DeWitt Claims Another State Title:
24 Years of Frustration Ends with CGA Win

Rockiesgolf.com Staff Report CGA Stroke Play Championship
Lakewood Country Club
Par 71, Yards 6699

LAKEWOOD, Colo. - In front of family, friends, members, and guests, Rick DeWitt of West Woods Golf Course ended 24 years of frustration to finally capture the 1999 CGA Stroke Play Championship at Lakewood Country Club.

Starting the day with a six-stroke lead over both Kevin Stadler of Bear Creek Golf Club and Jay Osmon of Great Sand Dunes Golf Course, DeWitt's mantra for the day was "Don't be like Greg Norman." He almost was, again.

Confident, and with a 4-shot lead on the 18th tee, DeWitt pulled a 3-wood dead left, barely avoiding the creek in the 17th fairway and a one-stroke penalty. He rushed his second shot to avoid the sprinklers and hit a small tree, leaving him still left of the 18th fairway and no shot at the green. Gathering his senses and returning to his mantra he smartly punched out, leaving him 96 yards to the hole.

After an L-Wedge to 15 feet he was laying four and just a two-putt from victory. This year there would be no choke, no playoff, no missed opportunities, DeWitt's final round score of 75 was more than enough for a two stroke victory and his first N.C. "Tub" Morris Trophy.

DeWitt made four bogies and two birdies to go 2-over for the day on the front nine while Osmon shot 2-under and Stadler made even-par to make the back nine interesting. DeWitt "had trouble gaining confidence" because he was "focused on winning rather than the present." He realized this and made the necessary adjustments on the 10th tee. DeWitt, Osmon and Stadler, playing together in the final group, all bogeyed 12 after missing makable putts.

Stadler (+1 at the time) put himself out of contention on the par-3 13th by missing the green off the tee, leaving two chip shots short and three putting for a triple bogey 6.

Osmon bogeyed 14 and 16 from green side bunkers to give DeWitt back his four-shot lead with two holes to play. Osmon hit a 345-yard drive on the 358-yard, par-4 17th and missed his best shot to apply pressure to DeWitt by making par when his chip shot cleared the bunker, but fell well short of the hole.

Despite a four shot lead on the 18th tee, and despite having missed numerous final-day opportunities to claim previous stroke play championships, DeWitt insists he wasn't nervous. He had already conquered his 16-year demons, the Pub-Links and Low Amateur in the Colorado Open, and he wasn't about to choke now. He has no idea why the 3-wood that he'd been hitting good all week abandoned him on the 18th. But, with his son Tony still on his bag, they marched, albeit slowly, to that once elusive victory.

Rick DeWitt, West Woods GC  70-68-67-75--280
Jay Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC  73-68-70-71--282
Shawn Wills, The Ranch CC  73-71-71-70--285
Kevin Stadler, Bear Creek GC  67-75-69-76--287
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills CC  69-72-76-71--288
Jason Hause, South Suburban GC  71-75-73-69--288
Reed Myer, Denver CC  74-73-71-71--289
Ben Fiala, Hillcrest GC  72-72-69-76--289
Ray Makloski, Pueblo CC  67-72-77-74--290
Steve Ivan, Hollydot GC  69-78-73-71--291
Bret Guetz, Columbine CC  74-75-74-69--292
Joe Osmon, Great Sand Dunes GC  68-77-75-73--293
Matt Genovese, Boulder CC  77-69-75-73--294
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC  76-74-70-75--295
Joe Liley, Lakewood CC  73-76-75-71--295
David Delich, Broadmoor GC  74-78-75-69--296
Mark Hirsch, Meadow Hills GC  72-74-74-76--296
Rick George, Castle Pines GC  75-77-74-71--297
John Hulwick, Pinehurst CC  77-73-75-72--297
Craig Gardiner, Denver CC  74-73-78-73--298
Mark Valente, Lakewood CC  77-73-76-72--298
Dan Sniffin, Flatirons GC  72-76-74-76--298
John Olive, Broadmoor GC  75-74-76-74--299
Erik Billinger, Sunset GC  73-74-81-71--299
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC  73-77-78-72--300
Jayson Villagrana, Gleneagle GC  71-78-74-77--300
Pat Bowe, Hyland Hills  77-72-78-75--302
Jason Schram, Collindale GC  73-78-78-73--302
Michael Ryan, Legacy Ridge GC  73-76-79-74--302
Wesley Johnson, Flatirons GC  81-71-75-75--302
Stephen Barlow, Bear Creek GC  74-74-78-77--303
Chuck Schmidt, Mira Vista GC  72-78-79-74--303
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC  74-74-77-80--305
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC  73-79-78-75--305
Matt McCoy, Legacy Ridge GC  78-74-73-81--306
Brian Layton, Meadow Hills GC  73-74-80-81--308
Roger Gunderson, Meadow Hills GC  77-74-78-79--308
Andy Thiessen, Meadows GC  77-75-77-80--309
Robert Arnold, J.F. Kennedy GC  76-76-76-83--311
Larry Brown, Lakewood CC  78-74-77-82--311