Milstead (left) carded three birdies in a bogey-free round on Thursday. He sits five strokes out of the lead.

Also posting under-par totals for Colorado PGA players were reigning Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion Mike Zaremba of Desert Hawk at Pueblo West (70, good for 34th place) and PGA Life Member Chris Johnson of Castle Rock (71, 54th place).

Sherry Andonian-Smith of Valley CC, who became the first woman to compete in the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, opened with an even-par 72, leaving her in 80th place. Andonian-Smith, the Colorado PGA’s inaugural Woman’s Player of the Year who originally was an alternate for the competition, recorded three birdies and three bogeys in round 1.

“If you would have given me that score, I would have taken it,” Andonian-Smith told PGA.com. “But once I got out there, I was a little embarrassed on the greens (putting). I’m trying to make Bermuda (grass) my friend.”

The 72-hole tournament will continue through Sunday. The field will be cut to the low 90 players and and ties after 36 holes, and to the low 70 and ties after 54 holes.

The low 35 finishers on Sunday will earn berths into the 2019 KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship in Rochester, N.Y., May 23-26, and the top top five finishers will land exemptions into the final stage of the 2018 PGA Tour Champions Q-School.

Here are the round-by-round scores for competitors from the Colorado PGA:

16. Barry Milstead, Valley CC 69
34. Mike Zaremba, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 70
54. Chris Johnson, Colorado PGA Life Member 71
80. Sherry Andonian-Smith, Valley CC 72
103. Doug Rohrbaugh, Snowmass Club 73
103. Jeff Hanson, Red Sky GC 73
252. Mike McCutchen, Family Sports 81

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

That’s when the Arthur Schaupeter-designed Scottish links-style course will host its first big-time tournament. The 54-hole Colorado PGA Professional Championship is scheduled for Monday through Wednesday (Sept. 10-12). It’ll be a worthwhile preview for what’s planned for the course (left) starting next year — a stop on the Web.com Tour, which is just one step below the PGA Tour.

The Web.com Tour — then known as the Nike Tour — previously had a tournament in Colorado in 1996 and ’97, when Riverdale’s Dunes Course in Brighton hosted the Nike Colorado Classic. Stewart Cink, who has since won six times on the PGA Tour including the 2009 British Open, claimed the title in 1996.

(For more on TPC Colorado, CLICK HERE.)

The Colorado PGA Professional Championship will feature a formidable field of most of the top professionals from the Colorado Section. That includes Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, who won this event three straight years starting in 2013. Other winners of the event in the 21st century who are in the field next week include Caine Fitzgerald (2012), Rob Hunt (2009 and ’11), Chris Johnson (2010), Mike Northern (2006), Heikke Nielsen (2005), Bill Loeffler (2000, ’02 and ’04) and Micah Rudosky (2001). Loeffler and fellow participant Ron Vlosich are members of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

Others who are entered are 2017 runner-up Rick Cole, 2018 Colorado Senior PGA Professional Champion Mike Zaremba, Ari Papadopoulos, TPC Colorado host head pro Stephen Arendt and Eric Bradley. Among the female members competing are Alexandra Braga and Sherry Andonian-Smith. Braga won the first two Colorado PGA Women’s Championships and Andonian-Smith qualified for the inaugural U.S. Senior Women’s Open this year.

But the last two winners from the Colorado PGA Professional Championship aren’t in the field this time around — John Ogden (2017) and Geoff Keffer (2016). Ogden is injured and Keffer, a five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year, didn’t enter.

The top finishers next week will advance to the 2019 PGA Professional Championship, set for April 28-May 1 in Bluffton, S.C.

For Monday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

Who knew they’d hold the U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, and a Hartford Hawks reunion event would break out?

On the day The Broadmoor turned 100 years old, two former University of Hartford golf teammates celebrated by both being among the top three players on the leaderboard after 36 holes of the Senior Open at the resort.

Jerry Kelly continues to lead the way at the championship, and Tim Petrovic, his teammate for three years at Hartford, is in third place, with Spaniard Miguel Angel Jimenez sandwiched in between.

“Yeah, I kind of know him,” a smiling Petrovic said of Kelly.

Asked if there were any good Jerry Kelly stories, Petrovic noted, “We’ve got plenty of those stories. But we better talk about golf today.”

OK, if you insist.

Kelly, the leading money winner on PGA Tour Champions this year, sat atop the leaderboard on Thursday night and didn’t move as the Senior Open moved to its halfway point. The 51-year-old has gone 66-69 for a 5-under-par 135 total at the East Course, good for a one-stroke lead over Jimenez and a two-shot margin over Petrovic.

It should be noted that Kelly and Jimenez played the first two rounds together and will do so again for Saturday’s third round (1:50 p.m. tee time).

“Always it’s nice when you play with people who are playing good,” said Jimenez, a five-time winner on PGA Tour Champions. “It’s like a transmit, you know.”

And, of course, the Hartford boys like to see each other do well. Both were relatively late bloomers to PGA Tour-level golf — Kelly first played a full schedule on Tour at age 28 and Petrovic at 34 — but they’re in contention now for arguably the top title in senior golf.

“He’s always been an extremely good player,” Kelly said of Petrovic. “It’s tough to make it out there. It’s easier to make it once you get out there than it is to get out there. It took me until I was 28. It just took him a hair longer. And then once he got there, he knew he could do it — especially after watching me.”

Kelly has won three times each on the PGA Tour and PGA Tour Champions, while Petrovic has claimed one PGA Tour title.

Kelly made four birdies, including via chip-in on the 18th hole (his ninth), and three bogeys on Friday. (He’s pictured above celebrating his chip-in in a USGA photo.)

Jimenez (below in a USGA photo) did something that’s proving very difficult — putting together a bogey-free round at The Broadmoor — to shoot a 68 and trail Kelly by one. He hit 17 greens in regulation on Friday.

Petrovic carded the low round of the championship so far — a 5-under-par 65 — to vault into third place at 137. The 51-year-old has had quite a journey in golf, to say the least.

“I always joke around: I say the book is coming out some day,” said Petrovic, who in the middle of his pro career sold cell phones, delivered pizzas and worked at the YMCA. “If I could tell you where I started, and to end up on the PGA Tour … To get out there and be able to have the career I did from here I came from, it’s pretty much an uphill climb. But I never gave up and I always kind of saw the light at the end of the tunnel.”

On Friday, Petrovic shot a 6-under-par 30 on his final nine (the front) and the only blemish on his card was a bogey on No. 13 (his fourth hole).

Among the five players who share fourth place at 1-under 139 is World Golf Hall of Famer Davis Love III, who is playing his first senior major this week. He’s only competed once since early May, but is still in contention after matching Jimenez’s bogey-free 68.

“I’m still a little jumpy and get a little quick every once in a while,” the 54-year-old said. “I hit some really, really good ones and then once in a while I’ll hit one that’s really bad.

“It’s a little bit of anxiousness. When you put USGA in front of an event, the nerves go up a little bit.”

One of the most unique rounds of the day from among the leaders came from Paul Goydos. Starting on the ninth hole, he went birdie, bogey, double bogey, par, birdie, eagle, birdie en route to a 67 and a 139 total. His eagle on the 418-yard, par-4 14th came via a 9-iron hole-out.

“Those are the scorecards that when you’re checking it to sign it, you check it 27 times because you’re not sure it’s right.”

Jobe Lone Local Player to Make Cut; Rohrbaugh, Johnson Miss By 2, Rohrbaugh Despite Spectacular Finish: Just one of the golfers with strong Colorado ties competing in the U.S. Senior Open will be around to play the weekend.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe shot a 3-over-par 73 on Friday and shares 17th place at 3-over 143, trailing leader Jerry Kelly by eight.

The field was cut to 60 players after two rounds, and Colorado PGA members Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale and Chris Johnson of Castle Rock fell two shots shy of advancing to the weekend, both finishing at 10-over-par 150.

Rohrbaugh, the medalist in qualifying at The Broadmoor for this event, finished birdie-eagle to shoot a second-round 72, holing a 30-foot pitch on No. 9 for the eagle.

“You never want to miss the cut and I felt good going into this event, but (a finish like that) puts you in a much better mood, no doubt about it,” Rohrbaugh said.

Jobe, who shot 70 on Thursday, was 4 over par after five holes on Friday after running the gauntlet by starting on No. 10.

With tough pin placements — Jobe particularly wasn’t a fan of the one at the par-3 fourth — and gusting conditions, “I was hitting good shots and making bogeys,” Jobe said. “I couldn’t hit two better shots on 11 and still made bogey. It was just really difficult.”

But he played his final 13 holes in 1 under par to remain in the hunt. And don’t count Jobe out. After all, he shot a third-round 62 in this event a year ago.

“Today, I played well but didn’t get a lot out of my round,” he said. “It’s not perfect, but it’s good. So you never know. You shoot a 66 or 65, you’re back in the tournament. Jerry (Kelly) is 5 under. He’s going, ‘If I go out and shoot under par each day I win this golf tournament.’ But that’s not easy to do.

“There’s more pressure on (the leaders). I’ve got to kind of do what I did last year. I don’t know if a 62 is out there, but a good round will go a long way toward giving you a chance. If you get within five (going into the last round), you’ve got a chance.”

Johnson, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion playing in his first U.S. Senior Open, posted a second-round 76 on Friday.

“I struck the ball twice as good as I did yesterday (a 74),” he said. “I ended up three-putting three times on the front nine. That was really my undoing. You get those down in two and it’s a whole different game. You just can’t give away strokes on this golf course because they’re hard to get back.”

Rohrbaugh, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion, put on a big-time rally at the end of his round.

Wrapping up his day on the front nine, he hit it to 6 feet on No. 6 and to 5 feet on 7, though he missed both putts. He made a birdie from a foot on 8 and eagled 9 with the pitch-in.

“I’ll bet I had 15-plus friends and family out there watching,” he said. “My wife had all these hats made up with ‘One Putt’ on them — that’s my nickname. All my friends and family had them on, and they all flipped them backward as I’m walking down 6 (making them rally caps). So I flip mine on backward.

“I (later) thought, ‘Damn, we should have done that sooner.”

Also locally speaking, former University of Colorado golfer Mikael Hogberg and former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo — both at 156 — missed the cut, as did two-time champion and former Buff Hale Irwin (164)
 

Smoltz Improves By 8 Shots: Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, who was mic’d for his first U.S. Senior Open, made some amusing comments during his two-day stay at the U.S. Senior Open.

“I feel like Mike Tyson has punched me here, here, here and here,” he said at one point.

But the former Cy Young Award winner got hit a little less on Friday than he did on Thursday. He followed up an 85 with a 77, leaving him at 22-over-par 162, 14 strokes above the 36-hole cut line.

“I’ve learned a lot,” he said. “I learned my game wasn’t ready” to compete at this level. … “It took too long for me to get comfortable.”

Smoltz made two birdies on Friday, including pitching in on No. 12.

“I told them in the (FS1 TV) booth that … I want to see that in between innings” of a baseball game he broadcasts on Fox.

Locals Lend a Hand: Among those helping with rulings and scoring on Friday were more than a handful of people with strong Colorado ties.

Included were former USGA Executive Committee members Jim Bunch and Christie Austin, who along with Bob Austin and Greg With were serving as referees for round 2. Among those handling the scoring areas off holes 9 and 18 were CGA executive director Ed Mate and Colorado-based former USGA regional affairs director Mark Passey.

And former CGA staffer Thomas Pagel, the USGA’s senior director of the Rules of Golf and amateur status, was a general Rules rover and is on the Rules Committee for the championship.

Notable: Due to Saturday’s weather forecast, FS1 shifted its U.S. Senior Open telecast window to 1-6 p.m., one hour earlier than originally schedule. Tee times for Saturday will run from 8:46 a.m. to 1:50 p.m. … Among the notable players to miss the 36-hole cut on Friday were World Golf Hall of Famers Mark O’Meara (149), Tom Kite (152) and Hale Irwin (164); Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz (162); plus Corey Pavin (149), Mark Calcavecchia (149) and Tom Lehman (150). … Three amateurs made the cut, with Jeff Wilson and Mike Finster being low ams so far, at 147. … Jay Haas, 64, made his 14th consecutive cut in the U.S. Senior Open and stands at 139, four out of the lead. … Friday’s scoring average was 75.28. Thursday’s was 75.78.

For all the scores from the U.S. Senior Open, CLICK HERE.

For Saturday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

It was a big day Thursday for the two Colorado PGA professionals competing in this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.

Years from now, Doug Rohrbaugh will be able to tell family and friends that he had the distinction of being the first player to tee off at the third U.S. Senior Open held in his home state.

The Carbondale resident and Colorado PGA member led the way for the field of 156 by hitting first in the 7 a.m. threesome off the first tee Thursday at The Broadmoor’s East Course.

“That was cool, no question,” said Rohrbaugh, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion and a three-time winner of the Colorado PGA Professional Championship. “That was on my mind, it was.

“That’s kind of a cool deal to kick the thing off. I had my mom and dad sitting there, and a bunch of friends. I’m not going to lie — it kind of got to me a little. I got a little emotional about it. Then I regrouped. I didn’t catch (the tee shot) solid, but I kept it in the first cut, put it on the green and two-putted (for par). Then I birdied 2, and I’m thinking, my nerves are fine and I’m ready to go.”

Meanwhile, Chris Johnson (above) of Castle Rock was competing in his first U.S. Senior Open round ever, and he acquitted himself quite nicely. The 2010 Colorado PGA Professional champion was just 1 over par through 13 holes after playing the toughest stretch of the course (10-13) in 1 under. And even though he endured back-to-back holes where he went double bogey (tree issues after a blocked tee shot) then bogey, he sank a 15-foot par putt on 18 to shoot a 4-over-par 74, which left him in 58th place after round 1.

“I’ve been playing solid golf for a few months now,” Johnson said. “My expectations are to play a really good round of golf tomorrow. Without a doubt, I’m striking it well enough, I’m putting well enough. That’s not going to change.”

Earlier in the day, at least for a while, things went just fine for Rohrbaugh, who was medalist in the qualifying at The Broadmoor on Memorial Day, shooting a 1-under-par 69. He was even-par through seven holes. But a double bogey on No. 8 — where he hit it in the front bunker, thinned his sand shot over the green and missed a 5-foot par putt — and six bogeys on the back nine led to an 8-over-par 78.

“I was feeling really good how I was playing through 7 considering the mishits,” Rohrbaugh said. “But my driver just left me. I’ve been hitting the driver so well. Then I couldn’t find the center of the face. It was heel, toe, heel …”

Rohrbaugh (left), who’s competing in his fourth U.S. Senior Open and eighth senior major, had been hoping to play in the championship as he did in the qualifying tournament.

“I said at the qualifier, ‘I’ll take four 69s right now,'” he said. “And so far, it sounds like that won’t be bad. If you’re driving it well, it’s there to shoot 1 or 2 under. If you’re not driving well — like I didn’t — no.”

Both Colorado PGA members in the field have sons caddying for them, with Cooper doing the honors for Johnson and Tristan for Rohrbaugh. And, of course, both are getting considerable support from family and friends.

“I’ve been in the golf industry here for 30 years,” Johnson said. “They came out in droves today, and I was a little surprised honestly. It was awesome.”

Meanwhile, as for other golfers with strong Colorado connections, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe posted an even-par 70, leaving him tied for ninth place. (See related story.)  

Three-time U.S. Open champion and former University of Colorado athlete Hale Irwin opened with a 79 after making two double bogeys and three bogeys on the back nine. That’s the highest single-round score the two-time champion has recorded in 23 U.S. Senior Opens.

Former CU golfer Mikael Hogberg recorded an 80, while former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo had an 81.

Smoltz Roughed Up in First U.S. Senior Open Round: Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz was very complimentary of PGA Tour Champions players on the eve of his first U.S. Senior Open. And, if anything, he understated just how talented they are, based on how round 1 went for the former Cy Young Award winner.

Smoltz, who qualified for the Senior Open in a playoff, made no birdies and just five pars en route to a 15-over-par 85, which left him in 150th place out of 156 competitors.

“If I had to go back (and think about it), I had three bad shots. That’s it,” he said. “And I shot 85. So it just tells you, from an amateur standpoint, people sitting at home, I don’t know if you can tell how hard the course played. But that’s how great these players are.”

Smoltz was 10 over par through his first 10 holes. He finished with 12 bogeys and a triple bogey. He was mic’d up for the round by Fox, for whom Smoltz works as a baseball analyst. “Can’t call in a reliever,” was one of his comments mid-round.

“I thought I hit a lot of good shots that just didn’t get good results,” he said. “… I never expected to get that many bad lies.

“… I don’t have enough game for this course yet. … Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d shoot 85. … My family and friends, I would have left if I was at the ninth hole. They stuck around.”

Lightweight: Rocco Mediate, who shot a 2-under-par 68 on Thursday, is a shadow of his former self — not golf-wise but physically — these days. He said he’s lost roughly 40-50 pounds in the last year.

“I’m half the size I was last year,” he said. “I’m way stronger (and the club is moving) way faster.”

Douglass the Record Holder: He sat there, unrecognized for the most part, on a bench next to the entrance to The Broadmoor Golf Club on Thursday morning, waiting to meet someone during the first round of the U.S. Senior Open.

It was none other than Dale Douglass, the 1986 U.S. Senior Open champion and the man who has played in more U.S. Senior Opens than anyone in history (26).

“I’m one ahead of Arnie (Palmer), so he’s not going to catch me,” Douglass said with a smile.

The part-time Castle Pines resident, winner of three PGA Tour events and 11 on PGA Tour Champions, is a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

An 88 Despite Ace: Stan Souza of Kailua, Hawaii made a hole-in-one with a 7-iron on the 175-yard fourth hole Thursday, marking the eighth ace of his lifetime. Ironically, the eagle was the last score of par or better Souza would have until hole 18. That’s right: After the ace, he made nothing but bogeys or double bogeys for 13 holes, until parring 18. Despite the ace, Souza played bogey golf for the day, posting an 18-over-par 88. That left his in next-to-last place for players who completed the the first round.

“The course just absolutely ate me alive,” he said. “It was rough, but what a thrill.”

Notable: Denver native Tommy Armour III withdrew after nine holes of his first round Thursday due to “altitude-related illness,” according to the USGA. Armour was 8 over par after nine holes as he double bogeyed each of his first three holes. … Tim Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, leads the low-amateur competition by two strokes after shooting an even-par 70 on Thursday. … The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday’s second round.

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For all the essentials regarding this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor, CLICK HERE.

(June 21 Update: This story was updated after the USGA announced on Thursday that Steve Jones has withdrawn from the U.S. Senior Open field due to knee surgery.)

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Last week’s U.S. Open marked just the second time since the 1960s that that event was held without a single competitor with strong Colorado ties.

But that certainly won’t be an issue for the next USGA championship.

When The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs hosts the U.S. Senior Open June 28-July 1, the 156-man field will feature two Colorado residents, another two competitors who grew up in the Centennial State, one more who just went to college in Colorado, and others who have resided in the state over the years.

Local players have a rich history in the event — even though it’s only been held since 1980 — and this is the third time the state has hosted the championship. Jack Nicklaus won at Cherry Hills in 1993 and Eduardo Romero prevailed at The Broadmoor’s East Course in 2008.

Four times a player with major Colorado connections has won the Senior Open. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, who grew up in Boulder and played golf and football at the University of Colorado, claimed the titles in 1998 at Riviera in Pacific Palisades, Calif., and in 2000 at Saucon Valley in Bethlehem, Pa.

Dale Douglass, a product of Fort Morgan who also played at CU and now lives at Castle Pines during the summer, won as a Senior Tour rookie in 1986 at Scioto in Columbus, Ohio.

And Orville “Sarge” Moody, who was stationed at Fitzsimons during part of his Army career, earned the victory at Laurel Valley in Ligonier, Pa., in 1989, 20 years after his improbable U.S. Open win.

Here’s a rundown of the locals who will compete next week at The Broadmoor, their history in the U.S. Senior Open, how they’re playing now, and their connection to Colorado:

— Hale Irwin (20 PGA Tour wins, including 3 U.S. Opens; record 45 PGA Tour Champions victories, including 7 senior majors).

Colorado Connection: Grew up in Boulder. Played golf and football at CU. Inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the CU Athletic Hall of Fame.

At the U.S. Senior Open: Has competed in the event 22 times. Won in 1998 and 2000, giving him five USGA championships overall. Has finished in top five eight times, including two runner-ups, with a fourth-place showing in 2011 at age 66.

Recent Play: At age 73, competes only occasionally. He’s played in four PGA Tour Champions events in 2018, with a best finish of 23rd in the Bass Pro Shops Legends of Golf at Cedar Lodge team event.

Notable: Has missed just one U.S. Senior Open (2003) since becoming elibible for the event in 1995. … In his first nine U.S. Senior Open appearances, finished no worse than 11th. … Placed 40th in 2008 U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor. … Irwin won The Broadmoor Invitation, a prestigious amateur championship at the club, in 1967.

— Brandt Jobe (1 PGA Tour Champions win).

Colorado Connection: Lived in Colorado from 1970 to ’99. Kent Denver High School graduate. Inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.

At the U.S. Senior Open: In two starts, finished third in 2017 tournament.

Recent Play: Has posted two top-10 finishes in 2018 on PGA Tour Champions, with a best showing of fifth place at Insperity Invitational in May. Ranks 33rd on 2018 money list with $247,375.

Notable: Shot a 62 in the third round of the 2017 Senior Open en route to a third-place finish, matching the all-time single-round tournament scoring record. … Last year’s victory at the PGA Tour Champions’ Principal Charity Classic was his first in a PGA Tour-sanctioned event. … Among his four PGA Tour runner-ups was one at The International at Castle Pines in 2005.

— Doug Rohrbaugh.

Colorado Connection: Resident of Carbondale.

At the U.S. Senior Open: Has played in three previous U.S. Senior Opens, missing the cut in 2012, ’13 and ’15.

Recent Play: Competed in the 10th PGA Tour Champions event of his career, the Senior PGA Championship, in May, missing the cut. Had conditional status on PGA Tour Champions in 2015.

Notable: Earned a spot in the event by landing medalist honors with a 1-under-par 69 in qualifying at The Broadmoor on Memorial Day. … This will be the eighth senior major in his career (four U.S. Senior Opens, three Senior PGAs and one Regions Traditions). … In Colorado, Rohrbaugh has won the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open and three Colorado PGA Professional Championships.

— Chris Johnson.

Colorado Connection: Resident of Castle Rock.

At the U.S. Senior Open: This will be his first appearance.

Recent Play: Missed cut at his first senior major, the Senior PGA Championship in May.

Notable: Earned a spot in the event by shooting a 2-over-par 72 in qualifying at The Broadmoor on Memorial Day … Won the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in 2010.

— Mikael Hogberg.

Colorado Connection: The native of Sweden played golf at CU from 1980-84.

At the U.S. Senior Open: Has played in four previous Senior Opens, making the cut twice and finishing 23rd in 2011.

Recent Play: Earned a spot in the event by being medalist with a 66 in qualifying in Fayetteville, N.C. on June 4. Hogberg is a resident of Greensboro, N.C.

Notable: Hogberg was a freshman at CU the year 1996 U.S. Open champion Steve Jones was a senior. That year (1981), the Buffs finished 11th in the NCAA Championships, their best showing at nationals since 1968.

— Esteban Toledo (4 PGA Tour Champions wins).

Colorado Connection: Lived in Castle Pines earlier in the new millennium.

At the U.S. Senior Open: Has made three cuts in five U.S. Senior Open appearances, with a best finish of 14th in 2014.

Recent Play: Top finish in 2018 PGA Tour Champions event was 12th in the Mitsubishi Electric Classic in April. Stands 47th on 2018 PGA Tour Champions money list with $171,793.

Notable: The native of Mexico won four times on PGA Tour Champions from 2013 through ’16.

Note: There are other players in the field who have lived in Colorado (for example, John Daly resided in Castle Pines briefly in the early 1990s and Tommy Armour III was born in Denver), but their local connections are relatively short-lived.

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The Essentials: 2018 U.S. Senior Open

— What: The 39th U.S. Senior Open.

— Where: The Broadmoor Golf Club’s East Course in Colorado Springs, designed by Donald Ross and Robert Trent Jones Sr.

— When: Championship rounds June 28-July 1. Practice rounds June 25-27. Tee times run 7 a.m.-1 p.m. off first and 10th tees on Thursday and Friday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. off first tee Saturday and Sunday. Trophy ceremony, Sunday, 7 p.m.

— Format: 72 holes of stroke play. A playoff, if necessary, will be a two-hole aggregate. If the participants are still tied, sudden death would then decide the champion.

— Field: 156 players, all age 50 and older as of June 28. After two rounds, the field will be reduced to the top 60 players and ties. The USGA originally accepted 2,738 entries for the event.

— Course Setup: 7,264 yards, Par-70. (Note: The seventh and 17th holes, normally par-5s, will be par-4s for the championship.) It will be the second-longest yardage for a U.S. Senior Open course, behind only the 7,269 at Crooked Stick in Carmel, Ind., in 2009.

— Defending Champion: Kenny Perry, who won in 2013 as well as 2017.

— World Golf Hall of Famers in Field: Hale Irwin, Vijay Singh, Davis Love III, Tom Kite, Mark O’Meara, Fred Couples, Bernhard Langer and Colin Montgomerie.

— Players With Strong Colorado Ties in Field: Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe, Colorado residents Doug Rohrbaugh and Chris Johnson, former CU golfer Mikael Hogberg. Also, Esteban Toledo and John Daly once had residences in Castle Pines and Tommy Armour III was born in Denver.

— Other Notables in Field: Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz, Mark Calcavecchia, John Cook, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Tom Lehman, Scott McCarron, Jesper Parnevik, Corey Pavin, Kenny Perry.

— Complete Field: CLICK HERE.

— Tee Times: CLICK HERE.

— Fan Information: CLICK HERE.

— Public Parking: Free public parking is located at 3819 Janitell Road in Colorado Springs. Complimentary shuttles will run continuously to and from the public parking lot. The public lot will open 30 minutes prior to gate times each day.

— Purse: Was $4 million in 2017.

— TV Schedule (broadcast in more than 100 countries):
Wednesday, June 27 — Preview, 10-11 a.m., FS2
Thursday, June 28 — First round, 2-7 p.m., FS1
Friday, June 29 — Second round, 1:30-6:30 p.m., FS1
Saturday, June 30 — Third round, 2-7 p.m., FS1
Sunday, July 1 — Final round, 2-7 p.m., FS1

— Live Streaming on USGA.org:
Thursday, June 28 — 10 a.m.-noon and 2-7 p.m.
Friday, June 29 — 9:30-11:30 a.m. and 1:30-6:30 p.m.
Saturday, June 30 — 2-7 p.m.
Sunday, July 1 — 2-7 p.m.

— Tickets: Available at 2018ussenioropen.com. Note: Kids 17 and under admitted free when accompanied by a ticketed adult. Also, active duty and retired military and immediate dependents admitted free on June 25 and receive 50 percent off the standard cost the remainder of the week.

— Actitivies Leading Up To And During Senior Open Week:

Friday, June 22 at Cherokee Ridge Golf Course in Colorado Springs — Play9 Day, a by-invitation event hosted by USGA and CGA, with former USGA president Judy Bell expected to be on hand. Cherokee Ridge is home of the Pikes Peak Linkers, a program in which kids receive golf instruction from professionals and have free access to the par-3 course at Cherokee Ridge. The Linkers receive support from the USGA and Colorado Golf Foundation.


Monday, June 25, through Sunday, July 1, generally from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. — Youth Golf Experience, hosted by the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado, on first hole of West Course.

Monday, June 25 through Sunday, July 1 — Colorado PGA is co-sponsoring “The Bunker”, a hospitality area for active-duty military and vets to receive complimentary food and beverage.

Monday, June 25, 2 p.m. — Warrior Challenge. Three wounded veterans face a U.S. Senior Open competitor in four-hole affair on West Course.

Monday, June 25, 7 p.m. — Military appreciation concert by Vince Gill and Amy Grant. The Colorado REACH Foundation, in partnership with the Military Warriors Support Foundation, will present a mortgage-free home to a combat-wounded veteran during this event.

Tuesday, June 26, 8:30 a.m. — Drive, Chip & Putt qualifying on 18th hole of West Course.

Tuesday, June 26, 2 p.m. — Hale Irwin exhibition, geared toward juniors, at driving range.

Wednesday, June 27, 8 a.m. — Colorado PGA REACH Foundation hosting a Women’s Leadership Summit, with an accompanying free women’s clinic.

Wednesday, June 27, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. — Junior Day actitivities.

Wednesday, June 27, 10 a.m. — Colin Montgomerie exhibition, first green of West Course.

Wednesday June 27, 1 p.m. — Mark Calcavecchia autograph signing in merchandise tent.

Thursday, June 27, through Sunday, July 1, 5-6 p.m. — Fan appreciation hours. $2 off beverages and hot dogs during that hour at concession stands and Centennial Club.

Friday, June 28, 9 p.m. — The Broadmoor’s 100th birthday fireworks show around 18th green.

— Championship Qualifiers: 79 players qualified for the U.S. Senior Open through their performance at 34 qualifying tournaments.

— Volunteers: More than 2,600 will help out at the Senior Open.

— Previous USGA championships at The Broadmoor:
1959 U.S. Amateur (East Course), won by Jack Nicklaus.
1962 Curtis Cup Matches (East Course), won by USA over Great Britain & Ireland.
1967 U.S. Amateur (West Course), won by Robert Dickson.
1982 U.S. Women’s Open (South Course), won by Juli Simpson Inkster.
1995 U.S. Women’s Open (East Course), won by Annika Sorenstam.
2008 U.S. Senior Open (East Course), won by Eduardo Romero.
2011 U.S. Women’s Open (East Course), won by So Yeon Ryu.

— Previous U.S. Senior Opens in Colorado:
1993 at Cherry Hills CC, won by Jack Nicklaus.
2008 at The Broadmoor’s East Course, won by Eduardo Romero.

— Additional Information on the Senior Open: CLICK HERE.

John Elway figures to receive much of the attention from fans and the media on Monday at The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs, whether the Pro Football Hall of Famer qualifies for the U.S. Senior Open or not. More than 2,000 fans are expected to watch him try to qualify Monday at The Broadmoor.

Attention comes with the territory for Elway, who has an official role to play for this particular U.S. Senior Open even if he fails to earn a spot in the 156-man field. The Broncos general manager is the honorary chairman for this year’s Senior Open, which the East Course at The Broadmoor will host June 28-July 1.

On the golf course, Elway does have some game. He’s made the cut in the CoBank Colorado Open once, and has posted two top-30 finishes in the CoBank Colorado Senior Open. And he’ll be helped out on Monday by oilman and philanthropist George Solich, an Elway friend who grew up caddying at The Broadmoor. George Solich and brother Duffy have lent their names and support to the Solich Caddie & Leadership Academy. Elway is scheduled to tee off at 10:10 a.m. from No. 1 on the East Course.

But the bar will be set high on Monday for Elway and the other 83 competitors in the 18-hole qualifying tournament at the East Course as just two players from the site will advance to the U.S. Senior Open itself.

The field is full of formidable players. Ron Vlosich of Lakewood has qualified for five U.S. Senior Opens and Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale for three, and Rohrbaugh has also won a Colorado Senior Open and three Colorado PGA Professional Championships in recent years. Dale Smigeksy of Fort Collins and Charlie Post of Castle Rock played in the 2017 Senior Open.

On top of that, there’s several Colorado Golf Hall of Famers, in addition to Vlosich — Bill Loeffler (the 1986 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion), Kent Moore and John Olive, who’s competing at his home course. There’s 2017 Colorado PGA Professional Champion John Ogden of Cherry Hills Village; Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, winner of both a Colorado Open and a Colorado Senior Open; Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, who finished fourth in the 2016 national Senior PGA Professional Championship; amateurs David Delich, a two-time U.S. Senior Open qualifier, and Robert Polk, who went to the 2007 Senior Open; 2016 U.S. Senior Open qualifier John Hornbeck of Wyoming; and Chris Johnson, who along with Rohrbaugh is competing in this week’s Senior PGA Championship.

Besides Colorado, states represented in Monday’s field including Arizona (6), Utah (5), Wyoming (3), Oklahoma (2), California (1), Florida (1), Montana (1), Ohio (1), Tennessee (1) and Texas (1).

Monday marks just the fourth time a U.S. Senior Open host course has also held a qualifying tournament leading up to the event. All told, 34 sites will host U.S. Senior Open qualifying events this spring.

Spectators are welcome for Monday’s qualifying tournament at The Broadmoor, and admission is free.
 

But there’s another senior major coming up this weekend, and a couple of Coloradans recently learned they’ll be joining the field of the KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship, set for Thursday through Sunday in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Both Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale and Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, two Colorado PGA professionals, earned a spot into the field off the alternate list after other players withdrew.

Not only did Rohrbaugh, winner of the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open and three Colorado PGA Professional Championships, get into the field, he drew a high-powered pairing for the first two days. At 11:40 a.m. MT on Thursday and 6:30 a.m. MT on Friday, he’ll tee off with Miguel Angel Jimenez, winner of last week’s Regions Tradition, and Scott McCarron. Between them, Jimenez and McCarron have won 11 times on PGA Tour Champions, including two senior majors.

Rohrbaugh had conditional status on PGA Tour Champions in 2015 and has played in three U.S. Senior Opens and two previous Senior PGA Championships.

Meanwhile, Johnson will be paired with Neal Lancaster and James Mason at 7 a.m. MT on Thursday and at 12:10 MT on Friday. Johnson won the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in 2010.

Both Rohrbaugh and Johnson had been alternates by virtue of their performances last October in the Senior PGA Professional Championship, where Johnson finished 38th out of 264 players and Rohrbaugh 43rd.

Should Rohrbaugh and/or Johnson make the 36-hole cut in the Senior PGA, they’ll face a quick turnaround. On Monday, both are in the field for U.S. Senior Open qualifying at The Broadmoor.

Among the other players in the Senior PGA this weekend are Niwot resident Gary Hallberg and former Cherry Creek High School golfer Mike Reid.

(May 25 Update: Both Rohrbaugh (76-76) and Johnson (77-76) missed the 36-hole cut, along with Reid (70-77). Hallberg (72-71) made the cut on the number.)
 

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.
 

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.

Cole (pictured), who lost in a playoff and finished second earlier this month at the Colorado PGA Professional Championship, shot a 2-under-par 70 on Friday, giving him a 1-under 143 total at the tournament’s halfway point. He made three birdies and a bogey in round 2 and played his final 15 holes in 3 under par.

Tied with Cole in 17th place is Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, who carded a 74 on Friday. Johnson made three birdies on the day, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey.

Also among those making the 36-hole cut to the low 90 players and ties was former PGA Tour Champions player Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, a three-time Colorado PGA Professional Champion who shot 73 on Friday and stands at 145, good for a tie for 34th place.

Likewise advancing to Saturday’s play were Barry Milstead of Castle Rock (147, 55th place) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, a past winner of this national championship (148, 69th place).

Defending champion Steve Schneiter of Utah leads the way at the halfway point with a 9-under 135 total.

The tournament will continue through Sunday. The field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 54 holes.

The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2018 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 24-27 in Benton Harbor, Mich.

 Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:

17. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70–143
17. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74–143
34. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73–145
55. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73-74–147
69. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75-73–148
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