Love Conquers All in 54th CoBank Colorado Open

Dru Love, son of Davis Love III, wins playoff and $100,000

Davis Love IV hadn’t yet turned 10 when his father, World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III, became the second player ever to win The International at Castle Pines two times.

Fifteen years after that victory, the younger Love—who goes by Dru (short for “quadruple”)—made some Colorado history of his own by winning his first CoBank Colorado Open.

The 24-year-old Sea Island, Ga., native defeated Sam Saunders of Albuquerque, NM, with an eagle on the second hole of a playoff, after the two had tied for first place with a 19-under-par 197.

Love’s 64 in the final round tied Saunders at 19-under 197 after the New Mexican earlier posted a scorching 12-under- par 60 which shattered the course record by two strokes. Even more impressively, Saunders had a bogey on the par-4 6^th or he could have joined those few players in professional history to shoot a round of 59. Saunders had one eagle on the drivable par-4 14^th and 11 birdies on the day, finishing second and pocketing $20,000.

Love would not have made the playoff had it not been made a miraculous par on the final hole of regulation. His tee shot on the par-5 18th was heading for the water and fortunately hit a tree, keeping it in play. His second shot found the rough almost 200 yards from the hole, and after barely advancing the third shot, he put his fourth just inches away for a tap-in par and an 8-under 64 for the day.

In the playoff, both players parred the 18^th after Love missed a makeable 8-foot birdie putt to win. On the second try, Love reached the difficult par-5 in two and made a breaking 20-footer for eagle to secure the victory.

In a tie for 3^rd place at 18-under 198 were past champion Shane Bertsch of nearby Parker, CO and Riley Arp of Ft. Collins, CO. Both players were in the final group and needed to make eagle to advance to the playoff, but both made birdies to come up a stroke short.

In the low amateur competition, Kyler Dunkle of Parker edged out Griffin Barela of Lakewood, CO, by one stroke and AJ Ott of Ft. Collins by two strokes, finishing tied for 9^th at 12-under 204.

Click here for complete results from the final round