Defending champ Steve Ivan, 2018 winner John Hornbeck dominant on first day of CGA Senior Match Play
By Gary Baines – 6/21/2021
The winners of the last three CGA Senior Match Play titles won their opening matches in round-robin pod play on Monday, but three-time champion David Delich of The Broadmoor Golf Club lost his opener at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker.
Steve Ivan of Patty Jewett Golf Course, bidding for his third consecutive title in CGA senior majors, prevailed easily on Monday, 7 and 6 over Dennis Fox of Blackstone/Black Bear. Also cruising in his first match was 2018 winner John Hornbeck, a Wyoming resident who posted an 8-and-7 victory over Bryan Tutor of Dos Rios Golf Club. And 2019 champion Scott Sullivan of Bookcliff Country Club scored a 3-and-1 win over David Draper of Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
But three relatively recent Senior Match Play champs dropped their opening matches. Delich, winner of the event in 2007, ’11 and ’15, fell to Brian Harris of Denver Country Club, 4 and 3. Bob Kubiak of South Suburban Golf Course beat 2016 champ Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club, 1 up. And Steve Pease of Dalton Ranch Golf Club defeated 2017 champion Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club 2 up.
Win or lose on Monday, players are guaranteed at least three matches, with the winner of each four-person pod after Wednesday morning’s third set of matches advancing to the knockout stage, which begins with the round of 16 on Wednesday afternoon.
Also among those who won their openers on Monday were three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club (2 up over Robert Cloud of CommonGround Golf Course), and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club (4 and 2 over Brian Woody of the Ridge at Castle Pines North).
The CGA Senior Match Play, which is limited to competitors 55 and older, will continue through Friday, when the 18-hole final is scheduled.
For all the results from Black Bear, CLICK HERE.