AURORA, Colo. — Connor Klein of Lone Tree Golf Club assured Wednesday that the Colorado Match Play Championship won't have its first back-to-back winner since 1990-91.
Klein, who helped lead South Mountain (Ariz.) Community College to the 2015 national junior college Division II title, defeated defending champion Cody Kent of The Club at Ravenna 3 and 2 in Wednesday's round of 16 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.
Klein (left) won the first three holes and was 5 up through 11 en route to his second victory of the day.
The Match Play, being contested for the 115th consecutive year, is guaranteed to have a first-time champion as the only other past winner left playing on Wednesday was ousted. Gus Lundquist of Colorado Golf Club, a former 5A state high school champion, beat 2004 Match Play winner Steve Irwin of Lakewood Country Club 3 and 1, also in the round of 16.
Among the others who advanced to Thursday's quarterfinals were 2014 CGA Stroke Play runner-up Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course, the stroke-play medalist this week, and last year's CGA Match Play runner-up, Jacob Allenback of Walking Stick Golf Course.
Both the quarterfinals and the semifinals are scheduled for Thursday, while the 36-hole final is set for Friday.
Defending champion falls at Colorado Match Play
Connor Klein knocked off defending champion Cody Kent 3-and-2 on Wednesday to advance to the quarterfinals