Fifteen golfers, including three from Colorado, punched their tickets to the 53rd CoBank Colorado Open as they advanced through the first of four qualifying tournaments being held in the next week and a half.
U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and University of Denver signee Jackson Solem of Longmont shot a 5-under-par 67 at Highlands Ranch Golf Club and shared seventh place out of the 88-man field. Also making an eagle and five birdies and carding a 67 on Thursday was Sam Marley of Centennial, a Univesity of Northern Colorado golfer who won the 2014 Colorado Junior Match Play. And University of Wisconsin-bound Griffin Barela of Lakewood, the 2016 Colorado Junior Match Play winner, prevailed in an 11-man playoff at 69 by making birdie on the first hole of sudden death.
Joining the three Coloradans in qualifying for the $250,000 Colorado Open, which is set for July 20-23 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver: Ben Hargis of Amarillo, Texas (10 birdies in a 9-under-par 63), Justis Searles of Mesa, Ariz. (65), Zack Baker of Scottsdale, Ariz. (65), David Rose of Vancouver, B.C. (66), Brandon Kita of Layton, Utah (66), Hans Reimers of Oregon City (66), Jordan Rodgers of Salt Lake City (67), Tayler Termeer of Lakeway, Texas (67), Ryan O’Read of Belton, Texas (67), Dalan Refioglu of Foster City, Calif. (68), Ryan Lenahan of Charlotte, N.C. (68), and Samuel Smith of Fredricksburg, Texas (68).
Other qualifying tournaments are set for July 11 at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle, and July 13 and 17 at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster.
For scores from Thursday, CLICK HERE.
