All three players who qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Monday at the Fox Hill Club in Longmont felt they had something to prove.
And though that “something” was different in each case, prove it they did.
Subin Lee of Englewood, Coby Welch of Highlands Ranch and Davis Bryant of Aurora landed the three available berths — out of a field of 71 — for the Junior Am, which is set for July 20-25 in Bluffton, S.C.
As for Monday being a proving ground of sorts:
— For Lee, it was a chance to take his next big step in golf, a game he’s played for only four years.
— For Welch, it was about prevailing in a playoff after being the odd man out a couple of times in sudden death recently.
— And for Bryant, it was an opportunity to go from a promising young junior golfer to making a definitive mark as a 15-year-old.
Lee, a 17-year-old senior-to-be at Cherry Creek High School, matched par over 36 holes with consecutive rounds of 70 to earn medalist honors by three strokes.
“This means a lot for me,” said Lee, who carded six birdies and six bogeys on Monday, in addition to chipping in for par from 30 yards on his 34th hole of the day. “For the Junior Am last year, I really wanted to qualify (but came up short). So winning this was kind of big for me.
“Today I was just trying to make pars and sometimes birdies would go in. I was pretty happy about that.”
Monday marked the second significant national tournament Lee has qualified for in June, coming on the heels of the golfer from CommonGround advancing to the Optimist Junior national championships.
Four players tied for second place at 3-over-par 143, putting them into a playoff for the final two national berths. Welch, winner of the 2014 CJGA Tournament of Champions, chipped in from 17 feet for birdie on the second extra hole to advance.
“That felt good, especially after making two bogeys on my last three holes (of regulation, with a birdie in between),” Welch said. “That was my chip. I always do good on those chips.
“I thought my (approach) shot was all over the pin, but it came up short. I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to chip this one in and win it right here.’ That was my shot.” (Welch, in red, is pictured at left celebrating afterward.)
As for Bryant, after keeping his hopes alive by making a 15-foot par putt on the second playoff hole, he gained the last national spot when he drained a 10-foot birdie putt (below) on his 39th hole of the day. He had missed a similar birdie putt on the same hole to start the playoff.
“I said, ‘I can’t give up until the last putt drops,'” said Bryant, the boys 14-15 Colorado/Wyoming district champ in the Optimist Junior tourney. “I just kept believing. It was a great day of golf, so much fun.
“This is definitely my biggest accomplishment in golf. It’s going to be a very fun ride home for sure.”
Like many in the field, Bryant had plenty of support at Fox Hill. His dad, Matt, the general manager and director of golf at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, followed him all day. And LindaSue Chenoweth, the 2014 women’s club champion at Fox Hill and a former chief operations officer for the Colorado Open Golf Foundation, served as Bryant’s caddie.
“That was a little home-course advantage, which was nice,” Davis Bryant said after a day which included four birdies, 29 pars and six bogeys.
It will be the first USGA championship for all three qualifiers. Welch, 17, is a senior-to-be at Valor Christian, and Bryant is a sophomore-to-be at Eaglecrest.
Jackson Solem, competing in his hometown of Longmont, and Ji Jang of Aurora ended up as the first and second alternates at Fox Hill, respectively, after being the odd men out in the playoff.
U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-70 Fox Hill Club in Longmont
Qualified for National Championship
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo. 70-70–140
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 72-71–143
Davis Bryant, Aurora, Colo. 72-71–143
Alternates (In Order)
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. 69-74–143
JI Jang, Aurora, Colo. 71-72–143
Failed to Qualify
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 73-71–144
Cole Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 74-71–145
Aj Ott, Fort Collins, Colo. 72-73–145
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 73-73–146
Griffin Barela, Lakewood, Colo. 74-72–146
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 75-72–147
Sam Taylor, Nederland, Colo. 73-75–148
Josh Caridi, Fort Collins, Colo. 77-72–149
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 74-75–149
Barrett Jones, Edwards, Colo. 74-76–150
Glen-Michael Mihavetz, Montrose, Colo. 76-74–150
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 74-76–150
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins, Colo. 74-78–152
Cooper Taylor, Superior, Colo. 80-72–152
Jake Gannon, Longmont, Colo. 72-80–152
Carlos Vazquez, Atizapan Estado, Mexico 73-79–152
Kyle Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 76-76–152
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 81-72–153
Kevin Liao, Littleton, Colo. 77-77–154
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 77-77–154
Will Firestone, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 79-76–155
Jackson Crist, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 79-76–155
Roger Nakagawa, Denver, Colo. 78-77–155
Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, Colo. 77-78–155
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo. 81-75–156
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 78-78–156
Will Hazen, Aspen, Colo. 79-77–156
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 80-76–156
Zachary Gomez, Westminster, Colo. 75-81–156
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 78-79–157
Tyler Zhang, Lone Tree, Colo. 82-76–158
Ryan Pearson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 84-74–158
Cade Kilkenny, Centennial, Colo. 80-78–158
Matthew Heesemann, Johnstown, Colo. 74-84–158
Brittain Walton, Steamboat Springs, Colo. 81-78–159
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo. 80-79–159
Zachary Zurcher, Parker, Colo. 78-81–159
Nick Leibold, Littleton, Colo. 77-83–160
Ryan Kropp, Brighton, Colo. 82-79–161
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo. 83-78–161
Jaxon Franklin, Broomfield, Colo. 81-80–161
Nicholas Michas, Golden, Colo. 77-86–163
Bennett Rogers, Centennial, Colo. 85-78–163
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood, Colo. 78-85–163
Nishant Datta, Broomfield, Colo. 85-79–164
Ethan Ashbrook, Santa Maria, Calif. 81-83–164
Ivan Richmond, Estes Park, Colo. 82-82–164
Reese Leiker, Littleton, Colo. 85-80–165
Logan Gorman, Colorado Springs, Colo. 82-83–165
Cole Chalmers, Denver, Colo. 81-84–165
Mathew Casias, Pueblo, Colo. 81-84–165
Jack Marty, Longmont, Colo. 83-86–169
Kyle Huber, Larkspur, Colo. 87-83–170
Brandon Bervig, Colorado Springs, Colo. 82-88–170
Preston Ewing, Pueblo West, Colo. 85-86–171
Christopher Dennis, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 84-88–172
Charlie Schneider, Lone Tree, Colo. 88-84–172
Luke Thomson, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 86-87–173
Hayden Smith, Greenwood Village, Colo. 83-95–178
Josh Pusar, Castle Rock, Colo. 88-90–178
Cameron Nagel, Fort Collins, Colo. 91-93–184
Hill Washburne, Dallas, Texas 86-WD–WD
Evan Malloy, Denver, Colo. WD
Ryan Zoellner, Centennial, Colo. WD
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo. WD
Hunter Tuite, Englewood, Colo. WD
John Elway had the orange mojo going on Wednesday.
The Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback had Bronco orange grips on some of his golf clubs and predominantly orange shafts on some of his woods Wednesday as he competed in the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open for the first time since 2010.
“He’s definitely representing the Broncos,” caddie Davis Bryant said of the current Broncos general manager.
And though Elway is busy these days as a team executive, his game held up very well at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. He was one of just seven players who broke par on Wednesday as his 1-under 71 left him in a share of fourth place.
Elway trails co-leaders Kent Moore of Cherry Hills Village, fellow amateur Tom Musselman of Telluride and Colorado PGA professional Mike Northern of Colorado Springs by one stroke in the 54-hole event. Moore is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, Northern is a four-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year, and Musselman was runner-up in the 2013 CGA Senior Match Play.
Suffice it to say it was a pleasant surprise for Elway to be near the top of the leaderboard.
“I didn’t make a lot of putts but I played about as good as I could play,” the 53-year-old said. “I was thrilled to be 1 under. It was a great start.
“I love to be able to play competitive golf. I don’t get to do it a lot. But it gets some butterflies going, gets the competitive juices flowing. I really enjoy it.”
Elway has played in four HealthOne Colorado Opens and is competing in his second Colorado Senior Open. In 2010, he was tied for low amateur at the event after one round and finished in 52nd place overall.
On Wednesday, while paired with his longtime swing instructor, Meridian Golf Club head professional Paul Lobato, and three-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Bill Loeffler, Elway shot the best round of the threesome. He made three birdies and two bogeys on the day.
Elway (left) said he’s gotten in five or six rounds since the NFL draft three weeks ago. But he’s not on the course nearly as much as he was prior to becoming a Broncos executive early in 2011.
“I used to be able to get out to Palm Springs and spend a couple months out there,” he said. “I’m not playing nearly as much now, especially because we ended late (in the Super Bowl), which is what we want.
“I don’t remember my bad habits yet,” he joked.
One of the rounds Elway played recently was at GVR with Lobato, course general manager Matt Bryant and Bryant’s 14-year-old son, Davis.
After that, Elway asked Davis, a regular competitor in CJGA events, to caddie for him at the Senior Open, if Davis’ schoolwork permitted.
“He’s a great little player,” Elway said of Bryant. “He’s been around this track so many times and he knows the greens like the back of his hand. He was such a huge help. I’m glad he was able to get out of school and take care of it with his teachers and help me out.”
Coincidentally, Davis Bryant’s first day caddying for Elway came the same day his dad Matt celebrated his 40th birthday. (Elway is pictured at top with Davis Bryant.)
“My teachers said, ‘definitely, take advantage’ (of the opportunity to loop for Elway) but I had to make sure I had everything done in school,” Davis Bryant said. “It’s a very special opportunity, a once-in-a-lifetime thing that I’ve been able to experience. I got to hold his clubs, sit in the cart with him. Everything about it was amazing.”
Elway usually plays in the Charlie Coe Invitational team event at Castle Pines Golf Club this week, but this time he opted for the Senior Open.
“I’ve got a great partner there (at the Charlie Coe, Tom Hart), but sometimes I rely too much on my partner there,” Elway said. “I’ve got to get a little more experience (on my own). Tahoe is the third week in July, and before I play there I’d like to play some other tournaments.”
Elway has finished third and sixth in the last two American Century Championship celebrity tournaments in Lake Tahoe.
Elway was one of three amateurs to break par on Wednesday, along with Moore and Musselman.
Joining Elway in a share of fourth place at 71 were defending champion Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Scott Sommers of Frederick and Bill Harvey of Hampton Bays, N.Y.
Andonian-Smith Starts Strong in History-Making Appearance: Sherry Andonian-Smith of Castle Rock not only scored a first on Wednesday — by becoming the first female to compete in the Colorado Senior Open — but her first-round performance was very competitive.
The 51-year-old PGA teaching professional at Valley Country Club in Centennial shot a 2-over-par 74 and shares 21st place after round 1 at Green Valley Ranch.
“I hit the ball fantastic. It exceeded my expectations,” Andonian-Smith (pictured above) said. “It would have been nice to make a couple of putts, but that’s golf. Maybe tomorrow they’ll fall. But that’s as good as I’ve hit it this year.”
Andonian-Smith said she’s never played a tournament round on a course so long as GVR was set up on Wednesday (6,942 yards). But that didn’t keep her from a strong, consistent round — one birdie, three bogeys and 14 pars on a course that didn’t yield a score lower than 70 on Wednesday.
“I’ve never played in a tournament this long ever,” she said. “Even the major championships I’ve played in have not been this long. And I’m old now.
“I’ve never made the first fairway before (over a 230-240-yard forced carry), and I made it today. That was my goal for the whole round really. It was downwind today. I think my dad was up there watching over me and giving me some downwind.”
So did Andonian-Smith get a sense of making some history on Wednesday?
“Yes, definitely, especially from all of the women” on hand, she said. “It’s very special. I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t think it was going to be special. That ball that made it over on the first hole is going to be saved. That’s one of the harder shots I’ve ever had to hit in my life. It was cool.”
Andonian-Smith said it would be “awesome” to make the 36-hole cut on Thursday. To do that, she’ll have to remain in the top 55 players and ties.
Notable: Rohrbaugh, who competed in the Senior PGA Championship last week, opened with a 1-under-par 71 on Wednesday, making five birdies and four bogeys. … The overall low professional after 54 holes will earn $8,500. … Bill Loeffler, winner of three Colorado Opens and one Colorado Senior Open, was bogey-free and 2 under par going into No. 16 Wednesday. But he double bogeyed 16 and 18 coming in and shot 74. He had no bogeys for day, but carded two doubles.
For Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.
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