Parker Klitzke of Sioux Falls, S.D., who recently wrapped up his golf career at Augustana University, shot a 9-under-par 62, despite bogeying his final hole, to earn medalist honors out of the field of 87. He made eight consecutive birdies, starting on No. 9, and 10 for the day, to post a course-record-tying score for the combined tees which competitors played on Thursday.

The Colorado Open, set for July 26-29 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, will feature a purse of $250,000, with $100,000 going to the winner.

The Coloradans who advanced to the Open include Ross McLean of Boulder (67), Derek Fribbs of Thornton (68), amateur Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch (68), Josh Gardella of Lone Tree (68), amateur Josh McLaughlin of Loveland (68) and amateur Griffin Barela of Lakewood (69). Barela and Joe Parkinson of Alpine, Utah, birdied the 10th hole to prevail in a nine-for-two playoff.

Fribbs, a former University of Colorado golfer and the 2013 CGA Player of the Year, competed in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying last month.

Also earning spots in the Colorado Open were former CU golfer Josh Creel of Cheyenne (68) and former Colorado State University player Colton Yates (68).

The remaining qualifying tournaments for the Colorado Open are scheduled for July 17 at Eagle Ranch in Eagle, and July 19 and 23 at Legacy Ridge in Westminster.

Here are the Colorado Open qualifiers from Highlands Ranch GC:

1. Parker Klitzke, Sioux Falls, SD 62
2. Samuel Love, Trussville, Ala. 64
T3. Ross McLean, Boulder 67
T3. Michael Whitehead, Houston 67
T5. Josh Gardella, Lone Tree 68
T5. Derek Fribbs of Thornton 68
T5. Cal McCoy (amateur), Highlands Ranch 68
T5. Josh McLaughlin (amateur), Loveland 68
T5. Colton Yates, Scottsdale, Ariz. 68
T5. Josh Creel, Cheyenne, Wyo. 68
T5. Hans Reimers, Scottsdale, Ariz. 68
T5. Ben Shur, Venura, Calif. 68
T5. Kelby Scharmann, Trabuco Canyon, Calif. 68
T14. Griffin Barela (amateur), Lakewood 69
T14. Joe Parkinson, Alpine, Utah 69

For complete scores from Thursday, CLICK HERE.
 

Colorado Springs resident Colin Prater, the 2016 CGA Amateur champion, concluded his college career at Colorado-Colorado Springs by placing 12th individually. Also tied for 12th was another Coloradan and a senior, Josh Gardella of Colorado Christian. Gardella closed with a 3-under-par 69 on Wednesday, while Prater (pictured) had a bogey-free 70, both good for a 4-under 212 total for three rounds. They finished 13 strokes behind individual winner John VanDerLaan of Florida Southern.

And the Colorado School of Mines’ George Markham, a junior from Phoenix, ended up 20th Wedneday at 215. He played his final 11 holes in 2 under par after going 7 over in a four-hole stretch en route to a final-round 76.

The top eight team finishers in stroke play will advance to match play, and UCCS ended up in the ninth spot, though the Mountain Lions were nine strokes out of eighth place.

Colorado Christian, making its first NCAA Division II Finals appearance, placed 16th in the 20-team field.

Men’s NCAA Division II Finals
May 21-23, 2018 (final) in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
9. (out of 20 teams) Colorado-Colorado Springs 298-293-286–877
12. Colin Prater 71-71-70–212
39. Tanner Comes 77-71-72–220
44. Ji Jang 75-75-71–221
63. Jack Duguid 75-76-73–224
95. Isaac Spillum 80-77-78–235

16. Colorado Christian 303-296-299–898
12. Josh Gardella 70-73-69–212
63. Nolan Backman 73-73-78–224
85. Noah Woolsey 80-76-75–231
92. Chase Carlson 82-74-77–233
106. Eric Oneth 80-80-89–249

Also
20. George Markham, Colorado School of Mines 70-69-76–215