Editor’s Note: With the CGA celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding in 1915, this is the ninth monthly installment of a series of stories looking back on the last century of golf in Colorado. All the articles are being published on coloradogolf.org. This chapter focuses on the period from 1995-2004. For the previous installments, CLICK HERE.
There have been many groundbreaking and pivotal moments for women in the history of golf in Colorado and beyond, but it hasn’t gotten much bigger in the Centennial State than in the mid- and late-1990s.
It started with The Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado Springs hosting the 50th U.S. Women’s Open in 1995, marking the first time arguably the top championship in women’s golf has come to Colorado — or the Mountain time zone, for that matter. And though no one realized it at the time, one of the sport’s all-time greats was to emerge, as Annika Sorenstam made that tournament the first of what would become 72 LPGA Tour victories before she unexpectedly retired in 2008.
In the first of her 10 major championship wins, Sorenstam (below) finished a stroke ahead of Meg Mallon and two in front of Pat Bradley and Betsy King at The Broadmoor’s historic East Course. That was the first year the U.S. Women’s Open featured a purse of at least $1 million.
While all that was huge from a historical perspective, the next year was even more unique.
That was when Colorado Springs resident Judy Bell was elected president of the USGA, becoming the first female to hold that post. In fact, Bell’s two-year term beginning in January 1996 remains the only one in which a woman has served as USGA president since Theodore Havemeyer became the first president of the association in 1894.
“I bet that’s the first time the incoming president kissed the outgoing president on the way to the dais,” Bell memorably joked after it was announced she would succeed Reg Murphy.
But, as former USGA president Stuart Bloch noted, “Judy’s gender, I don’t believe, was a consideration in her election. Her abilities, I think, were the consideration that caused her to be selected as the first woman president. If she were a man, she would have been elected.”
Overall, Bell was the third Coloradan to become USGA president, following Denver residents Frank Woodward (1915-16) and Will Nicholson Jr. (1980-81). (Bell is pictured at top in a USGA photo presenting the low-amateur award to Cristie Kerr at the 1996 U.S. Women’s Open.)
During Bell’s presidency, the USGA started the “For the Good of the Game” program, a $50 million initiative which aimed to increasingly spread the game to groups such as youth, minorities and the disabled.
Bell had had a long, distinguished career as both a player and a volunteer golf administrator leading up to her presidency. She had served on the USGA Women’s Committee starting in 1968 and chaired that committee from 1981 to ’84. Then in 1987, she became the first woman elected to the USGA Executive Committee.
On the playing end, Bell won three Kansas women’s amateurs, starting at age 15, and three Broadmoor Ladies Invitation titles, competed in 38 USGA championships and was both a player and captain on U.S. Curtis Cup teams. And in 1964, she shot the lowest round in the history of the U.S. Women’s Open, a 6-under-par 67, a standard which stood for 14 years.
For all this and much more, Bell was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2001.
But Bell wasn’t the only woman from Colorado in USGA volunteer leadership roles around this time. Colorado Springs’ Barbara McIntire, winner of two U.S. Women’s Amateurs and a British Ladies Amateur, served as USGA Women’s Committee chair in 1995-96, and Denver’s Joan Birkland, another accomplished athlete, followed McIntire in that role in 1997-98.
On a more local level, 1995 marked the debut of the Colorado Women’s Open.
Here are some of the other Colorado golf highlights of the period from 1995-2004:
— Steve Jones (left), who grew up in Yuma, Colo., and played golf at the University of Colorado, won the 1996 U.S. Open, overcoming runners-up Davis Love and Tom Lehman. The victory culminated a remarkable comeback after Jones was off the PGA Tour for almost three years following a dirt-bike accident in November 1991. The victory gave former CU golfers four U.S. Open titles — three for Hale Irwin and one for Jones.
— In 1996, the CGA entered into an agreement with the Lowry Redevelopment Authority to purchase the former Lowry Air Force Base golf course. The CWGA became partner with the CGA in the purchase of the course. The site is now home of CommonGround Golf Course, which is owned and operated by the CGA and CWGA.
— From 1996 to ’98, Ken Krieger won three consecutive Colorado PGA Professional Championships, becoming the second player in the 1990s to do so, joining Ron Vlosich (1991-93).
— In the five-year period from 1997-2001, an amazing 42 courses opened in Colorado.
— Cherry Hills Country Club hosted the 1998 Trans Miss, won by Dan Dunkelberg. Coloradan John Olive was the runner-up.
— CU graduate Hale Irwin won two U.S. Senior Opens in three years, in 1998 and 2000. That gave the former Buff a total of five USGA championships, including his three U.S. Opens.
— In 1998, The Broadmoor hosted the biennial PGA Cup matches, which pits the top club professionals from the U.S. and Great Britain & Ireland. In Colorado Springs, the U.S. defeated GB&I 17-9.
— In the period from 1999 to 2002, Kevin Stadler won the CGA Match Play title twice, along with the 2002 Colorado Open championship in his pro debut. During the decade 1995-2004, Stadler and Jonathan Kaye (1996) won the Colorado Open en route to becoming PGA Tour champions.
— John Olive, winner of the 1977 CGA Match Play, became one of the top senior players in Colorado history. In addition to claiming titles in five CGA Senior Stroke Plays and four Senior Match Plays during this decade, he won the inaugural Colorado Senior Open (1999) and remains the only amateur to earn the title in that event.
— Colorado PGA members received four more PGA of America national awards in this decade: Alan Abrams (1997 Junior Golf Leader), Mike McGetrick (1999 Teacher of the Year), Charles “Vic” Kline (2000 Golf Professional of the Year) and Russ Miller (2003 Resort Merchandiser of the Year).
— In 2000, Coloradan Kaye Kessler won the PGA of America’s National Lifetime Achievement Award for Journalism.
— Also in 2000, Warren Simmons retired as CGA executive director, with Ed Mate succeeding him. Mate continues in the position to this day.
— Nicki Cutler won the CWGA Stroke Play three times in a four-year period from 2000-03.
— Rick DeWitt, the 1999 CGA Stroke Play champ, won the last of his record seven CGA Mid-Amateur titles in 2002 before being inducted into the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame and later turning pro. He was named CGA Player of the Year a record six times.
— With financial issues and mismanagement burdening the Colorado Open, the 2003 championship was called off during tournament week. Thanks in large part to developer Pat Hamill, the event was resurrected in 2004.
— The International at Castle Pines saw two future World Golf Hall of Famers — Phil Mickelson (1993 and ’97) and Davis Love III (1990 and 2003) win the PGA Tour event for the second time.
— Les Fowler, a Colorado Golf Hall of Fame player and a former CGA president who had a key role in the CGA acquiring the golf course at Lowry, passed away in 2003.
— In 2004, Steve Irwin, a former pro who regained his amateur status, joined his father Hale (1966) as a winner of the CGA Match Play.
— Jamie Lovemark won the prestigious 2004 Western Junior at Denver Country Club. Lovemark later became the No. 1-ranked amateur in the world.
After all, he’ll go down as the final champion of the tournament.
Four months after the USGA announced it will discontinue its men’s and women’s Amateur Public Links Championships after 2014, CGA leadership has decided to make a similar move.
This week’s CGA Public Links Championship — set for Friday through Sunday (June 21-23) at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont — will be the last played, concluding a run of 31 tournaments since the event’s inception in 1983. (Eric Parish, pictured hitting above, will defend his title this weekend.)
As was the case with the USGA, CGA officials believe the Publinks no longer serves its original purpose.
“We’ve been thinking about this for a long time,” CGA executive director Ed Mate said. “At the time the tournament was created, there was a need to have distinction between public and private. Now the line between public and private is blurry — which is good — and there’s no need” for that distinction.
“There was a feeling as long as the USGA conducted a national Publinks, we should do a state Publinks. Now that rationale is gone.”
Mate said the CGA plans to add a new championship in 2014, though what form that tournament might take hasn’t been decided. But he added that whatever replaces the Publinks will be an open-field event, meaning any CGA member will be able to compete, aside from the possible restriction of age.
“In no other tournament that we run do we say, ‘You can play and you can’t’, except for age purposes,” Mate continued. “It got to be really silly, with people having a range membership at a private club not being able to play (in the Publinks), while a college player who has access to a private club could play.”
Currently, the CGA Public Links Championship is limited to “active CGA members who, since January 1st of the current year, are bona-fide public course players who have not held privileges of any course which does not extend playing privileges to the general public or privileges of any private club maintaining its own course.”
Gary Potter, now a CGA governor emeritus, was one of the driving forces in creating the Public Links Championship in the early 1980s. But he supports the decision to discontinue the event.
“I was urging for it to be done away with,” he said. “At the time we started it, we were looking to create more events for more people. It was just one more thing to be meaningful at a time when we didn’t have a lot of activity on the tournament front.
“It served its purpose. The true Publinks player doesn’t really exist anymore. Anyone can enter the U.S. Amateur. We probably started (the Publinks) in Colorado too late; we were already well into the mode of everyone being able to play in every tournament.”
Ninety years ago, the Amateur Public Links gave public golfers a national championship as they couldn’t compete in the U.S. Amateur, which was limited to players from USGA member clubs. But that restriction ended for both the U.S. Amateur and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in 1979. Nowadays the Publinks events are dominated by college players — or younger.
Every champion of the CGA Publinks since 2000 has won the title the same year he competed as a college golfer. The last non-college player to win was Rick DeWitt in 1999.
Terry Byrnes won the inaugural CGA Publinks in 1983 at Gleneagle Golf Club in Colorado Springs.
“I’m not surprised the state Publinks is scheduled to join the persimmon driver as part of golf’s past,” Byrnes noted this week. “Much has changed in 30 years regarding how and where people choose to play their golf and the CGA offers a handsome slate of competitive opportunities each year anyway.
“I do remember feeling a great sense of pride in winning the inaugural event just outside of Colorado Springs back in 1983. If I had known sooner, I would have tried to arrange to compete in the last event as the Colorado Public Links does hold a special place for me.”
Among the other champions of the tournament are two-time PGA Tour winner Jonathan Kaye (1992), two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan (2008) and current Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Mark Crabtree (1990) and DeWitt (1999). Also champions are brothers Zen and Zahkai Brown (2005 and 2009, respectively).
Three players have won the CGA Public Links twice each: Tom McGraw (1987 and ’93), Ben Portie (2000 and ’01) and Nolan Martin (2002 and ’04).
“The tournament (helped) Rick DeWitt and others rise to the top,” Potter said. “That’s kind of neat, being a true Publinks player.”
While the CGA Public Links Championship is going by the wayside, the association holds public players closer to its heart than ever, especially given that the CGA has so much invested in an inner-city public course. The CGA and CWGA have owned and operated CommonGround Golf Course since 2009.
“The whole idea with that is to be affordable and be accessible,” Mate said. “With all the rounds that are played there, that more than makes up for the (84) people who play annually in this (Public Links) tournament. And we are replacing that with another tournament.”
The CGA and CWGA will continue to conduct qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Public Links and U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links through 2014. The men’s APL is the USGA’s fourth-oldest championship, having debuted in 1922. The WAPL was first played in 1977.
Davis’ comments came in the wake of golf’s rule-making bodies, the USGA and R&A, recently proposing a ban on anchoring, most notably when making a putting stroke. If it’s adopted, Rule 14-1b would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016. But over the course of a three-month period starting on Nov. 28, the USGA and R&A will consider further input from golfers and those in the industry before announcing a final decision.
The issue has elicited a variety of strong opinions, and that includes from the CGA and a couple of Colorado Golf Hall of Famers who have had significant success both with short and long putters, anchoring and not anchoring.
CGA executive director Ed Mate said the association is unequivocally behind the USGA regarding the proposed rule change.
“We absolutely 100 percent support the USGA in its position,” he said. “This is in the best long-term interest of the game, and in keeping the game you love the game you love.”
But, as Davis noted, there are credible positions on both sides of the matter.
“I can’t figure out for the life of me why they’re doing it,” said Bill Loeffler (pictured above), winner of three Colorado Opens and the 1986 U.S. Mid-Amateur. “There’s been a big push in recent years by the PGA and the USGA to grow the game and make the game more fun. I know a number of people who would have quit the game if not for the long putter. I think they’re taking a step backward. I’ll be surprised if they do (go forward with the rule change). I hope the USGA rethinks it.”
Added Rick DeWitt, a six-time CGA Player of the Year: “A putter doesn’t read the putts for you. I don’t really understand why they feel it’s a great advantage when just 10 percent of players are using it.”
Just as adamant on the pro-rule change side are Tiger Woods, winner of 14 major championships over the last 16 years, along with Rory McIlroy, Davis and R&A chief executive Peter Dawson.
“I just believe that the art of putting is swinging the club and controlling nerves and having it as a fixed point, as I was saying all year, is something that’s not in the traditions of the game,” Woods said last week. “We swing all other 13 clubs. I think the putter should be the same. It should be a swinging motion throughout the entire bag.”
Said McIlroy via Twitter: “Fully agree with the anchoring ban. Better image for the game of golf, skill and nerves are all part of the game. Level playing field in ’16.”
The issue has come to a head after winners of three of the last five majors (Keegan Bradley, Webb Simpson and Ernie Els) used long/belly putters in their victories. Among the tour players with strong Colorado ties using long/belly putters are Martin Laird, Kevin Stadler, Gary Hallberg, Craig Stadler and Mark Wiebe, though some don’t anchor their putter. (It’s important to note that long putters would still be legal if the rule change is approved, but anchoring them to the body would not be.)
“Our objective is to preserve the essential skill and challenge of the game of golf,” Dawson said. “… To be honest, we are concerned the anchored stroke could supplant the traditional putting stroke. We don’t feel this is a golf stroke.”
Noted Davis: “We’re nervous about where this could lead, not just in putting. We’re starting to see people do it with chip shots, and we just think fundamentally that this is not golf.”
Those who object to the proposed rule change fall primarily into two camps: players who anchor a putter and are concerned about their games suffering, and those who are worried that 14-1b might cause some golfers to abandon the game. That latter reason is at the root of PGA of America president Ted Bishop noting that 63 percent of PGA members responding to a survey opposed a ban on anchoring.
“The USGA runs on a different wavelength than I do,” Loeffler said. “I love them, but at times they have some tunnel vision. They have to look and see what’s good” for the majority of golfers. “How many people (consistently) break 90? Not many. You have to think about the others.”
But Jack Nicklaus was recently asked on the Golf Channel about whether the proposed rule might drive people away from the game.
“No, I don’t think so,” he said. “I think it’s like anything else: They’ll get used to it and get over it.”
In competition, DeWitt believes if the rule is enacted there would be times when it would be difficult to enforce.
“If you can’t anchor it, I would try to hold my left hand away from my body,” said DeWitt, who qualified for this year’s U.S. Senior Open. “But if you have a lot of clothes on, it would be a pretty touchy thing to determine whether a person is actually anchoring it.”
And so the debate continues …
For a USGA graphic on the proposed rule change, and what would be permitted and not permitted, CLICK HERE.
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The “hardware” given out for winning the CGA Mid-Amateur Championship is supposed to be a “traveling trophy.” But in recent years, it’s mainly just resided wherever Keith Humerickhouse calls his home course.
And that will continue after the clinic the 36-year-old player from Gypsum Creek Golf Course put on over the weekend.
Humerickhouse became just the second player in history to capture three consecutive CGA Mid-Amateur Championships as he lapped the field on Sunday at Eagle Ranch Golf Course in Eagle, his new hometown.
The left-hander won by a dozen shots, marking the largest victory margin in the event since Rick DeWitt posted a 14-stroke win in 1991.
In addition, with an 11-under-par 205 total, Humerickhouse broke the 54-hole scoring record for the Mid-Amateur, a mark of 206 held by DeWitt (in 2000) and Humerickhouse (in 2010).
Not coincidentally, Humerickhouse and DeWitt are now the only players to have won the CGA Mid-Amateur more than twice. DeWitt captured the title in the 25-and-older event seven times from 1991 through 2002, including four straight at the end of that span. But Humerickhouse is making up ground.
“I want to keep that trophy here forever — for as long as I can,” he said. “I’ve got a good start. It feels awesome. I love this tournament. I love CGA state tournaments regardless, but this one I feel it’s my niche. I feel comfortable in this tournament. I feel like I can compete with the guys in my age group.”
And, in the case of this year’s championship, he can compete quite a bit better than those guys.
Humerickhouse completed his three-peat on Sunday with a bogey-free round of 4-under-par 68.
In three rounds, the former golf professional played only two holes in over par — with a double bogey and a bogey — while he carded 14 birdies.
No other player in the field finished under par for 54 holes.
Chris Wilson (pictured at left) of Eisenhower Golf Club, an assistant coach for the Air Force Academy golf team who had played just three rounds in September prior to the Mid-Am, claimed second place at 1-over-par 217. His 12-foot birdie putt on the final hole gave him a 73 on Sunday.
Bryan Rusin, who shared the lead after the first round, tied for third place at 218 with fellow CommonGround Golf Course player Charles Santaularia. Both closed with 71s on Sunday.
As it turned out, there was the Humerickhouse Flight, and the one everyone else played in.
Asked when he realized he was playing for second place, Wilson said, “Almost when I showed up on the first tee. I didn’t have 11 under — what Keith finished — in my tank.
“It’s legit. He’s a player, no doubt.”
Ironically, Humerickhouse accomplished Sunday what he told someone he’d do prior to the 2009 CGA Mid-Amateur, his first amateur tournament after being reinstated.
“I can remember going in and saying, ‘I’m going to win this thing by 10.'” he said. “That’s how cocky and confident I was back then. And I got humbled pretty quick. I ended up finishing third there. It made me realize that these guys (who compete in CGA championships) are good.”
Which brings up the point: How rare is a player winning three straight CGA titles?
Before Sunday, it hadn’t happened in any of the CGA’s non-team championships since 2003, when John Olive won his third straight CGA Senior Match Play.
Though Humerickhouse emphasizes that all three of his consecutive Mid-Am wins are special, this one particularly falls into that category after what he went through earlier this year.
In February, after going to a medical center when his gums were bleeding for two straight days, Humerickhouse found out he had a blood disorder called Immune Thrombocytopenia in which the blood doesn’t clot as it should. In Humerickhouse’s case, he said his blood platelets were being destroyed by his immune system.
Humerickhouse was put on the drug Prednisone and stayed on it for almost four months. He gained nearly 40 pounds.
“I tried to play golf because I love it, but I was terrible,” he said. “Everybody would tell me, ‘You’ll be all right. You’ll come back.’ But I felt terrible. It means a lot that I came back and stayed patient because I’m not the most patient guy in the world. I’m feeling better now and we’re working on a different medication for me to take. But it’s something I think I’m going to have to deal with for the rest of my life.”
Still, Sunday’s victory has Humerickhouse thinking big. As improbable as it may be, he’d like to surpass DeWitt’s victory total of seven in the CGA Mid-Amateur. (Humerickhouse is pictured at left with his caddie, Jeff Shreeve, his girlfriend’s father.)
“Just to be in that same category as Rick DeWitt — and I’m not even there yet — is pretty special,” Humerickhouse said. “He’s like the face of Colorado amateur golf (though DeWitt has been a professional now for several years).
“I guess I’m chasing him,” Humerickhouse said without prompting. “I’d like to, at the end of it, have my name on (the trophy) more than he does. I love this tournament, I do. It’s the one tournament that I feel comfortable — not competing against college kids, but against guys who actually work for a living.”
That last part hits close to home for Humerickhouse, who has been a sole proprietor in the flooring business since leaving the professional golf ranks in 2007.
“I work for a living, and I work my butt off,” he said. “I’m a one-man show. There are days when I work all day and I go out and I trunk-slam it and go to the first tee and my back is killing me. But I do it because I love it. I think guys that work hard for a living can relate, and that feels good.”
CGA Mid-Amateur Championship
At Par-72 Eagle Ranch GC in Eagle
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek GC, 71-66-68–205
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower GC, 76-68-73–217
Charles Santaularia, Commonground GC, 75-72-71–218
Bryan Rusin, CommonGround GC, 70-77-71–218
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills GC, 73-77-71–221
Danny Riskam, Columbine CC, 78-73-70–221
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 76-70-75–221
Dean Clapp, Meadow Hills GC, 76-72-74–222
Steve Irwin, Lakewood Country Club, 71-78-73–222
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood CC, 76-76-71–223
Gary Driber, Ridge At Castle Pines North, 70-71-82–223
Jon Lindstrom, Heritage at Westmoor, 78-76-70–224
Wes Martin, The Courses at Hyland Hills, 74-77-73–224
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 76-78-70–224
Ryan Axlund, Commonground GC, 78-76-71–225
Danny Hahn, Commonground GC, 78-78-69–225
Brian Richmeier, Meadow Hills GC, 73-80-72–225
Michael Harrington, Kissing Camels at Ga, 79-74-73–226
Rick Kelly, Commonground GC, 74-75-77–226
Pete Mangold, Cherry Creek CC, 78-80-69–227
Grant Roberts, Eagle Ranch GC, 77-76-74–227
Butch Boucher, Haymaker GC, 75-78-75–228
Paul Erdman, Colorado National GC, 73-74-81–228
Jeff Chaubet, Eagle Ranch GC, 78-75-75–228
Matt Strong, Plum Creek G & CC, 76-75-78–229
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 79-77-74–230
Grant Porter, CommonGround GC, 73-82-75–230
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 74-80-77–231
Michael Abrams, Indian Peaks GC, 76-82-73–231
Jake Firkins, Gypsum Creek GC, 73-81-77–231
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera, 83-75-74–232
Scott Sullivan, Bookcliff CC, 80-78-74–232
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 80-78-75–233
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills CC, 79-79-75–233
Tim Kratz, CommonGround GC, 78-75-80–233
David Ramsden-Wood, Denver Athletic Club, 75-79-79–233
Tony Komatz, Eagle Ranch GC, 77-77-81–235
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 77-80-78–235
Greg Michaels, Legacy Ridge GC, 76-79-80–235
Scott Patterson, Eagle Ranch GC, 82-75-80–237
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 77-80-81–238
Joe Frey, Willis Case GC, 79-78-81–238
Michael Knoll, The Club at Crested Butte, 74-83-82–239
Aaron Spear, Broadlands GC, 72-84-84–240
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Lamar Carlile, City Park Associates Club, 77-82–159
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, 74-85–159
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 78-82–160
Mitch Perry, CC of the Rockies, 79-81–160
Joe Morrill, Eagle Ranch GC, 81-79–160
Ken Cosper, Ptarmigan CC, 82-79–161
Adam Thoutt, Legacy Ridge GC, 82-79–161
Don Stoner, Indian Tree GC, 82-79–161
Joey Haack, Aspen GC, 77-85–162
Wes Adkins, Highland Meadows GC, 87-75–162
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek GC, 79-83–162
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 82-80–162
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 79-83–162
Robert Bedan, Wellshire GC, 77-86–163
Steve Duran, Commonground GC, 81-82–163
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC, 83-81–164
Steven Coyer, Eagle Springs GC, 84-80–164
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC, 80-84–164
Chris Sellitto, Fox Hollow GC, 88-76–164
David Ramsey, Lakewood CC, 83-82–165
Michael Davis, Meadow Hills GC, 83-82–165
Greg Turner, Patty Jewett GC, 85-80–165
James Williamson, Colorado National GC, 80-85–165
Joe Distefano, Telluride GC, 81-86–167
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood CC, 85-84–169
Jim LeMar, Meadows GC, 80-89–169
Arnold Hoy, Commonground GC, 80-89–169
Davin Sjoberg, Sandpiper GC, 85-85–170
Steve Hannon, CommonGround GC, 87-86–173
Stephen Holstein, Jr., River Valley Ranch GC, 88-86–174
Ryan Keefe, CommonGround GC, 91-83–174
Shane Houska, Collindale GC, 87-89–176
Craig Kirscht, Buffalo Run Men’s Club, 99-85–184
Joe Jenkin, Commonground GC, 98-91–189
Todd Novak, Vail GC, 79-122–201
Henry Cameron Bissell, The Meadows GC, 74-WD
Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC, 90-NS
Andy Brooks, CommonGround GC, 85-NC
Brian O’Connor, CommonGround GC, 83-NS
But one thing the Arvada resident has never done is compete in an event on the PGA, Champions or Nationwide Tour schedule.
However, that will soon change. On Monday, the 55-year-old earned medalist honors in U.S. Senior Open Sectional Qualifying to nail down one of two available national berths at The Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.
DeWitt joined Doug Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, the PGA head professional at Ironbridge Golf Club in Glenwood Springs, in earning trips to Indianwood Golf Club in Lake Orion, Mich., site of the U.S. Senior Open July 12-15. (DeWitt is at right in the photo with Rohrbaugh.)
“I’ve never played in a PGA (Tour-related) tournament, so this is my last shot,” said DeWitt, the 1999 CGA Stroke Play champion who turned pro in 2006. “So it means the world to me. I thought, ‘God, just let me play in one PGA tournament before it’s all over — just one, God. I deserve one. I look at some of these guys who have played in PGA after PGA tournament. Just give me one.'”
Rohbaugh was similarly ecstatic after putting a lot of time and energy into qualifying for this event. He just turned 50 last month, thus becoming eligible for the Senior Open.
“This is my first (senior) event,” he said. I’ve been focusing my whole spring on this today.
“So this means a lot. I want to go to (Champions Tour qualifying) in the fall. I’m sure like a lot of golfers, I really looked forward to turning 50. It’s so hard to compete against these young guys anymore. I don’t hit it bad, but they hit it 60 (yards) by me. That’s hard to compete against.”
DeWitt, who plays out of Indian Tree Golf Course, shot a 6-under-par 66 on Monday to lead the way in a field that originally numbered 74. Rohrbaugh was the only other player to break 70, posting a 67 for the second and final available national berth.
DeWitt made seven birdies and one bogey to lead the field, earning a spot in his 22nd USGA championship. By DeWitt’s best recollection, he’s also qualified for three U.S. Amateurs, four U.S. Amateur Public Links, eight U.S. Mid-Amateurs and six USGA State Team Championships.
And now the U.S. Senior Open gets added to the list.
“It’s not my greatest accomplishment, but it’s huge,” said DeWitt, runner-up in the senior division of the Hawaii State Open in December. “If I go out there and make the cut, it could end up being huge.”
Rohrbaugh carded six birdies and one bogey on Monday.
“I put myself in a good spot on about every hole today,” said Rohrbaugh, whose only blemish was a missed 2-foot par putt on the fifth hole. “That was huge, it really was. I really did play solid.”
The result is a berth in the most notable tournament of Rohrbaugh’s career.
“This would be my biggest (event) by far,” he said. “The Australian Open (in 1988) was big, but a USGA major would be definitely bigger.”
The two alternates in Monday’s qualifying were Rick Cole of Eaton (70) and David Ogrin of New Braunfels, Texas (71).
Low-amateur honors Monday were shared by five players who shot 72: Scott Sullivan of Grand Junction, Thomas Roos of Englewood, John Olive and David Delich of Colorado Springs, and Robin Bradbury of Superior.
Meanwhile, another player with Colorado ties, former University of Colorado golfer Mikael Hogberg, previously qualified for the U.S. Senior Open. He earned a national berth for the second straight year, this time by tying Andy Bean for medalist honors in a qualifier in Greensboro, N.C., last week. Both players shot 68.
U.S. Senior Open Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster
ADVANCE TO U.S. SENIOR OPEN
Rick Dewitt, Arvada, Colo., 34-32–66
Doug Rohrbaugh, Carbondale, Colo., 35-32–67
ALTERNATES (in order)
Rick Cole, Eaton, Colo., 34-36–70
David Ogrin, New Braunfels, Texas, 36-35–71
FAILED TO QUALIFY
David Arbuckle, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-36–72
Scott Sullivan, Grand Junction, Colo., 35-37–72
Ken Krieger, Cheyenne, Wyo., 35-37–72
Thomas Roos, Englewood, Colo., 37-35–72
Russ Clark, Boulder, Colo., 38-34–72
John Olive, Phoenix, Ariz., 38-34–72
William O’Shields, Aurora, Colo., 38-34–72
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo., 34-38–72
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-35–72
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., 38-34–72
Erroll Miller, Breckenridge, Colo., 38-34–72
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo., 36-37–73
Grant Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-36–73
Rob McLelland, Aurora, Colo., 35-38–73
Pat Bowe, Denver, Colo., 36-37–73
Ron Vlosich, Lakewood, Colo., 34-40–74
Gregg Jones, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-38–74
Greg Woodhouse, Thornton, Colo., 34-40–74
Don Hurter, Sedalia, Colo., 35-39–74
John Ward, Denver, Colo., 41-34–75
Mike Borich, Salt Lake City, Utah, 38-37–75
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 36-39–75
Scott Radcliffe, Golden, Colo., 36-40–76
Rick Uhlir, Boulder, Colo., 38-38–76
Peter Sylvester, Oro Valley, Ariz., 39-37–76
Stephen Bell, Denver, Colo., 38-38–76
Van Lefferdink, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., 37-39–76
Fred Birner, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
Thomas Woodard, Denver, Colo., 39-37–76
Jeff Seltz, Arvada, Colo., 40-36–76
Perry Holmes, Denver, Colo., 36-40–76
Kent Moore, Littleton, Colo., 37-40–77
David Brown, Lafayette, Colo., 38-40–78
Keven Rutherford, Farr West, Utah, 38-40–78
Doug Perry, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-41–78
Tom Nosewicz, Aurora, Colo., 38-41–79
Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo., 38-41–79
Jeff Klein, Scottsbluff, Neb., 37-42–79
Matt Hall, Grand Junction, Colo., 39-41–80
Hal Marshall, Denver, Colo., 41-39–80
Mark Matthews, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-38–81
Glenn Hyde, Denver, Colo., 41-40–81
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo., 39-42–81
Jim Lemar, Littleton, Colo., 42-39–81
Dave Desantis, Salt Lake City, Utah, 41-40–81
Tom Grawe, Conifer, Colo., 40-42–82
Mark Crabtree, Lakewood, Colo., 39-44–83
John Hoge, Parker, Colo., 40-43–83
John Sostmann, Littleton, Colo., 43-40–83
Robert Burke, Longmont, Colo., 42-42–84
Scott Westerberg, Greeley, Colo., 41-43–84
Bo Powell, Westminster, Colo., 42-43–85
Randy Miller, Boulder, Colo., 39-47–86
Eric Powers, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-46–88
Troy Wilson, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-55–95
Russ Aragon, Aspen, Colo., WD
Mark Mobley, Vail, Colo., WD
Edward Bethea, Dodge City, Kan., WD
Dale Bonati, Colorado Springs, Colo., NC
Kenneth Sady, Avon, Colo., WD
Gary Sladek, Fort Collins, Colo., WD
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., WD
Robert Cooley, Parker, Colo., WD
Mark Mattarocci, Pueblo, Colo., WD
The first-round leaderboard at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open certainly doesn’t lack for notable names.
There’s a player who’s won four times on the Champions Tour, another who’s captured five PGA Tour titles, and two Colorado Golf Hall of Famers. And that’s just among the top seven golfers at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
The group includes R.W. Eaks (Champions Tour winner), Danny Edwards (PGA Tour champ), and Bill Loeffler and Rick DeWitt (both Hall of Famers).
Jim Kane of Edmond, Okla., who has made the cut in three major championships during his career, leads the way after a 4-under-par 68 on Wednesday. The 53-year-old, a top-10 finisher in each of the last two Senior Opens, made a 50-foot eagle putt on his final hole (No. 9) to grab the top spot. “That was kind of nice,” he said.
Four players — Eaks, a Colorado Springs native; Arvada resident DeWitt; Don Graham of Fountain Hills, Ariz.; and 2001 champion Greg Harmon from Mesa, Ariz. — share second place at 69. Loeffler, a Castle Rock resident who’s won three Colorado Opens and one Colorado Senior Open, and Edwards are tied for sixth place at 70. Edwards, who like Harmon is 60 years old, eagled the 12th hole to highlight his round.
Eaks (pictured above) no longer is fully exempt on the Champions Tour and is using the Colorado Senior Open to help gauge whether he will return to that tour’s qualifying tournament this fall.
“I was pretty satisfied with this round actually,” said the 59-year-old. “I only had one practice round (at Green Valley Ranch), and anytime you get it under par it’s good.
“I quit playing golf for a little while, so this is just my fourth tournament this year (including one on the Champions circuit). I decided if I’m going to go back to Tour school I’ve got to play in some tournaments. So if I feel my game is coming around, I’ll go back to Tour school,” which will be held at TPC Scottsdale, Eaks’ home course.
Eaks has long battled knee problems and needs two knee replacements, which he has put off for several years.
“It’s caught up with me out there (on the Champions Tour),” he said. “All the real good tournaments out there are walking tournaments, so that cancels me out. I barely can walk from here to the cart, but I still enjoy playing golf.”
DeWitt, a former amateur standout in Colorado, likewise is trying to decide whether to return to Champions Tour Q-school. On Wednesday, he certainly saw some encouraging signs as he needed just 27 putts on the day and made 13 of 14 from inside of 12 feet.
“That was sterling,” the 54-year-old said. “That (long) putter, that’s my secret weapon.”
DeWitt has made the cut in the last few Colorado Senior Opens, but said “now it’s time for a top 10.”
Loeffler (pictured at left) can take comfort in the fact that he shot 70, the same score he posted in the first round when he won the Colorado Senior Open in 2009.
“I played better than I thought I would,” said the 55-year-old. “I haven’t been playing a lot, so this was good.”
Notable: University of Denver men’s golf coach Eric Hoos, competing in his first Colorado Senior Open, shares low-amateur honors at 71 with David Brown of Lafayette. … Play was suspended due to lightning for about 40 minutes late Wednesday afternoon. A microburst in the mid-afternoon was strong enough to blow over one of the scoring tents. … The top 55 players and ties after 36 holes will survive the cut and advance to Friday’s final round.
For HealthOne Colorado Senior Open scores, CLICK HERE.
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