The next day in North Palm Beach, Fla., friend Robbie Wight of West Palm Beach punched his ticket to the national Mid-Am.

With that, the two golfers were subsequently in contact with Matt Evelyn of Denver, Danny’s brother and Wight’s friend. “They’re like, ‘We’re making a practice round (plan for the U.S. Mid-Am) for a threesome and you’re the third so you’ve got to get in,'” Matt Evelyn noted.

And on Tuesday at Lone Tree Golf Club, Matt did just that, living up to his end of the bargain. The 33-year-old who plays out of Bear Creek Golf Club shot a 2-under-par 70 and scored one of the four spots available for the national championship that is limited to players 25 and older.

“It’s awesome,” he said of making the grade, particularly under the circumstances. “I’m ecstatic I got in. I’m looking forward to this.”

Out of a field that orginally numbered 84, all four qualifiers on Tuesday were from Colorado. Joining Evelyn were medalist Chris Thayer of Golden (2-under-par 68 at Lone Tree), Brian Dorfman of Denver (71) and Michael Harrington of Colorado Springs (71). (The qualifiers are pictured, from left: Thayer, Evelyn, Dorfman and Harrington.)

It will be the fifth U.S. Mid-Amateur — and 12th USGA championship — for Harrington, the second Mid-Am for Thayer, and the first for both Evelyn and Dorfman. Thayer is a two-time and Harrington a one-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion. Dorfman won the CGA Match Play in 2012 and was a semifinalist in that event this year.

Thayer, playing in the final group of the day on Tuesday, made five birdies, with the only blemish on his card being a bogey on No. 18, where he missed a 5-foot par putt.

Indeed, all of the qualifiers stumbled a bit coming in on Tuesday. Evelyn bogeyed the 17th hole before parring 18. Dorfman double bogeyed 17 but birdied 18. And Harrington hit a ball out of bounds and triple bogeyed 17 before parring 18. But it didn’t change the bottom line — qualifying for the national championship — for any of them.

For Thayer, it’ll be his second U.S. Mid-Am since 2016, and he advanced to the match play round of 64 two years ago. He’s also competed in a U.S. Amateur and a U.S. Junior Am.

“It feels really good,” the 38-year-old said of qualifying for another national championship. “I think I’m going to feel more comfortable at it after making match play two years ago. I got beat in the first round but played well. That’s kind of how it goes. It’s good to play in these. … There’s obviously a ton of good players at the Mid-Am.”

Thayer has been named the CGA Mid-Amateur Player of the Year each of the past three seasons, while Harrington was both the overall CGA Player of the Year and the Mid-Am POY in 2014.

Now 46, Harrington last competed in a USGA championship in 2015 as he played very little golf in 2016 and ’17 due to elbow surgery and a job change. But the Colorado Springs resident is 100 percent now and has proven he can make noise at the U.S. Mid-Am, having advanced to match play in each of his previous four trips to the event, and making it as far as the quarterfinals once and the round of 16 on another occasion.

“I feel like I’m just as good today as I was years ago,” he said. “My wedge play is better. I’m a better driver of the ball. I’m hitting my irons good. My short game is probably not quite as good as it was back then, but I feel like it’s coming around. I went two years without playing very much. I’m just a little bit off.

“But I really feel like my game is in good shape and I feel I have room for improvement. I’ve shot some very low rounds recently, but I feel like I could have been a couple lower. So I know there’s still more room there.”

On Tuesday, Harrington carded six birdies and was 4 under par through 16 before his problems at 17.

“For me, my mind was pretty solid for 16 holes today,” he said. “You have that charging mentality in your head. ‘Go make birdies, go make birdies, go make birdies.’ That’s a fun way to play. I’d make a par and be a little bit disappointed.”

While Harrington’s six birdies on Tuesday were impressive, Dorfman really went to town, making birdie eight times without ever having seen the course before Tuesday. Playing in the same threesome as Evelyn and 2017 U.S. Mid-Am qualifying medalist Ryan Axlund of Denver, Dorfman shot under par despite two double bogeys and three bogeys.

“I’d never played the golf course before, so I was a little bit lost,” the 28-year-old from Cherry Creek Country Club said. “But it helped having Matt playing really well so I could kind of feed off of him.

“I’m so excited. I’ve never played in a Mid-Am. Playing golf with mid-ams is one of my favorite things. I’m really looking forward to go play.”

Tuesday marked just the second tournament Dorfman has competed in in 2018, following the CGA Match Play.

“I play once a week” in casual rounds, he said. “I wish I could more. Now I may have an excuse to play a little more. I’m going to gear it up a little — definitely.”

Evelyn, meanwhile, went birdie-eagle on the fourth and fifth holes on Tuesday to spark his round. On the 554-yard fifth hole, he hit an 8-iron second shot from 197 yards to 40 feet and sank the eagle putt. But he also three-putted four times, accounting for all of his bogeys and keeping him from potentially claiming medalist honors.

Nevertheless, Evelyn is headed for his first USGA championship after losing out in a playoff in this qualifying tournament last year and being the first alternate.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do,” said Evelyn, who has won a couple of club championships at Bear Creek Golf Club. “It’s really special.”

On Tuesday, Jeff Chapman of Lone Tree eagled the fifth hole of a three-man playoff to earn the first alternate position after bogeying his final hole of regulation to shoot 72. Jason Browder of Gunnison bogeyed the seventh hole for the second alternate spot.

Amazingly, Chapman was also in the first alternate in U.S. Mid-Am qualifying in 2016 and 2013 and was the second alternate in 2015. He qualified for the national Mid-Am in 2012.

Next year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur will be played at Colorado Golf Club in Parker.

U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Lone Tree GC
ADVANCE TO U.S. MID-AM
Chris Thayer, Golden 34-34–68
Matt Evelyn, Denver 35-35–70
Brian Dorfman, Denver 36-35–71
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs 34-37–71
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Jeff Chapman, Lone Tree 35-37–72
Jason Browder of Gunnison 38-34–72

For all the scores from Tuesday, CLICK HERE.
 

Chapman, who placed 23rd in the event last year, shot rounds of 64-72 over the weekend to post a 6-under-par 136 total, good for a one-stroke victory. Over the two days, he carded a dozen birdies and six bogeys. A birdie on the par-4 16th hole on Sunday gave him his final one-stroke advantage.

Trevor Glen of Thornton, a graduate of Legacy High School and now a West Texas A&M golfer, parred his final 11 holes on Sunday to finish second at 137. He recorded a 70 in the final round after a three-birdie, two-bogey day.

The only other player to finish under 140 was Ethan Fine, who took third place at 139 after closing with a 69.

For scores from the Denver City Amateur, CLICK HERE.
 

(NOTE: The original version of this story said that Jon Lindstrom was the only three-time winner of the CGA Four-Ball, but Steve Irwin has also won the event three times — in 2004, ’09 and ’16.)

——————————————-

Jon Lindstrom went where just one man has gone before in the CGA Four-Ball Championship, and he and Richard Bradsby established a new team standard for the event.

Lindstrom became the second person to win the CGA Four-Ball at least three times — joining Steve Irwin with a trio of victories — and Lindstrom and fellow Lakewood Country Club member Bradsby posted the lowest total score by the winners of the championship since it went to 54 holes in 2011.

A day after scorching CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora with a tournament-best 11-under-par 60 in the scratch better-ball stroke-play format, Lindstrom and Bradsby prevailed in a playoff on Sunday, with Lindstrom pitching to 2 1/2 feet and draining the winning birdie putt on the first extra hole. (The champions are pictured, with Bradsby in light blue.)

“I’ve spent the last two weeks working with my instructor on shots just like that (pitch),” Lindstrom said. “I couldn’t wait to hit it, to be honest with you.”

Lindstrom, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Amateur titles and three Mid-Ams overall, and Bradsby finished at 22-under-par 191 after a closing 65. Also at that figure were 2015 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball qualifiers Jeff Chapman from Inverness Golf Club and Andrew Tapia from The Ridge at Castle Pines North. 

Chapman made a hole-in-one on his first hole of the day, the 148-yard second, with a 9-iron. It was his second career ace. Then five holes later, on the par-5 seventh, Tapia added an eagle of his own as the team shot a 10-under-par 61 in regulation on Sunday. But in the playoff, neither Chapman nor Tapia could birdie the par-5 18th. Tapia was in deep rough off the tee and settled for par. And, after a very long drive, Chapman was just off the green in two, but his chip stopped 20 feet short of the hole and he missed his birdie attempt. (The runners-up are pictured at left, with Chapman in yellow shirt.)

“I didn’t hit a very good chip there; it just didn’t release,” Chapman said.

Colorado State University teammates Jake Staiano, of Glenmoor Country Club, and Blake Cannon finished in third place, one out of the playoff. They birdied the last four holes — and nine of their last 12 — to shoot 64. 

Sunday’s CGA title was the eighth for the 49-year-old Lindstrom, who has three Mid-Ams, three Four-Balls and two Two-Mans with Dean Clapp to his credit. Lindstrom’s previous Four-Ball championships came with Clapp (2012) and Rick Larson (2002). Lindstrom and Clapp also finished second in a playoff in 2009.

“I just like doing (team events),” Lindstrom said. “If we make a bogey, I take ownership. It’s just a lot of fun. You’re strategizing around the shots and what to hit.”

Meanwhile, the 48-year-old Bradsby claimed his first CGA title on Sunday, though he has won two other four-ball championships in the last year — The Broadmoor Invitation in 2016 with Irwin and the The Gallery Invitational in Marana, Ariz., two weeks ago with Brian Dorfman, the 2012 CGA Match Play champion.

“It feels great (to break through in a CGA championship),” Bradsby said. “I was close on this one a few years ago (in 2014, when he and Lindstrom finished second), so it was nice to get across the line.

“Four-ball events have been good to me. I tend to be pretty steady. I can be in play quite a bit and am comfortable with the pressure when you really need to get something done and your partner is in trouble.”

On Sunday, Bradsby helped get himself and Lindstrom into a playoff with a 4-foot eagle on the 11th hole — after a 7-iron approach from 190 yards — and a 15-foot birdie on No. 15 after the team had suffered a bogey on the previous hole.

Lindstrom, who had shot 64 on his own ball in Saturday’s round, carded five birdies between holes 5 and 13 on Sunday, in addition to the winner in the playoff.

The champions were paired in the final round with Staiano and Cannon, who are their juniors by more than a quarter-century. 

“I’ve played with those guys (college golfers) enough times that I don’t try to hit it up there with them,” Lindstrom noted. “I have a game plan. Once in a while you notice they’re 60 yards by you. That’s cool. In the end (it may or may not make a difference).

“There’s a challenge to it knowing you’ve got 7-iron in (for an approach shot) and they’ve got wedge and you try to beat them. It kind of motivates you.”

For the scores from the CGA Four-Ball, CLICK HERE.

That attraction is likely primarily twofold — it’s a two-person team event, which has proven a popular format; and so far it’s been scheduled at some great venues. It’s already been held at the Olympic Club (2015) and Winged Foot (2016), and upcoming are Pinehurst (2017), Jupiter Hills (2018), Chambers Bay (2019) and Philadelphia Cricket Club (2020).

Given the spring dates for the national championship, qualifying is currently taking place for the 2017 tournament, which will be held May 27-31 at Pinehurst Resort in North Carolina.

In Colorado, qualifying for the event will occur Tuesday (Aug. 30) at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora. There, 60 two-man teams will compete for three berths in the national championship.

Four intact teams that have already competed in the U.S. Four-Ball will be in the field at CommonGround: Jonathan Marsico and Tom Hart (2016), Zach Fowlds and Ben Sherlund (2016), Bill Fowler and Robert Polk (2015), and Jeff Chapman and Andrew Tapia (2015). In addition, Alex Kephart (2015) and Alex Buecking (2016) are qualifiers who are competing with different teammates this time around (Kephart with Kurtis Lucas, and Buecking with Jon Lindstrom). In fact, Buecking went to the quarterfinals of the national championship in May while pairing up with Jason Enloe of Dallas.

Also competing at CommonGround will be Chris Korte and Nick Nosewicz, who each won major CGA championships in 2015 at CommonGround — Korte the CGA Amateur and Nosewicz the CGA Match Play.

For Tuesday’s pairings, CLICK HERE.
 

It will be four-ball galore over the next two weeks, both locally and nationally.

Between now and May 13, four big four-ball championships will be contested in Colorado or by the USGA, with Colorado competitors involved. First up are the separate CGA Four-Ball and Senior Four-Ball tournaments, the first CGA championships of 2015, set for Friday through Sunday (May 1-3). Then the inaugural U.S. Amateur Four-Ball will be held May 2-6 in San Francisco. Last but not least, the first U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball will be played May 9-13 in Bandon, Ore.

(It should be noted that though the CWGA won’t have a four-ball event in the next couple of weeks, it holds three four-ball tournaments annually: the Mashie, Brassie and Niblick.

The men’s and women’s U.S. Four-Balls are the first additions to the USGA championship schedule since 1987.

Here’s a brief rundown of the four-ball events — which are essentially two-person better-balls, either in stroke play or match play — that are set for the next two weeks:

— CGA Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster and CGA Senior Four-Ball at Todd Creek Golf Club in Thornton, each 54-hole event running Friday through Sunday (May 1-3).

A total of 92 players (46 teams) are registered for the Four-Ball at Legacy Ridge. While 2014 champions Keith Humerickhouse and Jared Bickling won’t return as a team — Humerickhouse is in the field for the U.S. Four-Ball — Bickling will play at Legacy Ridge with new partner Stephen Baxter.

Other former champions in the field are Jon Lindstrom (2002 and ’12), Steve Irwin (2004 and ’09), Alex Buecking (2009), Dave Johnson (2006), Jim Doidge (2005) and Pat Diaz (2004). Irwin will team with Diaz again this year. Doidge will partner with Michael Harrington, the 2014 CGA Player of the Year.

In the Senior Four-Ball at Todd Creek, 102 competitors (51 teams) 50 and older are signed up. Included are defending champions David Delich and Bruce Hogg, who prevailed by three strokes last year. Also back are 2013 winners Kelly Crone and Larry Netherton, who also claimed the title in 2009.

Other former champs in the field are Daniel Dymerski (2012), John Applegate (2011), Sean Forey (2003 and ’08) and Scott Radcliffe (2003). Forey and Radcliffe will team up again this year.

To access scoring over the weekend, click on the following: OPEN DIVISION, SENIOR DIVISION.

— U.S. Amateur Four-Ball at the Olympic Club in San Francisco May 2-6.

A total of 4,468 golfers (2,234 teams) submitted entries, and qualifying was held at 51 sites from last August through March.

The field at the Olympic Club will feature 128 teams, which will play 36 holes of stroke play, with the top 32 teams advancing to match play beginning on May 4.

Five teams in the championship include at least one Coloradan:

Robert Polk of Parker and Bill Fowler of Lakewood

Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs and former Colorado Springs resident Nick Tarasiewicz

Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle and Tom Abell of Oregon, Wis.

Jeff Chapman of Denver and Andrew Tapia of Raton, N.M.

Gus Lundquist of Parker and Trevor Sluman of Rochester, N.Y.

Polk and Fowler, both 50-somethings, shared medalist honors in qualifying at Colorado Golf Club with Kephart and Tarasiewicz last September. (The four are pictured together above.) Polk, 59, will be the oldest player in the field at the Olympic Club.

Lundquist and Sluman are University of Louisville teammates, playing for coach Mark Crabtree, a Colorado Golf Hall of Famer. Sluman is a nephew of Champions Tour player Jeff Sluman. They were medalists in an Oct. 8 qualifier in Mason, Ohio.

Humerickhouse and Abell were medalists in an Oct. 1 qualifier in Hartford, Wis.

— U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball at Bandon Dunes in Oregon May 9-13.

Qualifying for the inaugural Women’s Four-Ball took place at 28 sites from August through March.

Jennifer Kupcho of Westminster and Gillian Vance of Lakewood (left) will take a break from the high school season to play in the national championship. They shared medalist honors last October in a qualifier at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

Kupcho, the 2014 CWGA Player of the Year, will play college golf at Wake Forest in the fall, while Vance will be on the University of Colorado roster.

All told at Bandon, 64 teams will play two rounds of stroke play, with the low 32 teams advancing to match play, which begins May 11.
 

But the final qualifier came to Colorado from his home in Alabama to earn a spot in a USGA championship that will be played in … Alabama.

If that doesn’t seem odd enough, just check out how Haymes Snedeker, an older brother of six-time PGA Tour winner Brandt Snedeker, earned one of the national berths on Monday:

The 37-year-old from Fairhope, Ala., spun his final shot of the day, on No. 18 at CommonGround, back into the hole for an eagle — from 90 yards out.

“Sometimes it’s supposed to be,” said the reinstated amateur. “Sometimes it’s meant to be and sometimes it certainly isn’t. I’ve been on both sides of it.”

With his spectacular finish, Snedeker vaulted from outside of the qualifying line to inside of it, ending up with a 3-under-par 68. He was joined in qualifying for the national championship — one restricted to players 25 and older — by medalist Alex Kephart (pictured) of Colorado Springs (67), CommonGround regulars Tristan Sanders and Brodie Hullinger, both of Denver (68 each), and Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle, winner of the last three CGA Mid-Amateur Championships (69).

Humerickhouse birdied his final hole of regulation (No. 9), then did likewise on the first playoff hole to overcome Jeff Chapman of Englewood, who qualified for both the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur in 2012. Chapman double-bogeyed his final hole of regulation (No. 9) to post his 69.

Five players out of a field that originally numbered 79 landed spots in the national Mid-Amateur, which will be played Oct. 5-10 in Birmingham, Ala.

Despite the Mid-Amateur being set for his home state, and a qualifying tournament also scheduled for Alabama, why did Snedeker try to qualify in Colorado, a state in which he had never played golf?

“I saw that the local qualifier was pretty crowded and I had a business meeting I had to do out here anyway, so I planned the perfect trip,” said Snedeker, a real-estate developer.

Snedeker, who won “Big Break X: Michigan” on the Golf Channel in 2008, was once a pro who hoped to join his brother on the PGA Tour. But he’s long since gotten his amateur status back, and on Monday he qualified for his fifth USGA championship, including his second Mid-Amateur. He’s made it to match play in both the Mid-Am and the U.S. Amateur Public Links.

“I played as good as I can play for the first time playing at altitude,” the former Ole Miss golfer said. “I’ve never played in Colorado before so it was a big adjustment. … But I might move out here. I love it.”

Being an Alabama resident, qualifying for a U.S. Mid-Am being held in his home state was a high priority.

“It’s a big deal for me playing in my home state,” he said. “I’m at the age where if I can catch lightning in a bottle maybe I could make some noise. That’s why it’s special. It’s (for) people like me who don’t play golf every day — the weekend warrior — so you have a chance. The U.S. Amateur, biologically I don’t have a chance. The Mid-Am, you always have a chance. Getting there is half the battle, so I’m very fortunate.”

Earning U.S. Mid-Am berths was likewise special for the Coloradans who advanced Monday from CommonGround.

Medalist Kephart qualified for his second USGA championship of 2013, having competed earlier this month in the U.S. Amateur. The 26-year-old made an eagle and four birdies, offset by two bogeys, both on par-5s. He finished with one 2 and eight 3s on his card.

“I feel like I left a little unfinished business out there (at the U.S. Amateur) and wanted to get back as soon as possible,” said Kephart, who hadn’t competed in a USGA event before this year. “So it feels pretty good.”

Even though he didn’t qualify for match play at the U.S. Amateur, the experience at The Country Club in Brookline, Mass., certainly whet Kephart’s appetite for more USGA championships.

“They treat you like professionals when you’re out there. It’s pretty awesome,” he said. “The experience taught me a lot.”

Sanders, whose only previous USGA championship experience was a 2011 U.S. Mid-Am, was likewise determined to be more than a one-hit wonder on the USGA qualification stage.

“I was talking to some of the guys at the national championship and they told me this statistic and it’s been in my mind ever since: thousands of amateurs make it to USGA national championships, but only 17 percent make it to two,” said Sanders, 29. “I always wanted to make it to another one to validate that I can play” on that high level.

On Monday, Sanders eagled No. 7 and birdied the final hole. Like Hullinger, who moved to Colorado from South Dakota last year, Sanders used his home-course knowledge at CommonGround to his advantage in the qualifier. Sanders has shot as low as 64 at the course in tournament play, and Hullinger even worked at CommonGround for a while.

“I certainly feel more comfortable out here than someone who has played it two or three times, I would think,” said the 28-year-old Hullinger, who has played in the U.S. Publinks. “When I saw (the tournament) was at CommonGround I certainly thought I’d better do the qualifier here.”

Like Sanders and Snedeker, Humerickhouse has qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur before. In fact, the left-handed former professional made it to the round of 32 at the national tournament in 2010.
 

U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 CommonGround GC in Aurora

QUALIFIED
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 33-34–67
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 33-35–68
Brodie Hullinger, Denver, Colo., 33-35–68
Haymes Snedeker, Fairhope, Ala., 35-33–68
Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle, Colo., 35-34–69

ALTERNATES (in order)
Jeff Chapman, Englewood, Colo., 37-32–69
Pete Mangold, Denver, Colo., 37-33–70

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-33–70
Wes Martin, Denver, Colo., 37-33–70
Justin Kruger, Centennial, Colo., 35-35–70
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., 36-35–71
James Kurtenbach, Denver, Colo., 34-37–71
Jim Doidge, Pueblo, Colo., 37-34–71
Alan Boyko, Canada, 37-34–71
Bryan Cannon, Columbine Valley, Colo., 34-37–71
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 34-38–72
Andrew Tapia, Raton, N.M., 36-36–72
Greg Carlin, Denver, Colo., 37-35–72
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 39-34–73
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 37-36–73
Thomas Balderston, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 37-36–73
Charles Santaularia, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 38-35–73
Chris Tenan, Windsor, Colo., 39-34–73
James Kackley, Dallas, Texas, 36-37–73
Michael Love, Magnolia, Ark., 37-37–74
David Lindquist, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-36–74
Eric Hoos, Denver, Colo., 37-37–74
Christopher Thayer, Aurora, Colo., 36-38–74
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-39–75
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Greg Michaels, Westminster, Colo., 35-40–75
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 38-37–75
Nicholas Nosewicz, Aurora, Colo., 39-36–75
Thomas Roos, Elizabeth, Colo., 39-37–76
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver, Colo., 36-40–76
Arnold Hoy, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-38–76
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 40-36–76
Jay Orris, Boulder, Colo., 37-39–76
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 38-38–76
Steve Duran, Lakewood, Colo., 37-39–76
Jim Kirk, Sylvania, Ohio, 38-38–76
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo., 37-40–77
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 36-41–77
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-40–77
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Ted Jorgensen, Mequon, Wis., 40-37–77
James Banyas, Denver, Colo., 37-40–77
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 36-42–78
Tony Komatz, Eagle, Colo., 41-37–78
Kristofer Anderson, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 38-40–78
Jason Poppenhagen, Aurora, Colo., 42-36–78
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 40-39–79
Chad Gonzalez, Denver, Colo., 41-38–79
Michael Slutzky, Glenview, Ill., 40-39–79
Reginald Kellum, Windsor, Colo., 42-37–79
Owen Ellis, Boulder, Colo., 39-41–80
Sean Griswold, Durango, Colo., 43-37–80
Shawn Mercer, Denver, Colo., 38-42–80
Trent Isgrig, Denver, Colo., 38-42–80
Mark Flisek, Denver, Colo., 40-40–80
Douglas Manske, Littleton, Colo., 40-40–80
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 41-40–81
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 39-42–81
Webb Henderson, Denver, Colo., 40-41–81
John Luoma, Parker, Colo., 42-40–82
Eric Butler, Denver, Colo., 39-44–83
Zachary Coe, Gypsum, Colo., 41-42–83
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-43–84
Richard Bradsby, Denver, Colo., 46-39–85
Spenser Howell, Denver, Colo., 49-40–89
Thomas Grawe, Conifer, Colo., 46-47–93
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., WD
Mark Zbrzeznj, Avon, Colo., WD
Adam Goldie, Westminister, Colo., NS
Matt Call, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
Jed Fritz, Denver, Colo., NC
Patrick Ahlering, St Louis, Mo., WD
 

The Denver resident qualified for the U.S. Amateur on July 23 — earning a spot in a USGA championship for the first time in the new millennium — so he figured it only made sense to go with a similar look for Monday’s U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifying.

Chapman therefore sported the same colors for his shirt and shorts that he did two weeks earlier. And, for good measure, he wore an orange U.S. Amateur cap his girlfriend gave him after he qualified. Actually, it was one of nine such caps that she gave him.

Whether it was the wardrobe or simply more good golf, Chapman was able to add a second USGA championship to his 2012 schedule by earning a berth in the U.S. Mid-Amateur on Monday.

Chapman shot a 3-under-par 69 in Mid-Amateur qualifying at Buffalo Run Golf Course in Commerce City, sharing medalist honors with Tom Hart of Denver and Andrew Tapia of Raton, N.M. (The co-medalists are pictured, from left: Chapman, Hart and Tapia.) Also advancing to the national tournament were Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield and Brian Richmeier of Aurora, who carded 70s and prevailed in a six-man playoff for the final two berths.

The U.S. Mid-Amateur, which is limited to players 25 and older, will be contested Sept. 8-13 at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, Ill.

“I’m pleased,” the 36-year-old Chapman said. “After having qualified for the Amateur two weeks, that’s been all that I could think about. I’m ready for it to get here, but I’m pleasantly surprised with how I played today.

“It’s a pretty special summer. In 1999 I qualified for the U.S. Publinks, played in Pacific Coast Amateur and got invited to play in the USGA State Team. That was a special summer, but 13 years later at 36 years old and still competing with young kids that play every day, that’s fun.”

Chapman, who works in sales, eagled the 532-yard second hole — his 11th — from 3 feet, and added three birdies on Monday. It was just his third round in the 60s this year, but two of them have come in USGA qualifiers; he had a 67 in the U.S. Amateur Sectional at Inverness.

“We had a sales conference and went to San Diego for New Year’s,” Chapman said. “I played Torrey Pines and La Costa, and after walking off Torrey Pines I said, ‘I’m going to rededicate myself to my game this summer. I’m going to work on my game and try to play and see if I can be competitive.’ And I’m almost there.”

Lindstrom will be competing in his fourth U.S. Mid-Am, and roughly his 14th USGA championship. He made it to the round of 16 at the 2008 U.S. Mid-Amateur.

“It’s awesome,” said the 44-year-old, the CGA’s Mid-Amateur Player of the Year in 2008. “I feel like I play in all of the other state events just as a warmup to try to qualify for these things (USGA championships).”

Meanwhile, the other four qualifiers will be making their national Mid-Am debuts. In fact, Hart, Tapia and Richmeier will be playing in their first USGA championship of any sort.

Monday’s qualifier, which originally featured a field of 80 golfers, saw its final two berths decided in a playoff. Lindstrom advanced with a 4-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, a par-4. And Richmeier earned the final spot when his punch 7-iron rode the wind and finished 2 1/2 feet from the cup on the par-3 second playoff hole, and he drained the putt.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a very very long time,” said the 38-year-old Richmeier. “I’ve tried for a while. I’m super ecstatic. I knew that I had it in me and that eventually it would come through. Today it just worked out. This by far is my biggest accomplishment yet in golf, no doubt about it.”

Hart is a former University of Denver golfer whose family owns Cherry Creek Country Club, Plum Creek Golf Club and Deer Creek Golf Club. He teamed up with former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway to win the 2009 Trans-Mississippi Four-Ball, a tournament that draws a national field.

But this will be Hart’s first time competing at a USGA championship. In fact, he’d never before tried to qualify for any USGA events other than the U.S. Open.

“I just told myself to do it,” said Hart, who was 4 under par through six holes on Monday. “The past few years I got busy. I was playing good, but bailed on it. I just wanted to make sure I showed up today. That was the win for me — showing up.

“Playing in this will be awesome.”

Falling short in Monday’s playoff were Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs, Pete Mangold of Denver, Rob Clever of Firestone and Alex Buecking of Littleton, all of whom shot 70. Kephart and Mangold are the first and second alternates, respectively.

Buecking also was one of the odd men out in the U.S. Amateur qualifying playoff two weeks ago. As was the case then, he three-putted the first playoff hole to lose out.
 

U.S. Mid-Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-72 Buffalo Run GC in Commerce City

ADVANCE TO U.S. MID-AMATEUR
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 33-36–69
Tom Hart, Denver, Colo., 33-36–69
Andrew Tapia, Raton, N.M., 35-34–69
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 35-35–70
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 33-37–70

ALTERNATES (In order)
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-35–70
Pete Mangold, Denver, Colo., 36-34–70

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Rob Clever, Firestone, Colo., 35-35–70
Alex Buecking, Littleton, Colo., 35-35–70
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 35-36–71
Stephen Summers, Dallas, Texas, 36-35–71
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-35–71
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 34-38–72
Richard Bradsby, Denver, Colo., 35-37–72
Chad Hess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-35–73
Dean Clapp, Centennial, Colo., 36-37–73
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 38-35–73
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 35-38–73
Paul Mohr, Scottsbluff, Neb., 37-37–74
Thomas Roos, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 38-37–75
Kristofer Anderson, Chandler, Ariz., 36-39–75
Robert Bedan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 35-40–75
Justin Borzych, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-37–75
Billy Day, Pueblo West, Colo., 36-39–75
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 38-37–75
Michael Slutzky, Littleton, Colo., 39-36–75
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Steve Sullivan, Castle Rock, Colo., 36-39–75
Dewey Burke, Denver, Colo., 35-40–75
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 36-40–76
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 38-38–76
Michael Love, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-39–76
Mark Zbrzeznj, Avon, Colo., 39-37–76
Daniel Honer, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
E. Stephen Holstein Jr, Basalt, Colo., 39-37–76
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 38-38–76
Danny Hahn, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
Kent Moore, Littleton, Colo., 38-39–77
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 39-38–77
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 38-39–77
Jason Coffin, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 40-37–77
John Luoma, Parker, Colo., 39-38–77
Andrew Rapp, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Reginald Kellum, Windsot, Colo., 38-39–77
Stephen Reister, Littleton, Colo., 39-38–77
Troy Duerr, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-37–77
Ben Haselbauer, Minneapolis, Minn., 39-38–77
Bryan Doyea, Peyton, Colo., 41-36–77
Craig Kirscht, Thornton, Colo., 41-36–77
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 38-40–78
Chad Gonzalez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Colby Anderson, Rapid City, S.D., 42-36–78
Jason Eagan, Castle Rock, Colo., 41-38–79
Stephen Fernandes, Denver, Colo., 39-40–79
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver, Colo., 37-42–79
Benjamin Burke, Denver, Colo., 40-39–79
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 39-41–80
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 37-43–80
Arnold Hoy, Castle Rock, Colo., 42-38–80
Owen Ellis, Boulder, Colo., 40-41–81
Daniel Tripp, Bloomfield, N.J., 39-42–81
Jeff Weiss, Boulder, Colo., 39-42–81
Greg Bollefer, Centennial, Colo., 42-39–81
Andrew Rathbun, Westminster, Colo., 40-41–81
Russell Branzell, Fort Collins, Colo., 44-37–81
Steve Summers, Dallas, Texas, 39-43–82
James Hillary, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 43-39–82
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 42-40–82
Rick Kelly, Golden, Colo., NS
Chris Melcher, Colorado Springs, Colo., NS
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., NS
Mark Matthews, Colorado Springs, Colo., NC

University of Denver golfer Andy Yang has watched as his sister, Jennifer, qualified for four USGA championships, including the upcoming U.S. Women’s Amateur. And, quite frankly, he was a little envious.

“My sister is a good player and she has made a lot of USGA tournaments,” Yang said. “I was always kind of jealous how she gets to always travel and stuff. And finally now I get a chance to be in a national championship, and it makes me feel really happy.”

Just four days after his sister qualified at The Pinery Country Club in Parker for the U.S. Women’s Am, Yang punched his ticket to next month’s U.S. Amateur in Colorado.

With Jennifer caddying for him in Monday’s Sectional Qualifying at Inverness Golf Club in Englewood, Andy Yang not only advanced to the national championship, but he earned medalist honors out of a field of 78.

The DU sophomore-to-be joined Denver residents Ryan Axlund and Jeff Chapman in each qualifying for his first U.S. Amateur, and the tournament will be at a nearby venue for all of them. The championship will be held Aug. 13-19 at Cherry Hills Country Club, with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second stroke-play course Aug. 13-14.

Yang posted rounds of 70-68 for a 2-under-par 138 total Monday at Inverness Golf Club. Axlund, a former golf professional who just got his amateur status back earlier this year, landed the second spot by carding scores of 68-71–139. (Yang, left, and Axlund are pictured above.) And Chapman nailed down the third and final U.S. Amateur berth in a playoff after using a 36th-hole birdie to go 67-73 for a 140 total.

Chapman, one of three players to finish at 140, birdied the first playoff hole — No. 10 at Inverness — by draining a 5-foot putt. Gus Lundquist of Parker, the 2011 5A state high school champion, two-putted from 20 feet for par for the first alternate spot, while former professional golfer Alex Buecking of Littleton three-putted from 12 feet, relegating himself to the second alternate position.

In the playoff, Chapman (pictured at left) was fortunate to have a clear approach shot to the green after hitting his tee shot well left of the putting surface. And he took advantage by bouncing his wedge shot close to the flag.

After playing in about 25 USGA qualifiers in his life, this is just the second time Chapman has hit pay-dirt for a non-team USGA championship. And for this national tournament to be at Cherry Hills, it’s just a cherry on the sundae.

“To have it in Denver is pretty special,” the 36-year-old salesman said.

Axlund feels equally as fortunate.

“I’m in shock right now,” the 31-year-old network engineer said. “I’ve been playing for a long time and this is the first time I’ve qualified for a USGA championship. It’s nice to be able to do it in my hometown. It was a pleasant surprise.

“Today is my biggest golf accomplishment. To qualify for a USGA event on a course I love and to have it in my hometown, that’s a great feeling.”

Meanwhile, Yang got to share that feeling with his sister, a University of Washington golfer.

“She caddied for me today and it really helped a lot,” the 19-year-old Korean-born golfer said. “It was really fun. To have a caddie like her is really a special thing. She’s also a competitor. The conversation we had on the course really helped me to focus on the shots that I had to hit. That’s probably one of the reasons I played steady.”

To qualify for his first USGA championship after having quit the game for a year just before college was special for Yang. He came to DU to study business, but contacted coach Eric Hoos and ended up successfully walking on the golf team.

Accomplishing so much in the last year “is really cool,” he said. “It means a lot. The U.S. Amateur is where a lot of the best players in the world compete. Just by having my name in there means I can play with them and I can be one of the best players in the world. … I can see how far away I am from reaching my dream.”

Monday marked the second U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier held in Colorado this year. Last week, Matt Schovee of Englewood, former longtime Colorado Springs resident Justin Spray and Eric Hallberg of Castle Rock punched their U.S. Amateur tickets at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying

At Par-70 Inverness GC in Englewood

ADVANCE TO U.S. AMATEUR
Andy Yang, Denver, Colo., 70-68–138
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 68-71–139
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 67-73–140

ALTERNATES (In order)
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 68-72–140
Alex Buecking, Littleton, Colo., 73-67–140

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jason Burstyn, Miami, Fla., 69-72–141
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 68-73–141
Ben McConahey, Denver, Colo., 72-70–142
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 73-69–142
Rob Clever, Firestone, Colo., 70-72–142
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 69-73–142
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 74-69–143
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 74-69–143
Ted Jorgensen, Denver, Colo., 67-76–143
John Ahern, Morrison, Colo., 72-72–144
Cameron Brown, Edwards, Colo., 73-71–144
Jeffrey Allen, Denver, Colo., 70-75–145
Minkyu Jeon, Littleton, Colo., 72-73–145
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 72-73–145
Cole Nygren, Niwot, Colo., 71-75–146
Charles Santaularia, Denver, Colo., 77-70–147
Matt Roberts, Denver, Colo., 75-72–147
Robert M Yurglich Jr, Lone Tree, Colo., 74-73–147
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 74-73–147
Nick Burns, Denver, Colo., 74-74–148
Kolton Kyne, Ridgway, Colo., 75-73–148
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., 73-75–148
Spencer Sheets, Centennial, Colo., 72-77–149
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 75-74–149
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 75-74–149
Christopher Korte, Littleton, Colo., 78-72–150
Justin Headrick, Aurora, Colo., 79-71–150
Peter Horstman, Castle Rock, Colo., 76-74–150
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 73-77–150
Josh Mclaughlin, Fort Collins, Colo., 78-73–151
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 75-76–151
Nick Berry, Littleton, Colo., 75-76–151
Matt Strong, Castle Rock, Colo., 76-75–151
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo., 71-81–152
Cole Cunningham, Centennial, Colo., 77-75–152
Chris Beabout, Centennial, Colo., 74-78–152
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 72-80–152
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 81-72–153
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 76-77–153
Cody Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 71-82–153
Oliver Lewis, Denver, Colo., 76-77–153
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 74-81–155
Jonathan Dresnick, Miami, Fla., 77-78–155
Kade Sessions, Aurora, Colo., 80-75–155
Dan Huff, Castle Rock, Colo., 73-83–156
George Bollinger III, Golden, Colo., 78-78–156
Charles Castellano, Denver, Colorado, 76-80–156
Andrew Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 77-79–156
Steve Sullivan, Castle Rock, Colo., 75-81–156
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 75-82–157
Michael Larson, Longmont, Colo., 78-79–157
John Frey, Denver, Colo., 75-82–157
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 76-81–157
Joey Muckler, Centennial, Colo., 79-79–158
Christopher Dillon, Littleton, Colo., 80-79–159
Marc Biagiotti, Greenwood Village, Colo., 83-76–159
Gabe Grant, Denver, Colo., 78-81–159
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 81-78–159
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 77-83–160
Brian Smith, Aurora, Colo., 75-86–161
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 81-81–162
Alexander Leonida, Centennial, Colo., 85-77–162
Kevin Klatman, Boulder, Colo., 81-81–162
Jeffrey Bullock, Littleton, Colo., 80-83–163
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 83-80–163
Brent Landen, Virginia Beach, Va., 83-80–163
Ken Weiss, Centennial, Colo., 86-83–169
Cassius Klaess, Denver, Colo., 85-88–173
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 79-WD
Chun-Ji Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 81-WD