“It’s very special,” the 20-year-old from Longmont said. “I was trying not to think too much about it, then on the first tee they tell you it’s the last one and they give you a little souvenir.”

The reminder didn’t turn out to have any negative effect. In fact, perhaps it brought out the best in Nygren, who started playing golf at the Longmont public course.

The junior-to-be at Cal Poly not only qualified for his first USGA championship but he earned medalist honors Tuesday at Twin Peaks. He shot rounds of 67-68 at his old stomping grounds for a 5-under-par 135 total.

Joining him in landing berths in the final U.S. Publinks — set for July 14-19 in Newton, Kan. — were two other Coloradans who will be playing college golf in the fall: Cameron Harrell of Fort Collins, a senior-to-be at Colorado State who checked in at 136 after a pair of 68s, and University of Denver recruit Chris Korte of Highlands Ranch (70-66–136). (The qualifiers are pictured, from left, Nygren, Korte and Harrell.)

The USGA announced early last year that it was discontinuing the men’s and women’s Amateur Public Links Championships after 2014, and beginning men’s and women’s four-ball championships starting next year.

“It’s so special” to qualify for the final U.S. Publinks, said Korte, a mainstay of a Regis Jesuit team that won the last four 5A state high school titles. “I’ve really been dreaming about it the last few weeks. I can’t wait to go to Kansas.”

The Publinks will be the first USGA championship for Nygren and Korte, while Harrell will be going to his third. Harrell made it to the match-play portion of the 2013 U.S. Publinks and also qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur.

“It’s a lot of fun” competing in USGA national tournaments, Harrell said. “It’s a different experience. You’re playing close to the best (amateur) kids in the world for this tournament and the U.S. Am is the best field in the world for amateurs. It’s a different feeling than any tournament in the summer that I play in. These are the two I have on my schedule that I want to go to. They’re the ones I really want to play well in. It’s something I’ve been striving for in summer golf.”

On Tuesday, Nygren led the way by making an eagle (5-iron and a 20-foot putt on his fifth hole — No. 14 — in the morning) and seven birdies on the day. Despite playing an estimated 50 rounds at Twin Peaks over the years, Nygren said Tuesday’s were probably the two best.

“I hit the ball a little further now so the course plays a little differently,” he said. “I can hit 2-iron off the tee and be just fine. The course has gotten a lot easier over the years for me.”

Besides playing in his hometown on Tuesday, Nygren drew some inspiration by something he was thinking about recently.

“I had a pretty good junior career,” he said. “I won an AJGA (event in Aspen in 2011) but I haven’t done much since. About a week ago I realized I haven’t done much of anything. I need to get my act together. I know I’m a lot better player than a lot of the scores I’ve posted recently.

“The AJGA is one of the only big tournaments I’ve ever won. That was very exciting, but this is much bigger than junior golf.”

At 17 years old, Korte is still a junior golfer. But he’s been playing some of the best golf of his life recently. In fact, at an AJGA event in Chandler, Ariz., two months ago, he shot a 9-under-par 62 in the final round and finished tied for third.

“It’s unbelievable” he said. “I’ve just been working so hard since the high school season.”

On Tuesday, Korte birdied two of his last three holes — sandwiched around a lipped-out 3-foot birdie attempt in between — to clinch one of the final qualifying spots.

“I was a little bit nervous out there,” he said. “It wasn’t a bad first round (70), but I just got it done the second round (66) and squeezed in.”

Harrell, meanwhile, made only three bogeys in 36 holes on Tuesday.

“I made it easy for myself out there, which on these types of days really helps,” the 20-year-old said. “Things are starting to come around, and it’s the best time for that to happen. I’m excited.”

University of Northern Colorado golfer Steven Kupcho (69-68–137) was the first alternate on Tuesday, while Wesley Martin of Denver (68-72–140) secured the second alternate spot.

In all, 50 players competed at Twin Peaks.
 
 

U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying
At Par-70 Twin Peaks GC in Longmont

ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Cole Nygren, Longmont, Colo., 67-68–135
Cameron Harrell, Fort Collins, Colo., 68-68–136
Chris Korte, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 70-66–136

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 69-68–137
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 68-72–140

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Spencer Painton, Aurora, Colo., 74-67–141
Adam Griffith, Westminster, Colo., 71-70–141
Bill Parker, Denver, Colo., 66-76–142
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 70-72–142
Sam Marley, Centennial, Colo., 72-71–143
Josh Gardella, Littleton, Colo., 72-72–144
Steve Connell, Thornton, Colo., 70-74–144
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 73-72–145
Ethan Yamada, Arvada, Colo., 72-74–146
Damon Dageenakis, Erie, Colo., 74-72–146
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo., 74-72–146
Mario Russo, Northglenn, Colo., 78-68–146
James Kurtenbach, Denver, Colo., 75-72–147
Cameron Berndt, Elizabeth, Colo., 72-75–147
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 76-72–148
Kyle Fanning, Cheyenne, Wyo., 72-76–148
Kory Arnold, Englewood, Colo., 71-77–148
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 76-73–149
Nicholas Davis, Centennial, Colo., 73-76–149
Henry Bissell, Littleton, Colo., 77-73–150
Nick VanEtten, Colorado Springs, Colo., 73-77–150
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., 75-75–150
Garrett Jones, Arvada, Colo., 72-78–150
Ross Gutlohn, Miami, Fla., 77-74–151
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 80-72–152
Alan Berry, Littleton, Colo., 78-74–152
Terry Kunz, Golden, Colo., 73-79–152
Bob Maggard,  Parker, Colo., 77-76–153
Barry Erwin, Aurora, Colo., 74-79–153
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 79-74–153
Michael Passananti, Pueblo, Colo., 72-81–153
Gregory Shelton, Littleton, Colo., 77-77–154
Samuel Toillion, Longmont, Colo., 78-78–156
Jan Wong, Lakewood, Colo., 75-82–157
David Cosel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 81-78–159
Webb Henderson, Denver, Colo., 77-82–159
Jeffrey Johnson, Denver, Colo., 80-80–160
Edward Lee, Broomfield, Colo., 78-85–163
Michael Ventimiglia, Broomfield, Colo., 82-82–164
Kwasi Lee, Aurora, C0, 84-85–169
Taylor Osieczanek, Broomfield, Colo., 81-91–172
Eric Mosiman, Boulder, Colo., 83-91–174
Dan Costello, Denver, Colo., 80-DQ
Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 85-WD
Ben Cockrill, Pueblo, Colo., 83-WD
 

“I look back on the past few years and I don’t know if I actually wanted it,” the Arvada resident and Colorado State University-Pueblo golfer said Tuesday. “I was more afraid of what would happen. You’re nervous. You say you want it but you’re not really sure. But yesterday I came in thinking, ‘I really want to go (to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship). I’m playing really good and I want to do this and I have the game to do it.’ And I came out and played really well.”

The result is that Thomas will join two other Colorado-based college golfers in not only making their first appearance in the U.S. Publinks, but in any USGA championship.

CSU’s Kirby Pettitt, Air Force’s Kyle Westmoreland and CSU-Pueblo’s Thomas earned the three available qualifying spots out of a field that originally numbered 78 Tuesday at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont. And the reward is trips to the U.S. Publinks that will be played July 9-14 at Soldier Hollow Golf Course in Midway, Utah.

Pettitt, a senior-to-be at CSU, shot rounds of 67-72 for a 1-under-par 139 total at Twin Peaks. Westmoreland, who will be a junior at the Air Force Academy, went 68-71 to tie his fellow Mountain West Conference golfer. (Westmoreland is pictured above at left with his co-medalist Pettitt.) And Thomas, who’s entering his final season at CSU-Pueblo, carded scores of 66-74 to gain the final qualifying spot at even-par 140.

For both Pettitt and Westmoreland, it was their first time even attempting to qualify for the U.S. Publinks.

“I’m very excited,” said Pettitt, an Iowan now living in Fort Collins full-time. “To be able to go play in a USGA event and showcase your talent and compete at a very high level is exactly what I’m looking to do. I’ve got one more year at school and then I’ll just see what happens. I’ll try to play professional golf after that, I believe.”

Being at the Air Force Academy, Westmoreland hasn’t gotten a lot of chances to play tournaments in recent summers, but he made the most of his opportunity on Tuesday. He finished the day with an eagle, six birdies and seven bogeys over the 36 holes.

Suffice it to say qualifying for a USGA championship ranks up there with winning his first college tournament last fall — the Service Academy Golf Classic against rival players from Navy and Army.

“It was a fun season for me, and this makes it even more fun,” said Westmoreland, who hails from Katy, Texas near Houston. “This means a lot. It’s a great opportunity to get to play some real high-quality golf. I’m thrilled.”

Pettitt’s performance Tuesday bore much resemblance to Westmoreland’s as he recorded six birdies and five bogeys. Thomas, meanwhile, went bogey-free in his 66 and carded six birdies and six bogeys overall.

“I played so good today,” said the 24-year-old Thomas, who needed just 24 putts in his first round. “… I drove three par-4s on my second 18 holes, and a couple of them were almost 400 yards. So I was hitting it really solid.

“I can’t tell you what this means to me. It’s fantastic.”
 

U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying
At Par-70 Twin Peaks GC in Longmont

ADVANCE TO U.S. PUBLINKS
Kirby Pettitt, Fort Collins, Colo., 67-72–139
Kyle Westmoreland, Katy, Texas, 68-71–139
Sean Thomas, Arvada, Colo., 66-74–140

ALTERNATES (in order)
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 72-69–141
Kory Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 70-71–141

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Chun-Ji Kim, Chandler, Ariz., 73-70–143
Eric Parish, Laramie, Wyo., 70-73–143
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 71-72–143
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 73-70–143
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 71-73–144
James Kurtenbach, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 74-70–144
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 73-71–144
David Schroeder II, Colorado Springs, Colo., 71-73–144
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 72-72–144
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 72-73–145
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo., 73-72–145
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 77-68–145
Cameron Freeman, Fort Collins, Colo., 72-74–146
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 74-72–146
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 71-76–147
Nick Burns, Denver, Colo., 76-72–148
Robert Clever, Firestone, Colo., 72-76–148
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 73-76–149
Minkyu Jeon, Littleton, Colo., 73-76–149
Nicholas Sheedy, Denver, Colo., 75-75–150
Matt Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 74-76–150
Russell Einspahr, Arvada, Colo., 75-75–150
Andy Yang, Denver, Colo., 76-74–150
Jason Coffin, Denver, Colo., 74-77–151
Brian Richmeier, Aurora, Colo., 75-76–151
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 73-78–151
Nick Berry, Littleton, Colo., 76-75–151
Chris Ortiz, Rio Rancho, N.M., 77-74–151
Jonathan S Park, Denver, Colo., 78-73–151
Nicholas Tarasiewicz, Colorado Springs, Colo., 72-81–153
Christian Rundberg, Laramie, Wyo., 76-77–153
Steve Connell, Thornton, Colo., 77-77–154
Chris Longfellow, Castle Rock, Colo., 78-77–155
Kyle Beard, Denver, Colo., 75-80–155
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 76-79–155
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 76-79–155
Charles Santaularia, Denver, Colo., 77-78–155
Robert Burke, Longmont, Colo., 76-79–155
Austin Vanderbloom, Cheyenne, Wyo., 75-81–156
Chad Hess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 80-76–156
Wes Adkins, Fort Collins, Colo., 76-80–156
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 80-76–156
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 77-80–157
Jordan Burgess, Windsor, Colo., 76-81–157
Chris Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 79-79–158
Erik Helton, Brighton, Colo., 79-80–159
Bryan Doyea, Peyton, Colo., 75-84–159
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 79-82–161
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo., 81-80–161
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 83-78–161
Danny Hahn, Denver, Colo., 78-83–161
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 84-77–161
Nathan Gruda, Golden, Colo., 83-81–164
Joshua Kim, Aurora, Colo., 80-85–165
Chase Nathe, Parker, Colo., 85-80–165
Jon Baldwin, Lone Tree, Colo., 83-84–167
Rupert Lona, Westminster, Colo., 86-84–170
Tom Trexler, Littleton, Colo., 85-86–171
Mitchell Smith, Elizabeth, Colo., 75-WD
Gary Driber, Castle Pines, Colo., 80-NC
Nicholas Purvis, Montrose, Colo., 88-WD
Travis Fore, Windsor, Colo., 79-WD
Scott Steger, Fort Collins, Colo., 86-NS
Troy Duerr, Colorado Springs, Colo., 83-WD
Branden Barron, Centennial, Colo., 76-WD
Dale Bonati, Colorado Springs, Colo., 97-NS