Thorncreek Golf Course in Thornton, Colorado, played host to the 2022 National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistant Professional Championship on August 15th and 16th. The top three finishers, and three alternates, in this two-day, 36-hole tournament qualified for the 46th National Car Rental PGA Assistant Professional Championship.
On day one of the two-day Championship, 2021 defending Champion Ben Lanting, PGA, Bear Creek Golf Club, continued his dominant play in Section tournaments. With six birdies, Lanting finished the day with a 2-under-par 70. Tied with Lanting was Andrew Connell, Ridge at Castle Pines North. Connell managed only two bogeys in a round with five birdies, earning him 2-under 70. Another notable round came from Camile Enright, The Club at Ravenna, who won the Colorado PGA Women’s Championship just last week at Vail Golf Club, finishing 1-over for the day. Rounding out the day was Robert Grall, Colorado National Golf Club, finishing the day atop the leaderboard. Grall carded an impressive 4-under 68!
Day two of the Assistant Professional Championship began with a dramatic start. With only two groups having the chance to tee off, a thunderstorm rolled in with heavy rain and lightning in the area. A stoppage of play was called, and we were under a delay for roughly two hours. Once the bulk of the storm passed, a modified shotgun with tee times for the four leading groups went off at 10:30 am, starting on hole 10.
In a very competitive and close round, the winner couldn’t be identified early in the day. Some impressive rounds came from Behrod Keshtavar, Justin Carlock, and Jeff Carter. From Meadow Hills GC, Carter carded a 68 for day two following his T7 day one finish. His two-day score of 143 landed him a playoff spot for the final alternate position along with Lanting and Christopher Hyten, Castle Pines GC. Lanting won the 3-way playoff to earn that final alternate position! Carlock, RainDance National, finished the tournament 2-under solo fifth, earning himself the second alternate spot. Following his day one 71, Keshtavar, Todd Creek GC, stayed competitive in round two. Finishing tied at 3-under with Grall, the two headed to a playoff to battle for the final qualifying spot. Keshtavar pulled ahead, claiming the third and final qualifying spot!
Connell and Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC, stayed neck and neck for most of the tournament. Keffer’s round one landed him T2 with Connell after 18, both carding 2-under 70’s. Playing similarly to day one, Connell carded five birdies and only two bogeys in search of the Championship title. The two stayed tied at 6-under for most of the round. It wasn’t until the last few holes that Keffer pulled ahead; Connell finished with a 3-under 69, 139 two-day total. Paired with Keffer’s day-one 1-under, his remarkable day-two 5-under 67 earned him his fifth Colorado PGA Assistant Professional Championship title! Reflecting on his fifth Championship win, the current record, Keffer jokes, “Just means I’m old! I’ve been in the same job for a long time. Ben [Lanting] was making a run at my record, so I had to put that a little further out”. Keffer also shared that his putting and “taking care of the par fives' ' made all the difference today; “yesterday, I didn’t make a single putt. So seeing a couple go in early made all the difference today”.
Thank you to the PGA Team at Thorncreek GC, including Head Professional Ryan Bakken, PGA, superintendent Doug Fisher, and their staff. We thank our national presenting partner, National Car Rental, and our supporting partners, the PGA Tour, John Deere, and Srixon/Cleveland/XXIO, for their support and continued partnership with this Championship.
The Top-4 qualifiers from this championship qualified for the 46th National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship, set to be played on November 17th-20th in PGA Golf Club (Wanamaker Course) in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
Qualifiers, in order:
1. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC: 71-67–138
2. Andrew Connell, Ridge at Castle Pines North: 70-69–139
T3. Behrod Keshtavar, Todd Creek GC: 71-70–141
Alternates, in order:
T3. Robert Grall, Colorado National GC: 68-73–141
5. Justin Carlock, RainDance National Golf Resort: 72-70–142
T6. Ben Lanting, Bear Creek GC: 70-73–143
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