Castle Rock – Is this a qualifier for Colorado State’s golf team or the final match of the 106th Colorado Golf Association Match Play Championship?
CSU teammates Zen Brown and Aaron Weston will meet today in a 36-hole championship match at Plum Creek Country Club for the oldest and most prestigious trophy in Colorado amateur golf. They intend to treat it as a friendly battle among college chums.
“I guess the winner will get bragging rights for the year on our team,” said Brown, a sophomore-to-be from Arvada. “It’s going to be fun.”
Thursday afternoon, Brown finished his semifinal match in quick fashion and was able to cheer on Weston, a fifth-year senior from Lone Tree. Brown closed out Cheyenne’s Klinton Krieger 7 and 6 by draining a 35-foot par-saver on No. 12. Following a short break, Brown went back to watch Weston end his semifinal match on No. 16.
Weston rolled in a 12-foot par putt and claimed a 3 and 2 victory when CU senior-to-be Ryan Anderson of Greeley missed his par attempt from 6 feet.
Brown and Weston estimated they have played at least 30 rounds together, many of them afternoon practice rounds in Fort Collins.
“I’d much rather really smoke somebody I hated. It’s harder when you’re playing somebody you like,” Weston said. “But I’m a competitive guy. You can’t let a fifth-year senior get beat (by a sophomore).”
Brown figures to be a handful. The former Pomona all-stater gave a glimpse of his potential in April by setting a CSU record with a 9-under 63 at the Ping Cougar Classic in Provo, Utah.
“That 63 proved to me that every day is a new day,” said Brown, who had rounds of 77 and 75 in that tournament. “And it showed me that I was capable of low numbers.”
He never let down his guard against Krieger, a high school senior at Cheyenne Central and son of 1977 CGA Match Play champion Ken Krieger. Brown jumped to a 5-up lead after six holes.
“All my game is really solid right now,” Brown said.
Weston had to sweat in his semifinal match as Anderson led 1-up at the turn. But Weston, a former Highlands Ranch High School star, got hot with his putter on the back nine and birdied Nos. 10, 11, 14 and 15. It marked the first time Anderson trailed in this event in five matches.
“In match play, when you’re making putts, it really puts pressure on the other guy’s putting,” Weston said.
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
