The top players from Colorado lost a little ground on Saturday, but four Coloradans were among the 72 golfers who made the 54-hole cut at the Senior PGA Professional Championship in Scottsdale, Ariz.
Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion, will go into Sunday’s final round in 27th place. He shot a roller-coaster 2-over-par 74 Saturday at Desert Mountain, posting a 5-over-par 41 on the front nine, and 3-under 33 on the back. That leaves him at 1-over-par 217 after three days.
The top 35 finishers on Sunday will earn spots in the 2018 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 24-27 in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Rick Cole of Eaton, the runner-up in this month’s Colorado PGA Professional Championship, also remained inside the top 35 despite making a double-bogey 7 on his final hole and shooting 75 on Saturday. The 64-year-old is in 34th place, with a 2-over 218 total.
The two other Coloradans who made the 54-hole cut are also well within reach of the top 35. Three-time Colorado PGA Pro Champion Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale is at 219 following a third-round 74. And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Bill Loeffler, winner of the national Senior PGA Pro Championship in 2007, stands at 221 following a 73 on Saturday.
Overall, Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J., holds the lead at 8-under 208.
Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:
27. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74-74–217
34. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70-75–218
44. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73-74–219
60. 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.
