U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments are often dominated by golfers in their 20s or late teens. It’s definitely a young man’s game — at least in that event.

But Tuesday’s Local Qualifer at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins showed that there are definitely exceptions to the rule. Out of the five players who advanced to Sectionals — the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying — one is 52 years old and another is 35.

Former University of Colorado golfer Derek Fribbs, a 27-year-old from Thornton, earned medalist honors with a 3-under-par 68 at Collindale, which puts more of a premium on accuracy than length, unlike many courses.

Joining him in advancing to Sectional Qualifying were 35-year-old Nick Mason of Parker (69), 52-year-old David Good of Colorado Springs (69), 27-year-old former Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens of Greeley (70), and 22-year-old former Colorado Mesa golfer Trevor McKune of Grand Junction (70). (Four of the Sectional qualifiers are pictured, from left: McKune, Good, Fribbs and Edens.)

“It’s great” to advance, said Good, who was a generation apart from many of Tuesday’s competitors. “Honestly the reason I was playing here is because I’m doing the Senior Open qualifier next week and that’s more on my radar. This was more of a warmup. It’s a bonus to get to go to Sectionals.”

Meanwhile, It’s the fifth straight year Edens (pictured at bottom) has advanced from the Local Qualifying at Collindale.

“It’s pretty crazy,” said Edens, who missed a Sectional playoff for the final U.S. Open berth by one stroke two years ago. “I’ll go back to Springfield Country Club in Ohio that I’ve played the last four years. I love the place. I’ve played well there at times. It’ll be exciting. The last month and a half I’ve felt I’ve played some of the best golf I’ve ever played.”

As for his secret to success at Collindale, Edens said, “When I first got to CSU I played it probably 10 times and I hated it. We had a six-round qualifier and the first three rounds were here and I was in last place after those three rounds. But after that I’ve played pretty good here. “

It will be the sixth Sectional for Mason, who competed in the 2014 U.S. Open, one of six PGA Tour events in which he’s played in his career.

“Just playing in Sectionals is a confidence-builder moving on,” said Mason (left), a three-time winner of the Hawaii State Open. “Even through today is just a Local Qualifier, every single shot you hit can be the shot that puts you out. And it’s not like a four-round tournament where you hit it in the trees, make double (bogey) and you’re fine. You’ve got to come back so fast from that. It’s a lot like match play. Every single shot matters. The guys who get through have done a really good job because even though there’s 80 guys for five spots doesn’t mean it’s easy. It’s really hard. So it means a lot (to advance).”

Asked about his memories of playing — and missing the cut (78-75) — in the 2014 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, N.C., Mason said, “I was in 15th (place) through six or eight holes and saw my name on the board and never saw it again,” he said with a smile. “I wasn’t playing great. I kind of putted my way in that year. Now I’m hitting it good and I feel like I’ll have a chance at Sectionals. (In 2014), I got to Pinehurst and I was kind of clanking it. I wasn’t seeing the fairway, but it was still a lot of fun. II think I’ll have a little less nerves if I get back.”

Fribbs, the 2013 CGA Player of the Year, will be going to his third Sectionals. The last time he competed there, he shot a smooth 69 in the first round in 2014, but fell out of contention with a 78 after the field switched courses for the second round of the day.

“I had a younger mind back then,” he said. “It’s not the game that’s in better shape (now). It’s the mind that’s in better shape. That’s the key.”

Good and McKune will be making their Sectional debuts, with McKune never having attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open before Tuesday.

“This is big being my first qualifier,” McKune said. “Going to Sectionals, this is huge. It’s probably one of the highlights of the last few years for me.”

Fribbs, who was 2 over par after his first three holes on Tuesday, made six birdies and three bogeys to set the standard at Collindale. Good also started slowly, standing 2 over after five holes before rallying.

“This is my first competitive round in Colorado ever,” said Good, a longtime club professional who moved back to Colorado Springs recently after residing in Florida. “I’m doing math every shot. I’m still playing my sea-level yardages and trying to (adjust to the altitude). It’s a little tricky. It worked out for the most part once I remembered to do it.

“This is the first U.S. Open qualifier I’ve played in that I didn’t feel I was at a disadvantage being older and not hitting it as far because length is not an advantage on this golf course, which is rare. If you move it around well, it’s a ball-striker’s course, and if you’re on a green you have a chance to make a putt. … Here I thought we had a good shot.”

The 36-hole Sectional Qualifying in the U.S. will be contested on June 4 at 10 sites in the U.S., plus one in England that day and one in Japan on May 21. From there, the top finishers will land berths in the Open itself, set for June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Wednesday marked the third of three Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers this year. Last week at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, those who punched their tickets to Sectionals were John Murdock of Laramie, Wyo.; Steven Kupcho of Westminster; Josh Seiple of Castle Rock; Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction; and Zahkai Brown of Golden. Then at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, advancing were Jonathan Kuzava of Littleton, Tom Gempel of Lone Tree, Glenn Workman of Pueblo West, Jack Castiglia of Lakewood and Davis Bryant of Aurora.

The U.S. Open is the only USGA championship that utilizes a two-stage qualifying process, with many entrants having to successfully negotiate Local and Sectional Qualifying in order to make it into the field for the second men’s major of the year.
 

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Derek Fribbs, Thornton 68
Nick Mason, Parker 69
David Good, Colorado Springs 69
Parker Edens, Greeley 70
Trevor McKune, Grand Junction 70

ALTERNATES (In Order)
George Markham, Phoenix 71
Riley Arp, Fort Collins 71

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

It was go low or go home on Wednesday in a U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora.

A year after no one shot lower than 68 in this event at CommonGround, six golfers posted better totals than that. And 13 players carded 69s or lower.

With five golfers out of the original field of 84 advancing to the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying, Jonathan Kuzava of Littleton fired a personal-best 7-under-par 64 to earn medalist honors. Former University of Colorado golfer Tom Gempel, now a teaching pro at The Pinery Country Club in Parker, managed a 65 to land the second spot. (The two are pictured, with Kuzava at left.)

Four players posted 67s, forcing a playoff for the final three berths. Glenn Workman (below, in a white shirt) of Pueblo West, who turned pro on the first tee after wrapping up his college career at the University of Wyoming, got up and down for par on the second playoff hole to advance. The same was true of Jack Castiglia of Lakewood, part of the Hale Irwin Player Program at CommonGround. Workman, the 2017 CGA Amateur champion, will graduate from Wyoming on Saturday, and Castiglia from Lakewood High School this month.

The final Sectional qualifier was Davis Bryant of Aurora, who won the 5A state high school title at CommonGround in October. Bryant, the Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado’s Boys Player of the Year in 2017, atoned for a missed 3-foot par putt on the second playoff hole to drain a 5-foot birdie on the third extra hole to advance. Darrin Hall of Golden, who bogeyed the second playoff hole, missed a 5-foot birdie attempt on the third extra hole and had to settle for the first alternate position.

Like Castiglia, Bryant will graduate from high school this month, in his case from Eaglecrest. Bryant will play his college golf at Colorado State University and Castiglia at the University of Northern Colorado.

All five players who advanced on Wednesday will be going to U.S. Open Sectionals for the first time.

“It’s cool because I remember growing up at Columbine (Country Club, which used to host a U.S. Open Sectional) and watching all these guys come through for Sectionals when it was there,” said Kuzava, a son of well-known Denver media personality Steve Kelly. “I got to see Tom Kite and guys like that come through there. It was like, ‘Man, this is cool.’ I never thought I’d go through to that stage ever. I’m glad I didn’t think about it today; otherwise I probably wouldn’t have done it.”

Kuzava, 29, didn’t play high school or college golf — in fact, he was a backup quarterback at CSU-Pueblo. But he’s developed his game on the Florida mini tours, including one called the Florida Fresh Meat Pro Golf Tour, where he once posted a win.

“You won and you got $400 and they gave you all these coupons for this meat company down there,” Kuzava said with a smile.

“It’s crazy to me to think that even a few years ago, I didn’t even know I could do something like this,” he said of advancing to Sectionals. “I give credit to God because there’s no way I could have done it on my own. I don’t have an instructor or anything like that. It was awesome for me.

“It’s a weird route I’ve taken.”

On Wednesday, Kuzava chalked up an eagle, seven birdies and two bogeys. From holes 4 through 11, he was 7 under par.

“I was just really relaxed,” he said.

Kuzava and Gempel, 31, were the elder statesmen of those who advanced on Wednesday.

Gempel was a very high-level amateur in the state, finishing runner-up in both the CGA Amateur and the CGA Match Play in 2009, losing in both cases to Steve Ziegler. But the results haven’t been as encouraging recently.

Asked when the last time he had shot 65, as he did Wednesday, Gempel said, “Not in a long time. A 68 last fall was probably my best score in recent memory. Lots of 73s and 74s earlier this year. It feels good to get a good one in there.

“It’s just really encouraging. I’m excited to test my game against good players on some hard tracks. I got married last year so it’s nice to show the wife that I can play a little bit.”

On Wednesday, Gempel played his final 12 holes in 6 under par, making an eagle at 7 and four birdies on the back nine.

“I hit my irons unbelievably well,” he said. “I was inside 20 feet it seemed like every hole. Fortunately, I got enough of them to go down. I’m really excited.”

Workman had an encouraging start to his pro career, going bogey-free in regulation and in the two playoff holes he played. He hit his first 19 greens of the day in regulation until just going over the par-3 17th in the playoff.

“I didn’t do anything too miraculous, just hit it well and putted well and shot a nice little 4 under,” he said. “You do that, you play well.”

Workman originally signed up for the qualifier as an amateur because he was still playing college golf for Wyoming. But with his senior season having come to an end, he declared his pro status on the first tee Wednesday.

“It’s great. I love where my game is at,” the 22-year-old said. “It’s coming into shape. I’m playing confident. I love moving back to Pueblo soon because it’s such a great town to get better at golf. It’s just a golf town and you can get better there. I love everything that Laramie has done for me, but I’m ready to start chasing. I’m excited to see where I’ll go from here.”

Then there were the two qualifiers who are still in high school. Castiglia, the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play runner-up, is 17 years old and Bryant is 18.

Like Workman, Castiglia (left) went bogey-free on Wednesday. But for the teenager, that was a first in tournament play.

“I felt confident going into” my first tournament of the year, said Castiglia, the 2017 Colorado Junior Match Play runner-up. “I’ve played (at CommonGround) a lot because I’m part of the Hale Irwin program. I’m out here a lot. I know this course so I was able to put it together.”

On Wednesday, that translated into a two-birdie, one-eagle day. His eagle came via a 50-foot putt on No. 11.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “It’s really cool (advancing) in a USGA event. To qualify for Sectionals for a U.S. Open is great.”

As for Bryant, he originally wanted to play in next week’s U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament in Fort Collins, but he had a test that day. So he competed at CommonGround, where his state high school victory was part of a stellar 2017 season.

“I felt good because I obviously had good memories here and something special happened here (seven) months ago,” said Bryant, a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier. “But everyone is starting at even par and you’ve got to golf your ball and see how the cards fall at the end.

“But this is a great start to the summer. I haven’t played much at all. I’ve had (high school) baseball going since mid-December, when workouts started. I practiced (golf) as much as I could. After today I obviously feel great for what I was able to accomplish in my first tournament round of the year in Colorado.”

On Wednesday, Bryant (left) hit 14 greens in regulation in shooting his 67. Including the playoff, he made seven birdies and three bogeys on the day. On his 18th hole in regulation, he kept his chances alive to advance by making a 12-foot par putt.

The 36-hole Sectional Qualifying in the U.S. will be contested on June 4 at 10 sites in the U.S., plus one in England that day and one in Japan on May 21. From there, the top finishers will land berths in the Open itself, set for June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

Wednesday marked the second of three Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers this year. Earlier this week at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, those who punched their tickets to Sectionals were John Murdock of Laramie, Wyo.; Steven Kupcho of Westminster; Josh Seiple of Castle Rock; Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction; and Zahkai Brown of Golden.

Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins will host the final Local Qualifying in Colorado, on Tuesday.

The U.S. Open is the only USGA championship that utilizes a two-stage qualifying process, with most entrants having to successfully negotiate Local and Sectional Qualifying in order to make it into the field for the second men’s major of the year.
 

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-71 CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Jonathan Kuzava, Littleton 64
Tom Gempel, Lone Tree 65
Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 67
Jack Castiglia, Lakewood 67
Davis Bryant, Aurora 67

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Darrin Hall, Golden 67
Kane Webber, Australia 68

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Murdock, a University of Wyoming golfer from Laramie, shot a 4-under-par 68 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster to lead the way out of 84 players in the first of three U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments that will be held in Colorado this year.

Also advancing to the second and final stage of qualifying — 36-hole Sectionals — on Monday were professional Steven Kupcho of Westminster, college golfers Josh Seiple of Castle Rock and Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction, and pro Zahkai Brown of Golden. Kupcho, Seiple and Olkowski matched 69s in favorable weather conditions, while Brown carded a 70 and prevailed in a three-man playoff for the final Sectional berth.

(Pictured are, from left, Kupcho and Murdock.)

It was the second consecutive year of advancing to Sectionals from Walnut Creek for Seiple and Brown, the medalist at this site last year and the 2013 CoBank Colorado Open champion.

The 36-hole Sectional Qualifying in the U.S. will be contested on June 4 at 10 sites in the U.S., plus one in England that day and one in Japan on May 21. From there, the top finishers will land berths in the Open itself, set for June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

To earn medalist honors, Murdock made an eagle (on his ninth hole, No. 18), four birdies and two bogeys on Monday.

Seiple, a University of Mississippi golfer, chalked up six birdies and three bogeys. Olkowski, a University of Colorado freshman, punched his ticket into Sectionals with a four-birdie, one-bogey day.

Kupcho, the former CGA Amateur of the Year and now a pro since 2016, successfully negotiated a USGA qualifier for the first time after numerous tries at events including the U.S. Open, U.S. Amateur, U.S. Amateur Public Links, U.S. Junior Amateur, etc.

“This should open some floodgates and give me confidence,” said Kupcho, who finished eighth last summer in the CoBank Colorado Open. “I haven’t been sucessful in qualifiers in my career; it’s different than playing a four-round tournament. So this is a pretty big day for me. I gotten over the first hurdle.”

On Monday, Kupcho advanced to Sectionals with a day that featured an eagle, three birdies and two bogeys. The eagle came on the 554-yard, par-5 sixth hole (his 15th of the day). He hit an 8-iron to 10 feet and drained the putt.

“That was big,” the 25-year-old said. “Otherwise I would have been in a playoff.”

In the three-man playoff for the final Sectional berth, Brown and Colorado State University golfer AJ Ott of Fort Collins birdied the first extra hole, while professional Anthony Aguilar from Arvada made par and was eliminated, ending up the No. 2 alternate.

On the third playoff hole, the par-5 18th, Brown two-putted for birdie, while Ott missed a 10-foot birdie attempt and was slotted in as first altenate.

In regulation, Brown eagled the sixth hole and added three birdies and two bogeys.

The U.S. Open is the only USGA championship that utilizes a two-stage qualifying process, with most entrants having to successfully negotiate Local and Sectional Qualifying in order to make it into the field for the second men’s major of the year.

Two more 18-hole Local Qualifying tournaments are scheduled in Colorado, with five more players at each site advancing to Sectionals. There’s one at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora on Wednesday and one at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on May 15.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-72 Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
John Murdock, Laramie, Wyo. 68
Steven Kupcho, Westminster 69
Josh Seiple, Castle Rock 69
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction 69
Zahkai Brown, Golden 70
ALTERNATES (In Order)
AJ Ott, Fort Collins 70
Anthony Aguilar, Arvada 70

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

The odds are slim, but the potential rewards are big for those who beat them.

Yes, it’s U.S. Open qualifying time.

The U.S. Open is the only USGA championship that utilizes a two-stage qualifying process, with most entrants having to successfully negotiate Local and Sectional Qualifying in order to make it into the field for the second men’s major of the year.

As usual, three of the 112 Local Qualifying sites are based in Colorado this year. First up is an 18-hole qualifier at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster on Monday (May 7). Then there’s one at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora on Wednesday (May 9) and at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on May 15.

At each of the three sites, 84 golfers will compete for five spots — plus two alternates — in the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, which will be held June 4 in the U.S. From there, the top finishers will land berths in the Open itself, set for June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y.

All told, according to the USGA, 8,537 golfers will compete at Locals for 500 spots into Sectionals.

Among those teeing it up at Walnut Creek are last year’s Local medalist at the site, 2013 CoBank Colorado Open winner Zahkai Brown of Golden; two-time Colorado Open champ and 2002 U.S. Open qualifier Derek Tolan of Denver; 2017 Sectional qualifiers Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock and Rich Lash of Denver; Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, who tied for third place at last year’s qualifying at Walnut Creek; and recent Big Sky Conference champion Andrew Romano of Lone Tree.

In the field at CommonGround are Ross Macdonald of Castle Rock, runner-up in the Pac-12 Conference meet; fellow 2017 Sectional qualifiers Jackson Solem of Longmont, Andy Connell of Denver and Daniel Pearson of Longmont; former Colorado Open champion Scott Petersen; PGA Tour Canada player Michael Schoolcraft of Denver; 2017 CGA Amateur champion Glenn Workman of Pueblo West; reigning Colorado PGA Professional champion John Ogden of Cherry Hills Village; and 2017 Junior Golf Alliance of Colorado Boys Player of the Year Davis Bryant.

And at Collindale, contestants include Parker Edens of Greeley, who has made it to Sectionals from the site four consecutive years, twice claiming medalist honors; fellow 2017 Sectional qualifier Hunter Paugh; 2011 Colorado Open champion Ben Portie of Westminster; Nick Mason, who has competed in five PGA Tour events, including the 2014 U.S. Open; and longtime mini-tour standout Riley Arp from Fort Collins

For tee times, click on the following: WALNUT CREEK, COMMONGROUND, COLLINDALE.

When the first Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifier for 2017 was held May 8 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster, three players shot 73, which ended up being a tie for seventh place.

With the top five finishers advancing to the second and final stage of U.S. Open Qualifying — the 36-hole Sectionals, set for June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S. — and two alternates being needed, Daniel Pearson was one of three players who should have played off for the second alternate spot. But the Longmont resident who recently graduated from Fairview High School in Boulder was the only one of the three who stuck around to the end after a day that featured two lightning delays totaling more than 2 1/2 hours.

Second alternates in USGA qualifying tournaments rarely end up getting the call to actually advance, but in this case, Pearson did.

After Golden’s Chris Thayer, who shot 71, withdrew from Sectionals, first alternate Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield got called up. Then this week, Lindstrom found out that some work-related issues would preclude him from competing in Sectionals, so Pearson (pictured) was the next man up.

The University of Nebraska golf signee will be one of at least 16 Colorado residents who will compete in Sectionals on June 5, with the top finishers at those 10 tournaments realizing a dream of qualifying for the U.S. Open, which this year is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

Other Coloradans who have punched their tickets to Sectionals include Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch, Parker Edens of Greeley, Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins, David Oraee of Greeley, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock, Jake Staiano of Englewood, Pat Grady of Denver, Rich Lash of Denver, Jackson Solem of Longmont, Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree, Ross Macdonald of Castle Pines, Andy Connell of Denver, PGA Tour player Shane Bertsch of Parker and Greg Condon of Monte Vista.

Pearson, runner-up in last year’s Colorado Junior Amateur, will be the second 2016 Colorado Junior America’s Cup player to make Sectionals, joining fellow Longmont resident Solem.

So the moral of the story may be, there is hope for second alternates in USGA qualifying tournaments after all. And, as a corollary, sticking around for second-alternate playoffs may be worthwhile.
 

Three of coach Jason Preeo’s former players at Valor Christian High School had advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying in the last eight days, and he didn’t want to be left out of the party.

So the 38-year-old from Highlands Ranch not only earned a Sectional berth of his own on Tuesday, but he shared medalist honors in the U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

Preeo, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, carded five birdies and shot a 4-under-par 67 to tie for the low score at Collindale with former Colorado State University golfer Parker Edens (pictured) of Greeley. So Preeo will be joining his former Valor players Jake Staiano, Josh Seiple and Ross Macdonald in advancing to 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, which will be held on June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S. The U.S. Open itself is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

“I’ve got to keep up with those (former Valor) guys,” said Preeo, an instructor at the MetaGolf Learning Center in Englewood. “We’ve had three of them get through, so I couldn’t let them show me up today.”

Five players in all — out of a field that originally numbered 84 — from the Collindale qualifier will be headed to Sectionals. In addition to Preeo and Edens, advancing on Tuesday were 2015 5A state high school champion Hunter Paugh of Fort Collins, the University of South Dakota golfer who lives on the course at Collindale and shot 69; former University of Colorado golfer David Oraee of Greeley (71); and CSU senior Blake Cannon (72).

Edens has been a fixture among those who advance from the Collindale qualifier, having made it to Sectionals from the site four consecutive years, twice claiming medalist honors. On Tuesday, he did the trick with a bogey-free 67 that included birdies on all three of the par-5s.

“I’ve always played good here,” said the 26-year-old, who has conditional status on the Web.com Tour this year. “I’ve kind of got it figured out. I feel pretty comfortable here” after playing the course roughly 100 times. “I putted well today, but I always putt well here. I can be putting bad (in general) and come here and putt well.

“It’s been a tough winter and I came back here and this place is always good to me. My game’s been coming around, and it came around at the right time.”

A year after Edens and Oraee survived a seven-man playoff to land the final two spots from the Collindale qualifier — and later finished one and two shots, respectively, out of Sectional playoffs for berths into the 2016 U.S. Open — there was a six-man playoff on Tuesday. Two days after shooting a 62 at nearby Ptarmigan Country Club, Cannon won the playoff at Collindale. After Andrew Moore of Loveland pitched in from 23 yards for birdie on the first extra hole, Cannon sank a 5-foot birdie of his own. Then Cannon prevailed on the second playoff hole with a routine par after Moore drove it into the left trees for the second straight time, then pitched out and eventually settled for a bogey.

“In a six-man playoff, obviously the odds are low,” said Cannon (left), a resident of Mesa, Ariz., who won two individual college titles in a week for CSU earlier this season. “Going to (hole) 10, you have to make birdie. Andrew hit a great chip — it’s not how you expect someone to make a birdie, but he did — and to make that 5-footer on top to extend it was fun. Then I played 18 really solid. I had a lot of good shots under pressure.

“It feels good to have an opportunity (to qualify for the U.S. Open). You can’t make it unless you get there (to Sectionals), so it’s just one step at a time.”

Like Edens, Paugh used his expansive knowledge of Collindale to pay dividends on Tuesday. The 19-year-old sank two 40-foot putts and chipped in from 20 feet.

“It was really nice to come back to this course, which I played growing up,” said Paugh, who estimates he’s played Collindale 200 times in his life. “I know the course, I know where to hit the ball, I know what to hit off the tee, so I feel like it gave me a great advantage going into it. Being familiar with the course is a big deal.”

As for Oraee (below) — a past winner of both the CGA Amateur and the CGA Match Play — after having to survive the seven-man playoff last year at Collindale, he desperately wanted to avoid the logjam at 72 on Tuesday, and he did that with a one-birdie, one-bogey round.

“The goal is always to play in the U.S. Open, so to have that opportunity is nice,” said the 23-year-old, who made it to the round of 16 at the 2015 U.S. Amateur. “I think I’m a lot better player than last year, so hopefully I can save a couple of shots here or there (at Sectionals) and get the job done. The goal today was obviously to get through; that’s all you’re thinking about. It’s my first tournament in a while, so it’s good to get the feet wet and get ready for tournament golf.”

This will be roughly the sixth Sectional Qualifying for Preeo, who on Tuesday was playing just his fourth round of the year; the fourth Sectional for Edens, all from Collindale; the third for Oraee; and the first for Cannon and Paugh, who was attempting to qualify for the first time.

Preeo remembers well being in 16th place at the midway point of the 2010 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach (75-70–145) before struggling the last two rounds, shooting 82-84 on the weekend to finish 82nd.

“It was cool, but it was very bittersweet to have played decent golf the first couple of days, then play so poorly (on the weekend),” he said. “That’s the biggest motivation — to maybe play a little differently or do some things differently.

“It’s exciting just to get another chance. Having been through the whole process, you have an opportunity and hopefully you play well.”

Three professionals — Preeo, Edens and Oraee — and amateurs Paugh and Cannon made up the five players who advanced on Tuesday.

Tuesday’s round was delayed by about two hours in the afternoon by lightning, with 17 golfers sticking around to resume play after having their round interrupted.

Last week at the first Colorado-based Local Qualifying tournament at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Seiple of Castle Rock, Staiano of Englewood, Pat Grady of Denver, and Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield earned spots into Sectionals. Lindstrom originally was the first alternate, but he advanced when Chris Thayer of Golden withdrew the day after qualifying for Sectionals.

Then on Monday at CommonGround Golf Course, advancing were Rich Lash of Denver, Jackson Solem of Longmont, Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree, Macdonald of Castle Pines and Andy Connell of Denver.

ELSEWHERE (Updated May 17): Meanwhile, other players with strong Colorado ties have advanced to Sectionals from Local Qualifiers outside the state.

Among them:

— PGA Tour player Shane Bertsch of Parker tied for third place with a 70 at the Dallas Athletic Club on May 17.

— Amateur Greg Condon of Monte Vista shared medalist honors with a 70 in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M., on May 2.

— And former University of Colorado golfer Justin Bardgett was medalist in Raymore, Mo., on May 15, firing a 70.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
ҬAt Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch 34-33–67
Parker Edens, Greeley 34-33–67
Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins 34-35–69
David Oraee, Greeley 36-35–71
Blake Cannon, Mesa, Ariz. 36-36–72

ALTERNATES (in order)
Andrew Moore, Loveland 39-33–72
Tony Aguilar, Arvada 36-36–72″¨

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

A year ago in U.S. Open Local Qualifying, Rich Lash shot an 84. Needless to say, Monday’s 3-under-par 68 was considerably more satisfying.

And the way the Denver resident earned a share of medalist honors in U.S. Open Local Qualifying at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora made it all the more so.

After playing his first six holes in 4 over par, he went 7 under for his last dozen, highlighted by a 20-foot eagle on No. 11.

“Really, it’s been a grind,” said Lash, a PGA instructor at Bear Creek Golf Club who once played on the Alps Tour in Europe. “I’ve had some tough times — almost giving up and stuff. There haven’t been a whole lot of highlights, to be honest with you. So this really feels good to put up a good number. Today I just got the putter hot and kept going.”

The 31-year-old was part of a diverse group of five golfers — three professionals and two amateurs, ranging in age from 18 to 35 — who on Monday punched their tickets to the second and final stage of U.S. Open Qualifying.

Jackson Solem of Longmont, a University of Denver golf signee who will graduate from high School on Friday, shared medalist honors in the U.S. Open Local Qualifier with two longtime professionals, Lash and Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree. All three carded 3-under-par 68s at CommonGround, the CGA-owned and operated facility.

Joining Lestishen, Solem and Lash (pictured, from left) in advancing to 36-hole Sectional Qualifying, which will be held on June 5 at 10 sites in the U.S., will be University of Colorado golfer Ross Macdonald of Castle Pines and Andy Connell of Denver, a PGA instructor at CommonGround. Both of them shot 69s and prevailed in a four-man playoff for the final two Sectional berths.

Connell and Macdonald two-putted for birdie on the first playoff hole — the par-5 18th — from 20 feet and 60 feet, respectively, to advance. Two former Colorado Christian University golfers, 2016 CGA Match Play champion Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins and Jack Cummings of Arvada, made par and were left in the alternate positions after also shooting 69s. Cummings, who made two eagles in regulation on Monday, parred the second playoff hole to earn the first alternate spot.
 
Solem (left), the 2015 4A state high school champion who finished third at the 2015 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior at CommonGround, shined again at the course on Monday. He was 5 under par through 10 holes, then overcame three consecutive bogeys in the middle of the back nine and finished with a birdie.

“This means everything,” the 18-year-old said. “I’ve grown up watching the U.S. Open with my dad. It’s something that’s always been a goal for me. I’ve always been working hard for it and I really haven’t performed in those situations, so it’s really cool to actually get to do it this time.”

Connell, the 35-year-old son of Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Tom Connell, will be going to his fourth Sectional and Lestishen to his second, while Solem, Lash and Macdonald will be making their Sectional debuts. None of the five has made it to the U.S. Open, which this year will be held June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

“The U.S. Open has always been a dream of mine,” said Lesthishen, who also advanced to Sectionals in 2009, the year he turned pro after playing college golf at the University of New Mexico. “It’ll be fun to give it another shot and see if I can get through. It’s been a while, so I’m excited about that.”

Lestishen played the par-5s in 4 under par on Monday, draining a 35-foot eagle on No. 7.

Connell (left) was a local favorite on Monday as he’s been a longtime fixture at CommonGround as an instructor, one who has a major role in junior programming at the CGA course. He estimates he’s played about 100 rounds at the CommonGround over the years.

“Obviously, tee to green out here I know the course,” he said. “I know where to hit it. I really don’t even need to look at yardages. But the firmness of the golf course today and the speed of the greens were something I haven’t seen out here. This is my first tournament round out here. I had a 6-footer on the 10th hole to start the day and hit it about 5 feet past. It took me a little bit to get used to the greens. It played tough, harder than I expected.

“I’m really looking forward to having another crack at Sectionals. Obviously it’s a lot of fun to play in. It gives you a good chance to measure your game against some of the best players.”

Macdonald (below), a two-time Junior Amateur champion in Colorado, is coming off a redshirt season at CU, so he’s trying to get back into peak tournament form. On Monday, he was certainly solid, with three birdies — all on par-5s — to go along with a bogey.

“Definitely for me it’s been getting back into the swing of things,” he said. “Obviously early in the season you make some silly mistakes, but I just try to eliminate big mistakes and put myself in good positions and get solid with the putter.

“It’s huge, obviously, to have a chance to play in the U.S. Open. It’s a long shot (to make it) — there’s a lot of really good players in Sectionals and a lot of pros — but I’ll try to enjoy it and play as well as I can.”

In all, 84 players registered for Monday’s qualifying tournament, with 79 actually teeing it up.

Last week at the first Colorado-based Local Qualifying tournament, Zahkai Brown of Golden, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock, Pat Grady of Denver, Jake Staiano of Englewood and Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield earned spots into Sectionals. Lindstrom originally was the first alternate, but he advanced when Chris Thayer of Golden withdrew the day after qualifying for Sectionals.

The third and final Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifier will take place on Tuesday at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins, where another five players will advance to Sectionals.
 

U.S. Open Local QualifyingӬ
At Par-71 CommonGround GC in Aurora
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Rich Lash, Denver 38-30–68
Jackson Solem, Longmont 32-36–68
Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree 34-34–68
Ross Macdonald, Castle Pines 35-34–69
Andy Connell, Denver 35-34–69

ALTERNATES (in order)Ӭ
Jack Cummings, Arvada 36-33–69
Nathaniel Goddard, Fort Collins 33-36–69

For complete results, CLICK HERE.
 

(MAY 9 UPDATE: On Tuesday, Chris Thayer withdrew from the upcoming U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying stage. First alternate Jon Lindstrom will fill his spot in the Sectionals. For more on that, CLICK HERE.)

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On a day that featured challenging weather conditions on a tough golf course and two lightning delays totaling more than 2 1/2 hours, a pair of Golden residents were the only players to break par on Monday, leading a group of five golfers who advanced to the second stage of U.S. Open qualifying.

Former CoBank Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown shot a 2-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors in U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, the new name for the Heritage at Westmoor course in Westminster.

Joining Brown (pictured) in advancing to one of the 10 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers that will be held in the U.S. on June 5 will be fellow Golden resident Chris Thayer (1-under 71 Monday), former Valor Christian High School teammates Josh Seiple of Castle Rock and Jake Staiano of Englewood (72 each), and University of Colorado assistant men’s golf coach Pat Grady of Denver (72). Staiano plays college golf at Colorado State and Seiple at the University of Mississippi.

Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield (72), who won the CGA Four-Ball title on Sunday with teammate Richard Bradsby, also shot a 72 at Walnut Creek, but a family matter kept him from participating in what would have been a playoff Monday evening. He’ll be the first alternate. Daniel Pearson of Longmont, who shot 73, will be the second alternate.

Brown, the former CSU golfer who won the 2013 Colorado Open, took advantage of having played hundreds if not thousands of rounds at Walnut Creek over the years. But some of the conditions took even a Walnut Creek regular like him by surprise.

“It was hard out there,” the 26-year-old newlywed said. “You had to play so much break (on the greens). You’d barely hit putts and they’d keep feeding and feeding. All of our group hit it 9 or 10 feet by a lot of the time. It was just wicked.”

Added Thayer (left): “The wind wasn’t that strong, but it definitely was affecting every shot. You had to really think about it. With the greens the way that they were and the course being 7,500 yards, it was a lot (to handle).”

Of the five qualifiers, Brown and Grady are professionals and the other three are amateurs. Grady and Brown are former CGA Players of the Year, with Grady having earned the honor twice.

The top finishers at U.S. Open Sectional sites on June 5 will advance to the Open itself, which this year is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

Brown is particularly keen on trying to earn a U.S. Open berth this year with Erin Hills being the host site. You see, he competed in the 2011 U.S. Amateur at the course, making it to the match play round of 64.

“It means a lot to me because I’ve played Erin Hills and I really like that golf course a lot,” he said. “I played well in the U.S. Am when they had it there. I feel comfortable on it. I’m really hoping to get to that event.”

Four of the players who advanced on Monday — with the exception being Seiple — have made it to Sectionals previously, though none has gone on to compete in the U.S. Open. The two players in Monday’s field who have previously qualified for the Open fell short of advancing at Walnut Creek, with Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch shooting 78 and Nick Mason of Denver withdrawing during one of Monday’s delays.

With slow play being an issue even before the weather became a problem, a total of 10 pace-of-play penalties were assessed on Monday.

Thayer, who plans to take the marriage plunge himself in a couple of weeks, will be going to Sectionals for the second time, and has competed in three different USGA championships — the Junior Amateur, Amateur and the Mid-Amateur.

“That’s the goal — to play in those national championships,” the 36-year-old said. “And this is kind of a pseudo one to make it through this stage.”

Grady, himself a thirtysomething (being 31), doesn’t get a lot of time to play golf these days, between his coaching duties and doing some accounting work as a CPA. But he has shown some flashes, like when he finished 11th in the National Assistant PGA Professional Championship last fall, and he pieced together a solid round on Monday. (Grady is pictured at left, in black, with Seiple, in blue, and Staiano.)

“I feel really good,” said Grady, who last tried to qualify for the U.S. Open in 2011. “I had low expectations (being a) golf coach and accountant. It was fun. I got to play with one of our incoming (CU) players, Cole Krantz, and it was fun to watch him play. I (jokingly) told him if he beats me, he’s off the team, and if he loses to me, he’s not good enough so he’s off the team. I got him pretty good today. He’ll beat me the rest of the time.”

As for former Valor teammates Staiano and Seiple, they’re in the most important part of their college season, and both will compete next week in an NCAA Regional tournament in Austin, Texas.

With Monday’s weather delays, Seiple had to change his flight back to Mississippi, and he was working on rescheduling the two final exams he had on the agenda for Tuesday. But in the end, at least it all paid off with him advancing to U.S. Open Sectionals for the first time.

“It’s awesome,” said Seiple, a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier and the runner-up in the 2016 CGA Match Play. “The chance to play in the U.S. Open is something you dream of forever. Just the chance to see if you’ve got the stuff to get there. There’s a bunch of good players (in Sectional Qualifying) so it’s cool to compare your game. It’s going to be a fun opportunity. Anything can happen.”

Staiano competed in Sectionals two years ago as an 18-year-old, the same year he went to the match play round of 64 at the U.S. Amateur. But on Monday, he had to battle back from two double bogeys and being 4 over par through 8 holes to make the grade at even-par 72. He played his final 10 holes in 4 under.

“(In 2015), I played with somebody who qualified for the Open, so I saw what it takes,” said Staiano, the 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion. “I’m going back to the same (Sectional site) and I know the course a little bit. It gives me a good opportunity. My game is in a pretty good spot. It will be a good chance to see if I can do something special.

“Last time at Sectionals I was a little young, a little immature. I played with a couple of Tour pros in the practice rounds. I was sort of wide-eyed. I will be a little different scenario this time around.”

Upcoming next week are two more Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers, May 15 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora and May 16 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins. As with Monday, they each feature 84-man fields, with the top five at each site advancing to Sectionals.
 

U.S. Open Local QualifyingӬ
At Par-72 Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Zahkai Brown, Golden 34-36–70
Christopher Thayer, Golden 37-34–71
Josh Seiple, Castle Rock 36-36–72
Pat Grady, Denver 34-38–72
Jake Staiano, Englewood 33-39–72

ALTERNATES (in order)
“¨Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 35-37–72″¨
Daniel Pearson, Longmont 39-34–73

For complete results, CLICK HERE.

Tuesday proved a notable milestone in the golf career of David Oraee.

It marked the former University of Colorado golfer’s first competition as a professional. It also was his first tournament since falling in the round of 16 at the 2015 U.S. Amateur last August.

Unfortunately for the 2015 CGA Player of the Year, he was sick in the days leading up to Tuesday’s U.S. Open Local Qualifier at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins. So sick that his “tonsils basically swelled shut. I couldn’t breathe,” he said. “The doctor gave me a bunch of meds to get the swelling down so I could breathe and eat and stuff. The swelling just went down two days ago. So I was kind of feeling weak all day, not 100 percent.”

Under those circumstances, it was not surprising that the winner of the 2013 CGA Match Play and 2014 CGA Stroke Play didn’t play up to his standards. Still, that didn’t keep him from punching his ticket into the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying.

Oraee (pictured above) advanced to next month’s 36-hole Sectional Qualifying on Tuesday along with fellow Coloradans Behrod Keshtavar of Lafayette, Andrew Moore of Loveland and fellow Greeley resident Parker Edens. Also moving on to Sectionals was Matthew Liringis of Chandler, Ariz., who grew up in Fort Collins.

At the third and final U.S. Open Local Qualifier scheduled for Colorado, Keshtavar and Liringis shared medalist honors in cold and sometimes wet conditions after matching 2-under-par 69s. Moore fired a 70, while the two Greeley products — Oraee and Edens — carded 72s.

Oraee and Edens, a former Colorado State player who’s also a pro, prevailed in a seven-players-for-two-spots playoff. After going par-par on the first two extra holes, Oraee two-putted for birdie from the fringe on the third playoff hole, a par-5, while Edens likewise posted a birdie there after intentionally blading a wedge from just off the green to right next to the cup. The two Greeley residents have long crossed paths — in high school and college (Oraee at Greeley West and CU and Edens at Greeley Central and CSU) — and Oraee defeated Edens in the 2013 CGA Match Play final.

Frederick Gluck of Boulder, who also shot 72, gained the first alternate spot and Jacob Lestishen of Lone Tree the second. Likewise in the playoff were CSU golfer Alec Bone and Adam Joiner of Carbondale (both eliminated by bogeys on the first extra hole) and former CU golfer Kane Webber (ousted by a bogey on the second playoff hole).

The five golfers who advanced from Tuesday’s 83-man qualifier will compete in one of 10 U.S.-based 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers that be contested on June 6. From there, the top finishers will advance to the Open itself, set for June 16-19 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.

For Oraee, it was nice to get back to tournament golf after a nine-month layoff in which he graduated from CU in December and took the Medical College Admission Test last month.

“It’s crazy to think it’s been (nine) months,” the 22-year old said on Tuesday. “I like tournament golf a lot. This is why I play golf. It’s good to get back into it. This was a perfect event to ease into my schedule.

“But I’ve never played this bad and won something. I was everywhere on this course today. With my driver I hit two fairways, including the playoff. I had two birdies today, including the playoff. I was in grind mode. I just kind of stuck with it, didn’t give up. I guess that’s how I did it.”

It will be the second time competing in Sectionals for Oraee and Liringis, the third time (all in the last three years) for Edens, and the first for Moore and Keshtavar, the only amateur of the bunch.

Edens (left), winner of three mini-tour events over the last year, was glad to earn a return trip to Sectionals after what happened there last year in Springfield, Ohio. He was 5 under par through 27 holes and right in the mix for a U.S. Open berth, but proceeded to shoot 43 on the back nine to dash his chances. Edens still has the scorecard with that back-nine 43 in his parent’s house to serve as motivation going forward.

“I knew I was close at 5 under with nine to go,” he said Tuesday. “It kind of reminded me every time I was home of how close I was. It left a bad taste in my mouth so I’m really excited to get back.”

Each of the three times Edens has advanced to Sectionals, it’s been through Local Qualifying at Collindale. And last year and this, he had to survive playoffs to move on.

“I love Collindale,” the 25-year-old said. “When I was an amateur I played in their invitational every year and won it a couple of times. I just love playing here. I have good vibes here. It’s always been good to me.”

While Edens and Oraee didn’t play very well on Tuesday, Keshtavar, Liringis and Moore were certainly on their games in posting the only sub-par scores out of the field of 83. (The medalists are pictured, with Keshtavar at left.)

“It’s a lifelong dream of mine (to play in the U.S. Open),” said Keshtavar, 19, winner of the 2013 Rocky Mountain Junior Golf Tour Tournament of Champions and the 2015 Boulder City Amateur. “I think I have the game. I just need to put in the practice and see what I can do out there.”

Liringis has made it through to Sectionals in each of the last two years — the only two times he’s ever tried. He advanced at Collindale both years with scores of 69, each time overcoming a double bogey on the fifth hole. This time, he bounced back with an eagle from 11 feet on No. 6 and a birdie on No. 7.

Last year, Liringis nearly parlayed his Sectional appearance into a spot in the U.S. Open, but two late bogeys left him two shy of what played off for the final spot in Newport Beach, Calif.

“It’s definitely a big confidence boost to have the opportunity again to play in Sectionals,” said Liringis, a former Arizona state high school champion who turned pro right out of high school. “It’s a cool and fun experience.”

As it no doubt will be for Moore, a 38-year-old pro who returned to the game seven or eight years ago after rarely picking up a club for eight or 10 years. On Tuesday, he used an adjustment he made Monday while putting in his living room to roll the flagstick extremely well at Collindale, including draining a 40-footer.

“It’s incredible,” he said of making Sectionals. “We all have our goals, and this is one of them. It’s a pretty outstanding way to start the year.”

Previously moving on to Sectionals from Colorado sites were, at Heritage at Westmoor, Coloradans Jim Knous, Bryan Kruse, Cameron Harrell, Scott Petersen and Andrew Romano; and at The Broadmoor, Coloradans Brandon Barron, Chris Thayer and Derek Tolan, along with Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M., and Landon Johnson of South Pasadena, Calif.
 

U.S. Open Local Qualifier

Collindale Golf Course Fort Collins Par 71

ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Matthew Liringis, Chandler, Ariz. 35-34–69
Behrod Keshtavar, Lafayette, Colo. 36-33–69
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo. 35-35–70
Parker Edens, Greeley, Colo. 37-35–72
David Oraee, Greeley, Colo. 38-34–72
ALTERNATES (in order)
Frederick Gluck, Boulder, Colo. 35-37–72
Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree, Colo. 36-36–72
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Kane Webber, Denver, Colo. 36-36–72
Alec Bone, Bluffdale, Utah 36-36–72
Adam Joiner, Carbondale, Colo. 37-35–72
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo. 37-36–73
Drew McCullough, Richland, Wash. 38-35–73
Chris Bourdeon, Castle Pines, Colo. 37-36–73
Josh McLaughlin, Loveland, Colo. 37-36–73
AJ Ott, Fort Collins, Colo. 37-36–73
Brenden Bone, Bluffdale, Utah 37-36–73
Trevor Glen, Thornton, Colo. 39-34–73
Andrew Connell, Denver, Colo. 37-36–73
Justin Howell, Cheyenne, Wyo. 39-35–74
Andrew Cooper, Englewood, Colo. 37-37–74
Glenn Workman, Pueblo West, Colo. 39-35–74
Griffin Barela, Lakewood, Colo. 40-35–75
Chase Nathe, Timnath, Colo. 39-36–75
Quintin Pope, Cheyenne, Wyo. 37-38–75
Colby Anderson, Rapid City, S.D. 38-37–75
Riley Arp, Scottsdale, Ariz. 37-38–75
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo. 39-36–75
Spencer Painton, Aurora, Colo. 38-37–75
Marc Silva, Greeley, Colo. 38-37–75
Cameron Brown, Cave Creek, Ariz. 41-35–76
Ethan Neumann, Henderson, Nev. 37-39–76
Jason Holley, Englewood, Colo. 40-36–76
Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle, Colo. 40-36–76
Andrew Rathbun, Aurora, Colo. 39-37–76
Kyler Dunkle, Fort Collins, Colo. 37-39–76
Dominic Kieffer, Byron, Minn. 40-36–76
Cameron Freeman, Fort Collins, Colo. 39-38–77
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo. 39-38–77
John Philpy, Thornton, Colo. 40-37–77
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo. 41-36–77
Michael Tait, Littleton, Colo. 39-38–77
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo. 40-37–77
Bryan Hackenberg, Thornton, Colo. 40-37–77
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Carbondale, Colo. 38-39–77
Joel Norwood, Denver, Colo. 37-40–77
Bobby Bindert, Cheyenne, Wyo. 39-38–77
Ethan Castle, Phoenix, Ariz. 38-40–78
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo. 42-36–78
Tyler Verdun, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-36–78
Logan Iverson, Kalispell, Mont. 37-41–78
Aaron Johnson, Laramie, Wyo. 38-40–78
John Murdock, Laramie, Wyo. 41-38–79
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo. 43-36–79
Trey Kidd, Fort Collins, Colo. 43-36–79
Cody Krueger, Fort Collins, Colo. 42-37–79
Brett McCarville, Sidney, Neb. 42-37–79
Pierce Trumper, Fort Collins, Colo. 40-39–79
Barry Milstead, Castle Rock, Colo. 42-37–79
Tyler Kahn, Castle Rock, Colo. 41-38–79
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo. 40-39–79
Josh Caridi, Fort Collins, Colo. 43-37–80
Trey Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo. 41-39–80
Matt Hart, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 46-35–81
Jon Klingensmith, Wheat Ridge, Colo. 41-40–81
Oliver Jack, Denver, Colo. 40-41–81
Kyle McGee, Mountain View, Colo. 43-38–81
Dylan Jirsa, Estes Park, Colo. 40-41–81
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo. 43-38–81
Troy Dangler, Grand Junction, Colo. 38-44–82
Eric McCrery, Fort Collins, Colo. 46-37–83
Richard Lee, Aspen, Colo. 44-39–83
Blake Young, Trinidad, Colo. 41-42–83
Kyler Booher, Carbondale, Colo. 46-37–83
Brandon Booth, Cheyenne, Wyo. 41-43–84
Justin Carlock, Severance, Colo. 45-39–84
Dean Sessions, Westminster, Colo. 45-39–84
Bretton Krantz, Windsor, Colo. 42-43–85
Taylor Schlom, Fort Collins, Colo. 43-42–85
James Roush, Pueblo, Colo. 44-41–85
Dustin Box, Fort Collins, Colo. 46-43–89
Christopher Dennis, Highland Ranch, Colo. 51-42–93
Alex Macaluso, Denver, Colo. WD
Jeff Holm, Parker, Colo. NC