The big change this year is that, instead of the RMO being conducted at multiple courses, as has been the case in the recent past, this year it’s all based at Tiara Rado Golf Course for the first time.

From 2010 through ’15, Bookcliff co-hosted the event with Tiara Rado, and last year the Golf Club at Redlands Mesa joined Tiara Rado.

The 79th annual tournament will be conducted Friday through Sunday (Aug. 18-20), with a pro-am set for Thursday. The event will feature a $75,000 purse, with $10,000 going to the winner — or low professional.

Among the pros in the field this year are two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan, 2017 Wyoming State Open winner David Oraee, 2007 RMO champ Scott Petersen, three-time RMO winner Monte Montgomery, and Nathaniel Goddard, who finished third last year.

Among the amateurs entered are 2017 CGA Amateur champion Glenn Workman, this year’s CGA Match Play winner Chris Korte, and Josh Seiple, who advanced to the round of 32 at this summer’s British Amateur.

For Friday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.

Oraee, the CGA’s Les Fowler Player of the Year in 2015, posted rounds of 63-65-67 for a 15-under-par 195 total, which earned him the $7,000 first prize and his first professional victory.

Oraee (pictured), who made it to the round of 16 at the 2015 U.S. Amateur, prevailed by three strokes over another former CU golfer, Ben Portie, the University of Northern Colorado women’s golf head coach and the 2011 CoBank Colorado Open champion. Portie closed with a 64 on Sunday.

Two other former Buffs, Derek Fribbs and three-time champion Kane Webber, tied for fourth at 201, meaning ex-CU players claimed four of the top five spots.

Glenn Workman, a Pueblo resident and University of Wyoming golfer, earned low-amateur honors with an 8-under-par 202 total.

For results, CLICK HERE.

— Elsewhere on Sunday, Emily Childs, who played one season at CU before transferring to Cal, finished fourth at the Symetra Tour’s Donald Ross Centennial Classic in French Lick, Ind. Childs carded rounds of 70-68-70 for a 5-under-par 208 total, which left her seven strokes behind champion Erynne Lee.
 

However, that will change next week when the three-time Tour winner competes at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

Laird (pictured), a former winner of the Denver Open, earned his U.S. Open trip on Monday by tying for fourth out of 122 players in the toughest Sectional Qualifying field, the place where most of the non-exempt PGA Tour players compete.

Laird shot rounds of 67-67 for a 10-under-par 134 total in Columbus, Ohio, where the top 14 finishers qualified for the Open. He made 13 birdie and three bogeys on a day that was marred by rain. J.T. Poston of St. Simons Island, Ga., was the medalist at the site with a 36-hole total of 132.

This will be the sixth U.S. Open for Laird, who missed the cut in his first four before placing 21st in 2013, his last appearance.

This season on the PGA Tour, Laird has recorded four top-10 finishes. He’s ranked No. 68 on the 2016-17 wraparound season money list with $1,115,886.

Laird was the only player with strong Colorado connections who qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday, when 10 36-hole Sectional tournaments were held in the U.S. A total of 21 local players were vying for U.S. Open berths at Sectionals, which mark the second and final stage of Open qualifying.

Of the Coloradans who fell short on Monday, making the most serious run at advancing was David Oraee of Greeley, the 2015 CGA Player of the Year. A year after missing a playoff at a U.S. Open Sectional site by just two strokes, the former University of Colorado golfer fell five shy of the final qualifying spot this year in Dallas, where just the top three finishers advanced.

Oraee was in good shape after a first-round 64 that featured two eagles in his final three holes, including a hole-in-one on No. 7. He played his last six holes of round 1 at Lakewood Country Club in Texas by going birdie, birdie, birdie, hole-in-one, par, eagle. For those of you keeping track, that’s 7 under par in six holes.

But Oraee played his first five holes of round 2 in 3 over par and couldn’t get anything going the rest of the way to get back into the top three. He made a dozen straight pars before finishing with a birdie, leaving him with 73 for the round and 5-under 137 overall, good for ninth place.

The U.S. Open will be held June 15-18 at Erin Hills.
 

U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying (36 Holes)
(a-indicates amateur)

For scoring, CLICK HERE.

Newport Beach, Calif. (103 players for 6 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
39. a-Daniel Pearson, Longmont 75-70–145
50. Pat Grady, Denver 70-76–146
50. a-Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 70-76–146
70. a-Ross Macdonald, Castle Pines 78-72–150
82. Rich Lash, Denver 76-78–154
89. a-Greg Condon, Monte Vista 75-80–155

Summit, N.J. (80 players for 5 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
17. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 69-70–139
53. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 71-75–146

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 14 U.S. Open spots)
Qualified for U.S. Open
4. Former CSU golfer Martin Laird 67-67–134
Failed to Qualify
74. Andy Connell, Denver 70-77–147
Former Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders WD

Springfield, Ohio (77 players for 4 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
52. Parker Edens, Greeley 77-72–149
59. a-Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins 71-82–153

Memphis, Tenn. (108 players for 9 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
38. Mark Hubbard, Denver 71-69–140
50. Zahkai Brown, Golden 69-73–142
55. a-Jake Staiano, Englewood 72-71–143
77. a-Josh Seiple, Castle Rock 75-78–153

Dallas (58 players for 3 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
9. David Oraee, Greeley 64-73–137
30. Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree 71-70–141
46. a-Jackson Solem, Longmont 76-72–148

Lakewood, Wash. (70 players for 4 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
54. Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch 79-76–155
 

Three of coach Jason Preeo’s former players at Valor Christian High School had advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in the last eight days, and he didn’t want to be left out of the party.

So the 38-year-old from Highlands Ranch not only earned a Sectional berth of his own on Tuesday, but he shared medalist honors in the U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

Preeo, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, carded five birdies and shot a 4-under-par 67 to tie for the low score at Collindale with former Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens (pictured) of Greeley. So Preeo will be joining his former Valor players Jake Staiano, Josh Seiple and Ross Macdonald in advancing to 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, which will be held on June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S. The U.S. Open itself is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

“I’ve got to keep up with those (former Valor) guys,” said Preeo, an instructor at the MetaGolf Learning Center in Englewood. “We’ve had three of them get through, so I couldn’t let them show me up today.”

Five players in all — out of a field that originally numbered 84 — from the Collindale qualifier will be headed to Sectionals. In addition to Preeo and Edens, advancing on Tuesday were 2015 5A state high school champion Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins, the University of South Dakota golfer who lives on the course at Collindale and shot 69; former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee of Greeley (71); and CSU senior Blake Cannon (72).

Edens has been a fixture among those who advance from the Collindale qualifier, having made it to Sectionals from the site four consecutive years, twice claiming medalist honors. On Tuesday, he did the trick with a bogey-free 67 that included birdies on all three of the par-5s.

“I’ve always played good here,” said the 26-year-old, who has conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year. “I’ve kind of got it figured out. I feel pretty comfortable here” after playing the course roughly 100 times. “I putted well today, but I always putt well here. I can be putting bad (in general) and come here and putt well.

“It’s been a tough winter and I came back here and this place is always good to me. My game’s been coming around, and it came around at the right time.”

A year after Edens and Oraee survived a seven-man playoff to land the final two spots from the Collindale qualifier — and later finished one and two shots, respectively, out of Sectional playoffs for berths into the 2016 U.S. Open — there was a six-man playoff on Tuesday. Two days after shooting a 62 at nearby Ptarmigan Country Club, Cannon won the playoff at Collindale. After Andrew Moore of Loveland pitched in from 23 yards for birdie on the first extra hole, Cannon sank a 5-foot birdie of his own. Then Cannon prevailed on the second playoff hole with a routine par after Moore drove it into the left trees for the second straight time, then pitched out and eventually settled for a bogey.

“In a six-man playoff, obviously the odds are low,” said Cannon (left), a resident of Mesa, Ariz., who won two individual college titles in a week for CSU earlier this season. “Going to (hole) 10, you have to make birdie. Andrew hit a great chip — it’s not how you expect someone to make a birdie, but he did — and to make that 5-footer on top to extend it was fun. Then I played 18 really solid. I had a lot of good shots under pressure.

“It feels good to have an opportunity (to qualify for the U.S. Open). You can’t make it unless you get there (to Sectionals), so it’s just one step at a time.”

Like Edens, Paugh used his expansive knowledge of Collindale to pay dividends on Tuesday. The 19-year-old sank two 40-foot putts and chipped in from 20 feet.

“It was really nice to come back to this course, which I played growing up,” said Paugh, who estimates he’s played Collindale 200 times in his life. “I know the course, I know where to hit the ball, I know what to hit off the tee, so I feel like it gave me a great advantage going into it. Being familiar with the course is a big deal.”

As for Oraee (below) — a past winner of both the CGA Amateur and the CGA Match Play — after having to survive the seven-man playoff last year at Collindale, he desperately wanted to avoid the logjam at 72 on Tuesday, and he did that with a one-birdie, one-bogey round.

“The goal is always to play in the U.S. Open, so to have that opportunity is nice,” said the 23-year-old, who made it to the round of 16 at the 2015 U.S. Amateur. “I think I’m a lot better player than last year, so hopefully I can save a couple of shots here or there (at Sectionals) and get the job done. The goal today was obviously to get through; that’s all you’re thinking about. It’s my first tournament in a while, so it’s good to get the feet wet and get ready for tournament golf.”

This will be roughly the sixth Sectional Qualifying for Preeo, who on Tuesday was playing just his fourth round of the year; the fourth Sectional for Edens, all from Collindale; the third for Oraee; and the first for Cannon and Paugh, who was attempting to qualify for the first time.

Preeo remembers well being in 16th place at the midway point of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (75-70–145) before struggling the last two rounds, shooting 82-84 on the weekend to finish 82nd.

“It was cool, but it was very bittersweet to have played decent golf the first couple of days, then play so poorly (on the weekend),” he said. “That’s the biggest motivation — to maybe play a little differently or do some things differently.

“It’s exciting just to get another chance. Having been through the whole process, you have an opportunity and hopefully you play well.”

Three professionals — Preeo, Edens and Oraee — and amateurs Paugh and Cannon made up the five players who advanced on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s round was delayed by about two hours in the afternoon by lightning, with 17 golfers sticking around to resume play after having their round interrupted.

Last week at the first Colorado-based Local Qualifying tournament at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Seiple of Castle Rock, Staiano of Englewood, Pat Grady of Denver, and Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield earned spots into Sectionals. Lindstrom originally was the first alternate, but he advanced when Chris Thayer of Golden withdrew the day after qualifying for Sectionals.

Then on Monday at CommonGround Golf Course, advancing were Rich Lash of Denver, Jackson Solem of Longmont, Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree, Macdonald of Castle Pines and Andy Connell of Denver.

ELSEWHERE (Updated May 17): Meanwhile, other players with strong Colorado ties have advanced to Sectionals from Local Qualifiers outside the state.

Among them:

— PGA Tour player Shane Bertsch of Parker tied for third place with a 70 at the Dallas Athletic Club on May 17.

— Amateur Greg Condon of Monte Vista shared medalist honors with a 70 in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., on May 2.

— And former University of Colorado golfer Justin Bardgett was medalist in Raymore, Mo., on May 15, firing a 70.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
ҬAt Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch 34-33–67
Parker Edens, Greeley 34-33–67
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins 34-35–69
David Oraee, Greeley 36-35–71
Blake Cannon, Mesa, Ariz. 36-36–72

ALTERNATES (in order)
Andrew Moore, Loveland 39-33–72
Tony Aguilar, Arvada 36-36–72″¨

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

The top 19 finishers and ties after Saturday’s fourth round in McKinney, Texas earned spots in the third and final stage of Q-school, set for Dec. 8-11 in Winter Garden, Fla. But no Coloradans placed in the top 30. (Four players with strong Colorado connections advanced last week to the final stage: University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul, former Buff Josh Creel, former Colorado State player Parker Edens and former Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous.) Anyone who makes the final stage is guaranteed at least conditional status on the 2017 Web circuit.

On Saturday, the top Colorado finisher was rookie professional David Oraee of Greeley, a former CU golfer who finished 33rd, missing the top 19 by three strokes after a final-round 68 put him at 11-under-par 277 total. Also falling short on Saturday in Texas were Gunner Wiebe of Aurora and James Love of Denver (both at 278), Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch (283) and Zahkai Brown of Arvada (288).

Here are all the players with strong Colorado connections who competed this week in second-stage Web.com Q-school tournaments:

McKinney, Texas Nov. 9-12 (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance)
Failed to Advance to Final Stage
33. David Oraee of Greeley 71-66-72-68–277
36. James Love of Denver 72-69-65-72–278
36. Gunner Wiebe of Aurora 72-63-71-72–278
58. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 68-74-69-72–283
71. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 69-75-68-76–288

Plantation, Fla. Nov. 8-11 (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance)
Failed to Advance to Final Stage
59. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 75-74-70-73–291
 

The former CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year shot a bogey-free 9-under-par 63 at TPC Craig Ranch to vault into the top 10 at the halfway point of the event.

Wiebe, son of Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Wiebe, made an eagle and seven birdies on Thursday to stand at 9-under 135, good for a share of 10th place.

The top 19 finishers and ties after Saturday’s fourth round will advance to the third and final stage of Q-school. Anyone who makes the final stage — set for Dec. 8-11 in Winter Garden, Fla. — will be guaranteed at least conditional status on the 2017 Web circuit. Wiebe had conditional status this year on the Web Tour, though he competed is just one event on that circuit in 2016.

Also in the top 19 afer Thursday’s second round is David Oraee of Greeley, a former University of Colorado golfer who made seven birdies and shot carded a 66 in round 2. The former CGA Player of the Year shares 19th place at 137.

In second-stage tournaments held last week, CU golfer Jeremy Paul, former Buff Josh Creel, former Colorado State player Parker Edens and former Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous all punched their tickets into the final stage.

Here are all the players with strong Colorado connections who are competing this week in second-stage Web.com Q-school tournaments:

McKinney, Texas Nov. 9-12 (Top 19 Finishers and Ties Advance)
10. Gunner Wiebe of Aurora 72-63–135
19. David Oraee of Greeley 71-66–137
46. James Love of Denver 72-69–141
53. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 68-74–142
66. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 69-75–144

Plantation, Fla. Nov. 8-11 (Top 18 Finishers and Ties Advance)
59. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 75-74-70–209
 

On Friday, seven players with significant Colorado connections finished well enough in Web.com first-stage tournaments to earn spots into the second stage of the three-stage process.

Advancing from a tournament in Nebraska City by placing in the top 25 and ties were several current or former University of Colorado golfers, plus former Colorado State Ram Parker Edens. CU senior Jeremy Paul finished fourth at 10-under-par 278. As for the ex-Buffs, Justin Bardgett was fifth (279), David Oraee was ninth (280) and Josh Creel was 16th (282). (Creel finished his college career at Central Oklahoma after starting at CU).

Also in 16th place at 282 was Edens. And completing the local contingent who advanced was Miller Capps of Denver (283, 25th place).

Also advancing to stage 2, from a first-stage tournament in Maricopa, Ariz., was Nick Hodge of Littleton. Hodge made two eagles in three holes — one on a par-4 and one-on a par-5 — to go along with three birdies and three bogeys in a 4-under-par 68 in Friday’s final round. With a 10-under 278 total, he finished in 15th place.

Meanwhile, in Lantana, Texas, where Coloradans Jim Knous, Zahkai Brown and Derek Tolan are all in the top 25 through 54 holes, the final round was postponed until Saturday because the course was deemed unplayable on Friday.

Coloradans Gunner Wiebe and Nick Mason advanced to the second stage of Q-school at first-stage tournaments last week.

Five more first-stage tourneys will be held next week.

Here are the results of players with strong Colorado connections at Q-school tournaments that started on Tuesday:

Nebraska City (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
Advance to Stage 2
4. CU golfer Jeremy Paul 67-68-73-70–278
5. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 67-70-69-73–279
9. Former CU golfer David Oraee of Greeley 69-69-72-70–280
16. Former CSU golfer Parker Edens of Greeley 70-71-68-73–282
16. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 66-72-72-72–282
25. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71-68-72–283
Failed to Advance
49. Former Coloradan Alex Gutesha 73-74-71-71–289
58. Former CU golfer Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 73-68-76-74–291
68. Former CSU golfer Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 73-71-75-75–294

Maricopa, Ariz. (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
Advances to Stage 2
15. Nick Hodge of Littleton 72-69-69-68–278
Failed to Advance
51. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 75-73-71-71–290

Lantana, Texas (top 24 finishers and ties after 4 rounds advance to second stage)
8. Former School of Mines golfer Jim Knous of Englewood 67-69-68–204
17. Former CSU golfer Zahkai Brown of Arvada 70-69-70–209
23. Former CU golfer Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 71-70-69–210
 

Paul (left) shot a 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday, leaving him at 9-under 135 with two rounds left. After Friday’s final round, the top 25 finishers and ties will advance to the second stage of a three-stage qualifying process.

Paul, who has made 13 birdies through two rounds, shares the top spot in Nebraska City with T.J. Mitchell of St. Simons Island, Ga.

Also in the top 25 at the site after two rounds are three former CU golfers: Justin Bardgett (67-70–137, sixth place), David Oraee of Greeley (69-69–138, 11th place) and Josh Creel (66-72–138, 11th place).

Meanwhile, at another first-stage tournament, in Lantana, Texas, Jim Knous of Englewood and Zahkai Brown of Arvada are on pace to advance in qualifying.

Knous holds seventh place after rounds of 67-69 left him at 8-under-par 136. Brown, meanwhile, shares 14th place at 139 after going 70-69.

And in Maricopa, Ariz., Nick Hodge of Littleton (72-69–141) shares 23rd place.

Coloradans Gunner Wiebe and Nick Mason advanced to the second stage of Q-school at first-stage tournaments last week.

Five more first-stage tourneys will be held next week.

Here are the results of players with strong Colorado connections at Q-school tournaments that started on Tuesday:

Nebraska City (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
1. CU golfer Jeremy Paul 67-68–135
6. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 67-70–137
11. David Oraee of Greeley 69-69–138
11. Former CU golfer Josh Creel 66-72–138
26. Parker Edens of Greeley 70-71–141
26. Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 73-68–141
37. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71–143
46. Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 73-71–144
66. Former Coloradan Alex Gutesha 73-74–147

Lantana, Texas (top 24 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
7. Jim Knous of Englewood 67-69–136
14. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 70-69–139
26. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 71-70–141

Maricopa, Ariz. (top 25 finishers and ties advance to second stage)
23. Nick Hodge of Littleton 72-69–141
66. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 75-73–148
 

And Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree and Eric Hallberg of Parker made the First Stage by tying for 23rd in La Quinta, Calif., where the top 39 and ties punched their First Stage tickets.

Including Pre-Qualifying, there are four stages in Web.com Q-School. The top 45 finishers and ties from the final stage will have some level of regular status on the 2017 Web.com Tour, depending on how high they finish. Others who complete all 72 holes will have conditional status.
   
Two more Pre-Qualifying tournaments are scheduled Sept. 7-9. First Stage tournaments begin either Sept. 27, Oct. 4 or Oct. 11.
   
Here are the scores for all of the golfers with strong Colorado ties who competed in Pre-Qualifying this week:

Lincoln, Neb. (Top 38 finishers and ties advance)
12. Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 71-67-74–212
19. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 68-74-72–214
25. David Oraee of Greeley 70-73-72–215
25. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71-72–215
47. Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 75-75-72–222
62. Brandon Barron of Centennial 75-78-74–227
76. Chris Winter of Colorado Springs 93-80-80–253

La Quinta, Calif. (Top 39 finishers and ties advance)
23. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree 80-68-75–223
23. Eric Hallberg of Parker 79-72-72–223

Woodland, Calif. (Top 36 and ties advance)
50. Dave Jackson of Castle Rock 77-73-74–224
 

Beau Schoolcraft of Denver moved up to fourth place at a tournament in Lincoln, Neb., thanks to a 4-under-par 67 on Thursday that left him at 4-under 138 overall. He made six birdies on the day.

With the top 38 finishers and ties from the site advancing to the First Stage of Q-school, also on the right side of the cut line after two days are Dustin Mills of Broomfield (142, 18th place), David Oraee of Greeley (143, 26th place) and amateur Miller Capps of Denver (143, 26th place).

Then at La Quinta, Calif., two more Coloradans rallied on Thursday to move inside the cut line. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree followed up an 80 with a five-birdie 68 that put him in 19th place at 148. And Eric Hallberg of Parker has gone 79-72 to check in at 36th place at 151. The top 39 finishers and ties advance from La Quinta.

Including Pre-Qualifying, there are four stages in Web.com Q-School. The top 45 finishers and ties from the final stage will have some level of regular status on the 2017 Web.com Tour, depending on how high they finish. Others who complete all 72 holes will have conditional status.

Two more Pre-Qualifying tournaments are scheduled Sept. 7-9.

Here are the scores for all of the golfers with strong Colorado ties who are competing in Pre-Qualifying this week:

Lincoln, Neb. (Top 38 finishers and ties advance)
4. Beau Schoolcraft of Denver 71-67–138
18. Dustin Mills of Broomfield 68-74–142
26. David Oraee of Greeley 70-73–143
26. Miller Capps of Denver 72-71–143
54. Former DU golfer Kevin Kring 75-75–150
64. Brandon Barron of Centennial 75-78–153
76. Chris Winter of Colorado Springs 93-80–173

La Quinta, Calif. (Top 39 finishers and ties advance)
19. Jamie Marshall of Lone Tree 80-68–148
36. Eric Hallberg of Parker 79-72–151

Woodland, Calif. (Top 36 and ties advance)
56. Dave Jackson of Castle Rock 77-73–150