It seems like wherever the CGA Mid-Amateur is held, Chris Thayer of Walnut Creek Golf Preserve finds himself either in the lead or darn close to it.

Since 2014, Thayer’s finishes in the championship have been first, second, second, first. 

And on Friday in the 32nd edition of the Mid-Am — an event limited to golfers 25 and older — Thayer put himself in position to add to his stellar record by shooting a 5-under-par 66 and sharing the lead at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

The defending champion (left) eagled the par-5 11th hole and added four birdies while making just one bogey in the first round of the 54-hole event.

Tied with Thayer at 66 was Jared Reid of Legacy Ridge Golf Course, who started on No. 10 and played his final nine holes in 6-under-par 30. He finished with eight birdies and three bogeys on the day.

Four players share third place at 68 — Ryan Axlund of Valley Country Club, Nicholas Engen of Colorado Golf Club, Pete Mangold of Columbine Country Club and Stephen Powers of CommonGround. Mangold played his first two holes in 3 under par.

Though he hasn’t won the CGA Mid-Amateur, Axlund has finished in the top 10 five staight years, including posting four top-5s.

Also among the 15 players who broke par on Friday were past champions Michael Harrington of Garden of the Gods Club (69) and three-time winner Jon Lindstrom of Lakewood Country Club (70), along with Nick Nosewicz of Meadow Hills Golf Course (69), who won the 2015 CGA Match Play at CommonGround.

In the new Super Mid-Amateur Division for players 40 and older, Harrington, the 2014 CGA Player of the Year, leads the way with his 69, while Lindstrom and Michael Slutzsky of Cherry Hills Country Club are next best, at 70. Since the same tees are used for everyone in the championship, the Senior Mid-Ams can still contend for the overall title.

Keith Humerickhouse of Glenwood Springs Golf Club, who won this CGA Mid-Am four straight times starting in 2010, struggled to an 81 on Friday.

The championship will continue through Sunday, with a cut to the top 40 players and ties coming after Saturday’s second round.

For all the scores from the CGA Mid-Amateur, CLICK HERE.
 

But in the bigger picture, it shouldn’t be forgotten that the 2019 U.S. Mid-Am national championship will be held at Colorado Golf Club in Parker, with CGA-owned CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora serving as the second course for the stroke-play portion of the event. The dates for that championship are Sept. 14-19, 2019.

For the record, that will be just the second U.S. Mid-Am — which is limited to players 25 and older — ever conducted in Colorado, with Cherry Hills Country Club having hosted the 1983 championship.

As for this year, Charlotte will host the U.S. Mid Am Sept. 22-27. At Tuesday’s qualifying tournament, the 78 contestants will be vying for four spots in the national championship.

Several players who competed in the 2017 U.S. Mid-Am are in the Lone Tree field. That includes five-time national Mid-Am qualifier — and three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion — Jon Lindstrom, who went to the match play round of 64 last year; 2017 Colorado-based qualifying medalist Ryan Axlund; Pete Mangold; and Walter Koelbel.

Also scheduled to play on Tuesday are 2012 CGA Match Play champion and 2018 Match Play semifinalist Brian Dorfman; 2014 and 2017 CGA Mid-Amateur winner Chris Thayer; four-time CGA Mid-Am champ Keith Humerickhouse; two-time U.S. Amateur qualifier Kyle Danford; 2014 CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Michael Harrington; Denver City Amateur champion Jeff Chapman; and Alex Kephart.

For Tuesday’s pairings at Lone Tree, CLICK HERE.
 

It was five years ago this month that Ryan Axlund competed in his one and only USGA championship — coincidentally the last such national championship contested in Colorado — the 2012 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club.

Suffice it to say he felt he was due for a second go-around.

And on Tuesday, the Aurora resident left no doubt in a U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying tournament at Murphy Creek Golf Course. Playing a course at which he won the 2015 Aurora Amateur, Axlund shot a 7-under-par 65 to earn medalist honors by two strokes.

The 36-year-old went 5 under par in a six-hole stretch starting at No. 12 and ending on No. 17 — where he nearly made a hole-in-one — as he posted a 31 on the back nine. He finished with eight birdies on the day.

“This one is special,” Axlund said. “I made it to the U.S. Am in 2012 when it was at Cherry Hills. The first one is always the hardest. The second one kind of justifies that you actually did it a second time so the first one is not a fluke.

“It felt really good to come out here and be able to do it.”

Four players out of a field that originally numbered 82 earned berths in the U.S. Mid-Am, a tournament limited to players 25 and older which will be held Oct. 7-12 at Capital City Club in Atlanta. Joining Axlund in advancing on Tuesday were Pete Mangold of Denver, who played his college golf at West Point; 2008 CGA Amateur champion Jonathan Marsico of Cherry Hills Village; and Walt Koelbel of Denver. Mangold fired a bogey-free 67, Marsico a 69, and Koelbel a 70. (Pictured above, from left, are Axlund, Mangold and Marsico. Below is Koelbel.)

Koelbel was part of a four-man playoff for the final national berth. He hit a wedge from 130 yards to 7 feet and made the birdie putt on the first hole of sudden death — No. 10 — to advance. Matt Evelyn of Denver earned the first alternate spot and Michael Slutzky of Littleton the second. Scott Crawford, playing at his home course, was the fourth player who shot 70.

It will be the second U.S. Mid-Am for Marsico, and the first for Axlund, Mangold and Koelbel. In fact, it will be the first USGA championship of any sort of Koelbel.

While Axlund had not only played Murphy Creek numerous times before Tuesday but had had won a tournament there, that was in stark contrast to the situation for Mangold and Marsico. Mangold had very little experience at the course before Tuesday, and Marsico had none.

But Marsico did have a secret weapon of sorts — two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan, who was caddying for the 35-year-old. Tolan owns the second-best competitive score in Murphy Creek history, a 62.

“I had never played the golf course here before today,” Marsico noted. “I told (Tolan on Monday) that I had my buddy caddying for me — he’s like an 8 handicap — and Derek was like, ‘Well I’ll go caddie for you.’ At one point he had the course record here, so I’m like, ‘I’m dumping my buddy the 8 handicap’. And Derek was a huge help with reading the greens and a few lines off the tees with me just not being familiar with the course. If Derek tells me to hit there, I have the confidence to know that’s the right spot to hit. He was a huge help and saved me multiple shots.”

Marsico eagled the par-5 sixth hole from 15 feet, pitched in from 15 yards for par on the next hole after blading a bunker shot, and sank putts of 8, 25 and 10 feet on his final three holes to go birdie-birdie-par down the stretch.

“The putter saved me,” said Marsico, who will be playing in his fourth USGA championship. “It feels great (to qualify). Unfortunately, I don’t get to play much competitive golf anymore. But making the U.S. Mid-Am and competing at a USGA championship is definitely the highlight and the first goal every year. First prize brings an invitation to the Masters. Nothing beats that.”

As for Mangold, because he didn’t know the course well, he teed off with his 3-iron seven times on Tuesday. “There were a lot of times I had no idea (what lurked in the distance), and I just hit 3-iron,” the 37-year-old said.

The conservative strategy paid off, as the 2011 CGA Four-Ball champion hit 16 greens in regulation and barely missed the other two. The result was a five-birdie, no-bogey day.

Qualifying for the U.S. Mid-Am was a nice remedy to cure the sting of three-putting the final hole of the Columbine Country Club club championship and losing by a stroke over the weekend. His competition in that event included two-time Colorado Open champion Brian Guetz and eventual winner Alex Buecking, a former pro who went to the quarterfinals of the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship.

“I didn’t sleep very much for the last two days” after what happened at Columbine, Mangold said. “This is going to make me forget all about last weekend. But they kind of groomed me for today, and it turned out OK.

“I can sleep again. I’m super excited.”

As for Koelbel (left), he might not have been able to sleep had he not made his 7-foot birdie putt in the playoff. After all, he had lipped out birdie putts on his final two holes in regulation, including from 6 feet on his 18th hole. Making either of those putts would have kept him from needing to compete in a playoff. The 31-year-old finished with a not-so-sterling total of 34 putts in regulation.

“That one (in the playoff) felt good, a little redeeming,” said Koelbel, a former Cherry Creek High School and University of Kansas golfer. “I hit 17 greens (in regulation) today and missed a lot of putts early. To get one there at the end to close it out felt good. I thought I was maybe due to make one for how many I hit close.”

Going to the U.S. Mid-Am “is exciting,” he said. “I haven’t played in competition in a while. I played in college. but haven’t had a lot of events since then. I started playing well earlier this year and wanted to give this a shot.”

Certainly, qualifying for the national championship is a highlight for Koelbel, who fondly remembers finishing seventh in the 2007 Big 12 Conference Championships while competing against current PGA Tour players Gary Woodland, Jhonattan Vegas and Robert Streb.

With the four Coloradans qualifying on Tuesday, the state will be represented by at least five competitors at the U.S. Mid-Amateur. Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Ams, was co-medalist at a qualifying tournament in Carson City, Nev., last week.

U.S. Mid-Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Murphy Creek GC in Aurora
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Ryan Axlund, Aurora 34-31–65
Pete Mangold, Denver 34-33–67
Jonathan Marsico, Cherry Hills Village 34-35–69
Walt Koelbel, Denver 36-34–70
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Matt Evelyn, Denver 33-37–70
Michael Slutzky, Littleton 37-33–70

For all the scores from Tuesday, CLICK HERE.
 

As Herman’s Hermits sang a half-century ago in one of their hit songs, “second verse, same as the first.”

In the case of the CGA Mid-Amateur Championship the last two years, the second “verse” at least was remarkably close to the same as the first.

Not only did Jon Lindstrom of Lakewood Country Club win the CGA Mid-Am by four strokes for the second straight year on Sunday, but the top four finishers were the same in 2016 as they were in 2015. In fact, they were almost in the exact same order, with the only difference being Steve Irwin tying for second this year and placing third alone in 2015.

Lindstrom, the 49-year-old Broomfield resident who previously won the Mid-Amateur in 2008 and ’15, became just the third player to have captured the championship at least three times, joining Rick DeWitt (seven victories) and Keith Humerickhouse (four).

And Lindstrom became the fourth player to have won back-to-back CGA Mid-Ams, following Rick Garber (1991-92) and DeWitt (1999-2002) and Humerickhouse (2010-13), who each captured four straight titles. (Lindstrom is pictured above receiving the trophy Sunday from CGA board member Buddy Noel, who plays out of Saddle Rock Golf Course, where the Mid-Am was held.)

“Now that you mention it, it’s kind of cool (being a three-time winner of the event),” said Lindstrom (left). “It’s a big tournament for me. I enjoy coming out and playing it each year. The fact that I can still compete pushing 50 (years old) is fun.”

This time, Lindstrom led wire-to-wire at Saddle Rock, shooting rounds of 71-70-73 for a 2-under-par 214 total. Two-time winner Irwin, who also plays out of Lakewood CC, shared second place at 218 with 2014 champion Chris Thayer of Bear Creek Golf Club. Irwin closed with a 73 and Thayer a 76 after playing his last eight holes in 3 over par.

Ryan Axlund of Inverness Golf Club placed fourth at 220 after carding a 72 on Sunday.

“Last year I felt like I had a definite advantage because (the Mid-Am) was at my home course at Lakewood,” Lindstrom said. “I hadn’t played out here (at Saddle Rock) in 10-12 years, so to come to a completely different style of golf course (and win), it proves that my game travels. That’s important to me.”

Thayer (left) got within two strokes of Lindstrom when the latter bogeyed three straight holes on the back nine (Nos. 12-14), the last two via three-putt greens. But Lindstrom gave himself a more comfortable cushion when he made a two-putt birdie on the par-5 17th. He finished the day with three birdies and four bogeys.

“I was going for pins, playing smart aggressive golf,” said Thayer, who has finished first, second and second the last three years at the Mid-Am. “I just couldn’t covert any birdies. If I put a little more pressure on him … but it was never quite within reach. I tried.

“I got beat by a better player today, no doubt. He deserved to win.”

Like Thayer, Irwin has been in the hunt in this event on a regular basis in recent years. Sunday marked his third top-four finish in the last four years.

“It’s always nice to be somewhat in contention,” said Irwin, the 2004 CGA Player of the Year. “But it was a pretty frustrating week for me. I had a hard time reading the greens and I didn’t make many putts at all. The ball just wasn’t disappearing as quickly as I wanted it to. 

“Jon obviously is playing some good golf. He’s proven that over the last few years. I feel proud to represent Lakewood (Country Cub) and I know he feels the same. We have a good core group of guys out there.”

Earlier this summer, Lindstrom (left) had been frustrated with his game. But seeing a sports psychologist in recent weeks has helped him, and it apparently paid some dividends at Saddle Rock.

“A good friend of mine is Robin Bradbury (who recently played in the U.S. Senior Amateur),” Lindstrom said. “He and I play a lot of golf together. He started seeing a sports psychologist and I started seeing her as well. A lot of it is reminding you of things you probably already know — but maybe having a fresh look at it. That’s been a significant help. To get out of the pattern of working on my swing, working on technique — more seeing it and hitting it. It doesn’t always work, but it worked out this week. The first nine holes the first day where I had six birdies, that was that process working to a T. 

“It clears my mind. It’s really easy when you start hitting it bad or hitting a bad putt to analyze the technical reason why you did that. And that does no good. During my three bogeys in a row (on Sunday), two of those were three-putts. A month ago, I probably would have let that spiral out of control. But instead, once I was done with it, I honestly forgot about it. Even though one was a pull and one was a push, I didn’t adjust my stroke. I still just picked a spot and hit it. It’s more clearing my head than anything else.”

Lindstrom will quickly turn around from his Mid-Am win to represent Colorado in the USGA Men’s State Team Championship Wednesday through Friday in Birmingham, Ala. Also on the Colorado team are Humerickhouse and 2015 CGA Match Play champion Nick Nosewicz, who tied for fifth place on Sunday.

The Mid-Amateur is limited to players 25 and older.

For interactive scores from the Mid-Am, CLICK HERE.

CGA Mid-Amateur Championship

At Par-72 Saddle Rock GC in Aurora

Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood CC, 71-70-73–214
Steven Irwin, Lakewood CC, 75-70-73–218
Chris Thayer, Bear Creek GC, 74-68-76–218
Ryan Axlund, Inverness GC, 77-71-72–220
Andrew Tapia, Ridge at Castle Pines North, 74-76-71–221
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills GC, 77-68-76–221
Matt Evelyn, Bear Creek GC, 75-72-74–221
Barry Erwin, Murphy Creek GC, 74-73-75–222
Danny Riskam, Omni Interlocken Resort, 77-72-75–224
Michael Love, Colorado GC, 75-76-73–224
Jeff Tyrrell, Collindale GC, 77-74-73–224
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail GC, 74-75-77–226
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 76-73-78–227
Tristan Sanders, CommonGround GC, 75-78-74–227
Wes Heusel, Desert Hawk GC, 77-72-78–227
Ben Sherlund, Colorado GC, 75-75-78–228
Sean Griswold, Dalton Ranch GC, 76-74-78–228
Nicholas Engen, Colorado GC, 77-77-74–228
Zack Neiditz, Aspen GC, 83-73-73–229
Brion After, River Valley Ranch GC, 77-76-76–229
Michael Slutzky, Cherry Hills CC, 80-73-76–229
Josh Thomas, Green Valley Ranch GC, 76-78-76–230
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 78-79-74–231
Keith Humerickhouse, Gypsum Creek, 78-78-75–231
Bryan Rusin, Green Valley Ranch GC, 80-74-78–232
Brandon J Shupick, Broadlands GC, 75-76-81–232
Jeff Slupe, Highland Meadows GC, 73-77-83–233
Mark Franz, Saddle Rock GC, 77-75-82–234
Clint Miller, Meadow Hills GC, 82-71-81–234
Kyle Sullivan, Meridian GC, 76-80-78–234
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower GC, 81-76-78–235
Joey Haack, Ironbridge GC, 79-74-82–235
Joel Atkinson, Pelican Lakes G & CC, 78-77-80–235
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 84-72-80–236
Nigel Harris, Indian Peaks GC, 78-75-83–236
Dave Johnson, Collindale GC, 77-78-82–237
Michael Abrams, Lake Valley GC, 80-75-82–237
James Sisneros, Eisenhower GC, 79-77-81–237
Brian McCloy, Colorado GC, 78-78-81–237
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch GC, 82-75-81–238
Ryne J Scholl, Breckenridge GC, 78-78-82–238
Jon Lopez, Meadow Hills GC, 82-75-81–238
Bob Beiersdorf, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 77-78-87–242

MISSED 36-HOLE CUT
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 81-77–158
Dallas Massey, South Suburban GC, 80-78–158
Brad Rowe, Ute Creek GC, 79-79–158
Jeff Chapman, Inverness GC, 82-76–158
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 80-78–158
Matthew Armetta, Murphy Creek GC, 79-80–159
Travis Tomlin, Harmony Club, 82-77–159
Joe Frey, Willis Case GC, 84-76–160
Andy Dannewitz, Club at Ravenna, 85-75–160
Robert Bedan, Todd Creek GC, 82-78–160
Rob Glucksman, Commonground GC, 83-78–161
Alex Leonida, Ridge at Castle Pines N, 82-79–161
Jeff Oneth, Colorado GC, 80-81–161
Bryce Babcock, Thorncreek GC, 83-78–161
Joel Perez, Colorado National GC, 79-83–162
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch GC, 87-76–163
Dan Deppen, Broadlands GC, 81-82–163
John Buccos, Riverdale GC, 84-79–163
Kenny Burnham, Fossil Trace GC, 78-86–164
Bryan Cannon, Raccoon Creek GC, 80-84–164
Teddy Sullivan, Green Valley Ranch GC, 79-85–164
John Luoma, Colorado GC, 81-84–165
John Skelton, Silver Spruce GC, 91-74–165
Jonathan Doern, City Park GC, 87-79–166
Patrick R Manning, Pinehurst CC, 84-82–166
Pete Severson, Elmwood GC, 86-81–167
Michael Glaesel, Indian Tree GC, 83-84–167
Brandon McElhiney, Highlands Ranch, 81-86–167
Michael Ventimiglia, Legacy Ridge GC, 84-84–168
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows GC, 88-80–168
Corey Davidson, Omni Interlocken, 84-84–168
Jeff Ruden, Highlands Ranch GC, 80-89–169
Dan Jones, Fox Hollow at Lakewood, 87-82–169
Arnold Hoy, Colorado GC, 90-80–170
Josh Whitney, Aspen GC, 84-86–170
Steve Sullivan, Lone Tree GC, 82-89–171
Taylor Osieczanek, Legacy Ridge GC, 84-87–171
Grant Javernick, Meadow Hills GC, 86-86–172
Dewey Burke, Lakewood CC, WD
Calum White, Murphy Creek GC, 80-WD
Scott Crawford, Murphy Creek GC, 82-WD
 

It shouldn’t have come as a shock to anyone that Jon Lindstrom and Steve Irwin were among the contenders for the title during Sunday’s final round of the CGA Mid-Amateur Championship at Lakewood Country Club.

After all, both players had won the Mid-Am before — Irwin twice, in fact — and both are members at Lakewood, where local knowledge and a comfort level with the course are worth a few strokes here and there.

“Not to sound arrogant, but I fully expected the two of us to be fighting it out for the win,” Irwin said after it was all over on Sunday. “He got the better of me this time. We’ll see what happens next time.”

Indeed, not only did Lindstrom win the 29th CGA Mid-Am, but four Lakewood CC members finished in the top 10, with Irwin ending up third after being the person to put the most final-round pressure on Lindstrom, and Richard Bradsby placing seventh and Curt Jenkins ninth.

“I think there’s a comfort level of where to go and where not to go (for players very familiar with the Lakewood CC course),” said Lindstrom (left and above). “It is narrow, but when you play it enough times there’s a comfort level where it doesn’t bother you as much. I feel like some of the guys kind of start steering it. So I think there is an advantage.”

Lindstrom ended up leading wire-to-wire in winning his second CGA Mid-Amateur Championship, having previously claimed the title in 2008. All told, he’s captured seven CGA championships: a Mid-Amateur Match Play, two Four-Balls and two Two-Man Teams to go along with the two stroke-play versions of the Mid-Amateur, a tournament limited to players 25 and older.

The 48-year-old from Broomfield, who staked himself to a lead with a first-round 65 (one off his best score at the club), followed that up with a 69 on Saturday and a 1-over-par 72 on Sunday. His 7-under-par 206 total was good for a four-shot victory.

Chris Thayer (left) of Bear Creek Golf Club, the 2014 champion, was runner-up this time after closing with a 69.

After finishing with a bogey on 18 Sunday, Irwin came in third at 211, while Ryan Axlund of CommonGround Golf Course was fourth at even-par 213.

Winning Sunday “was great,” Lindstrom said. “With my schedule I don’t play a lot of the weekend events, so these are the majors. I came out and practiced quite a bit before this. I think I played four days in a row out here before the tournament started. It was the same thing last year with the (CGA) Stroke Play. Those are the big events. If I can’t get to a USGA event, I want to compete and play well (statewide).

“It’s a good opportunity (to play in a state tournament at Lakewood CC). The course isn’t super long and most of the courses we play are longer and much more wide open. So I feel like just the comfort level of playing here a lot was a big advantage. Yesterday and today I don’t feel like I played great, but I played well enough.”

Irwin (left) and Lindstrom are friends who have joined together to try to qualify for the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball each of the last two years, though they fell short on both occasions.

Lindstrom went into the final round with a five-stroke advantage, but didn’t win without a challenge. Irwin came the closest on Sunday after making eagle on the par-4 first hole (a cut driver from 271 yards to 7 feet) and getting within two shots after five. But double bogeys on Nos. 9 and 11 took a major toll. On No. 9 at 6 under par overall and still trailing by two, Irwin was in the left rough after his tee shot, caught a tree with his second, hit a wedge over the green and failed to get up and down.

“That really just killed my momentum,” said Irwin, who qualified for the U.S. Amateur earlier this year. “I had some good momentum and accomplished my goal through eight holes, then unfortunately I got the wind knocked out of me.”

And on No. 11, Irwin chipped to 4 feet from the pin, and when he missed the par attempt, the ultra-fast putt kept trickling and trickling, finishing 18 feet away. He missed the “comebacker” and another double-bogey 6 appeared on the card.

Thayer went bogey free for the first 17 holes before bogeying No. 18, but Lindstrom never faltered enough to give the defending champ an opening.

“I was looking forward to trying to repeat, but if you play well and you just get beat on a course like this, it is what it is,” Thayer said. “You play someplace all the time, you get comfortable. It’s narrow enough here where if you don’t play here regularly, it’s tough.”

Lindstrom (left), who joined Lakewood CC three years ago and won the club championship this year, wasn’t in peak form Sunday, but three birdies and four bogeys on the day turned out to be more than enough to do the trick.

In some ways, Lindstrom was in a tough position going into Sunday. Sure, it’s great to have a five-stroke lead. But if you have a margin like that, there’s only one expectation: win.

“I think there’s more pressure on that,” he said. “Definitely I’d feel more comfortable being one back because then the expectation isn’t there that ‘If you’re five ahead, you better win.’ So that weighed on me a little bit. It’s not the most comfortable position, but it worked out, I guess. I guess if you’re far enough ahead you can’t screw it up too bad.”

As it turned out, no one got closer to Lindstrom than three strokes coming down the stretch on Sunday.
 

CGA Mid-Amateur
At Par-71 Lakewood CC

Jon Lindstrom, Lakewood Country Club, 65-69-72–206
Christopher Thayer, Bear Creek Golf Club, 71-70-69–210
Steven Irwin, Lakewood Country Club, 70-69-72–211
Ryan Axlund, Commonground Golf Course, 70-69-74–213
Mark Zbrzeznj, Eagle Vail Golf Club, 74-71-70–215
Kyle Sullivan, Meridian Golf Club, 71-73-72–216
Richard Bradsby, Lakewood Country Club, 72-70-75–217
Kyle Danford, Fort Collins Country Club, 71-71-75–217
Brad Rowe, Ute Creek Golf Course, 73-74-71–218
Curt Jenkins, Lakewood CC, 77-69-72–218
Jeff Tyrrell, Collindale Golf Club, 78-69-72–219
Jeremy Lederer, Aspen Glen Club, 68-74-78–220
Rob Clever, Saddleback Golf Club, 74-77-70–221
Ben Sherlund, Colorado Golf Club, 76-72-73–221
Andy Dannewitz, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 71-76-75–222
Danny Riskam, Columbine Country Club, 77-71-74–222
Robert Polk, Colorado Golf Club, 74-75-73–222
Dallas Massey, South Suburban Golf Course, 74-72-76–222
Christopher Wilson, Eisenhower Golf Club, 75-72-75–222
James Sisneros, Eisenhower Golf Club, 75-70-78–223
Tristan Sanders, Commonground Golf Course, 79-72-73–224
Sean Griswold, Hillcrest Golf Club, 76-72-76–224
Pat Stanton, Breckenridge GC, 78-70-76–224
Zack Neiditz, Aspen Golf Course, 77-75-72–224
Christopher Gallegos, Eagle Ranch Golf Course, 74-75-75–224
Heath Andersen, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 75-75-75–225
John Buccos, Riverdale Golf Club, 76-75-74–225
David Harris, Eagle Vail Golf Club, 75-74-77–226
Brian O’Hara, Lakewood Country Club, 74-78-74–226
Joel Perez, Colorado National Golf Club, 75-75-76–226
Brodie Hullinger, Commonground Golf Course, 77-73-76–226
Jonathan Kuzava, Columbine CC, 73-75-78–226
Nick Nosewicz, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 77-73-77–227
Nicholas Engen, Colorado Golf Club, 75-77-75–227
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 77-75-76–228
Dan Silva, South Suburban Family Sports, 79-71-79–229
Michael Abrams, Lake Valley Golf Club, 77-75-78–230
Michael Love, The Club at Pradera, 75-74-84–233
Jay Orris, Boulder Country Club, 75-75-83–233
Chad Gonzalez, Pinery Country Club, 74-76-83–233

Missed 36-Hole Cut
Wesley Martin, Commonground Golf Course, 81-72–153
Bill Fowler, Rolling Hills, the Club at, 82-71–153
Phil Rosenbaum, Telluride Ski & Golf Club, 79-74–153
Jeff Chapman, Inverness Golf Club, 78-75–153
John Luoma, Colorado Golf Club, 79-75–154
Erik Helton, Buffalo Run, 81-73–154
James Kackley, Commonground Golf Course, 79-75–154
Michael Dadlani, Broadlands Golf Club, 78-76–154
Michael Slutzky, Cherry Hills Country Club, 77-77–154
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley Golf Club, 74-81–155
Owen Ellis, Flatirons Golf Course, 75-80–155
Glenn Hyde, Riverdale GC, 80-75–155
Damon Dageenakis, Indian Peaks Golf Club, 77-78–155
Jake Jacobson, Lakewood Country Club, 83-73–156
Brian Hawk, Riverdale GC, 80-76–156
Adam Pladson, Green Valley Ranch Golf Club, 76-81–157
Grant Porter, Commonground Golf Course, 79-78–157
John Ingram, Hiwan Golf Club, 79-78–157
Tim Kratz, Commonground Golf Course, 80-77–157
Joey Haack, Aspen Golf Course, 77-80–157
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 79-80–159
Bruce Wright, Conquistador Golf Course, 76-83–159
Frank Vigil, Patty Jewett Golf Course, 79-81–160
Bob Cloud, Commonground Golf Course, 84-77–161
John C Baldree, Riverdale Golf Club, 79-82–161
Matt Mangold, Broadlands Golf Club, 82-79–161
Jared Bickling, Gypsum Creek Golf Course, 85-77–162
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 80-82–162
Jonathan Doern, City Park Associates Club, 84-78–162
Steve Clark, Vail Golf Course, 85-77–162
Josh Whitney, Aspen Golf Course, 83-79–162
Ryan Bent, Commonground Golf Course, 82-81–163
Shane Unfred, Highland Meadows Golf Course, 86-77–163
Michael Passananti, Southridge Golf Club, 79-85–164
Davin Sjoberg, Dos Rios CC, 82-83–165
Dan Deppen, Broadlands Golf Club, 86-79–165
Benjamin Burke, Commonground Golf Course, 84-82–166
Reagan Majoria, Roaring Fork Club, 84-84–168
Eric Scholl, Aspen Golf Course, 91-77–168
Brandon McElhiney, Meadow Hills Golf Course, 89-79–168
Cody Ryan, Riverdale Golf Club, 83-86–169
Lamar Carlile, City Park Associates Club, 84-DQ
Alex Kephart, Eisenhower Golf Club, 84-NS
 

University of Denver golfer Andy Yang has watched as his sister, Jennifer, qualified for four USGA championships, including the upcoming U.S. Women’s Amateur. And, quite frankly, he was a little envious.

“My sister is a good player and she has made a lot of USGA tournaments,” Yang said. “I was always kind of jealous how she gets to always travel and stuff. And finally now I get a chance to be in a national championship, and it makes me feel really happy.”

Just four days after his sister qualified at The Pinery Country Club in Parker for the U.S. Women’s Am, Yang punched his ticket to next month’s U.S. Amateur in Colorado.

With Jennifer caddying for him in Monday’s Sectional Qualifying at Inverness Golf Club in Englewood, Andy Yang not only advanced to the national championship, but he earned medalist honors out of a field of 78.

The DU sophomore-to-be joined Denver residents Ryan Axlund and Jeff Chapman in each qualifying for his first U.S. Amateur, and the tournament will be at a nearby venue for all of them. The championship will be held Aug. 13-19 at Cherry Hills Country Club, with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second stroke-play course Aug. 13-14.

Yang posted rounds of 70-68 for a 2-under-par 138 total Monday at Inverness Golf Club. Axlund, a former golf professional who just got his amateur status back earlier this year, landed the second spot by carding scores of 68-71–139. (Yang, left, and Axlund are pictured above.) And Chapman nailed down the third and final U.S. Amateur berth in a playoff after using a 36th-hole birdie to go 67-73 for a 140 total.

Chapman, one of three players to finish at 140, birdied the first playoff hole — No. 10 at Inverness — by draining a 5-foot putt. Gus Lundquist of Parker, the 2011 5A state high school champion, two-putted from 20 feet for par for the first alternate spot, while former professional golfer Alex Buecking of Littleton three-putted from 12 feet, relegating himself to the second alternate position.

In the playoff, Chapman (pictured at left) was fortunate to have a clear approach shot to the green after hitting his tee shot well left of the putting surface. And he took advantage by bouncing his wedge shot close to the flag.

After playing in about 25 USGA qualifiers in his life, this is just the second time Chapman has hit pay-dirt for a non-team USGA championship. And for this national tournament to be at Cherry Hills, it’s just a cherry on the sundae.

“To have it in Denver is pretty special,” the 36-year-old salesman said.

Axlund feels equally as fortunate.

“I’m in shock right now,” the 31-year-old network engineer said. “I’ve been playing for a long time and this is the first time I’ve qualified for a USGA championship. It’s nice to be able to do it in my hometown. It was a pleasant surprise.

“Today is my biggest golf accomplishment. To qualify for a USGA event on a course I love and to have it in my hometown, that’s a great feeling.”

Meanwhile, Yang got to share that feeling with his sister, a University of Washington golfer.

“She caddied for me today and it really helped a lot,” the 19-year-old Korean-born golfer said. “It was really fun. To have a caddie like her is really a special thing. She’s also a competitor. The conversation we had on the course really helped me to focus on the shots that I had to hit. That’s probably one of the reasons I played steady.”

To qualify for his first USGA championship after having quit the game for a year just before college was special for Yang. He came to DU to study business, but contacted coach Eric Hoos and ended up successfully walking on the golf team.

Accomplishing so much in the last year “is really cool,” he said. “It means a lot. The U.S. Amateur is where a lot of the best players in the world compete. Just by having my name in there means I can play with them and I can be one of the best players in the world. … I can see how far away I am from reaching my dream.”

Monday marked the second U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifier held in Colorado this year. Last week, Matt Schovee of Englewood, former longtime Colorado Springs resident Justin Spray and Eric Hallberg of Castle Rock punched their U.S. Amateur tickets at the Country Club of Colorado in Colorado Springs.

U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying

At Par-70 Inverness GC in Englewood

ADVANCE TO U.S. AMATEUR
Andy Yang, Denver, Colo., 70-68–138
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 68-71–139
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 67-73–140

ALTERNATES (In order)
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 68-72–140
Alex Buecking, Littleton, Colo., 73-67–140

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Jason Burstyn, Miami, Fla., 69-72–141
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 68-73–141
Ben McConahey, Denver, Colo., 72-70–142
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 73-69–142
Rob Clever, Firestone, Colo., 70-72–142
Danny Riskam, Broomfield, Colo., 69-73–142
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 74-69–143
Jeffrey Gravina, Littleton, Colo., 74-69–143
Ted Jorgensen, Denver, Colo., 67-76–143
John Ahern, Morrison, Colo., 72-72–144
Cameron Brown, Edwards, Colo., 73-71–144
Jeffrey Allen, Denver, Colo., 70-75–145
Minkyu Jeon, Littleton, Colo., 72-73–145
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 72-73–145
Cole Nygren, Niwot, Colo., 71-75–146
Charles Santaularia, Denver, Colo., 77-70–147
Matt Roberts, Denver, Colo., 75-72–147
Robert M Yurglich Jr, Lone Tree, Colo., 74-73–147
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 74-73–147
Nick Burns, Denver, Colo., 74-74–148
Kolton Kyne, Ridgway, Colo., 75-73–148
Tom Krystyn, Denver, Colo., 73-75–148
Spencer Sheets, Centennial, Colo., 72-77–149
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 75-74–149
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 75-74–149
Christopher Korte, Littleton, Colo., 78-72–150
Justin Headrick, Aurora, Colo., 79-71–150
Peter Horstman, Castle Rock, Colo., 76-74–150
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 73-77–150
Josh Mclaughlin, Fort Collins, Colo., 78-73–151
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 75-76–151
Nick Berry, Littleton, Colo., 75-76–151
Matt Strong, Castle Rock, Colo., 76-75–151
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo., 71-81–152
Cole Cunningham, Centennial, Colo., 77-75–152
Chris Beabout, Centennial, Colo., 74-78–152
Mark Brown, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 72-80–152
David Lysaught, Denver, Colo., 81-72–153
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 76-77–153
Cody Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 71-82–153
Oliver Lewis, Denver, Colo., 76-77–153
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 74-81–155
Jonathan Dresnick, Miami, Fla., 77-78–155
Kade Sessions, Aurora, Colo., 80-75–155
Dan Huff, Castle Rock, Colo., 73-83–156
George Bollinger III, Golden, Colo., 78-78–156
Charles Castellano, Denver, Colorado, 76-80–156
Andrew Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 77-79–156
Steve Sullivan, Castle Rock, Colo., 75-81–156
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 75-82–157
Michael Larson, Longmont, Colo., 78-79–157
John Frey, Denver, Colo., 75-82–157
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 76-81–157
Joey Muckler, Centennial, Colo., 79-79–158
Christopher Dillon, Littleton, Colo., 80-79–159
Marc Biagiotti, Greenwood Village, Colo., 83-76–159
Gabe Grant, Denver, Colo., 78-81–159
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 81-78–159
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 77-83–160
Brian Smith, Aurora, Colo., 75-86–161
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 81-81–162
Alexander Leonida, Centennial, Colo., 85-77–162
Kevin Klatman, Boulder, Colo., 81-81–162
Jeffrey Bullock, Littleton, Colo., 80-83–163
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 83-80–163
Brent Landen, Virginia Beach, Va., 83-80–163
Ken Weiss, Centennial, Colo., 86-83–169
Cassius Klaess, Denver, Colo., 85-88–173
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 79-WD
Chun-Ji Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 81-WD