On a day four players with strong Colorado connections finished in the top half of the field, Dale Smigelsky of Fort Collins played his last six holes in 3 under par on Thursday to shoot a 1-over-par 71 in the U.S. Senior Open in Peabody, Mass.
Smigelsky, the PGA director of golf at Collindale Golf Course who is competing in his first senior major, was 4 over par through 11 holes at Salem Country Club, but birdied Nos. 4, 6 and 7 on his back nine to finish round 1 in 57th place. The top 60 players and ties after two rounds will make the cut.
Earlier this month, Smigelsky (pictured) finished seventh in the CoBank Colorado Senior Open and 27th at the national PGA Professional Championship.
Meanwhile, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe opened with an even-par 70, good for a share of 41st place. Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo matched Smigelsky’s 71. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, winner of two U.S. Senior Opens and three U.S. Opens, shot his age (72) on Thursday and is tied for 72nd place.
Amateur Charlie Post of Castle Rock, who made it into the field after being an alternate in this month’s qualifying tournament in Littleton, opened with an 82.
Kirk Triplett tied the single-round U.S. Senior Open scoring record by shooting an 8-under-par 62 to grab the first-round lead.
U.S. Senior Open
June 29-July 2, 2017 at Salem CC in Peabody, Mass.
41. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 70
57. Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 71
57. Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo 71
72. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin 72
156. Amateur Charlie Post, Castle Rock 82
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
