In the first 13 years of the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, players from all over the West, South and Midwest have taken home the top prize.
Champions have come from California, Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Arkansas, Minnesota and Texas.
There have been winners from Colorado, too, but perhaps not as many as you’d expect. Three professionals based in the state — Mike Zaremba (2005), Dave Arbuckle (2007) and Bill Loeffler (2009) — have earned the trophy, along with part-time Coloradan John Olive, an amateur who won in 1999.
But given how the leaderboard stands going into the final round this year, there’s a good chance Colorado professionals will add to their victory total on Friday.
Out of the top six players after two rounds at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, four are Colorado PGA members. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, the head professional at Ironbridge Golf Club, maintained a large lead despite a very windy second day of the $50,000 tournament.
Despite making four bogeys in six holes on the back nine Thursday, Rohrbaugh (pictured) will take a four-stroke lead into Friday’s final round. He finished with a birdie Thursday to shoot a 2-over-par 74, good for a 5-under 139 total.
“There’s pride in (club professionals) winning because there’s guys here who only play full-time,” Rohrbaugh said. “That’s all they do. It would be nice if you can beat them. That feels pretty good for guys working. It’s hard for me. I haven’t played much competition this year at all. I’ve played two or three pro-ams. That’s it.”
Though Rohrbaugh’s closest pursuer is four back, he has a formidable resume. Colorado Springs native R.W. Eaks has won four Champions Tour events in his career and captured the 2011 Colorado Senior Open title.
Especially if there’s more wind on Friday, Rohrbaugh knows the final round will be anything but a walk in the park.
“You never feel comfortable,” said the 51-year-old, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Senior Open. “If it were to blow like this tomorrow, nothing is safe. It’s just not.”
Eaks shot an even-par 72 on Thursday morning to stand at 143. If Rohrbaugh and/or Eaks plays well in the final round, it could be a two-man race on Friday, given that the next-best players are three behind Eaks.
Tied at 146 are Ron Vlosich of Lakewood (74 Thursday), Mike Northern of Colorado Springs (74), Doug Perry of Fort Collins (73) and Gary Rusnak of Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. (78). Vlosich is a five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year, while Northern has won that award four times. Rohrbaugh was the Section’s Senior Player of the Year in 2012.
Northern was making a run at Rohrbaugh despite winds in excess of 20 mph on Thursday afternoon. The head professional at Valley Hi Golf Course was 4 under par after sinking a 25-foot eagle putt on his 11th hole, but he went 6 over on his last seven, including a double bogey on his final hole.
“I made some bad decisions,” said Northern, who’s playing in his first Colorado Senior Open. “I was making good decisions for 11 holes, then the last seven it was just bad decision-making and I didn’t get her in the house quick enough.”
The flag-stretching wind certainly didn’t help matters. It wasn’t unusual for players hitting into the wind to be using three or four clubs more than on Wednesday.
The result was that 160 — 16 over par — made the cut into the final round. A total of 61 players advanced.
The average score for Thursday was 83.24, four strokes higher than on Wednesday.
“You were going to have to make some good shots or good putts to make pars, period,” Rohrbaugh said. “That’s the toughest I’ve ever had to play that golf course. It was brutal, just brutal. There’s just no two ways about it. … So to come out of the day 2 over, I’m happy. I can’t complain.
“It’s funny how I’ve always done well in tough conditions. I’ve been around a long time like all these guys and I realize par is a good score.”
The winner Friday will receive an $8,500 check.
In the competition for low amateur, Guy Mertz of Longmont (74-78–152) is two ahead of second-place Sean Forey of Morrison (75-79–154) and Michael Mercier of Jupiter, Fla. (76-78–154).
For Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.
