It was like a Gunn went off — twice.

Two eagles by Jimmy Gunn in the course of three holes Sunday afternoon propelled the native of Scotland — now a resident of Phoenix — to the title in the HealthOne Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

And, at the same time, they shot down the hopes of Arvada’s Zahkai Brown for his second Colorado Open championship in three years.

Gunn, a former Web.com Tour player who finished 27th last month at the U.S. Open, teamed up with Keegan Bradley’s regular caddie, Coloradan Steve “Pepsi” Hale, and took home the $23,000 first prize in his first time playing the Coloradan Open. (Hale congratulated Gunn above.)

Gunn trailed Brown by one stroke at the turn on Sunday despite making a 5-foot birdie at No. 9. But after draining a 35-foot birdie on No. 10 and getting up and down for par on 11, the Scot sunk a 25-foot eagle putt on No. 12 and pitched in from 35 feet for another eagle at No. 14 (below).

That stretch put Gunn ahead for good and he held on for a one-stroke victory over Brown, who eagled 12 and birdied 14 but still lost a shot to Gunn on those two holes.

“When I chipped in for eagle on 14, that was like a dagger toward him,” Gunn said. “He made birdie, but you could tell the momentum swung in my favor.”

Brown, who held the 54-hole lead for the third time in the last four years, crept back within one when he holed a 45-foot birdie putt on No. 15 (below). But the former Colorado State University golfer bogeyed 17 when he missed the green and couldn’t coax in a 7-foot par putt.

“I had a perfect read on 17 because Ian (Davis) made his putt (on a similar line),” Brown said. “But I didn’t trust it broke that hard and hit it right through the break.”

So trailing by two and heading straight into the wind on the tough par-5 18th hole, Brown very nearly hit it onto the green in two, ending up just short of the putting surface. And Gunn’s 8-iron third shot ballooned in the wind and dropped into the front bunker.

Brown pitched to 10 feet from the cup, while Gunn blasted to 8 feet. But Brown couldn’t take advantage of the opportunity as his birdie putt missed right. And Gunn, now needing just a two-putt for the victory, did indeed two-putt for his only bogey of the day.

“The chip on 18 came off squirrelly and kicked right, but it was still a good chip and I had an opportunity for a birdie,” Brown said. “I figured he was going to just try and make a bogey. But I didn’t make the putt.”

Gunn, who started the day two behind Brown and Davis, ended up shooting a stellar 7-under-par 65 to post a 19-under 269 total. Brown closed with a 68 to come in at 270, earning $13,500.

Davis, the defending champ, couldn’t recover from a two-hole stretch (Nos. 8 and 9) where thinned bunker shots led to a triple bogey and a bogey. The former Oklahoma State golfer posted a 71 Sunday to place third at 273.

Joining Brown (left) as Coloradans placing in the top 10 were two-time champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch (275, seventh place) and fellow former champion Shane Bertsch of Parker (277, 10th place).

Gunn only found out on the way to the golf course for Thursday’s first round that Hale was available for caddie duties at GVR — and that he didn’t even want to be paid.

“It’s so funny how everything worked out,” Gunn said. “I actually played a practice round at the U.S. Open with Keegan Bradley and Jason Dufner and one of the amateurs, and Pepsi was there so I actually kind of knew him. So (on Thursday) it was like, ‘perfect.’ We were off and running.

“He was awesome. He knows what to say at the right time. He knows how to calm me down. His player’s results speak for themselves, but he’s a great caddie and Keegan (Bradley) is very luck to have him.”

Because Hale wouldn’t take payment for caddying, Gunn decided instead to make a $1,000 donation to The First Tee of Green Valley Ranch.

On Sunday, after Gunn had gotten off to a nondescript start, Gunn and Hale decided the Scot should change out balls to get a little better mojo working.

“I couldn’t make a putt, so we changed balls after four or five holes, and things started to go well,” Gunn said.

All in all, Gunn called the Colorado Open win “probably the biggest” of his career.

“To shoot 7 under the last day to win any tournament — it doesn’t matter where you are — but especially a tournament like this, obviously is good,” he said.

Meanwhile, Brown was left thinking back on where he could have picked up the stroke by which he lost. And the place he pointed to was No. 10 (left), where his tee shot ended up a foot inside the hazard line to the left of the fairway. And with tournament officials and fellow competitors not thinking that Brown’s ball had ever crossed the margin of the hazard, he had to take a stroke-and-distance penalty and re-tee. He managed to salvage a bogey on the par-4 by making a 5-foot putt, but with Gunn’s birdie, the two-shot swing put the Scot ahead for good.

“I think it crossed (the margin of the hazard), but it was just a bad shot,” Brown said. “I didn’t think through the wind going left and I hit it into the hazard. The bogey there was a good bogey, but it was a bad mistake.

“I made a couple of errors, but Jimmy Gunn played really well. Sixty-five, that’s tough to beat. It was fun. I like intense battles like that. It was a lot of fun even though I got second.”

Said Gunn: “Zahkai played great as well. He gave it his all. He was unfortunate. He was like yard short on 17. If it didn’t get caught in the rough, his ball is like in the leather. And that was a tough up and down.

“I was very lucky to get the win there at the end.”

Despite missing the cut last year, Brown has now earned $50,000 at the Colorado Open since 2012. During that span, he’s won once and finished second twice.

Former CU Golfer Oraee Takes Low-Amateur Honors: David Oraee (left) didn’t expect it, given that he wasn’t by any means playing his best, but he earned low-amateur honors in the Colorado Open on Sunday.

The former University of Colorado golfer, winner of two Colorado state amateurs since 2013, shot a 1-under-par 71 on Sunday to post a two-stroke victory in the amateur competition. The Greeley resident’s 7-under 281 total was two better than current CU golfer Ethan Freeman of Denver and Colorado State’s Blake Cannon, of Mesa, Ariz.

“I wasn’t really going for low am,” said Oraee, who recently qualified for the U.S. Amateur. “To start the week, I was trying to win the tournament obviously. But it feels good. … It’s kind of bittersweet because I didn’t play the way I wanted to. I missed a lot of opportunities, but to still get it done is pretty cool.”

Oraee finished 21st overall.

For scores and payouts from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.

This is becoming old hat for Arvada’s Zahkai Brown — in a good way, mind you.

Three times in the last four HealthOne Colorado Opens, the former Colorado State University golfer has been either the outright leader or a co-leader after 54 holes.

Brown finished second in the 2012 tournament, then won in 2013, so he’s handled the pressure pretty well, which should bode well for Sunday.

The 2011 CGA Player of the Year (left) shot a 5-under-par 67 Saturday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club to move into a share of the lead with defending champion Ian Davis of Edmond, Okla. They and the other players on the leaderboard going into Sunday’s final round will be battling it out for a $23,000 first prize.

“I’m going to still play aggressive,” the 25-year-old Brown said about his plan for Sunday. “The year that I ended up finishing second (one behind Derek Tolan), I played conservative and ended up losing. The year after that I won and played aggressive (firing a 64 on Sunday and prevailing by five). I think I’m going to stick with that approach. It seems to (result in) a lot of birdies.”

Davis (left), who bogeyed the 18th hole on Saturday after hitting his ball into two greenside bunkers, and Brown stand at 14-under-par 202 through three rounds. Davis, the former Oklahoma State golfer who’s bidding to become the first back-to-back Colorado Open champion since Dave Hill in 1976 and ’77, carded a 69 on Saturday but played his final eight holes in 1 over par.

As for Brown, Saturday marked the sixth time in the last four Colorado Opens that he’s shot 67 or lower. He capped his third round with a 2-putt birdie on No. 18 from 80 feet.

“For me (this course) sets up for a cut,” he said, explaining his success at GVR. “If you miss and have a cut, you’re OK. So that seems to fit my game well because if I do miss it’s going to be a little cut. So I do feel comfortable. And growing up 25 minutes from here, it’s nice. And I know how far the ball goes too (at a mile high in elevation).”

But Brown and Davis will have plenty of company in having a realistic shot at the title on Sunday. In fact, there’s 10 players either in the lead or within four strokes of it.

That includes Jimmy Gunn, who finished 27th at this year’s U.S. Open, and who has Keegan Bradley’s regular caddie, Coloradan Steve Hale, looping for him this week; and five former champions: Brown, Davis, Nathan Lashley, Tolan and Wil Collins. (Gunn and Hale are pictured at left.)

A 66 by Gunn left the Scot two out of the lead and in third place. Lashley is in fourth place at 205 with Kurt Kitayama of Chico, Calif. And Tolan and Collins share sixth place at 206 with Riley Arp of Fort Collins, former Air Force Academy golfer Kyle Westmoreland and Chris Ward of McKinney, Texas.

Tolan, bidding to join Bill Bisdorf, Dave Hill and Bill Loeffler as winner of at least three Colorado Opens, came from five back going into the final round to win at GVR in 2012.

“I’m glad I’m kind of lurking,” Tolan (left) said Saturday after firing a 67. “I made up some ground (with a final-round 65 in 2012). It’s doable. It’s more feasible when there’s just one guy leading by three or four rather than it being bunched up. It’ll take a low number but you can do it.”

Of course, Davis also is very familar with being on the leaderboard at the Colorado Open. He prevailed by five strokes last year in his first time playing the tournament. And he’s led or shared the lead after rounds 2 and 3 this year.

“I’m going to go out there and try to be as aggressive as I can — kind of like yesterday (when he shot 64),” said the 23-year-old. “I’ll try to keep the pedal down tomorrow and hopefully do the same thing I did yesterday.

“I’m going to try not to go out and worry about what Zahkai or anyone else is doing. It’s like last year. I just tried to make as many birdies as I could. I know if I go out and play as well as I can, I can get it done tomorrow.”

Notable: Like the overall tournament leaderboard, the low-am leaderboard is bunched. Colorado State University golfer Jimmy Makloski of Pueblo will go into Sunday with a one-stroke advantage over three players: former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee of Greeley, Connor Klein of Lone Tree and Blake Cannon of Mesa, Ariz. Klein, the CGA Match Play runner-up, would have actually been leading by one if not for the two-stroke penalty he received for being late for his tee time. Makloski shot his second consecutive 3-under-par 69 and stands at 7-under 209 overall. … Sunday’s final-round tee times will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m., off both the first and tenth tees. The leading threesome after 54 holes — Zahkai Brown, Ian Davis and Jimmy Gunn — will tee off on No. 1 at 9:25 a.m.

For scores from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.
 

For Sunday tee times, CLICK HERE.

It’s been 13 years since Shane Bertsch of Parker last played in the HealthOne Colorado Open, a tournament he won in 1998.

And there’s a reason he’s back this week after his extended absence. A month ago, the 45-year-old virtually assured himself of returning to the PGA Tour for the 2015-16 wraparound season.

Bertsch (left) won the Rust-Oleum Championship on the Web.com Tour in June and currently stands in seventh place on the 2015 money list. That means he’s basically a lock to finish in the top 25 on the Web.com regular-season money list, which assures him of a PGA Tour exemption for 2015-16.

So ironically, while the two players in this week’s Colorado Open field that have PGA Tour wins to their credit — Notah Begay and Chris Riley — received more attention at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, Bertsch is the only Colorado Open competitor who is virtually certain to have fully-exempt status on the world’s premier golf tour next year.

“That’s what I’ve always been striving for,” Bertsch said after shooting a 3-under-par 69 Friday at the Colorado Open. “I’ve been out there a few different years, but it’s been a while.”

With his situation largely settled, Bertsch felt comfortable returning to the Colorado Open instead of needing to grind out his status down the home stretch of the Web.com Tour. The Denver native last played in the event in 2002, when he finished fifth, behind champion Kevin Stadler and runner-up Gary Hallberg — two players who now have PGA Tour victories — among others. That means that Bertsch hasn’t ever competed in the Open since it moved to Green Valley Ranch in 2004.

“Fortunately, a month ago I won and put myself in good shape,” he said. “I haven’t had the opportunity to stick around Colorado for more than a week at a time in the summer for a long time. But I’ve spent the last three weeks here, and I’m using this week as a refreshing time to stay at home, play in a tournament, and keep my game sharp. Then I’ll be heading out on the road again next week.”

So far this week, Bertsch has posted rounds of 70-69 for a 5-under-par 139 total, leaving him six shots out of the lead that’s held by defending champion Ian Davis of Edmond, Okla.

“I feel like I’ve played pretty solid,” he said. “I don’t think this course is playing too easy, and we’ve got 36 holes left. I feel good about it.

“This is a good track. I’m good buddies with Derek Tolan and Nick Mason, and they both said how good a shape it gets as far as firmness and the greens getting quick. It really is a good test. It’s no pushover.”

Bertsch has played full schedules on the PGA Tour six years between 1996 and 2012, but hasn’t been able to regain his card since — until now. He has five top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour to his credit, and has won $2.45 million on that circuit, in addition to the $1.28 million he’s earned on the Web.com Tour, where he’s won three times.

“I’ve been close (to regaining his PGA Tour card) the last couple of years but I haven’t done it,” he said. “It’s tough playing the Web. I’ve got no problems doing it but you always want to be up at the next level. That’s the only thing you really play for is to be up there. But the win really helps. I’m really looking forward to going back.

“And it’s nice to get it done early this year so I didn’t have to sweat it all the way through the year.”

Davis Ahead in Title Defense: The Colorado Open hasn’t crowned back-to-back champions since Dave Hill took home the trophy in both 1976 and ’77, but Ian Davis of Edmond, Okla., will try to change that this week.

The former Oklahoma State golfer shot an 8-under-par 64 on Friday — the low round this week — to reach the halfway point at 11-under 133, good for a two-stroke lead.

It’s as if he’s picking up right where he left off last year at Green Valley Ranch. On Friday, he racked up nine birdies, offset by one bogey.

“You have some good memories already around this place,” said the 23-year-old, who’s playing primarily this year on PGA Tour Latinoamerica, where he stands 23rd on the money list. “I came out a couple of days early and saw the course and everything. Those memories kind of come back to you and you can draw on those.”

The 64 Davis shot Friday was his best at GVR by two strokes.

The four players who share second place — two strokes behind Davis — include two other former champions, Zahkai Brown (left) of Arvada (2013 winner) and Wil Collins of Rapid City, S.D. (2005). Brown, the first-round leader, carded a 70 on Friday, while Collins had a 65.

Also at 9-under-par 135 are John Hurley of Spring, Texas (66 Friday) and Kurt Kitayama of Chico, Calif. (69).

Brown birdied his final hole of the day — No. 9 — but lamented going 2 over par through the first eight holes of his back nine — which is normally a good stretch for scoring.

“I hit it just as good today as yesterday (when he shot 65), but there were a couple of mental errors where I made a bogey,” he said. “I just wasn’t thinking very well on the back nine and made some dumb bogeys. I was kind of rushing it. I don’t know why. I just wish I could have gotten three or four more (under par).”

Among those another shot back, at 136, are Parker Edens of Greeley, who bogeyed his last three holes for a 70, and former Air Force Academy golfer Kyle Westmoreland (65).

Notable: The field was cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday’s second round, with all competitors at 1 over par or better advancing to the weekend. Both of the PGA Tour winners in the field — Notah Begay and Chris Riley — posted 2-over-par 146 totals and missed the cut by one. … Amateur Robb Bierbaum of Arvada made the second hole-in-one of the week, acing the 182-yard fifth hole with a 5-iron. Bierbaum shot a 77 for a 157 total and missed the cut. On Thursday, Barry Milstead of Castle Rock made a hole-in-one on No. 13. It’s the first time since 1998 that two aces have been recorded in the same Colorado Open. … Tee times, off both the first and 10th holes, will run from 7:30 a.m. to 9:25 a.m. on Saturday.

For scores from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.

For Saturday tee times, CLICK HERE.

For a guy who hasn’t competed in the HealthOne Colorado Open in a while, Brian Guetz certainly seemed to make a major impact on this year’s tournament, the 50th Open ever held.

Guetz, of course, grew up in Littleton and has won two Colorado Opens himself (1994 and 2008), with the former making him one of just two amateurs (along with Gary Longfellow) who has claimed the Open title outright.

Now Guetz is an assistant coach at his alma mater, Oklahoma State, and he played a big role in OSU product Ian Davis’ preparation for the Colorado Open — and subsequent victory on Sunday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

“I talked to coach Guetz earlier in the week before I started because obviously he’s won it twice and he knows how to go about it around here,” said Davis, who turned pro in late May immediately after Oklahoma State finished second in the NCAA Championships. “He kind of helped me out with the altitude and how that’s going to affect the ball. We went through a couple of holes, what he hit off certain tees. He’s great. He walked with me my whole junior year of college pretty much. He knows my game, so he’s a good one to talk to.”

Interestingly, in 2011 Guetz served as an assistant coach at Colorado State University, working with, among others, 2013 Colorado Open champ Zahkai Brown. Nowadays, Brian’s brother, Bret, is an assistant at CSU. And one of the Ram players Bret Guetz coaches is Cameron Harrell, who just happened to earn low-amateur honors in the Colorado Open on Sunday.

Davis (above celebrating with his caddie, and at left) put Brian Guetz’s advice to good use as he took the lead on Saturday and never relinquished it on Sunday in posting a five-stroke victory. The winning margin matched the second-largest at the Open since 1976.

Davis birdied his final two holes Sunday to post a 4-under-par 67 and a 14-under 270 total and earn his first tournament paycheck as a pro, good for $23,000.

Brandon Hagy, a first-team All-American at Cal last season who likewise is in the initial phase of his pro career, birdied No. 18 Sunday to claim second place outright at 275 after a final-round 69. He earned $13,500.

Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz., the 2010 champion, tied for third at 276 with Brock MacKenzie of Yakima, Wash., as both players closed with 70s.

So, looking back, how much did Brian Guetz’s advice about the Open and Green Valley Ranch help Davis come out on top?

“A lot actually,” said the 22-year-old Davis, a former All-American at OSU. “The altitude here makes the ball go so much farther. He gave me a couple of different percentages to factor in when I was getting my yardages. Sometimes it’s hard to trust it when you’ve got 190 (yards) and you’re going to hit a 9-iron over water. I just tried to trust it all week. Fortunately it worked out.”

Davis, from Edmond, Okla., wasn’t challenged to any great extent on Sunday. He started the day at 10 under par and shot a 3-under-par 33 on the front nine in the final round. The only other competitor to reach 10 under par on Sunday was Hagy (left), who was 3 under par for the day through seven holes and again through nine. But Hagy pulled his approach on 10 and made bogey and three-putted from in front of the green on 11 for another bogey.

“I just kind of lost momentum on 10 and 11,” he said. “That sort of threw me out of it. I was feeling really good, then I had those few bad swings on 10 and 11. And (Davis) played really well. I wasn’t able to hit it close enough on the back nine to put pressure on.”

Interestingly, both of the top two finishers Sunday, Davis and Hagy, were playing in their first Colorado Open and had never seen GVR before the week began. By Sunday, Davis especially looked very comfortable on the layout.

“I was focused on getting off to a good start (on Sunday), and I did,” he said. “I parred the first three holes, then I told my caddie Ben it’s time to get going, and I birdied the next couple holes. That felt pretty good. After those two birdies, I felt pretty comfortable all day.

“I’ll tell you what: This is pretty special.”

Low Amateur, Low Coloradan for Harrell: About the only thing Cameron Harrell didn’t do Sunday was win the Colorado Open. The Colorado State University golfer not only captured low-amateur honors — by four strokes — but he tied for fifth overall and was the top Colorado finisher, pro or amateur.

Harrell (left), who grew up in Colorado Springs, also was one of just three players — along with professionals Nathan Lashley and Brock MacKenzie — to record sub-par rounds each day of the tournament. Harrell went 68-70-70-69 for a 7-under-par 277 total.

“I wanted to prove to myself in a pro tournament like this that I can definitely compete because this is what I’m going to be doing in a year (after completing his senior season at CSU),” Harrell said. “I’ll be in stuff like this competing and paying my own way. So it feels really good to finish this well, especially as an amateur right now. And I’ve still got another year to get better and see where I can go from there.”

Harrell, who started the day five behind leader Ian Davis, made an early surge on Sunday. He birdied the first three holes, making putts of 25, 5 and 5 feet, to get within two of Davis. And after a bogey on No. 6, he drained a tough 35-foot birdie putt on No. 8. But when Davis started to pull away, neither Harrell nor anyone else in the field could keep up.
 
“I closed the gap real fast, which I wanted to do early on,” the 20-year-old said. “It was just a bummer I couldn’t put any pressure on (Davis on the back nine). I was trying to do that by posting a 10 or 11 under. It was a little frustrating after such a great start to have a little drop-off. But I’ll take top five.”

Harrell’s finish was the best by an amateur at the Open since Gunner Wiebe was runner-up in 2010.

Cole Nygren of Longmont, who on Friday made a double-eagle at the par-5 ninth hole, took second place in the amateur competition, closing with a 67 for a 281 total.

Award Puts Chenoweth in Good Company: LindaSue Chenoweth, a key figure in the success of the HealthOne Colorado Open since the tournament was revived more than a decade ago, on Sunday received the Robert M. Kirchner Award, which is given to an individual who has contributed greatly to amateur golf, professional golf and/or tournament golf in the state of Colorado.

Chenoweth served executive roles for the Colorado Open from 2004-13, at different times holding the titles of executive director and chief operations officer.

“There’s no one better at the little things than LindaSue,” noted CGA executive director Ed Mate (pictured with Chenoweth), a recipient of the Kirchner Award in 2009.

Having played such an integral role in the tournament over the years, Chenoweth was all smiles in accepting the award.
   
“To be among that list of recipients, that’s about the coolest honor a girl in golf can get, particularly in this golf family,” she said.

Notable: Scott Petersen of Parker, winner of the Colorado Open in 2000, carded Sunday’s best round, a bogey-free 6-under-par 65, to post a 10th-place finish at 279. Another Coloradan cracking the top 10 on Sunday was fellow former University of Colorado golfer Luke Symons of Aurora, who tied for eighth at 278 after a 71. Two other former Buffs, Derek Fribbs and Kevin Kring, shared 11th place. … Speaking of former CU golfers, three of them were paired together in Sunday’s final round, with two-time Open champion Derek Tolan joining Pat Grady and Kane Webber. After all starting the day at 1 under par, Tolan and Webber (284) finished a stroke better than Grady.

Scores: For all the scores from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.

Barring something completely unforeseen, Ian Davis will earn his first paycheck as a professional golfer on Sunday at the 50th HealthOne Colorado Open.

And he’s in position to make it a substantial one.

Davis (left), who turned pro the day after his Oklahoma State team fell to Alabama in the title match at the NCAA Championships in late May, will take a one-stroke lead into Sunday’s final round of the Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver.

The former All-American could receive a cool $23,000 for his first professional payday if things go well Sunday.

“If you start thinking about the outcome and what it could do for your career to win and stuff, you’re not going to play very well,” Davis said after shooting an even-par 71 on Saturday. “I’m going to try to stay in the moment, keep hitting solid shots and I’ll see what happens.”

Perhaps not coincidentally, another big-time college player who just wrapped up his amateur career likewise will be looking for his biggest financial windfall from a tournament. That would be Brandon Hagy, a first-team All-American from Cal in the just-concluded season. Hagy, a semifinalist in the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, shares third place at the Colorado Open, trailing only Davis and McKinney, Texas-based professional Chris Ward, who played his final 10 holes in 6 under par on Saturday.

Hagy turned pro less than a month ago, and his only check so far came in the Web.com Nova Scotia Open, where he placed 40th.

If Hagy and Davis are experiencing any problems transitioning into the professional ranks, they certainly aren’t showing it this week. Both are competing at the Colorado Open for the first time and each just had one practice round at GVR before their three-round runs to the top of the leaderboard.

“This doesn’t feel a lot different” than playing a high-level amateur event, Hagy said. “I think there was more pressure trying to beat my (Cal) teammates the last four years than playing for money.”

Davis, from Edmond, Okla., stands at 10-under-par 203 through 54 holes. Ward, 27, posted Saturday’s best score, a 5-under-par 66 and trails by one. Hagy, 2010 champion Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz., Brock MacKenzie of Yakima, Wash., and Nick Killpack of St. George, Utah share third place at 206.

Former University of Colorado golfer Luke Symons (left), from Aurora, made a 20-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole Saturday to be the top Coloradan through three rounds. His 71 left him in seventh place at 207.

“With a good low score tomorrow, I still might have a chance. Who knows?” said Symons, who has twice shot 64 or under in competition this month.

Devin Schreiner of Durango, who led after each of the first two rounds, followed up scores of 64 and 66 with an 8-over-par 79 on Saturday, putting him in 11th place at 209. Schreiner double-bogeyed his first hole on Saturday and finished the day with two doubles, five bogeys and a birdie on No. 16.

Davis can attribute his lead, in part, to an amazing string of 43 consecutive holes without a bogey or worse. He started the tournament by going bogey, par, double bogey on Thursday, then didn’t make another bogey until No. 11 on Saturday.

“That’s got to be up there (near his personal best),” the 22-year-old said. “That might be the best. I really didn’t notice I wasn’t making any bogeys but I did pretty good there for a while. That’s not bad. It’ll work.”

In Sunday’s final tee time, at 9:36 a.m., Ward will be joined by Davis and Hagy, who not surprisingly have played in the same groups at college tournaments.

Given that at one point early in the back nine on Saturday, Davis led by five strokes, but that he ended up ahead by just one, nothing is near settled yet.

“I’ve played in a lot of tournaments and I’ve seen (advantages of more than three or four shots) vanish quickly,” Hagy said. “It’s obviously in (Davis’) hands. But if I can make a few birdies and play solid, I think I would be right there.”

Harrell 5 Ahead in Amateur Competition: The two previous times Cameron Harrell played in the Colorado Open, he missed the cut, albeit barely. This time around, the Colorado State University golfer is in considerably different position.

Harrell (left), who grew up in Colorado Springs, leads the amateur competition by five strokes heading into Sunday’s final round. After falling just a shot shy on Monday of qualifying for his second consecutive U.S. Amateur, Harrell has posted rounds of 68-70-70 for a 5-under-par 208 total. The next-best amateur after three days is Jacob Holt of Tooele, Utah (213).

Harrell capped his Saturday round in style after making four birdies and five bogeys through 17 holes, hitting a 3-wood from 265 yards on the par-5 18th to 15 feet and draining the eagle putt.

“That helps a lot to finish that way,” he said.

Harrell is one of just three players in the field — along with MacKenzie and Lashley — who have been under par each round this week.

“This is a tournament I’ve always wanted to play well in,” he said. “I’m an amateur, this is a pro tournament. That’s always fun to do.

“The last month or so I’ve been hitting the ball awesome. I’ve been very pleased with everything.”

The low-amateur honor is obviously on Harrell’s mind, but at five strokes out of the overall lead, he still has an outside shot at the championship.

“You never know,” he said. “You could shoot 6, 7, 8 under easily. Anything can happen.

“I’m looking to get the low amateur. That’s the first goal. The second goal is to see what I can do to this top field. I’m really looking up the leaderboard to the guys in front of me. I’m going to try to make as many birdies as I can to see how much I can chase those guys down.”

Hip-Hip Hooray? It’s a collossal understatement to say that former CU golfer Luke Symons has had some hip issues over the years.

After going under the knife in 2009, ’10 and ’11, the Aurora resident recently underwent additional surgeries in October and December of last year. For those keeping count, that makes five hip operations in less than five years — three on the right side, two on the left. Torn labrums are consistently the problem.

“If I knew (the issue) I probably wouldn’t have to keep having them done,” said Symons, who sits in seventh place after three rounds of the Open. “I feel a lot better about the last couple I’ve went through. “

Notable: The run of Colorado Opens with a Colorado winner is in jeopardy of coming to at end at three, with the top Coloradan four out of the lead heading into Sunday. Going back further, seven of the last eight Colorado Open champions have had major Colorado ties: Dustin White of Pueblo West (2006), former CU golfer John Douma (2007), former Coloradan Brian Guetz (2008), Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch (2009 and ’12), Ben Portie of Westminster (2011) and Zahkai Brown of Arvada (2013). Only Arizonan Nate Lashley (2010) interrupted the streak. … The top two money winners in Colorado Open history — Jim Blair (5 over par after two rounds) and Bill Loeffler (6 over) — both missed the 36-hole cut. So Blair ($112,859) will remain about $15 ahead of Loeffler ($112,844) for the career money lead. … For Sunday’s final round, tee times will range from 7:30 to 9:36 a.m., with players going off both the first and 10th tees. The leaders will tee off on No. 1 at 9:36 a.m.

Scores: For all the scores from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.

July 4th was three weeks ago, but there was no lack of fireworks from the threesome that teed off at 12:10 p.m. on Friday for the 50th HealthOne Colorado Open.

On the group’s ninth hole, on his first shot after an 85-minute weather delay, Devin Schreiner of Durango pitched in from 45 feet for eagle on No. 18 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, moving him into a share of the lead at the time.

Then on the threesome’s final hole of the day — the par-5 ninth — amateur Cole Nygren of Longmont, who was paired with Schreiner, pulled off one of golf’s rarest feats. He made an albatross — a double eagle from 296 yards — to instantly assure himself of making the 36-hole cut.

And, mind you, this is the same tournament in which a father and son, paired together, each made a hole-in-one in a practice round on Tuesday. (See below for more on that accomplishment.)

All in all, it’s been quite a last few days at Green Valley Ranch.

Schreiner’s eagle, coming during a 33-hole bogey-free stretch to start the tournament, and a 1-foot birdie on the final hole gave the former Fort Lewis College golfer a two-stroke lead after Friday.

But let’s start with Nygren’s double-eagle, which deservedly earned high-fives from playing partners Schreiner and Nate Stevenson of Steamboat Springs.

“It’s the best shot I’ve ever hit definitely,” said Nygren (pictured above), who plays college golf for Cal Poly. “I’ve had a couple of hole-in-ones, but that tops it. It was pretty unbelievable. I’ve never felt anything like it. Rarely do you make better than a hole-in-one.”

Standing at 4 over par for the tournament and thinking he at least needed a birdie on his final hole to make the cut, Nygren hit his drive on No. 9 as close as possible to the water that runs across the fairway. From there, he pulled out a 3-wood for the 296-yard shot. The ball just carried the front bunker, but Nygren had no idea it was in the hole until he got up to the cup.

“I assumed I would get some applause if it was on the green, so honestly I thought it was in the bunker,” said Nygren, who recently played in the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. “Walking up, I didn’t see it on the green and got up a little further and didn’t see it in the bunker. I saw it bounce on the fringe so I knew there was no way it could have been long. I figured I’d walk up and check the cup, and sure enough …”

The stroke Nygren will never forget gave him an even-par 71 Friday, a 1-over 143 total, and vaulted him into 37th place going into the weekend. It’s amazing what playing a hole in 3 under par will do for you.

Meanwhile, playing partner Schreiner continued his stellar play, backing up a first-round 64 with a 5-under-par 66 in the afternoon wind Friday at GVR. That left him at 12-under-par 130, two ahead of second-place Ian Davis of Edmond Okla. (66-66) and six better than the four golfers tied for third place at 6 under par. Among those at that figure are former University of Colorado golfer Luke Symons (67-69) and 2010 champion Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz. (70-66).

“This is the best I’ve played in a long time,” said Schreiner, who qualified for the Open just last week. “Hopefully I can keep it going.”

The highlight of his day came on the par-5 18th, his ninth hole of the day. He was just walking up to his ball, behind the green, when a horn signaled a suspension of play due to lightning in the area. About an hour and a half later, when play resumed, he coaxed his pitch (left) down the hill and into the cup for an eagle.

“That was a good way to come back out of the rain delay for sure,” the 26-year-old said. “That shot was definitely on my mind (during most of the time during the suspension).”

Schreiner went on to add three birdies, offset by just one bogey, on his back nine despite gusty winds.

“Anytime the wind kicks up, it’s definitely harder to score, so I’m really happy with the way I played today,” he said. “I was able to take advantage of some things I probably shouldn’t have been able to take advantage of.

“I feel really good. I know there’s still two days to play — there’s still a lot of work to be done — but I feel pretty confident after what’s happened in the last 48 hours.”

A smattering of players didn’t finish round 2 on Friday because of the weather delay, and they will resume action at 7 a.m. Saturday. But the top players on the leaderboard all completed 36 holes by the end of the day Friday.

Schreiner’s closest pursuer, Davis, is looking for the first paycheck of his young professional career. Davis, who played for NCAA runner-up Oklahoma State, turned pro in late May. Though the former All-American has missed the cut in all three of his tournaments since then, he hasn’t missed a beat this week.

Competing in the Colorado Open for the first time and having played GVR just once before Thursday, Davis has posted consecutive rounds of 66 for a 10-under 132 total.

“I’ve been playing pretty well,” he said. “I’ve been close to playing some really good golf for a while. My goal is to put it in some spots where I can make birdies and see how low I can go. I’ve done pretty well the last two days, and hopefully I can keep it going.”

Indeed, Davis has gone bogey-free for his last 33 holes after starting the tournament bogey-par-double bogey.

Davis is playing this week after getting the thumbs-up on the Colorado Open from Oklahoma State assistant coach Brian Guetz, a two-time Colorado Open champion.

“It’s a great event. They run it awesome,” Davis said.

Aces by Father and Son, Same Group, Same Day: Micah Rudosky, the head professional at Conquistador Golf Club in Cortez, and his son Jakob both missed the cut Friday in the Colorado Open, but they left Green Valley Ranch Golf Club with an indelible memory.

On Tuesday in a practice round at GVR, the Rudoskys defied the odds in a big way by each making a hole-in-one during the same round while playing in the same group.

Jakob Rudosky, who finished fifth in the 4A state high school tournament last fall, struck first, acing the fifth hole with an 8-iron.

Three holes later, it was dad’s turn, as Micah holed out a — you guessed it — 8-iron shot to match his son’s feat.

“When (Jakob’s) went in, it was unbelievable,” Micah said Friday. “Then when I made it — that just doesn’t happen. In your group you might have one, but for both of us to have one — and they were both 8-irons … That’s kind of funny. We’ll never forget it.”

Tolan Makes a 180-Degree Turn: As the winner of two HealthOne Colorado Opens in the last five years, Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch was far from enamored by the 4-over-par 75 he shot in Thursday’s opening round at Green Valley Ranch.

But it wasn’t simply the score that bothered the former University of Colorado golfer.

“My dad (John Tolan, the head professional at South Suburban Family Sports) couldn’t make it out the first two days and said he was going to come on Sunday,” Derek Tolan noted on Friday. “I shot 75 yesterday and I was a little sad knowing that I’d have to have a pretty exceptional round to (make the cut and play on the weekend). But I did it.”

Indeed, and in spectacular fashion. Tolan birdied the first five holes Friday, six of the first seven, and carded nine birdies on the day as he shot a 5-under-par 66 and moved from 96th place to 20th.

Tolan said five consecutive birdies matches his best in competition. Appropriately, he capped his round with a 15-foot birdie on No. 18. His 66 came despite a double bogey (on No. 10) and two bogeys.

“I didn’t have anything close to a birdie (Thursday) besides a two-putt on No. 2 for birdie,” Tolan said. “Having that, then turning around 10 hours later and making nine (birdies) was shocking. It caught me off guard. I was pleased with it. I was also pleased with hanging in there grinding after hitting some poor shots.”

Despite being 11 strokes out of the lead with two days left, Tolan wouldn’t rule out his chances at another title.

“Especially out here, with how quickly things can change,” he said. “I’m going to have to play pretty exceptional, but there’s a lot of room to be made up out here. I’m definitely going to have to play extremely well, but it’s there.”

Notables: Former CU golfer Jonathan Kaye, a two-time winner on the PGA Tour and the 1996 Colorado Open champion, struggled again Friday and missed the cut. He shot 78-77 for a 13-over-par 155 total. He managed just one birdie on Friday. … Also missing the 36-hole cut to the low 60 players and ties was defending champion Zahkai Brown of Arvada (75-74–149). … Colorado State University golfer Cameron Harrell leads the amateur competition at the halfway point of the Open. He’s carded rounds of 68-70 for a 4-under-par 138 total, which leaves him one ahead of Jacob Holt of Tooele, Utah. … For Saturday’s third round, the plan is to send players off both the first and 10th tees, beginning at 8:30 a.m.

Scores: For all the scores from the Colorado Open, CLICK HERE.