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Chris Korte comes back to win Colorado Stroke Play
Chris Korte (CGA photo)
Chris Korte (CGA photo)

AURORA, Colo. — University of Denver golfer Chris Korte put on a show with his irons on Sunday, firing a 6-under-par 65 and overcoming a four-shot deficit to win the 79th CGA Stroke Play Championship at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

It marked the fourth time in the last five years that the Stroke Play champion has posted a 66 or better on the final day to win the prestigious amateur title.

Korte, a 19-year-old from Lone Tree Golf Club, made eight birdies on Sunday, six of them coming after approach shots settled within 10 feet of the pin.

Korte, who helped lead Regis Jesuit High School to 5A state championships in 2012 and '13, made a major surge in the middle of his round Sunday, carding six birdies in a seven-hole stretch. Still, he trailed third-round leader Nathaniel Goddard, a Colorado Christian University golfer, by two with four holes remaining.

Goddard, who had shot a tournament-best 63 on Saturday, had kept his advantage mainly thanks to his putter. He had three putts in a four-hole stretch from Nos. 11 through 14, chipping in for birdie from 65 feet on No. 12.

But the 21-year-old from Ptarmigan Country Club paid the price for an errant driver down the stretch and he bogeyed each of the last four holes. And it was on the par-4 16th where Korte overtook Goddard by making a 2-foot birdie, good for a two-shot swing.

Korte, the Summit League Newcomer of the Year last season as a DU freshman, finished with 20 birdies for the week, and nothing worse than a bogey, in capturing the N.C. "Tub" Morris Trophy. He posted a 15-under-par 269 total for his first CGA championship title. (At top, DU coach Erik Billinger congratulates Korte on his victory.)

Goddard, a semifinalist in the CGA Match Play held last month -- also at CommonGround, closed with a 72 Sunday to place second at 272.

In a tournament in which the top six finishers play golf for Colorado-based college teams, Jimmy Makloski (Colorado State) and Ethan Freeman (University of Colorado) tied for third at 276. Colin Prater (University of Colorado-Colorado Springs) was fifth at 277 and Ross Macdonald (CU) was sixth at 279. Makloski has been second and third in the last two CGA Stroke Plays.

View results for Colorado Amateur

ABOUT THE Colorado Amateur

72 holes of stroke play. A 36-hole cut will be made to the low 40 players and ties. The CGA Amateur Championship is a walking only event. Players may carry their bag, use a pull cart, or use a caddie. Non-exempt players must pre-qualify.

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