Several Coloradans were oh-so-close to qualifying for the 2018 Senior PGA Championship on Sunday, but couldn’t quite get over the hump in Scottsdale, Ariz.
With the top 35 finishers out of the 264-person field at the national Senior PGA Professional Championship earning berths into next May’s Senior PGA, Chris Johnson of Castle Rock finished one stroke out of a playoff for the 35th spot, Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale two, and Rick Cole of Eaton three.
Johnson, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion, finished 38th on Sunday in Scottsdale after his only bogey of his final 13 holes came on the 16th hole at Desert Mountain. He posted a 4-over-par 292 total after carding rounds of 69-74-74-75.
Rohrbaugh, a former PGA Tour Champions competitor who has won three Colorado PGA Pro Championships, checked in at 293 — two out of a playoff — after making birdie on his final hole for a 74 on Sunday. A triple bogey on his eighth hole on Sunday was a big blow as he finished 43rd.
And Cole, who like Johnson was inside the top 35 going into the final round, shot a final-round 76 to tie for 49th at 294. For the second consecutive day, he double bogeyed his final hole. Cole made two double bogeys on Sunday to go with three birdies and three bogeys.
The fourth Coloradan to make the 54-hole cut, 2007 national champion Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, placed 69th at 299 after a final-round 78.
Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J. captured the title on Sunday by five with a 12-under 276 total.
Last year, Mike Northern of Colorado Springs finished fourth in the national Senior PGA Professional Championship and easily qualified for the Senior PGA.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans who competed in Scottsdale:
38. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74-74-75–292
43. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73-74-74–293
49. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70-75-76–294
69. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75-73-73–221
MISSED 54-HOLE CUT
100. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73-74-86–233
MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Bill Hancock of Highlands Ranch, Littleton GC 75-76–151
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Life Member 74-78–152
Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 80-74–154
Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, Life Member 77-79–156
Don Hurter of Sedalia, Castle Pines GC DQ
For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
