Making Headway

Coloradan Andy Connell jumps up to 11th place in national Assistant PGA Professional Championship

By Gary Baines - 11/13/2021

Back-to-back rounds of 2-under-par 70 have lifted Andy Connell of The Ridge at Castle Pines North into 11th place — out of a 133-person field — with one day left in the national Assistant PGA Professional Championship, sponsored by National Car Rental, in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Connell, son of Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Tom Connell, stands at 4-under-par 212, eight strokes back of leader Jin Chung of Georgia.

Connell, the 2021 Colorado PGA Associate Player of the Year, made six birdies and four bogeys on Saturday at PGA Golf Club. 

Meanwhile, Ben Lanting of Bear Creek Golf Club, who was in the top 10 after each of the first two days, dropped into 33rd place on Saturday after a 75 that included an eagle, two birdies, two bogeys, a double bogey and a triple bogey. That wild round left him at 215.

The 72-hole tournament, which features a $150,000 purse, will conclude on Sunday.

Gunner Wiebe, the 2010 CGA Player of the Year, won the national championship last year but isn’t defending his title as he’s left his job as a PGA assistant professional.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing at PGA Golf Club:

11. Andy Connell, The Ridge at Castle Pines North 72-70-70—212

33. Ben Lanting, Bear Creek GC 70-70-75—215

Missed 36-Hole Cut

80. Geoff Keffer, Lakewood CC 74-76–150

96. Ryan Wróblewski, Colorado GC 77-73–150

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.