Pettit wins 2023 Inspirato Colorado Open

North Carolina native takes $100,000 first prize

By Jim Bebbington

Turk Pettit, the 2021 NCAA Tournament champion now playing on the Asian Tour, won the 2023 Inspirato Colorado Men’s Open Sunday with the steadiest round of a very steady field.  

Scores sank through the four-day tournament at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, and Pettit won with a score of 21-under by playing Sunday without any major gaffes and slowly overtaking the Saturday night leader, amateur Parker Edens. 

The win brought Pettit the $100,000 first prize.  

“’I’ve been working really hard to try to get (a victory) and I haven’t played great,” he said after the round. “This year I’ve played kind of poorly, very poorly, and I’ve been working hard. Just finally got a win.” 

Turk, from North Carolina, has played in PGA Canada Tour, Korn Ferry and Asian Tour events and said he expects to return to the Asian Tour this fall. He played in college for Clemson University where he won the 2021 NCAA Division 1 men’s championship. 

The four-day tournament featured several past champions, including the 2022 winner Wil Collins who was the Thursday-night leader this year.  

The low amateur for the tournament, former Colorado State golfer and coach Parker Edens, nearly won. He was tied for the lead after three days and fired three birdies on the front nine, but cooled off just enough on the back nine for Pettit to catch him. He shot 19-under par, tied for second with Andre Metzger of Scottsdale. 

“I was a little bit disappointed, to be honest,” he said. “I had a chance to be in the hunt to win the whole championship but obviously it was one of my goals coming in this year to be here and achieve that,” he said. “I’m very, very pleased.” 

Edens, who grew up in Greeley, played professionally after graduating from Colorado State, then returned to amateur status when he began coaching. He coached four seasons at his alma mater, then became the head coach of South Dakota State University’s team in 2022. 

Before returning to work, Edens next is going to try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur at an upcoming qualifier played at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins.