It’s like it’s 1983 again for John Elway, only without the NFL-style hazing and the bone-jarring hits.
After competing four times in the HealthOne Colorado Open golf tournament, Elway is set to make his debut in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for players 50 and older.
“I’ll do that for the first time,” he said. “I’ll be a rookie again.”
Kind of like in 1983, when Elway joined the Denver Broncos as a quarterback straight out of Stanford.
Elway will be one of 156 competitors in the Senior Open, which runs Wednesday through Friday (Sept. 1-3) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. Elway has made one cut in four attempts at the Colorado Open — he failed to qualify for the weekend this summer, shooting 82-70 at Green Valley Ranch — but the field at the Senior Open won’t be so formidable and the course won’t be set up as long.
Elway will tee off at 8:06 a.m. on Wednesday and at 12:36 p.m. on Thursday.
Though the former QB, who turned 50 in late June, will be by far the most recognizable player in the field, he won’t be the only ex-Bronco competing. Also teeing it up will be another amateur who used to wear orange jerseys on Sundays: former offensive lineman Glenn Hyde.
Others in the field include numerous notable professionals: Danny Edwards, a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who tied for second in the Senior Open last year; defending champion Bill Loeffler and Mike Zaremba, both of whom have won both the Colorado Open and the Colorado Senior Open; two-time Open champion Jim Blair; Rick DeWitt, six-time CGA Player of the Year when he was still an amateur; Ron Vlosich, who’s played in both the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior PGA Championship this year; Jeff Klein, who placed ninth at the 2008 U.S. Senior Open at the Broadmoor; and Joe Stansberry, who’s finished first and second in the last two Colorado Senior Opens.
COLORADO SENIOR OPEN FACTS & FIGURES
WHAT: The 11th annual HealthOne Colorado Senior Open.
WHEN: Wednesday through Friday (Sept. 1-3).
WHERE: Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road). Green Valley Ranch will measure 6,911 yards and will play to a par-72 for the Senior Open.
FORMAT: 54 holes of stroke play. A total of 156 players — all 50 and over — will start, with the field cut to the low 55 and ties after two rounds.
PURSE: $50,000 (including super senior and amateur prizes), with $8,500 going to the top professional finisher.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Bill Loeffler, who won last year by five strokes.
TEE TIMES: 7:30 a.m.-1:53 p.m. off the first and 10th tees Wednesday and Thursday. Friday — to be determined.
ADMISSION: Free.
