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The Broadlands Golf Course Tournament Recap
Saturday, August 8, 2026
Front Range Summer Classic
The Mile High Denver Chapter of the Amateur Players Tour returned to action to play The Broadlands Golf Course on Saturday, August 8, for a day that could best be described with two simple words:
GO LOW!
Players arrived in a clear blue Colorado sky, although a smoky haze hung over the Front Range throughout the morning. With afternoon temperatures forecast to approach 100 degrees, everyone was preparing for a very hot day. Fortunately, a large cloud moved over the course and provided welcome relief, keeping the morning temperatures surprisingly pleasant.
The comfortable conditions apparently agreed with the field because low scores were everywhere at The Broadlands.
Four Exceptional Scores Highlight an Incredible Day
The quality of play was so impressive that three Exceptional Scores required verification by the APT National Competition Committee to ensure fairness to the entire field.
Gary Wayne fired a sensational 70 (-2) in Division 2, while Division 3 produced two Exceptional Scores of its own as Matt Gates shot 76 (+4) and Mack Mitchell finished just one stroke behind with a 77 (+5).
Anthony Mercadante had a CAREER BEST round at The Broadlands by shooting a fantastic 92 in Division 5. Anthony was very excited as this was his FIRST sub-100 round ever. Congratulations Anthony and keep up your hard work to getting better on the APT Denver Chapter!
Those were not the only players going low.
The Eagle Streak Lives On!
The Denver Chapter’s remarkable eagle streak continued at The Broadlands—and this time our tournament sponsor provided the fireworks.
David Killinger of lpt Realty kept the streak alive on the par-5 15th hole. After a booming drive, David hit a beautiful 9-iron that finished approximately 12 feet from the cup. He then calmly rolled in the putt for EAGLE!
The eagle also earned David one of only two Super Skins awarded during the tournament.
Congratulations, David—and thank you to David Killinger and lpt Realty for sponsoring the Front Range Summer Classic and adding $500 to the tournament prize pool.
The Birdie Parade Continues
Birdies were plentiful once again, and every division contributed to the parade.
Leading everyone was Lev Abramson with seven birdies, including an incredible stretch of three consecutive birdies on holes 15, 16 and 17.
Colin Armistead and Liam Ren recorded five birdies each. Jon Wangard, Tayte Andruss, Hendrik Orlowski and Gary Wayne each added four.
Wangard matched Abramson’s three-birdie streak with three consecutive birdies of his own on holes 10, 11 and 12!
Trevor Glen, Isiah Ellison-Evans, Kevin Moore, Robert Webb, and Chris Cannaverde each recorded three birdies.
Another outstanding display of golf from throughout the Denver APT field.
Division Championship Battles
Division 1 — A Horse Race to the Finish
Division 1 produced some of the finest golf we have seen all season.
Lev Abramson and Colin Armistead battled neck-and-neck throughout the back nine, with neither player willing to give ground. Abramson ultimately edged Armistead by a single stroke, firing a spectacular 69 (-3) to capture the Division 1 championship.
Armistead was equally impressive, finishing with a 70 (-2), while Liam Ren completed a remarkable top three with an even-par 72.
Three players at even par or better—that is some serious golf!
Division 2 — Gary Wayne Goes Low
Gary Wayne turned in one of the day’s most impressive performances, firing an Exceptional Score of 70 (-2) to claim the Division 2 championship.
Hendrik Orlowski mounted a strong challenge and finished second with an excellent 73 (+1), while Zach Rodriguez took third with a 74 (+2).
Three players at two-over or better made Division 2 another perfect example of the day’s Go Low theme.
Division 3 — Exceptional Golf at the Top
Division 3 produced not one, but two Exceptional Scores.
Matt Gates captured the championship with a terrific 76 (+4), but Mack Mitchell was right on his heels, finishing only one stroke behind with a 77 (+5).
Mark Cortese made it an impressive top three with a 78 (+6).
Only two strokes separated first through third in another highly competitive Denver APT division.
Division 4 — Three Players, One Playoff, One Champion
Division 4 provided the greatest drama of the tournament.
Steve Pickens, Pete Lupfer and Payton Luebe all finished regulation play at 85, creating a three-way tie for the championship.
The three competitors headed back to the 10th hole for an on-course playoff.
Pickens immediately grabbed the advantage from the tee with a booming right-to-left draw that left him less than 100 yards from the green. Lupfer and Luebe both came up short with their approach shots, while Pickens found the green—but left himself a challenging 30-to-35-foot putt from above and right of the hole.
Pete and Payton both hit nice chips but narrowly missed their par putts.
Steve then gave his competitors a glimpse of hope when his first putt rolled approximately five feet past the cup.
With the Division 4 championship on the line, Pickens calmly stepped up and buried the comeback putt for par and the victory!
And that win could have major implications.
Pickens entered The Broadlands fourth in the Denver Division 4 Player of the Year standings, and this victory will move him closer to fellow contenders Addie Berube, Steve Brown,and Jeff Fulkerson.
With three tournaments remaining plus the Denver Local Finals in September, all four players can still win the Division 4 Player of the Year title and prize money.
This one could go right down to the final holes of the season!
Division 5 — Tribble Takes the Title
Tom Tribble, visiting from the APT Houston Chapter, turned in an excellent round of 86 (+14) to capture the Division 5 championship.
Michael Elder continued his strong season with a second-place 90, while Anthony Mercadante finished third with a 92.
Mid-Am Net — Another Exceptional Number
The low scoring continued in the Mid-Am Net competition.
Mack Mitchell capped an outstanding day by winning the Mid-Am Net championship with a tremendous 66 (-6).
Division 3 champion Matt Gates nearly added a second trophy of his own, finishing just one stroke behind at 67 (-5). Cody Canzona took third at 68 (-4), while Jon Wangard finished fourth with a 69 (-3).
Four players under par and the top three at four-under or better—another remarkable leaderboard.
Senior Net — Cortese Goes Five Under
Mark Cortese captured the Senior Net championship with an outstanding 67 (-5).
Tom Tribble nearly added a second victory to his Division 5 championship, finishing runner-up with a 70 (-2). Scott Rowley and Pete Lupfer tied for third at 71 (-1).
Closest to the Pin
The locally sponsored Closest-to-the-Pin contests once again produced two outstanding shots.
Mack Mitchell captured the CTP on Hole #6 when his tee shot finished just 3 feet, 1 inch from the cup.
Hendrik Orlowski went even closer on Hole #14, knocking his tee shot to an impressive 2 feet, 8 inches.
Congratulations to Mack and Hendrik!
Folds of Honor 50/50 Raffle
The Denver Chapter continued its support of Folds of Honor, and our players once again stepped up for a tremendous cause.
This tournament’s raffle raised $420, with $210 donated to Folds of Honor.
And Cole Mietzner proved it only takes ONE ticket to win!
Cole’s single ticket was the winner, earning him the other $210.
Thank you to everyone who participated. Your continued generosity helps Folds of Honor provide educational scholarships to the families of America’s fallen and disabled military members and first responders.
Up Next: University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch
There is not much time to rest!
The Mile High Denver Chapter heads next to the University of Denver Golf Club at Highlands Ranch on Monday, August 17, with tee times beginning at 12:00 p.m.
With the Denver Player of the Year races heating up and only a handful of tournaments remaining before the Local Finals, every tournament, every point, and every shot is becoming increasingly important.
The finish to the 2026 Denver APT season is shaping up to be an exciting one.
Congratulations to all of our Broadlands champions, prize winners, and competitors—and thank you to David Killinger and lpt Realty for helping make the Front Range Summer Classic another outstanding Denver Amateur Players Tour event!
