According to Kobalter, the course rewarded precision and the penalty for error was severe. His partner Gary Young not only had the precision part down, but knows how to scramble as well.

"This was some of the best golf I have witnessed on the amateur level," said Kobalter from his home in San Rafael, CA.

"I sometimes found myself sitting back and watching as Gary hit quality shot after quality shot. I was glad to be able to help him when he needed it."

Young and Kobalter started the day 1 stroke behing two strong teams, Trent Brown of Oklahoma and Chris Kessler of Arizona, and local favorites David Delich and Rob Dewitt.

Neither of these leading teams faltered, shooting final rounds of 69 and 70 to come in 2nd and 3rd place respectively. But Kobalter and Young's final round of 67 was not only low round of the day, it was the lowest score in the tournament. Young's two 8 foot putts down the stretch -- to save par on 16 and for birdie on 17 -- were crucial in preserving the narrow cushion his team enjoyed.

In the Senior Division, Charlie Post of Castle Rock, CO and Wes Mohr of Houston won by 5 strokes over Bill Heldmar of Tulsa, OK and Roger Brown of Arkansas City, KS. Post and Mohr had a 6 stroke lead going into the final round after a fine 66 in round 2, and their 69 put them out of reach at a course where bogeys were more the norm than birdies -- even when playing one set of tees up from the 'flat bellies.'

The Trans-Miss Golf Association certainly enjoyed two of the country's finest golf courses in 2005, with the Mid-Amateur being played at Prairie Dunes in Kansas in July and this event in Castle Pines. Proceeds from the tournaments benefit the Trans-Miss Turf Scholarship Fund. amateurgolf.com is proud to be a Trans-Miss club. (without real estate, mind you!)

NOTE: For complete scores, click on the tournament link above (amateurgolf.com Premium Membership requested)