Columbine Country Club, par 72, 7250 yards
Columbine Country Club, Littleton, Colo. – University of Colorado senior Ben Portie of Westminster, Colo. recently ended his amateur career with the NCAA’s, and will start his professional career trying to keep Tiger Woods from his Grand Slam. Portie fired an opening round 68 and backed it with a 67 to finish nine-under par (135) at Columbine Country Club in Littleton, Colo. to earn medalist honors as low qualifier for the U.S. Open Championship, which he will play in as a professional. In 2001, Portie was the 11th qualifier for match play out of a field of 312 at the U.S. Amateur played at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta, Georgia. Portie also finished as third low amateur in the 2001 Colorado Open, and has won the last two CGA State Amateur Public Links Championships by seven-stroke margins of victory.
Three players tied at 139 for the second qualifying spot. 16-year-old amateur Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Colo., PGA Tour Professional Mike Reid from Provo, Utah, and Mike Zaremba of Pueblo, Colo. entered a three-way playoff to determine the second qualifier and the first two alternate positions. On the first playoff hole, Tolan dramatically chipped in for a birdie to earn the second qualifying position for the U.S. Open. Tolan is a 16-year junior-to-be at ThunderRidge High School. Earlier this year, Tolan tied for second at 2002 AJGA Arizona Junior Classic. In 2001 he shot 63 at Murphy Creek Golf Course to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Championship in Atlanta, just weeks after qualifying for and playing in the 2001 U.S. Junior Amateur in San Antonio. Zaremba earned the first alternate position, and Reid is the second alternate.
Portie and Tolan will play in the U.S. Open Championship held June 13-16 at Bethpage State park (Black Course) in Farmingdale, New York.
(a)=amateur
QUALIFIERS
Ben Portie, Westminster, Colo., 68-67–135
(a) Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 70-69–139
ALTERNATES IN ORDER
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo., 73-66–139
Mike Reid, Provo, Utah, 69-70–139
Scott Gutschewski, Omaha, Neb., 71-71–142
(a) Brian Smith, Lubbock, Texas, 73-69–142
OTHERS
Brian Guetz, Scottsdale, Ariz., 74-68–142
Jason Allen, Pueblo, Colo., 69-74–143
(a) Jesse Mueller, Mesa, Ariz., 69-75–144
John Douma, Scottsdale, Ariz., 73-71–144
Patrick Lee, Little Rock, Ark., 74-70–144
Matt Schalk, Boulder, Colo., 73-71–144
Jared Shears, Roy, Utah, 71-73–144
(a) Billy Thompson, Great Falls, Mont., 72-73–145
Mike Northern, Colorado Spring, Colo., 71-74–145
Chad Lydiatt, Lincoln, Neb., 75-71–146
(a) Mitch Carlson, Las Vegas, Nev., 72-74–146
(a) Anthony Giarratano, Denver, Colo., 75-72–147
Jeff Yurkiewicz, Mesa, Ariz., 76-71–147
Brad Church, Las Vegas, Nev., 73-77–150
John Sosa, Austin, Texas, 77-73–150
(a) Sam Proal, Denver, Colo., 75-75–150
(a) Kenny Coakley, Lakewood, Colo., 74-77–151
(a) Thomas Hart, Englewood, Colo., 76-75–151
(a) Jerry Ledzinski, Carmel, Calif., 80-73–153
Erik Stone, Denver, Colo., 77-78–155
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo., 79-77–156
Paul Hebinck, Denver, Colo., 80-82–162
Paul Spangler, Mesa, Ariz., 83-85–168
Roy Christensen, Spanish Fork, Utah, 75-WD–WD
Rick Todd, El Paso, Texas, 79-DQ–DQ
