PORTLAND, Ore. – The fall collegiate golf season may have been pushed to the spring of 2021, but Jon Holzgang is still playing at the top of his game. This weekend the Bushnell junior completed a full-circle, career-defining moment as he won the Club Men’s Championship at Columbia Edgewater Country Club.
It was not just any summertime tournament for the Tigard, Oregon native. Having played at the course ever since he was a junior golfer, Jon grew up watching his dad, Chris Holzgang win the club championship multiple times, even shooting the old course record (64) during the tournament. The elder Holzgang won the CECC championship four times during his career with his last victory came in 2009.
“I have always wanted to be like my dad,” said Jon, “and I’ve always wanted to put my name on the same trophy that he has his name on four times.”
It wasn’t an easy path to the title by any stretch as Holzgang competed in the championship for the second time. Friday’s first round saw him shoot a one-over 72 as he sat three shots off the pace. Saturday included six birdies and a three-under back nine as he was one of just two golfers in the 45-man field to hit par, shooting a 71. He carried a share of the lead into the clubhouse.
Holzgang said, “CECC has been in unbelievable shape and the course is beautiful. I shot well over the first two days with some really tough pins and conditions and I was very content.”
The final round started with back-to-back birdies but the front nine ended with Jon shooting a bogie and double. Needing a little boost as he was fighting for a title, Holzgang new exactly where to turn for some inspiration. “My parents had been watching me the entire day and when I stepped on the 10th tee, I waved over to my dad and said, ‘why don’t you caddy for me and let’s win this thing.’”
With the former champion by his side, Holzgang birdied two of the next three holes and held on to shoot a 73 and win the event by one stroke. “It was such a cool experience having family and friends there watching me and coming through,” said Holzgang. “Especially with my dad right by my side, experiences like these make me so grateful to play the game I love.”