Caine Fitzgerald of Parker endured a roller-coaster ride over the final three holes on Wednesday, but he definitely ended up at one of the highest points of his golf career.
The reigning Colorado PGA Professional champion needed to finish in the top 20 at the PGA Professional National Championship in Sunriver, Ore., to qualify for the PGA Championship — and he was on the bubble throughout the day.
Fitzgerald (pictured last year) did earn a much-coveted spot in the first major championship of his life, but it wasn’t easy.
“It’s very surreal,” he told COgolf.org on Thursday after returning to Colorado. “… The PGA (Championship) doesn’t even feel real — even still.”
The assistant professional at Murphy Creek Golf Course in Aurora made a 5-foot birdie putt on No. 16 Wednesday. But he fanned a 5-iron off the tee on the par-3 17th and his ball ended up just a foot from a hazard line. He chipped on and then three-putted from 50 feet to card a double bogey. But he bounced back to hit a wedge within 4 feet at No. 18 and drain the birdie putt to avoid a playoff by one shot.
“The range of emotions was very broad (at 17),” he said. “I was mad — that’s as kind of word as I can use — and embarrassed. I made a mess of 17. But I pounded my tee shot on 18, put a wedge on and made the putt.”
The 39-year-old left-hander finished with a 1-over-par 73 on Wednesday and posted an even-par 287 total, good for a tie for 14th place. With that, the former Iowa Open champion punched his ticket to the year’s final major championship, the PGA, which is set for Aug. 8-11 at Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, N.Y.
“That will be my first major, first (PGA) Tour event, first everything,” he said. “I grew up in Iowa and did the John Deere (PGA Tour) qualifier and missed out in playoffs in back-to-back years. I thought I’d have the opportunity (to play in a Tour event), but it took a while.”
After completing his round on Wednesday, Fitzgerald checked out the scores and did a brief interview with the Golf Channel. By the time he made it to his vehicle, he said he had 55 congratulatory text messages awaiting him.
“That was remarkable,” he said. “I’ve never had anything like that happen. I heard from people back in Iowa, from a lot of amateurs and pros. It meant a lot.”
This was Fitzgerald’s sixth PGA Professional National Championship, but the first time he’s made the cut.
“I thought if I could make the cut, it was a free throw the rest of the way — all bets are off,” he said. “The cut has always been a very large hurdle for me.”
Meanwhile, another member of the Colorado PGA also placed in the top 40 on Wednesday. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs closed with a 70 to post a 290 total, good for 34th place. Perhaps not coincidentally, Northern and Fitzgerald shared a rented house during the tournament.
But by midday Thursday, it was back to real life. Fitzgerald was already at work at Murphy Creek ready to give a lesson and return to his duties as a PGA professional.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans who earned spots in the PGA Professional National Championship: 14. Caine Fitzgerald of Parker 71-68-75-73–287; 34. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 71-72-77-70–290; Cut: Micah Rudosky of Cortez 71-76–147; Cut: Barry Milstead of Castle Rock 72-75–147; Cut: Rob Hunt of Highlands Ranch 73-75–148; Cut: Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale 73-76–149; Cut: Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock 75-77–152; Cut: John Ogden of Castle Rock 74-80–154; Cut: Chris Johnson 77-81–158.
Meanwhile, 2001 CGA Stroke Play champion Marty Jertson finished 49th at 293.
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
