With the top 35 finishers out of the 264-person field at the national Senior PGA Professional Championship earning berths into next May’s Senior PGA, Chris Johnson of Castle Rock finished one stroke out of a playoff for the 35th spot, Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale two, and Rick Cole of Eaton three.

Johnson, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion, finished 38th on Sunday in Scottsdale after his only bogey of his final 13 holes came on the 16th hole at Desert Mountain. He posted a 4-over-par 292 total after carding rounds of 69-74-74-75.

Rohrbaugh, a former PGA Tour Champions competitor who has won three Colorado PGA Pro Championships, checked in at 293 — two out of a playoff — after making birdie on his final hole for a 74 on Sunday. A triple bogey on his eighth hole on Sunday was a big blow as he finished 43rd.

And Cole, who like Johnson was inside the top 35 going into the final round, shot a final-round 76 to tie for 49th at 294. For the second consecutive day, he double bogeyed his final hole. Cole made two double bogeys on Sunday to go with three birdies and three bogeys.

The fourth Coloradan to make the 54-hole cut, 2007 national champion Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, placed 69th at 299 after a final-round 78.

Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J. captured the title on Sunday by five with a 12-under 276 total.

Last year, Mike Northern of Colorado Springs finished fourth in the national Senior PGA Professional Championship and easily qualified for the Senior PGA.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans who competed in Scottsdale:

38. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74-74-75–292
43. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73-74-74–293
49. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70-75-76–294
69. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75-73-73–221
MISSED 54-HOLE CUT
100. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73-74-86–233
MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Bill Hancock of Highlands Ranch, Littleton GC 75-76–151
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Life Member 74-78–152
Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 80-74–154
Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, Life Member 77-79–156
Don Hurter of Sedalia, Castle Pines GC DQ

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, the 2010 Colorado PGA Professional Champion, will go into Sunday’s final round in 27th place. He shot a roller-coaster 2-over-par 74 Saturday at Desert Mountain, posting a 5-over-par 41 on the front nine, and 3-under 33 on the back. That leaves him at 1-over-par 217 after three days.

The top 35 finishers on Sunday will earn spots in the 2018 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 24-27 in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Rick Cole of Eaton, the runner-up in this month’s Colorado PGA Professional Championship, also remained inside the top 35 despite making a double-bogey 7 on his final hole and shooting 75 on Saturday. The 64-year-old is in 34th place, with a 2-over 218 total.

The two other Coloradans who made the 54-hole cut are also well within reach of the top 35. Three-time Colorado PGA Pro Champion Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale is at 219 following a third-round 74. And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Bill Loeffler, winner of the national Senior PGA Pro Championship in 2007, stands at 221 following a 73 on Saturday.

Overall, Frank Esposito of Old Bridge, N.J., holds the lead at 8-under 208.

 Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:

27. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74-74–217
34. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70-75–218
44. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73-74–219
60. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75-73-73–221
MISSED 54-HOLE CUT
100. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73-74-86–233
MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Bill Hancock of Highlands Ranch, Littleton GC 75-76–151
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Life Member 74-78–152
Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 80-74–154
Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, Life Member 77-79–156
Don Hurter of Sedalia, Castle Pines GC DQ

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.

Cole (pictured), who lost in a playoff and finished second earlier this month at the Colorado PGA Professional Championship, shot a 2-under-par 70 on Friday, giving him a 1-under 143 total at the tournament’s halfway point. He made three birdies and a bogey in round 2 and played his final 15 holes in 3 under par.

Tied with Cole in 17th place is Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, who carded a 74 on Friday. Johnson made three birdies on the day, offset by three bogeys and a double bogey.

Also among those making the 36-hole cut to the low 90 players and ties was former PGA Tour Champions player Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, a three-time Colorado PGA Professional Champion who shot 73 on Friday and stands at 145, good for a tie for 34th place.

Likewise advancing to Saturday’s play were Barry Milstead of Castle Rock (147, 55th place) and Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, a past winner of this national championship (148, 69th place).

Defending champion Steve Schneiter of Utah leads the way at the halfway point with a 9-under 135 total.

The tournament will continue through Sunday. The field will be cut to the low 70 players and ties after 54 holes.

The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2018 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 24-27 in Benton Harbor, Mich.

 Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:

17. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73-70–143
17. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69-74–143
34. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72-73–145
55. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73-74–147
69. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75-73–148
MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Bill Hancock of Highlands Ranch, Littleton GC 75-76–151
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Life Member 74-78–152
Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 80-74–154
Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, Life Member 77-79–156
Don Hurter of Sedalia, Castle Pines GC DQ
 

Johnson, one of 10 Colorado PGA professionals who started the event, made five birdies and two bogeys in round 1. The 50-year-old former Colorado PGA Professional Champion trails leader Mike Small, the men’s golf coach at the University of Illinois, by four strokes.

The next-best score among the Colorado contingent on Thursday was shot by three-time Colorado PGA Professional Champ Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, who posted a 72 and is tied for 37th place. He made three birdies and three bogeys on the day.

The tournament will continue through Sunday. The field will be cut to the low 90 players and ties after Friday’s second round, and to the low 70 players and ties after 54 holes.

The top 35 finishers will earn spots in the 2018 Senior PGA Championship, set for May 24-27 in Benton Harbor, Mich.

Here are the scores for all the Coloradans competing:

9. Chris Johnson of Castle Rock, Life Member 69
37. Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, Ironbridge GC 72
56. Rick Cole of Eaton, Eaton CC 73
56. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock, Valley CC 73
76. Ron Vlosich of Lakewood, Life Member 74
104. Bill Hancock of Highlands Ranch, Littleton GC 75
104. Bill Loeffler of Castle Rock, The Links GC 75
146. Mike Northern of Colorado Springs, Life Member 77
204. Mike Zaremba of Pueblo West, Desert Hawk at Pueblo West 80
Don Hurter of Sedalia, Castle Pines GC DQ