Fribbs’ 62 Makes Ex-CU Golfer Final CGA Public Links Champ

Colorado Golf Association

 LONGMONT — Derek Fribbs could have shot a 59 with a birdie-birdie finish on Sunday, but he settled for an 8-under-par 62 — the competitive course record from the back tees at Twin Peaks Golf Course — and a six-stroke victory in the 31st and final Colorado Golf Association Public Links Championship.

     The 22-year-old, who plays out of Colorado National Golf Club, made his only bogey of the day on the final hole and finished the tournament with a remarkable 17-under-par 193 total.

     Steven Kupcho of CommonGround Golf Course, the 2012 CGA Player of the Year, placed a distant second at 199, making the University of Northern Colorado golfer the CGA Public Links runner-up two straight years. Kupcho shot a 63 on Saturday, which stood as the tournament course record from the back tees for only 24 hours.

     Former Colorado Mesa University golfer Brandon Bingaman was the only other player who finished under par for the tournament. The golfer from Black Canyon Golf Club closed with a 69 to end up at 205.

     Kupcho, who entered the final round one back of Fribbs, tied him on two occasions early Sunday, and they were knotted after six holes. But Fribbs drained an 18-foot birdie putt on the par-3 seventh to go ahead for good.

     That started a stretch in which Fribbs carded seven birdies in 10 holes. That left the 2008 5A state high school champion at 9 under par through 16. With a round of 59 a possibility, his 50-foot birdie putt on No. 17 burned the edge of the cup, and he settled for a par. Then, needing to hole his 89-yard approach on 18 to break 60, Fribbs pulled his wedge shot into the rough and he failed to get up and down for par. In fact, he needed to sink a 7-footer for bogey.

     The 62 was the lowest tournament round of Fribbs' life.

     The CGA Public Links Championship finished on that note, as CGA officials decided earlier this month to discontinue the championship after this year. The association plans to replace the tournament with another championship in 2014, though the format of that event hasn't been settled upon.

Final Leaderboard:

CGA Public Links Championship at Par-70 Twin Peaks GC in Longmont

Derek Fribbs, Colorado National GC, 65-66-62–193

Steven Kupcho, CommonGround GC, 69-63-67–199

Brandon Lee Bingaman, Black Canyon GC, 67-69-69–205

Ben Krueger, Patty Jewett GC, 72-67-72–211

Sean Thomas, Indian Tree GC, 73-70-69–212

Lamar Carlile, City Park GC, 74-69-70–213

Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC, 70-70-73–213

Matt Porter, CommonGround GC, 69-77-68–214

James Kurtenbach, South Suburban GC, 71-70-74–215

Damon Dageenakis, Flatirons GC, 75-70-70–215

Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 76-70-70–216

Eric Parish, CommonGround GC, 73-73-71–217

Sean Robbins, CommonGround GC, 78-69-70–217

Todd Millard, Twin Peaks GC, 71-72-74–217

Adam Douglas Griffith, Thorncreek GC, 75-68-74–217

Bryan Rusin, CommonGround GC, 70-71-76–217

Charles Santaularia, CommonGround GC, 73-72-73–218

Matt Robertson, Foothills GC, 72-73-73–218

Ethan Yamada, Omni Interlocken Resort GC, 74-75-71–220

Steve Connell, Riverdale GC, 72-76-72–220

Zach Tripp, Foothills GC, 73-73-75–221

Conner Barr, Boomerang GL, 72-75-74–221

Josh Gardella, The Ridge at Castle Pines North, 75-75-72–222

Robert Burke, Twin Peaks GC, 73-74-77–224

Travis Fore, Highland Meadows GC, 71-78-75–224

Chris Aiken, Conquistador GC, 73-74-77–224

Eli Schoenbeck, Desert Hawk GC, 76-69-79–224

Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 80-71-74–225

Michael Jones, Eagle-Vail GC, 78-75-72–225

John Altenborg, Twin Peaks GC, 75-74-76–225

Zachary Coe, Eagle Ranch GC, 78-71-78–227

Brad Rowe, Saddleback GC, 74-75-79–228

Bo Baker, Devil's Thumb GC, 79-71-78–228

Nick Tarasiewicz, Patty Jewett GC, 71-79-79–229

Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 74-76-79–229

Steve Sullivan, Bear Dance GC, 71-78-82–231

Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch GC, 77-76-78–231

Arnold Hoy, CommonGround GC, 77-75-82–234

Behrod Keshtavar, Indian Peaks GC, 77-76-84–237

Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC, 76-71-WD

Joshua Carter, Meadows GC, 71-76-WD

 

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