Pat Rea captured the title in Grand Junction each year from 1961 through ’64, and Skip Tredway went back-to-back in 1982 and ’83.
But on Sunday, those two had to make room in their elite club for former Brigham Young University golfer Justin Keiley.
The 2017 winner made it two straight at Tiara Rado Golf Course, but needed a playoff to do it. After tying former Montrose resident Brandon Bingaman at 21-under-par 192 for three rounds, Keiley birdied the first extra hole (No. 18) for the victory and the $10,000 that goes with it.
The result foiled the bid of Bingaman, who shot a course-record 11-under-par 60 in Sunday’s final round and eagled the 18th hole in regulation. Bingaman, a former Colorado Mesa University standout, won the National Car Rental Colorado PGA Assistants Championship in 2017. He went on to finish 28th in the national Assistant PGA Professional Championship in November.
Keiley shot rounds of 67-61-64, while Bingaman went 65-67-60.
Former Grand Junction resident Monte Montgomery (66-63-67), a three-time RMO winner, placed third at 196.
Taking low-amateur honors on Sunday was incoming University of Denver freshman Cal McCoy of Highlands Ranch, who went 68-68-71–207 to prevail by two in that division. Low senior am by two was Owen Ellis of Boulder (76-70-74–220).
Tiara Rado Golf Course in Grand Junction will host the Rocky Mountain Open Friday through Sunday (Aug. 17-19).
As usual, a strong field will be on hand.
Two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan will be one of the bigger names competing. The former University of Colorado golfer won the Navajo Trail Open in Durango in June.
Also entered are three-time champion Monte Montgomery, a former Grand Junction resident; Doug Rohrbaugh, who has played in two PGA Tour Champions majors this year; 2017 champion Justin Keiley, a former BYU golfer; 2017 CGA Amateur champion Glenn Workman, the low amateur at the RMO last year before turning pro; former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs, the 2015 RMO runner-up; Dillon Stewart, the reigning Junior America’s Cup individual champion; three-time Wyoming State Open winner Kane Webber; and University of Denver men’s coach Erik Billinger.
The RMO has a rich history in western Colorado. Among the winners of the tournament is Orville Moody, who captured the 1975 title six years after claiming victory at the U.S. Open. Babe Didrikson Zaharias, named the top female athlete of the first half of the 20th century, finished third in the 1946 RMO as an amateur and competed in 1950 as a pro. Nate Lashley, a rookie on the PGA Tour this season, won the RMO in 2014.
For the Rocky Mountain Open field, CLICK HERE.
Dillon Stewart of Fort Collins, part of the Colorado Junior America’s Cup team that recently finished fourth out of an 18-team field last month in Washington state, shot a 7-under-par 64 at Tiara Rado Golf Course to grab a one-stroke lead in the tournament.
The runner-up to Davis Bryant of Aurora in the 2017 Colorado Junior PGA Championship, Stewart (pictured) made eight birdies and one bogey in the opening round.
Former Brigham Young University golfer Justin Keiley carded the best score among the professionals on Friday, a bogey-free 65. He played his first eight holes in 6 under, then parred his final 10 holes.
Tied for third place at 66 are 2016 CGA Match Play champion Nathaniel Goddard, who finished third last year in Grand Junction; three-time RMO winner Monte Montgomery; and 2017 CGA Amateur champion Glenn Workman. Montgomery made two eagles in Friday’s round.
The tournament will continue through Sunday, with all the action at Tiara Rado for the first time this year.
For Rocky Mountain Open scores, CLICK HERE.