Kofstad (pictured), a Norwegian who competes regularly on the European Challenge Tour, shot back-to-back rounds of 2-under-par 69 on the weekend in Rio de Janeiro, making five birdies in Sunday’s final round.

Kofstad’s 2-over-par 286 total left him 18 strokes behind gold medalist Justin Rose of Great Britain. Henrik Stenson of Sweden (270) took the silver and American Matt Kuchar (271) the bronze.

DU alum Gil Hanse, who with Amy Alcott designed the Olympic course, was one of the torch-bearers in the days leading up to the Games’ opening  ceremonies. Hanse carried the torch about 250 yards on Aug. 4 as part of the torch relay. He will keep the torch he carried as a souvenir.

For complete Olympic scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Denver’s Huffer notches top-5 in Symetra event: Becca Huffer of Denver posted her second-best finish ever on the Symetra Tour on Sunday, placing fourth in the Decatur-Forsyth Classic in Decatur, Ill.

The former CoBank Colorado Women’s Open champion shot rounds of 68-71-70 for a 7-under-par 209 total. She ended up three strokes behind champion Clariss Guce.

Three former University of Colorado teammates also finished in the top 20 on Sunday, with Jenny Coleman (211) being 11th, and her sister Kristin Coleman and Jessica Wallace tying for 16th at 212.

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

(Updated Aug. 15) U.S. Senior Open wraps up Monday: Meanwhile, Sunday’s scheduled final round of the U.S. Senior Open was postponed by more than 2 inches of rain that fell in Columbus, Ohio. The final 18 holes were played on Monday, with Gene Sauers winning with a 3-under-par 277 total.

Here are the final scores and positions for the competitors with strong Colorado ties:

48. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 71-70-79-72–292
60. Colorado resident Gary Hallberg 71-75-76-78–300

Missed 36-Hole Cut
Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo 74-74–148
Colorado Sports Hall of Famer and former CU Golfer Hale Irwin 76-77–153
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood 77-77–154
Mark Wiebe of Aurora 74-WD

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Jobe, who turned 50 a little over a year ago, shot a 9-over-par 79 Saturday at Scioto Country Club in Columbus, Ohio, dropping him 34 spots on the U.S. Senior Open scoreboard, from eighth place to 42nd.

Jobe played his final 10 holes in 9 over par Saturday after being in contention for the title prior to that. He finished the day with a triple bogey, a double bogey, five bogeys and one birdie on Saturday. That leaves him at 10-over-par 220, 15 strokes behind leader Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Jobe has recorded three top-five showings in senior majors so far this year.

Meanwhile, Colorado resident Gary Hallberg shares 51st place after a third-round 76 left him at 222.

The championship will conclude on Sunday.

Here are all the scores and positions for the locals:

42. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 71-70-79–220
51. Colorado resident Gary Hallberg 71-75-76–222

Missed 36-Hole Cut
Former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo 74-74–148
Colorado Sports Hall of Famer and former CU Golfer Hale Irwin 76-77–153
Ron Vlosich of Lakewood 77-77–154
Mark Wiebe of Aurora 74-WD

For all the scores, CLICK HERE.
 

Former Pioneer Kofstad Shoots Third-Round 69 at Olympics: Former University of Denver golfer Espen Kofstad moved up 10 spots on the Olympic golf scoreboard Saturday by shooting a 2-under-par 69 in Rio de Janeiro. Kofstad, who’s competing for his native Norway, shares 44th place at 4-over-par 217. That leaves him 16 strokes behind leader Justin Rose of Great Britain, who fired a 65 on Saturday. The competition will conclude on Sunday. For complete Olympic scores, CLICK HERE.

Let us count the ways:

— He’ll celebrate his 29th birthday.

— He’ll represent his native Norway as golf returns to the Olympics for the first time in 112 years.

— Coincidentally, the Rio de Janeiro course on which he’ll be competing for the Olympics — and which will be used for the Aug. 17-20 women’s tournament — was designed by a fellow DU alum, course architect Gil Hanse. (READ MORE)

“Maybe I can get someone to take a picture of the two DU alums on the Olympic course,” Hanse said in a story DU published recently.

Hanse’s work at the Olympic course has drawn praise.

“The Rio Games might well be controversial, but there can be little second-guessing about the quality of the golf course,” wrote Bradley S. Klein in Golfweek. “If there were a gold medal for course architecture, Hanse would win it in a runaway.”

Kofstad, the European Challenge Tour’s top money winner in 2012, secured his Olympic berth with a win a month ago in the D+D Real Slovakia Challenge (READ MORE). It was his third Challenge Tour victory.

The men’s Olympic tournament, featuring 60 players, will consist of four rounds of stroke play, from Thursday through Sunday. It will be the first Olympic golf competition since the 1904 Games in St. Louis.

Kofstad will tee off at 5:14 a.m. (MT) for Thursday’s first round.

The American representatives in Rio for the men’s tournament are Bubba Watson, Rickie Fowler, Patrick Reed and Matt Kuchar.