Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle Vail shot a 1-under-par 71 and shares 20th place after Sunday’s first round of the national PGA Professional Championship in Verona, N.Y.
Papadopoulos, from Red Sky Golf Club, made four birdies and three bogeys on Sunday, leaving him four strokes behind co-leaders Ryan Helminen of Menasha, Wis., and Craig Bowden of Bloomington, Ind., with three rounds remaining.
Papadopoulos was one of nine Coloradans who qualified for the national tournament by virtue of their performances last September in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship. Next best Sunday out of the group was former PGA Championship qualifier Caine Fitzgerald of Parker, who posted a 73 and shares 61st place.
Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, winner of the last three Colorado PGA Professional Championships, opened with a 74.
The top 20 finishers on Wednesday out of the original field of 312 will earn spots in next month’s PGA Championship at Baltusrol.
Here are the scores for the Coloradans at the PPC:
20. Ari Papadopoulos of Eagle Vail 71
61. Caine Fitzgerald of Parker 73
95. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale 74
95. Kyle Voska of Highlands Ranch 74
200. Jeff Hanson of Edwards 77
200. Barry Milstead of Centennial 77
230. Erik Billinger of Highlands Ranch 78
230. Doug Wherry of Littleton 78
278. Rob Hunt of Highlands Ranch 80
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
