Seventy-four players were in the field for the Dominion Energy Charity Classic, which concluded on Sunday in Richmond, Va. The top 54 in the Schwab Cup standings advance to the Invesco QQQ Championship, which starts Friday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Then the top 36 after that event will compete in the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship in Phoenix Nov. 8-11.

After a 23rd-place finish on Sunday, Jobe (pictured) is 17th on the points list. Toledo dropped two spots, to No. 50, but kept his season alive. Hallberg fell one spot, to No. 63, and was eliminated from the playoffs.

With a second-place finish on Sunday — behind champion Woody Austin — Bernhard Langer remains the leader in the Charles Schwab Cup points standings.

The winner of the Charles Schwab Cup will receive a $1 million bonus.

The Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, which includes the last three events of the PGA Tour Champions season, begins next week at the Dominion Energy Charity Classic in Richmond, Va.

Only 72 players — based primarily on the 2018 Champions season-long money list — advance to the playoffs. And that total includes three golfers with strong Colorado connections — Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe (pictured), former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo and Boulder County resident Gary Hallberg.

After the regular-season-ending SAS Championship, which concluded on Sunday in Cary, N.C., Jobe stands 16th on the Charles Schwab Cup points list, while Toledo is 48th and Hallberg 62nd.

Two of Hallberg’s four top-30 finishes this season on PGA Tour Champions came in his final two starts of the regular season as he placed eighth at the PURE Insurance Championship and 26th in the SAS Championship. The strong performances this fall landed him a spot in the playoffs.

With bonuses going to the top five finishers in the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs, the top 54 players will advance to the Invesco QQQ Championship Oct. 26-28 and 36 will make it to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship Nov. 8-11.

The winner of the Charles Schwab Cup Playoffs will receive a $1 million bonus.
 

On Sunday, despite a double bogey on her final hole, Huffer shot a 4-under-par 66 and tied for third place at the Sioux Falls (S.D.) Greatlife Challenge.

It was the seventh top-four finish of Huffer’s Symetra career, including her second this year as she placed second in the Prasco Charity Championship in June.

Just as importantly, Huffer (left) moved up from 30th to 17th on the 2018 Symetra money list. After the upcoming final five events of the season, the top 10 players on that list will earn their LPGA Tour cards for 2019.

Huffer, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion, shot rounds of 69-68-71-66 for a 6-under-par 274 total. She finished five strokes behind champion Linnea Strom.

Knous 16th on Web Finals Money List: Jim Knous of Littleton lost some ground in his quest to secure PGA Tour playing privileges through the Web.com Tour Finals, but he remains on pace to secure his card.

The former Colorado School of Mines golfer finished 25th Sunday in the DAP Championship in Beachwood, Ohio, the second event of the Web Finals. After two more Finals events, the top 25 on the Finals money list will earn PGA Tour cards for the 2018-19 season. Knous currently stands 16th.

Sunday marked Knous’ third straight top-25 showing on the Web.com Tour, following finishes of fourth and 10th.

Upcoming in the Finals are the Albertsons Boise (Idaho) Open Sept. 13-16 and the Web.com Tour Championship Sept. 20-23 in Atlantic Beach, Fla.

Toledo Cracks Top 10 for First Time in 2018: Considering how the last couple of tournaments have gone for former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo, his first top-10 finish on PGA Tour Champions in almost a year didn’t look likely.

Yet a trip north to Calgary, Alberta, Canada yielded a season-best eight-place showing.

Toledo, a four-time winner on the senior tour whose previous best showing this year was a 12th place, followed up 61st- and 69th-place showings in his previous two PGA Tour Champions events with the top 10 in the Shaw Charity Classic.

The former boxer shot rounds of 66-67-67 for a 10-under-par 200 total, which left him five strokes behind champion Scott McCarron.
 

(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.

Jobe (pictured in a Golf Channel photo) stayed in eighth place in the Schwab Cup points standings, which is where he started the playoffs. The former longtime Colorado resident, winner of one PGA Tour Champions event this year, shot rounds of 70-70-73 for a 3-under-par 213 total in Richmond. He finished 13 strokes behind Bernhard Langer, who eagled the last hole to win by one, earning the 35th PGA Tour Champions victory of his career.

The top 54 players in Schwab Cup points will advance to the PowerShares QQQ Championship, set for Friday through next Sunday in Thousand Oaks, Calif. Then the top 36 after the QQQ will move on to the Charles Schwab Cup Championship, scheduled for Nov. 10-12 in Phoenix.

Joining Jobe in advancing to the QQQ is former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo, who finished 13th on Sunday in Richmond. Toledo went 71-69-67 for a 9-under 2017 total. He moved up one spot, to 50th, in the Schwab Cup points, with his performance in the Dominion Energy Charity Classic.

Langer holds a big lead in the Schwab Cup standings after a six-win season.
 

The 29-year-old German (pictured) posted rounds of 66-68-68-69 for a 13-under-par 271 total. That left him two strokes behind champion Romain Wattel of France.

Heisele’s previous best finish on the European Tour was a fourth in the Open de Portugal in May. He was also seventh in last week’s Bridgestone Challenge on the European Challenge Tour.

With Sunday’s showing, Heisele jumped to 131st on the European Tour money list with 195,732 euros. He earned 73,500 euros on Sunday alone.

Meanwhile, elsewhere in major professional tour golf for players with strong Colorado connections:

— End of the Road for Laird: Former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird finished out his 2016-17 PGA Tour season in fine fashion on Sunday, but he had been hoping to play one more week.

Laird needed a high finish at the BMW Championship in Lake Forest, Ill., to advance to the Tour Championship, but it wasn’t to be. Laird placed 44th in the third event of the FedExCup Playoffs. He needed to be in the top 30 in FedExCup points after the BMW to make the Tour Championship, but ended up 56th in the points standings, thereby ending his season.

Laird shot rounds of 73-69-70-66 for a 6-under-par 278 total in the BMW Championship.

— Saunders in Good Position in Web.com Tour Finals: The Web.com Tour Finals, where 25 PGA Tour cards are at stake, reached their halfway point on Sunday, and former Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders remained in position to regain full PGA Tour playing privileges.

After an 11th-place finish in the first event of the Web Finals, Saunders ended up 40th on Sunday in the Albertsons Boise (Idaho) Open. That leaves him at 13th place in the Finals, where the top 25 after the Web.com Tour Championship will earn full PGA Tour status for next season.

Meanwhile, Denver native Mark Hubbard, who like Saunders competed on the PGA Tour most of this season, finished 46th on Sunday in Boise, which leaves him 49th in the Finals points standings.

— Toledo Fifth in Champions Tourney: Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo recorded his best PGA Tour Champions finish in 19 months by placing fifth on Sunday in the Pacific Links Bear Mountain Championship in Victoria, B.C. in Canada.

Toledo went 66-69-66 for an 11-under-par 202 total, which left him three strokes behind champion Jerry Kelly. Toledo made seven birdies in the final round.

It was just Toledo’s second top-10 showing of the year — and first since placing sixth in the Alliance Championship in February. The last time he had a higher finish on the Champions circuit was February of 2016, when he won the Alliance tournament.
 

Jobe, winner of the Principal Charity Classic on PGA Tour Champions earlier this month, shot a 1-under-par 69 Friday at Salem Country Club to check in at 1-under 139 overall. That leaves him in 29th place, 10 strokes behind co-leaders Kirk Triplett and Kenny Perry going into the weekend.

Jobe (pictured) finished in the top five at three senior majors in 2016.

Twenty-four players didn’t complete their second round on Friday due to a storm delay, including Smigelsky, who wrapped up his final two holes on Saturday morning.

Smigelsky, competing in his first senior major championship, ended up shooting a 6-over-par 76 in round 2, leaving him at 7-over 147. The top 60 players and ties — those at 141 or better — made the 36-hole cut and advance to the final two rounds.

Smigelsky, who earlier this month finished 27th in the national PGA Professional Championship, made one birdie, five bogeys and one double bogey in round 2.

As for the other players with strong Colorado connections competing in the U.S. Senior Open, former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo (142) also missed the cut, along with two-time champion Hale Irwin (149) and amateur Charlie Post of Castle Rock (171).

U.S. Senior Open
June 29-July 2, 2017 at Salem CC in Peabody, Mass.
29. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 70-69–139
Missed 36-Hole Cut
Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo 71-71–142
Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 71-76–147
Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin 72-77–149
Amateur Charlie Post, Castle Rock 82-89–171

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Smigelsky, the PGA director of golf at Collindale Golf Course who is competing in his first senior major, was 4 over par through 11 holes at Salem Country Club, but birdied Nos. 4, 6 and 7 on his back nine to finish round 1 in 57th place. The top 60 players and ties after two rounds will make the cut.

Earlier this month, Smigelsky (pictured) finished seventh in the CoBank Colorado Senior Open and 27th at the national PGA Professional Championship.

Meanwhile, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe opened with an even-par 70, good for a share of 41st place. Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo matched Smigelsky’s 71. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin, winner of two U.S. Senior Opens and three U.S. Opens, shot his age (72) on Thursday and is tied for 72nd place.

Amateur Charlie Post of Castle Rock, who made it into the field after being an alternate in this month’s qualifying tournament in Littleton, opened with an 82.

Kirk Triplett tied the single-round U.S. Senior Open scoring record by shooting an 8-under-par 62 to grab the first-round lead.

U.S. Senior Open
June 29-July 2, 2017 at Salem CC in Peabody, Mass.
41. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 70
57. Dale Smigelsky, Fort Collins 71
57. Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo 71
72. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin 72
156. Amateur Charlie Post, Castle Rock 82

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

After two rounds of this year’s Senior PGA near Washington D.C., Jobe (pictured) shares 10th place. Rounds of 69-71 have left him at 4-under-par 140. When round 2 was suspended due to darkness on Friday night, Bernhard Langer led at 11 under par through 31 holes.

Jobe posted three top-five finishes in PGA Tour Champions majors in 2016.

(Updated May 27) Meanwhile, Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, who qualified for the Senior PGA by finishing fourth last year in the national Senior PGA Professional Championship, missed the 36-hole cut. Northern shot rounds of 73-78 for a 7-over-par 151 total. The top 72 players and ties advanced to the last two rounds, and Northern missed the mark by three shots.

Here are the scores for players with strong Colorado ties through 36 holes on Saturday morning:

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 69-71–140
Former Colorado resident Esteban Toledo 70-73–143
Missed the 36-Hole Cut
Gary Hallberg of Longmont 71-79–150
Mike Northern of Colorado Springs 73-78–151
Former Cherry Creek HS golfer Mike Reid 74-77–151
Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin 76-82–158

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Northern (pictured) made four birdies, three bogeys and a double bogey in round 1 at Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C. He’s tied for 86th place after day 1.

Northern was the runner-up in the Colorado PGA Professional Championship in September.

The weather didn’t allow everyone to complete the first round of the Senior PGA, but Bernhard Langer opened with a 65 to hold the lead.

As for tour players with strong Colorado ties competing in the event, former Colorado resident Esteban Toledo posted a 2-under-par 70, good for a share of 15th place. Gary Hallberg of Longmont stands at 1 under par through six holes and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe is 1 under through 15. Colorado Sports Hall of Famer Hale Irwin is 2 over through 11 and former Cherry Creek High School golfer Mike Reid is 2 over through eight.

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.