Derek Tolan has accomplished plenty in Colorado during his golf career, and on Sunday, he added to his local resume.
The Highlands Ranch resident and former University of Colorado golfer (left) cruised to a seven-stroke victory at the 57th Navajo Trail Open at Hillcrest Golf Club in Durango. The win was worth $5,500.
Tolan, who took a three-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round, shot rounds of 67-68-65 for a 13-under-par 200 total, the best in the history of the tourament. Wil Collins, winner of the 2005 Colorado Open, and former BYU golfer Justin Keiley shared second place at 207.
Among Tolan’s accomplishments in Colorado are winning the CoBank Colorado Open twice, qualifying for the 2002 U.S. Open as a 16-year old, earning the CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Award in 2005 and winning the 2008 CGA Public Links title. And now, capturing the championship at the 2018 Navajo Trail Open.
Elsewhere in professional golf on Sunday:
— Ex-Buff Lee Keeps Rolling on Symetra Tour: Former University of Colorado golfer Esther Lee continued her strong play this spring on the Symetra Tour by finishing seventh at the Forsyth Classic in Decatur, Ill., tying her professional best.
It was Lee’s fourth top-10 showing on the Symetra circuit since May 1. That run has including finishes of seventh (twice), eighth and 10th.
In Illinois, Lee went 69-68-70 for a 9-under-par 207 total, which left her four strokes out of first place. Lee made four birdies and two bogeys in the final round.
— (Updated June 21: Former Coloradan Wins on PGA Tour Canada: George Cunningham, a former resident of Louisville and the grandson of the late Chuck Melvin, who played in six Colorado Cup matches, won on Sunday on PGA Tour Canada, at the GolfBC Championship in British Columbia. It was just his third professional start.
Cunningham, a 22-year-old who moved from Colorado to Arizona, posted rounds of 69-67-62-66 for a 20-under-par 264 total and a two-stroke victory.)
