Just as summer is winding down, Scott Radcliffe is heating up.
The 58-year-old from Golden, fresh off his wire-to-wire victory in last week’s CGA Senior Stroke Play Championship, continued his torrid play Monday by easily earning medalist honors in USGA Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifying at The Pinery Country Club in Parker.
The Rolling Hills Country Club member shot a 5-under-par 67 to win the qualifier by four strokes. Last week in the Senior Stroke Play, Radcliffe was 1 under par for three rounds at the formidable Cherry Creek Country Club.
“It feels good,” he said of his roll. “I couldn’t imagine it feeling much better. After the victory last week, I was very relaxed coming into today.”
In all, three players from the original field of 55 advance to the USGA Senior Amateur, which will be contested Oct. 2-7 at Lake Nona Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. Joining Radcliffe in qualifying at The Pinery were Kary Kaltenbacher, 57, of Englewood (71 Monday) and Stephen Bell, 58, of Denver (72). Bell prevailed on the third hole of a sudden-death playoff with Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Kent Moore. After each player parred the first two extra holes, Bell earned the final national berth with a bogey on the par-4 third.
Moore will be the first alternate, while three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk shot a 74 for the second alternate spot.
Radcliffe qualified for his sixth USGA championship and second USGA Senior Amateur, which is limited to players 55 and older. He’s also played in a U.S. Amateur, two U.S. Mid-Amateurs and a U.S. Senior Open.
USGA championships “are as big as it gets for amateur and pros,” said Radcliffe, a business consultant. “The USGA hosts the most important events. They’re at the top of the ledger.”
Radcliffe recorded six birdies — including four in a row on the front nine — and one bogey on Monday.
“I’m just in a groove,” said Radcliffe, who won the CGA Senior Stroke Play after having to qualify for the event.
USGA Senior Amateur Sectional Qualifying Results
At Par-72 Pinery CC in Parker
x-Qualified in Playoff
QUALIFIERS
Scott Radcliffe, Golden, Colo. 33-34–67
Kary Kaltenbacher, Englewood, Colo. 36-35–71
x-Stephen Bell, Denver, Colo. 37-35–72
ALTERNATES (IN ORDER)
Kent Moore, Littleton, Colo. 37-35–72
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo. 37-37–74
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo. 35-39–74
Edward Turner, Garland, Texas 36-39–75
James Collins, Castle Rock, Colo. 34-41–75
Jim Hollingsworth, Durango, Colo. 40-36–76
Roger Gunderson, Aurora, Colo. 37-39–76
Dan Grigsby, Thornton, Colo. 37-39–76
Bill Boyd, Greeley, Colo. 34-42–76
Doug Jones, Grand Junction, Colo. 39-37–76
David Merritt, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-37–77
Jerry Kidney, Littleton, Colo. 37-40–77
Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo. 38-39–77
Frank Wilkinson, Grand Junction, Colo. 38-39–77
Ronald Knapp, Parker, Colo. 37-41–78
Bob Berglund, Parker, Colo. 38-40–78
Larry Netherton, Littleton, Colo. 37-41–78
Chuck Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-38–78
Rick George, Greenwood Village, Colo. 39-39–78
Ted Warner, Greeley, Colo. 38-41–79
Fredrick Steffers, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-39–79
Robert Bulthaup, Centennial, Colo. 36-43–79
Harry Johnson, Edwards, Colo. 40-39–79
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo. 38-41–79
Kelly Crone, Littleton, Colo. 40-39–79
Steve Ivy, Fort Collins, Colo. 37-43–80
Jim Pierce, Oro Valley, Ariz. 41-39–80
Joe Morrill, Eagle, Colo. 38-42–80
Tom Kundinger, Denver, Colo. 38-42–80
Don Berthiaume, Littleton, Colo. 42-39–81
Stephen Barlow, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 40-41–81
Jim Reynolds, Denver, Colo. 39-42–81
Tom Keltner, Silverthorne, Colo. 45-37–82
John Boyles, Parker, Colo. 41-41–82
Steven Coyer, Avon, Colo. 43-40–83
Fred Artim, Palmdale, Calif. 40-43–83
James English, Boulder, Colo. 44-40–84
Paul Schickler, Des Moines, Iowa 43-41–84
Richard Banach, Aurora, Colo. 43-41–84
Jim Lemar, Littleton, Colo. 41-45–86
William Sumner, Tomball, Texas 48-41–89
Danny Wyrick, Arvada, Colo. 44-47–91
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo. WD
Duwayne Lewis, Cheyenne, Wyo. WD
Mark Runyan, Centennial, Colo. WD
Charlie Post, Castle Rock, Colo. WD
Jack Clevenger, Castle Rock, Colo. WD
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo. WD
Fred Cannataro, Castle Rock, Colo. WD
Ken Mesloh, Vail, Colo. WD
Jim Lydon, Denver, Colo. NC
David Brown, Highlands Ranch, Colo. NS
