, and all of our Championship partners have done to help. They stepped up big for us, and 'wow' is truly the only thing that came to my mind."
Rudosky's final round consisted of four birdies and only one bogey, allowing him a comfortable stroll down 18 and ultimately a 3-shot victory. He will head back to Cortez, Colorado with the $12,000 winners check and the Ralph "RIP" Arnold Memorial Trophy given out to the Section Champion each year.
Multiple players qualified for the 2023 PGA Professional Championship for the second year in a row, including, Rudosky, Ben Lanting, PGA Assistant Professional at Bear Creek Golf Club, Chris Hyten, PGA Assistant Professional at Castle Pines Golf Club, Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA Instructor at River Valley Ranch Golf Course, Matt Schalk, PGA Director of Golf at Colorado National Golf Club, and Geoff Keffer, PGA Assistant Professional at Lakewood Country Club.
Rohrbaugh stated, "I have only missed one PGA Professional Championship since 2007." Playing at the level needed to qualify for the National Club Pro for 15 years running is a significant accomplishment. Rohrbaugh showed that strong play again this week with rounds of 70-72-71 for a tied-for-fourth finish at 3-under-par.
Qualifying along with Rohrbaugh was Bobby Quarantino, PGA Head Professional at West Woods Golf Club. Quarantino qualified for the first time since 2015 and only the second time ever. "I had just played in another event at Old Baldy, which was a nice little warm up for it and I had a little better feel for what I was doing." Quarantino stated. He definitely had a good feel for his game this week as rounds of 75-70-71 led to an even par finish and a tie for the 9th. Quarantino secured the final qualifying spot after a two hole playoff with Bill Hancock, PGA Assistant Professional at Meadow Hills Golf Course.
Qualifying for the first time in 11 years was Jason Witczak, PGA Instructor at The Club at Pradera. Witczak mentioned, "The strongest thing working today, (and all week), was my mind, my mind was different than it has been in years past." Witczak posted rounds of 74-70-71 for a 1-under-par total and an eighth place finish.
Another player who qualified for the first time was Grant Jackson, PGA Assistant Professional at Saddle Rock Golf Course. Jackson said, "I drove it pretty well and a lot of times it left me with a wedge in my hands." Jackson took advantage of all the wedges into the greens, carding 11 birdies for the week and posting rounds of 71-70-72 for a 3-under-par total and a tie for fourth.
The field was competing for a total of nine qualifying spots into the 2023 PGA Professional Championship set to take place April 30 - May 3, 2023 in Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico. The full list of qualifiers (along with the five alternates) is listed below.
Qualifiers:
- Micah Rudosky, PGA | Conquistador Golf Course
- Ben Lanting, PGA | Bear Creek Golf Club
- Chris Hyten, PGA | Castle Pines Golf Club
- Doug Rohrbaugh, PGA | River Valley Ranch Golf Course
- Matt Schalk, PGA | Colorado National Golf Club
- Grant Jackson, PGA | Saddle Rock Golf Course
- Geoff Keffer, PGA | Lakewood Country Club
- Jason Witczak, PGA | The Club at Pradera
- Bobby Quaratino, PGA | West Woods Golf Club
Alternatives:
- Bill Hancock, PGA | Meadow Hills Golf Course
- Ben Honaman, PGA | Lakewood Country Club
- Dan O'Shaughnessy, PGA | Springhill Golf Course
- Jeramy Curry, PGA | The Links Golf Course
- Bryan Winkel, PGA | Colorado National Golf Club
Those nine will also be joined by one other Colorado PGA professional who was previously exempt, Sherry Andonian, PGA of Valley Country Club.
The Colorado PGA Professional Championship featured nearly a $70,000 purse, with $12,000 first place prize. The Championship is presented by Cadillac, Club Car (Colorado Golf and Turf), and Rolex, and is supported by Titleist/FootJoy, Callaway Golf, Nike, and TaylorMade. Supporting partners are the Golf Channel and PGA TOUR.
Championship Headshots & Action Shots
