The week after a 59-year-old came ever so close to winning the British Open, don’t be surprised if players who could be Tom Watson’s grandsons are in contention for the title in the HealthOne Colorado Open.
A player in his young 20s has won the Colorado Open just a handful of times since the tournament debuted in 1964. Among those who have pulled off the feat are Willie Wood (23 in 1984), Brian Guetz (20 in 1994) and Kevin Stadler (22 in 2002). Others, such as Hale Irwin and Phil Mickelson, were in contention but couldn’t close the deal as young men.
But no one should be shocked if the Colorado Open adds to its short list of under-25 champions on Sunday, given the stature of young players competing this year. Indeed, it’s safe to say the lineup of brand-new pros playing this week is one of the best the tournament has ever had. Five players ranked among the top 50 college golfers in the nation at the end of the 2008-09 season — including one returning collegian — will tee it up at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver beginning Thursday.
Those five include the third-place finisher in the NCAA Championships, and five 2009 All-Americans (one on the second team, one on the third, and three honorable mentions).
The names represent some of the finest amateur golfers Colorado has produced this decade: Derek Tolan, Pat Grady, Tom Glissmeyer, Steve Ziegler and Zen Brown.
Add in Trent Leon, who just finished his Oklahoma State golf career as a third-team All-American, and you have a formidable group.
“All of those players have a legitimate shot,” said Grady, who like Tolan is a recent University of Colorado graduate. “And Green Valley sets up well for younger players. It’s a bombers’ course. And a lot of those (aforementioned) guys hit the ball deep.”
Another under-25 player who should be put among the favorites is U.S. Open qualifier and dominant Gateway Tour player Charlie Beljan, a 24-year-old who turned pro two years ago.
Of course, there are also plenty of older players who figure to be in contention to win the Open this week — among them John Douma, Brian Kortan and Guetz, the defending champion. All in all, there are plenty of formidable players competing at Green Valley Ranch.
“The field is incredible,” Tolan said. “It’s packed. Short of a Nationwide tournament, this is as good a field as we’ll see.”
Here’s a brief look at some of the top Colorado Open entrants under age 25, in alphabetical order.
— Charlie Beljan (24): Former University of New Mexico player qualified for the U.S. Open the last two years. He’s won three times on the Gateway Tour this year.
— Zahkai Brown (19): Colorado State golfer was Freshman of the Year in the Mountain West Conference last season, when he won one college tournament. Former Colorado state high school champion has qualified for the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Publinks in the last 12 months, and last month won the CGA Publinks.
— Zen Brown (22): Zahkai’s older brother turned pro this summer after a solid career at CSU, where he finished fourth in the Mountain West Conference in stroke average as a senior. Winner of the 2005 CGA Publinks and the 2007 CGA Match Play.
— Tom Glissmeyer (22): Colorado Springs resident turned pro after finishing third in the 2009 NCAA Championships. An honorable mention All-American as a senior at Southern Cal. Finished sixth two years ago at the Colorado Open after shooting 63-64 the first two rounds. Qualified for the 2003 U.S. Open as a 16-year-old.
— Pat Grady (23): CGA Player of the Year in 2007 and 2008 turned pro recently after winning two college tournaments as a senior at CU and being named an honorable mention All-American. Broomfield resident earned low-amateur honors by finishing sixth overall at last year’s Colorado Open.
— Trent Leon (23): Recently turned pro after being a third-team All-American as a senior at Oklahoma State. Played on the team that represented the U.S. in the Palmer Cup, a Ryder Cup-style competition against the Europeans.
— Derek Tolan (23): A two-time winner of college tournaments as a senior at CU, Tolan recently went pro and won the San Juan Open. Has qualified for 10 USGA championships, including the 2002 U.S. Open as a 16-year-old. Was an honorable mention All-American as a CU senior.
— Tom Whitney (20): As a junior at the Air Force Academy last season, Whitney won two tournaments and established the lowest stroke average in AFA history. Recently advanced to the second round of match play in the U.S. Publinks.
— Steve Ziegler (20): Broomfield resident was second-team All-American as a sophomore at Stanford last season, and played for the U.S. in the Palmer Cup. Advanced to round of 16 at the British Amateur. Two-time state high school champion recently won the CGA Match Play title.
