Maybe it was the Tiger Woods golf cap he wore. Maybe it was the six 3s on his front-9 scorecard. Maybe it was the chip-in for birdie on his final hole.
Whatever it was, it added up to a victory that seemed to take even the champion by surprise.
Dan O’Shaughnessy, the head professional at Fitzsimons Golf Course in Aurora, notched the biggest win of his career on Wednesday, claiming the FCA Denver Open by two strokes at Colorado National Golf Club in Erie.
“This came out of nowhere,” said O’Shaughnessy, who noted his previous top golf accomplishment was making the cut at last month’s HealthOne Colorado Open. “I’m sure if you asked any of the other players, they would say, “˜O’Shaughnessy won?'”
Indeed, O’Shaughnessy ranks 25th on the Colorado PGA’s 2009 player points list, but he certainly didn’t look the part this week.
The 39-year-old shot a 5-under-par 67 Wednesday for a two-day total of 8-under 136. He played his last seven holes in 4 under par to overcome his closest competition, Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins and Derek Eley of Westminster, who tied for second at 138. O’Shaughnessy earned $4,500 for the victory, while Smigelsky and Eley received $2,500 each. Five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year Ron Vlosich finished fourth at 139.
Smigelsky birdied five straight holes on the back nine at Colorado National to shoot 67 on Wednesday, but it wasn’t quite enough for the 2003 Colorado PGA Section champion.
O’Shaughnessy wasn’t even in the field for the Denver Open until he received an invitation from tournament director Tom Krause two weeks ago. He jumped at the opportunity because Colorado National will also host the Colorado PGA Section Championship Sept. 14-16.
But O’Shaughnessy certainly wasn’t envisioning winning the title.
“I’m a journeyman,” he said. “I was psyched that I made the cut at the Colorado Open last month (finishing 70th), so this is surreal. I’m so ecstatic. I’m a little unsure that (the scoreboard) says 136.”
O’Shaughnessy figured he was in line for a top-five finish when he stood 1 under par for the day — and 4 under for the tournament — through his first 11 holes (7-17) on Wednesday. But he closed with a flurry, making four birdies in his last seven holes and three in his last four holes. The capper was a 20-foot chip-in for birdie on his final hole — one of the six 3s he posted en route to a 5-under 31 on the front nine at Colorado National.
“It was tough at the end when the course firmed up,” he said. “Luckily I found a way to put the ball in the hole. The 69 (Tuesday) was one of my better rounds. To back it up with the nerves going today, it was as good as I’ve played” in tournaments of this caliber.
FCA DENVER OPEN
(Final Results)
At Par-72 Colorado National GC in Erie
Dan O’Shaughnessy, Aurora 69-67–136
Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 71-67–138
Derek Eley, Westminster 68-70–138
Ron Vlosich 68-71–139
Caine Fitzgerald, Aurora 68-72–140
Jay Osmon, Alamosa 71-70–141
Jason Allen, Pueblo 74-69–143
Perry Holmes, Louisville 74-70–144
Graham Cliff, Parker 73-71–144
Pat Reidy, Highlands Ranch 70-74–144
Barry Milstead, Centennial 72-73–145
Rob Hunt, Highlands Ranch 71-74–145
Chris Johnson, Castle Rock 72-73–145
Matt Schalk, Erie 76-70–146
Jeff Seltz, Golden 72-74–146
Mike Zaremba, Pueblo 74-72–146
Barry Jennings, Longmont 70-77–147
Mike McCutchen, Aurora 75-72–147
Geoff Keffer 77-70–147
Erik Billinger, Highlands Ranch 73-74–147
Gregg Jones, Colorado Springs 74-74–148
Bryan Heim, Cherry Hills 72-77–149
Adran Posey, Westminster 73-76–149
Bobby Quarantino, Arvada 75-74–149
Craig Stephens 77-73–150
Jim Johnson, Golden 75-75–150
Andy Clavin, Englewood 77-73–150
Rick Ellefson, Parker 77-73–150
Paul Surniak 75-76–151
Larry Collins, Broomfield 78-73–151
John Buffalo 75-76–151
Lindsay Senger, Boulder 75-77–152
Seth Berliner, Ravenna 77-75–152
Tom Krause, Centennial 80-74–154
Greg Dillon, Canon City 78-76–154
Will Panela 78-77–155
Matt Marino, Littleton 76-80–156
Jason Brandt, Highlands Ranch 77-79–156
Stacey Hart 84-75–159
Eric Schumpeter, Aurora78-81–159
Rick Cole, Eaton 82-78–160
George Kahrhoff, Castle Pines 80-81–161
Doug Wherry 75-86–161
Jason Dumler, Erie 86-76–162
Robert Cooley, Parker 80-82–162
Andy St. Louis 77-87–164
Mark McCarthy, Highlands Ranch 86-80–166
Kevin Eli, Littleton 87-81–168
Matt Livingston, Littleton 85-84–169
