BERTHOUD — Nicholas Lindheim already had a plan working in his head as soon as he saw the unique gifts he won Sunday.
Two Adirondack chairs made from skis went to the winner of The Ascendant golf tournament on the Korn Ferry Tour.
One colored to look like a Colorado flag and one a Wyoming flag.
Lindheim knows right where they’re going.
“Super cool. We have a nice backyard with a pool and we’re always back there, so that’s going to sit really nice back there,” the winner of The Ascendant’s 2023 edition said.
It’s a unique piece to win and a unique winner.
The Korn Ferry Tour is made up of a lot of young up-and-comer golfers, but Lindheim doesn’t quite fit that bill.
He’s 38 years old and typically competes on the PGA Tour, but he’s in a slow recovery from a significant back injury that completely sidelined him for four months and just recently he’s been ramping up again.
You would never know he was recovering with how he played Sunday and through the week.
Lindheim set a tournament record with a minus-20 total score (minus-17 was the previous best). This is the fifth edition of the pro tournament in Berthoud.
“I’ve taken a lot of time away from golf with my injury to be with my family. I think that’s really put me in a good place mentally,” said Lindheim after his third career Korn Ferry Tour win. “I know I can play well at the biggest stage.”
Lindheim shot a 66 (six strokes under par) on Sunday, with four birdies, an eagle and no bogeys. It was enough to chase down Alejandro Tosti, who suffered after three rounds and early Sunday looked set to run away.
Tosti got as low as minus-20 with a hot start to build a three-stroke lead, but three bogeys and a double bogey in his final 11 holes sank his chances and he finished fourth. Max Greyserman and Parker Coody made a run as well, but neither could pace with Lindheim’s consistency.
Greyserman finished second at minus-18 and Coody third at minus-17.
Lindheim said the only time he looked at the scoreboard was before he putt on No. 18 but knew he was in good shape.
His consistency led to the title. For the four days, he shot 66, 67, 69 and 66.
“I think 38 years old, in any other sport that’s pretty old,” Lindheim said. “It’s satisfying to know that I still have good golf ahead of me.”
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on Twitter and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: The Ascendant at TPC Colorado: Lindheim sets tournament record