Chris Thayer of Golden, who finished second in Monday’s qualifier with a 1-under-par 71 at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve, withdrew from the second and final stage of qualifying. Thayer is planning to get married in a couple of weeks.

Taking his place in the 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, which will be held at 10 U.S. sites on June 5, will be Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, who shot a 72 on Monday but couldn’t participate in a playoff that evening due to a family matter. Lindstrom had therefore been the first alternate.

Lindstrom (pictured), a three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion who teamed with Richard Bradsby to win the CGA Four-Ball on Sunday, will be participating in “roughly” his sixth U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, the last before this year coming in 2014. Before joining Lakewood Country Club, Lindstrom called Walnut Creek (then known at Heritage at Westmoor) his home course. He estimated he’s played it 50-60 times.

“I know where to hit it,” he said on Monday after a three-birdie, three-bogey day. “I know the lines off the tees, where to hit it on the greens.”

The other players who will advance from Monday’s Local Qualifier to Sectionals are Zahkai Brown of Golden, Jake Staiano of Englewood, Josh Seiple of Castle Rock and Pat Grady of Denver.

Two more U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments will be held next week, Monday at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora and Tuesday at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

For a story on the Local Qualifying at Walnut Creek, CLICK HERE.
 

The three Local Qualifiers in Colorado will take place Monday at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve in Westminster (the former Heritage at Westmoor), May 15 at CommonGround Golf Course in Aurora, and May 16 at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins.

At each site, 84 players will vie for five spots into the second and final qualifying stage. Ten 36-hole U.S. Open Sectionals will be contested in the U.S. on June 5. The U.S. Open itself is set for June 15-18 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

The odds of qualifying for the U.S. Open after going through both stages are very long, to say the least. The USGA accepted 9,485 entries into the championship, and 51 are fully exempt and many others are exempt into the Sectional Qualifying stage.

Among those scheduled to compete in Colorado-based Local Qualifying tournaments this year, a handful have beaten the odds in the past by qualifying for the Open: Derek Tolan and Ben Portie (2002), Jason Preeo (2010), Steve Irwin (2011) and Nick Mason (2014). Tolan and Mason will be playing at Walnut Creek, and Portie, Preeo and Irwin at Collinale.

Among the other entrants at Walnut Creek are former Colorado Open champions Zahkai Brown and Scott Petersen; NCAA Regional qualifiers Ethan Freeman, Jake Staiano, Josh Seiple and Yannik Paul; and Michael Schoolcraft, who played in this year’s Waste Management Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour.

At CommonGround, the contestants include the winners of the two most prestigious CGA championships in 2016, Colin Prater and Nathaniel Goddard; and three-time Wyoming Open champion Kane Webber.

At Collindale, a regular host of U.S. Open Local Qualifying, the field includes — besides Portie, Preeo and Irwin — Geoff Keffer, the Colorado PGA Player of the Year each of the last three years; 2015 CGA Player of the Year David Oraee; Riley Arp, who competed in the Shell Houston Open on the PGA Tour in March; and Parker Edens, who finished a shot out of a playoff at a U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying site last year.

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

Derek Tolan will long be remembered as the first Colorado kid to qualify for the U.S. Open as a 16-year-old. But you’ll have to excuse him if he doesn’t want that to be the only thing he’s remembered for when it comes to the Open.

The Highlands Ranch resident would not only like to earn a return trip to the U.S. Open for the first time since 2002, but he’d like to parlay that into something big.

“You know, (qualifying in 2002 at such a young age) doesn’t really mean much anymore,” said the two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion, now 29. “It was a great experience at the time. Even now if you make it, it doesn’t really mean anything unless you do well and do something with it. I don’t know if that’s part of growing up, having more expectations or my game improving. But obviously it’s good to have a chance again this year. Just getting to (the second stage of qualifying) doesn’t mean a whole lot. You’ve got to really play well, and have a chance to parlay it into a career.”

That part may come down the road, but for now — Tuesday specifically — Tolan (above) took care of business by advancing to the final stage of U.S. Open qualifying by sharing medalist honors in a Local Qualifier at the Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.

In all, five players each from 18-hole Local Qualifiers at Westmoor and the Broadmoor Golf Club’s East Course in Colorado Springs punched their tickets to Sectionals, which will be contested over 36 holes at 10 U.S. sites on June 8. The top performers on that date will earn spots in the U.S. Open, set for June 18-21 at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash.

The five players who advanced from Heritage at Westmoor, all of whom shot 2-under-par 70s, were Tolan, 2012 CGA Junior Match Play champion Andrew Romano of Lone Tree, Jim Knous of Englewood, Greg Johnson of Lakewood, and Dino Giacomazzi of Salinas, Calif. Knous has earned Sectional berths the last three years at Heritage at Westmoor. Tolan, Johnson and Romano each birdied his final hole on Tuesday to land a share of medalist honors.

At the Broadmoor, Colin Prater of Colorado Springs birdied the last three holes and needed just 22 putts overall at the East Course to shoot a 2-under-par 69 and claim medalist honors by one shot. Prater, the NCAA Division II Phil Mickelson Outstanding Freshman Award winner in 2014 (when he played for Colorado Mesa), transferred to the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs before this school year, but had to sit out the entire season. Tuesday marked his first tournament since December.

Joining Prater (left) in advancing from the Broadmoor were Colorado PGA professional Eric Bradley of Eagle (70), former Colorado State golfer Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs (72), 2013 CGA Junior Match Play champion Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village (72) and Colorado Christian University golfer Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins (72). Harrell, a former U.S. Amateur qualifier, posted an eagle on the 402-yard par-4 sixth hole on Tuesday. Goddard played his last seven holes in 3 under par.

The fact that Tolan, a former University of Colorado golfer, advanced should come as no surprise. By his best recollection, he’s made to to U.S. Open Sectionals six or seven times, including each of the last three years. Last June, he came relatively close to qualifying for the Open by placing 15th out of 110 players in Daly City, Calif., where the top five punched their tickets to the national championship.

On Tuesday, after three-putting his 17th hole from 12 feet, Tolan needed a 5-foot birdie on his 18th to assure himself a spot in Sectionals.

Meanwhile, Knous continued to be able to rely on the Heritage at Westmoor site to earn berths into Sectionals. The former Colorado School of Mines standout used an eagle on the sixth hole en route to his third consecutive successful Local Qualifier at the course.

“Three years in a row is pretty amazing,” said the 25-year-old, who shot a course-record 60 at Boulder Country Club during the 2010 CGA Stroke Play. “I don’t know what it is exactly, but the course just fits my eye. It’s kind of open and I can hit driver everywhere. It’s long. It sets up for me. I like the golf course.”

Knous, the 2012 NCAA Division II national runner-up, hasn’t yet qualified for a U.S. Open, but has high hopes.

“Every year I just keep getting a little bit better,” he said. “It’s a real opportunity to get to that next level. It’s about time for me to get to that next level or the dream is going to have to stop pretty soon. You just can’t sustain mini-tour golf for very long.”

As for the other Coloradans to advance from Heritage at Westmoor, Johnson will be going to Sectionals for the second time in four years, while Romano will be making his first trip ever.

Romano, who just completed his first season at the University of Northern Colorado, like Knous eagled the sixth hole Tuesday en route to co-medalist honors.

“It’s been a dream” to have a chance to play in the U.S. Open, the 20-year-old said. “I’ve been so close in a couple of USGA events. I’ve just got to keep grinding. You never know — just one day away, a couple of good rounds away.”

Of those who advanced Tuesday, Johnson cut things the closest. Knowing he likely needed a birdie to make Sectionals, he snap-hooked his drive on his final hole (No. 9), putting his ball into the native grass. With a 7-iron, “I swung pretty much as hard as I could,” the 26-year-old former Regis University golfer said. “I looked up and the ball was going all over the flag. And I happened to make the putt (a 30-footer) on top of it, too. I needed to do something. I was really trying to make that last putt there. That last hole was pretty awesome.”

Meanwhile, at the Broadmoor, Prater ruled the roost, especially with his putter. He made the most of his knowledge of the course — his grandparents are members, and he estimates he’s played that historic layout about 50 times.
    “
I’ve been able to play here for many years through (my grandparents),” the 20-year-old said. “I putted extremely well today. I had 22 putts. I attribute all of that to course knowledge. I didn’t hit the ball particularly well, but I putted extraordinarily well.

“I’ve had pretty good putting rounds, but 22 is probably the lowest I’ve had in my entire life.”

In fact, with his six-birdie round — which included a 35-footer on the closing hole — Prater was able to make his late afternoon chemistry final exam at UCCS without having to worry whether his score would be good enough to advance. As it was, he had no problem making Sectionals for the first time, despite this being just his second tournament since last summer.

“It’s real nice to get my feet wet again playing golf,” he said. “It was a goal of mine to qualify for Sectionals and I was able to accomplish that. I’m thrilled.”

A third and final Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament will be held May 19 at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins.

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster

ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 35-35–70
Dino Giacomazzi, Salinas, Calif., 35-35–70
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 34-36–70
Andrew Romano, Lone Tree, Colo., 34-36–70
James Knous, Englewood, Colo., 33-37–70

ALTERNATES (In Order After 4-Hole Playoff)
Chris Korte, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 36-35–71
Matt Robertson, Lakewood, Colo., 37-34–71

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Dillon Mcdonald, Wolcott, Colo., 35-37–72
David Oraee, Greeley, Colo., 36-36–72
Anthony Aguilar, Phoenix, Ariz., 36-37–73
Charles Soule, Denver, Colo., 37-36–73
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 39-34–73
Luke Symons, Aurora, Colo., 35-38–73
Tommy Carpenter, Greenwood Village, Colo., 34-39–73
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Adam Griffith, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Daniel Pearson, Longmont, Colo., 38-36–74
Andrew Vance, Denver, Colo., 36-38–74
Jeremy Paul, Boulder, 35-39–74
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 38-36–74
Kane Webber, Denver, 40-34–74
Kevin Burke, Aurora, Colo., 37-38–75
Keenan Holt, Durango, Colo., 36-39–75
Steve Connell, Thornton, Colo., 39-36–75
Chris Bourdeon, Castle Pines, Colo., 38-37–75
Collin Covault, Bagdad, Ariz., 35-40–75
Cody Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 36-39–75
Joe Lord, Arvada, Colo., 37-39–76
Paul Beblavi, Denver, Colo., 38-38–76
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 38-38–76
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 38-38–76
Trevor Olkowski, Grand Junction, Colo., 38-38–76
Derek Eley, Thornton, Colo., 41-35–76
Drew Trujillo, Montrose, Colo., 40-36–76
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 36-41–77
Leif Olson, Golden, Colo., 38-40–78
Grant Jackson, Aurora, Colo., 37-41–78
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 40-38–78
Patrick Arellano, Denver, Colo., 38-40–78
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo., 41-37–78
Sean Kurzweil, Denver, Colo., 36-42–78
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo., 38-41–79
Nick Berry, Golden, Colo., 43-36–79
Jackson Vacek, Lafayette, Colo., 38-41–79
Dan Sniffin, Denver, Colo., 40-39–79
Oliver Jack, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 39-40–79
Trey Lambrecht, Sterling, Colo., 41-38–79
Matt Vacek, Lafayette, Colo., 40-39–79
Behrod Keshtavar, Erie, Colo., 38-42–80
Bretton Krantz, Windsor, Colo., 38-42–80
Jack Allen, Aurora, Colo., 39-41–80
Dan Keyghobad, Aurora, Colo., 41-39–80
Ross Macdonald, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-40–80
Jason Holley, Englewood, Colo., 40-41–81
Aristides Papadopoulos, Avon, Colo., 39-42–81
Mike Chavez, Arvada, Colo., 37-44–81
Sam Taylor, Nederland, Colo., 42-40–82
Dustin Miller, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-41–82
Trey Fankhouser, Goodwell, Okla., 43-39–82
Luke Goeglein, Yuma, Colo., 40-42–82
Jonathan Doern, Denver, Colo., 40-43–83
Josh Pusar, Castle Rock, Colo., 43-40–83
Lamar Carlile, Denver, Colo., 42-42–84
Alex Gorman, Broomfield, Colo., 40-44–84
Lenny Urbas, Evergreen, Colo., 43-41–84
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 42-43–85
Corey Stanton, Breckenridge, Colo., 40-45–85
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 43-43–86
Keith Mergenthal, Westminster, Colo., 42-44–86
Ryan Tierney, Redwood City, Calif., 44-44–88
Stephen Horvey, Arvada, Colo., 45-43–88
Ethan Yamada, Arvada, Colo., 44-48–92
Austin Pilkington, Thornton, Colo., 46-46–92
Subin Lee, Englewood, Colo., 48-44–92
Matthew Oliver, Westminster, Colo., 47-57–104
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., WD
Harrison Murphy, McKinney, Texas, WD
Thomas B. Noonan, Jr., Boulder, Colo., WD
Dean Siskowski, Johnstown, Colo., WD
Christopher Thayer, Denver, Colo., WD
Shane Bertsch, Parker, Colo., WD
Jon Lindstrom, Westminster, Colo., WD
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo., WD

U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-71 Broadmoor GC East Course in Colorado Springs

ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Colin Prater, Colorado Springs, Colo., 35-34–69
Eric Bradley, Eagle, Colo., 34-36–70
Nathaniel Goddard, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-34–72
Jake Staiano, Cherry Hills, Colo., 36-36–72
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-38—72
 
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-39–73
Josh Woodworth, Durango, Colo., 34-39—73
 
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Christopher Roehrkasse, Parker, Colo., 36-38–74
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 36-38–74
Chase Federico, Pueblo, Colo., 37-37–74
Wilson Belk, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-36–74
Jeffrey Chapman, Centennial, Colo., 35-39–74
Jon Roth, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-37–75
Brandon Barron, Centennial, Colo., 36-40–76
Michael Fan, Usaf Academy, Colo., 37-39–76
Ken Tamez, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-38–77
Kyler Booher, Carbondale, Colo., 39-38–77
Sam Nichamin, Avon, Colo., 38-39–77
Ben Krueger, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-38–77
Nick Zinanti, Pueblo, Colo., 38-40–78
Garrett Froggatte, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., 39-39–78
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo., 40-38–78
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo., 39-39–78
Blake Young, Trinidad, Colo., 39-39–78
Taylor Stamp, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-38–78
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., 37-42–79
Timothy Amundson, Littleton, Colo., 38-41–79
Mike Swan, Crested Butte, Colo., 43-36–79
Kaleb Nichols, Peyton, Colo., 42-37–79
Gilbert Garcia, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-42–80
Shaun Payne, Albuquerque, N.M., 38-42–80
Daniel Augustine, Castle Pines, Colo., 43-37–80
Matthew Goddard, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-39–80
Justin Fox, Montrose, Colo., 43-37–80
Devyn Solano, Aurora, Colo., 39-41–80
Matthew Hart, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-40–81
Joel Norwood, Denver, Colo., 43-38–81
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-39–81
James Vaughn, Greenwood Village, Colo., 42-39–81
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-41–81
Marc Renjard, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-44–82
Mitchell Smith, Elizabeth, Colo., 37-45–82
Connor Klein, Lone Tree, Colo., 41-41–82
Rob Cummings, Denver, Colo., 40-42–82
Connor Alexander, Castle Rock, Colo., 39-43–82
Mike Kerrigan, Castle Rock, Colo., 43-39–82
Ryan Connors, Montrose, Colo., 42-41–83
Jason Kroese, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 42-41–83
Derek Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-41–83
Cody Eberl, Lakewood, Colo., 40-43–83
Victor Minovich, Morrison, Colo., 42-42–84
Kale Waaso, Castle Rock, Colo., 42-42–84
Marshall Clark, Denver, Colo., 42-42–84
David Schroeder, Colorado Springs, Colo., 44-40–84
Owen Pasvogel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 46-38–84
Justin Snyder, Aurora, Colo., 42-42–84
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-45–85
Chad Hansen, Gypsum, Colo., 43-42–85
Sam Chapman, Parker, Colo., 42-43–85
Mark Pustay, Albuquerque, N.M., 41-45–86
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo., 47-39–86
Ryne Scholl, Breckenridge, Colo., 42-44–86
Bill Parker, Denver, Colo., 38-48–86
Aaron Bevans, Parker, Colo., 41-45–86
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 46-40–86
Cole Miller, Colorado Springs, Colo., 46-40–86
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-44–86
Joey Bast, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-46–87
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 40-48–88
Caleb Blass, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-45–88
Nick Vanetten, Colorado Springs, Colo., 42-47–89
Zachary Dobrota, Sandusky, Ohio, 46-43–89
Benjamin Cockrill, Greeley, Colo., 45-44–89
Taylor Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo., 45-45–90
Matt Pasvogel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 51-43–94
Brian Thomas, Commerce City, Colo., 46-49–95
Russ Aragon, Aspen, Colo., NS
Beau Hombach, Parker, Colo., WD
Benjamin Schlossmann, Fox Point, Wis., NS
Graham Cliff, Parker, Colo., WD
Bob Maggard, Parker, Colo., NS
Tyler Enna, Castle Rock, Colo., WD
David Lysaught, Basalt, Colo., WD
 
 

But that’s exactly what’s happening next week, weather-permitting. And if early-week conditions do cause rescheduling, things could be even more condensed.

As things stand, 18-hole U.S. Open Local Qualifying will be held at two sites on Monday (the Broadmoor Golf Club’s West Course in Colorado Springs and Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster) and one on Tuesday (Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins). Then on Wednesday, it’s back to Heritage at Westmoor for 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying.

For the record, Heritage at Westmoor is one of just three courses nationwide that will host both U.S. Women’s Open Sectionals and U.S. Open Locals this year.

The stakes are high for the players competing. The top two performers over two rounds on Wednesday will earn spots in arguably the top tournament in women’s golf, the U.S. Women’s Open, which this year will be contested at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina June 19-22.

The U.S. Open will be held at the same site the previous week — June 12-15 — but the route there is more involved for most entrants. The 18-hole Local tournaments are the first of two stages of the qualifying process. Those who overcome the Local hurdle will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectionals, with the 10 qualifiers in the U.S. scheduled for June 2.

All told, a record 10,127 golfers sent in entries for the U.S. Open, while 1,702 players — also the most ever — signed up for the U.S. Women’s Open.

Given the stakes involved, next week’s qualifying events draw some of the best fields of the year for Colorado-based tournaments.

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the four qualifiers in Colorado:

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at the Broadmoor’s West Course: As of Friday, the field at the Broadmoor numbered 84, with the top five finishers advancing to Sectionals.

Two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan (pictured) of Highlands Ranch and Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs are two of the more notable entrants, having each qualified for the U.S. Open as 16-year-olds (Tolan in 2002 and Glissmeyer in 2003). Both made it to Sectionals from qualifying at the West Course last year, but came up short of making it back to the Open itself.

Other competitors at the Broadmoor this year are Shane Bertsch of Parker, a longtime PGA/Web.com Tour player who competed in the U.S. Open in 1998 and 2013 (he won a Sectional qualifying tournament last year); former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin of Arvada, a contestant in the 2011 U.S. Open; and Air Force Academy senior Kyle Westmoreland, one of the co-medalists in Local Qualifying at the West Course last year.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at Heritage at Westmoor: This qualifier also features 84 players vying for five spots in the Sectionals.

The field here includes reigning HealthOne Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown of Arvada; 2013 CGA Match Play winner David Oraee of Greeley; Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle, a former playing professional who has won the last four CGA Mid-Amateurs; University of Colorado freshman Jeremy Paul, a second-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection this year; Scott Petersen of Parker, who won a Web.com Tour event and the Colorado Open in 2000; and Caine Fitzgerald of Parker, who qualified for the 2013 PGA Championship.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Tuesday at Collindale: Eighthy-three players are signed up for this site, with the top four finishers moving on to Sectionals.

Former PGA Tour player Leif Olson of Golden will compete at Collindale, along with former HealthOne Colorado Open champion Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Also in this field are Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open and who advanced to Sectionals last year; 2010 CGA Public Links champion Riley Arp, who likewise made the grade at the Collindale Local Qualifying in 2013; and several college golfers from Colorado State and the University of Northern Colorado (Cameron Harrell, Parker Edens, Steven Kupcho and Ben Krueger among them).

— U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying Wednesday at Heritage at Westmoor: This field will include 57 players who will battle it out over 36 holes for just two Women’s Open berths. Westmoor will be one of 24 Sectional sites internationally.

The great majority of entrants at this site are amateurs — 45, to be exact. Those include some of the top players at Colorado-based Division I universities — including Norwegians Tonje Daffinrud and Mariell Bruun from the University of Denver, and Jennifer Coleman of the University of Colorado — as well as two-time CWGA Player of the Year Somin Lee, who competes for Pepperdine. Daffinrud is ranked No. 15 among the nation’s women’s college golfers by Golfstat.

The four players who qualified in Colorado for the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year — Jennifer Kupcho, Coleman, Jennifer Yang and Hannah Wood — are also in the field.

Some of the top contenders for the state high school titles, which are set for May 19-20, are likewise competing at Westmoor: Wood, Kupcho, Calli Ringsby and Sydney Merchant.

Among the professionals entered is former HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open champion Erin Houtsma. Also playing is Kayla Riede, medalist in the last two U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifiers held in Colorado.
 

But that’s exactly what’s happening next week, weather-permitting. And if early-week conditions do cause rescheduling, things could be even more condensed.

As things stand, 18-hole U.S. Open Local Qualifying will be held at two sites on Monday (the Broadmoor Golf Club’s West Course in Colorado Springs and Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster) and one on Tuesday (Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins). Then on Wednesday, it’s back to Heritage at Westmoor for 36-hole U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying.

For the record, Heritage at Westmoor is one of just three courses nationwide that will host both U.S. Women’s Open Sectionals and U.S. Open Locals this year.

The stakes are high for the players competing. The top two performers over two rounds on Wednesday will earn spots in arguably the top tournament in women’s golf, the U.S. Women’s Open, which this year will be contested at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina June 19-22.

The U.S. Open will be held at the same site the previous week — June 12-15 — but the route there is more involved for most entrants. The 18-hole Local tournaments are the first of two stages of the qualifying process. Those who overcome the Local hurdle will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectionals, with the 10 qualifiers in the U.S. scheduled for June 2.

All told, a record 10,127 golfers sent in entries for the U.S. Open, while 1,702 players — also the most ever — signed up for the U.S. Women’s Open.

Given the stakes involved, next week’s qualifying events draw some of the best fields of the year for Colorado-based tournaments.

Here’s a brief rundown on each of the four qualifiers in Colorado:

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at the Broadmoor’s West Course: As of Friday, the field at the Broadmoor numbered 84, with the top five finishers advancing to Sectionals.

Two-time HealthOne Colorado Open champion Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch and Tom Glissmeyer of Colorado Springs are two of the more notable entrants, having each qualified for the U.S. Open as 16-year-olds (Tolan in 2002 and Glissmeyer in 2003). Both made it to Sectionals from qualifying at the West Course last year, but came up short of making it back to the Open itself.

Other competitors at the Broadmoor this year are Shane Bertsch of Parker, a longtime PGA/Web.com Tour player who competed in the U.S. Open in 1998 and 2013 (he won a Sectional qualifying tournament last year); former CGA Player of the Year Steve Irwin of Arvada, a contestant in the 2011 U.S. Open; and Air Force Academy senior Kyle Westmoreland, one of the co-medalists in Local Qualifying at the West Course last year.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Monday at Heritage at Westmoor: This qualifier also features 84 players vying for five spots in the Sectionals.

The field here includes reigning HealthOne Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown of Arvada; 2013 CGA Match Play winner David Oraee of Greeley; Keith Humerickhouse of Eagle, a former playing professional who has won the last four CGA Mid-Amateurs; University of Colorado freshman Jeremy Paul, a second-team All-Pac-12 Conference selection this year; Scott Petersen of Parker, who won a Web.com Tour event and the Colorado Open in 2000; and Caine Fitzgerald of Parker, who qualified for the 2013 PGA Championship.

— U.S. Open Local Qualifying Tuesday at Collindale: Eighthy-three players are signed up for this site, with the top four finishers moving on to Sectionals.

Former PGA Tour player Leif Olson of Golden will compete at Collindale, along with former HealthOne Colorado Open champion Nathan Lashley of Scottsdale, Ariz.

Also in this field are Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch, who made the cut in the 2010 U.S. Open and who advanced to Sectionals last year; 2010 CGA Public Links champion Riley Arp, who likewise made the grade at the Collindale Local Qualifying in 2013; and several college golfers from Colorado State and the University of Northern Colorado (Cameron Harrell, Parker Edens, Steven Kupcho and Ben Krueger among them).

— U.S. Women’s Open Sectional Qualifying Wednesday at Heritage at Westmoor: This field will include 57 players who will battle it out over 36 holes for just two Women’s Open berths. Westmoor will be one of 24 Sectional sites internationally.

The great majority of entrants at this site are amateurs — 45, to be exact. Those include some of the top players at Colorado-based Division I universities — including Norwegians Tonje Daffinrud (pictured) and Mariell Bruun from the University of Denver, and Jennifer Coleman of the University of Colorado — as well as two-time CWGA Player of the Year Somin Lee, who competes for Pepperdine. Daffinrud is ranked No. 15 among the nation’s women’s college golfers by Golfstat.

The four players who qualified in Colorado for the U.S. Women’s Amateur last year — Jennifer Kupcho, Coleman, Jennifer Yang and Hannah Wood — are also in the field.

Some of the top contenders for the state high school titles, which are set for May 19-20, are likewise competing at Westmoor: Wood, Kupcho, Calli Ringsby and Sydney Merchant.

Among the professionals entered is former HealthOne Colorado Women’s Open champion Erin Houtsma. Also playing is Kayla Riede, medalist in the last two U.S. Women’s Amateur Public Links qualifiers held in Colorado.