Steve Ivan aiming for third straight CGA senior major title as Senior Match Play starts with pod play for second consecutive year
By Gary Baines – 6/19/2021
The recently concluded CGA Match Play and Women’s Match Play utilized round-robin pod play on the early days of the championships, with many competitors saying they preferred the change, as opposed to starting the knockout phase right away.
But all that is old hat for the CGA Senior Match Play, which will be contested for the 52nd time next week at Black Bear Golf Club in Parker. You see, last year’s Senior Match Play served as a test case for its open-age brethren, so many of the competitors at Black Bear will know the lay of the land, including all players being guaranteed at least three matches.
From Monday through midday Wednesday, golfers will face each of the other three members of their four-person pod, with the winner of each pod advancing to Wednesday afternoon’s round of 16. Then single-elimination action will continue through Friday’s 18-hole final.
Steve Ivan from Patty Jewett Golf Course, who defeated Robert Polk of Colorado Golf Club in 20 holes to win the 2020 Senior Match Play, will not only try to defend his title but will attempt to win his third straight CGA senior major after sweeping the Senior Match and Senior Amateur last year.
Other former champions in the field at Black Bear are Scott Sullivan of Bookcliff Country Club (2019), Wyoming resident John Hornbeck (2018), Pat Bucci of West Woods Golf Club (2017), Jeff Oneth of Colorado Golf Club (2016), three-time winner David Delich of The Broadmoor Golf Club (2007, ’11 and ’15), Harry Johnson of Eagle Ranch Golf Course (2013), Polk (2009) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Country Club (2006).
Likewise scheduled to tee it up are former CGA Senior Players of the Year Keith Atkins, Robin Bradbury and Sean Forey, along with Bill Fowler, CGA executive director Ed Mate, David Nelson, Gary Albrecht, Kevin Ott and former U.S. Senator Mark Udall.
The CGA Senior Match Play is open to competitors 55 and older.
For Monday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.