Adding to Their Lead

Thayer/Rusin team will take 3-stroke lead into final round of CGA Four-Ball after firing 62 on Saturday

By Gary Baines - 5/1/2021

Chris Thayer of Golden and partner Bryan Rusin of Overland Park Golf Course are two-thirds of the way to going wire-to-wire for a victory in the CGA Four-Ball Championship at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.

Thayer, winner of three CGA Mid-Amateur and a member of the CGA board of directors, and Rusin improved on their first-round better-ball total by two in firing a 10-under-par 62 on Saturday, leaving them with a three-stroke lead heading into Sunday’s final round.

Rusin shot 6-under-par 66 on his own ball on Saturday, while Thayer managed a 67. Between them, they made an eagle (Rusin on 11), 11 birdies and two bogeys. On three holes on Saturday, both made birdie.  

Only one twosome in the 52-team field trails Thayer and Rusin by less than five after two rounds. Ryan Gumbel of Meridian Golf Club and Neil Metz of Flatirons Golf Course are three back after matching the leaders’ 62 on Saturday. Gumbel and Metz recorded 10 better-ball birdies on day 2 after opening with a 67 on Friday.

Two teams share third place at 13 under par — five back of Thayer and Rusin. That includes defending champions Charlie Soule of CommonGround Golf Course and Charlie Sahlman of Cherry Creek Country Club, who fired a second-round 66 that featured one better-ball bogey. Also at 13 under are Jack Pedersen of Legacy Ridge and Jack Cummings of Omni Interlocken Resort, who carded a second-round 64 that included an eagle on the par-4 15th hole by Pedersen.

After two nice-weather days, rain is in the forecast for the afternoon on Sunday, when the tournament will conclude.

For all the scores from Legacy Ridge, CLICK HERE.