It happened two years ago at Oakmont, but beyond that you have to look back more than a half-century to find a U.S. Open field without any Colorado “locals”.

But, barring a minor miracle, no one with major Colorado ties will be competing in next week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills in Southampton, N.Y.

No local players are exempt, and on Monday, the 22 players with major Colorado connections who were competing in 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying all came up short of advancing to the national championship.

But that’s not to say that no one came close.

Denver native Wyndham Clark, who was based in the state until graduating from the University of Oregon a year ago, finished one stroke out of a playoff for the final qualifying position in Summit, N.J.

And former Coloradan Mark Hubbard made a run in Richmond, Texas before falling three shots short.

In New Jersey, Clark started off relatively slowly with a 2-over-par 72, but the Web.com Tour regular gave himself a chance with a bogey-free 6-under-par 66 in round 2. But with the top five finishers qualifying, Clark ended up one stroke out of a two-man playoff for the final U.S. Open berth.

Hubbard, another Web.com Tour player who competed for three years on the PGA Tour, opened with a 7-under-par 65 that included an 18th-hole eagle in Texas. But he couldn’t sustain the momentum in the afternoon in posting an even-par 72. That left him at 7-under 137 and three strokes out of a playoff. Glenn Workman of Pueblo West, the 2017 CGA Amateur champion, recorded two straight rounds of 2-under 70 but also couldn’t get over the hump.

Monday marked the second of a two-stage qualifying process for the U.S. Open. A dozen 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers were held, including 11 on Monday and 10 in the U.S.

The U.S. Open itself will run June 14-17 at Shinnecock Hills.

Here are the scores for all the players with strong Colorado connections who competed in Sectional Qualifying on Monday:

Summit, N.J. (81 players for 5 spots)
Failed to Qualify
T7. Former Colorado resident Wyndham Clark 72-66–138
Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 70-74–144
Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 69-77–146

Richmond, Texas (52 players for 3 spots)
Failed to Qualify
T7. Denver native Mark Hubbard 65-72–137
Glenn Workman of Pueblo West 70-70–140
Trevor McKune of Littleton 72-74–146
Trevor Olkowski of Grand Junction 76-74–150
David Good of Colorado Springs 77-74–151

Jupiter, Fla. (48 players for 3 spots)
Failed to Qualify
Former Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders 76-WD

Rockville, Md. (53 players for 4 spots)
Failed to Qualify
36. Nick Mason of Parker 76-74–150

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 14 spots)
Failed to Qualify
44. Josh Seiple of Castle Rock 75-70–145
Derek Fribbs of Thornton 75-75–150
Jonathan Kuzava of Littleton 74-77–151
Jack Castiglia of Lakewood 75-81–156
Former CSU golfer Martin Laird 72-WD

Springfield, Ohio (65 players for 6 spots)
Failed to Qualify
19. Parker Edens of Greeley 73-70–143

Memphis, Tenn. (117 players for 11 spots)
Failed to Qualify
55. Zahkai Brown of Golden 73-70–143
Former CU golfer Kevin Kring 71-74–145

Daly City, Calif. (86 players for 5 spots)
Failed to Qualify
31. Former Colorado School of Mines golfer Marty Jertson 72-74–146

Portland, Ore. (81 players for 4 spots)
Failed to Qualify
50. Tom Gempel of Lone Tree 73-75–148
50. Steven Kupcho of Westminster 76-72–148
Davis Bryant of Aurora 77-72–149

For complete Sectional Qualifying results, CLICK HERE.

However, that will change next week when the three-time Tour winner competes at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.

Laird (pictured), a former winner of the Denver Open, earned his U.S. Open trip on Monday by tying for fourth out of 122 players in the toughest Sectional Qualifying field, the place where most of the non-exempt PGA Tour players compete.

Laird shot rounds of 67-67 for a 10-under-par 134 total in Columbus, Ohio, where the top 14 finishers qualified for the Open. He made 13 birdie and three bogeys on a day that was marred by rain. J.T. Poston of St. Simons Island, Ga., was the medalist at the site with a 36-hole total of 132.

This will be the sixth U.S. Open for Laird, who missed the cut in his first four before placing 21st in 2013, his last appearance.

This season on the PGA Tour, Laird has recorded four top-10 finishes. He’s ranked No. 68 on the 2016-17 wraparound season money list with $1,115,886.

Laird was the only player with strong Colorado connections who qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday, when 10 36-hole Sectional tournaments were held in the U.S. A total of 21 local players were vying for U.S. Open berths at Sectionals, which mark the second and final stage of Open qualifying.

Of the Coloradans who fell short on Monday, making the most serious run at advancing was David Oraee of Greeley, the 2015 CGA Player of the Year. A year after missing a playoff at a U.S. Open Sectional site by just two strokes, the former University of Colorado golfer fell five shy of the final qualifying spot this year in Dallas, where just the top three finishers advanced.

Oraee was in good shape after a first-round 64 that featured two eagles in his final three holes, including a hole-in-one on No. 7. He played his last six holes of round 1 at Lakewood Country Club in Texas by going birdie, birdie, birdie, hole-in-one, par, eagle. For those of you keeping track, that’s 7 under par in six holes.

But Oraee played his first five holes of round 2 in 3 over par and couldn’t get anything going the rest of the way to get back into the top three. He made a dozen straight pars before finishing with a birdie, leaving him with 73 for the round and 5-under 137 overall, good for ninth place.

The U.S. Open will be held June 15-18 at Erin Hills.
 

U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying (36 Holes)
(a-indicates amateur)

For scoring, CLICK HERE.

Newport Beach, Calif. (103 players for 6 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
39. a-Daniel Pearson, Longmont 75-70–145
50. Pat Grady, Denver 70-76–146
50. a-Former CSU golfer Blake Cannon 70-76–146
70. a-Ross Macdonald, Castle Pines 78-72–150
82. Rich Lash, Denver 76-78–154
89. a-Greg Condon, Monte Vista 75-80–155

Summit, N.J. (80 players for 5 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
17. Former Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 69-70–139
53. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 71-75–146

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 14 U.S. Open spots)
Qualified for U.S. Open
4. Former CSU golfer Martin Laird 67-67–134
Failed to Qualify
74. Andy Connell, Denver 70-77–147
Former Fort Collins resident Sam Saunders WD

Springfield, Ohio (77 players for 4 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
52. Parker Edens, Greeley 77-72–149
59. a-Hunter Paugh, Fort Collins 71-82–153

Memphis, Tenn. (108 players for 9 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
38. Mark Hubbard, Denver 71-69–140
50. Zahkai Brown, Golden 69-73–142
55. a-Jake Staiano, Englewood 72-71–143
77. a-Josh Seiple, Castle Rock 75-78–153

Dallas (58 players for 3 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
9. David Oraee, Greeley 64-73–137
30. Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree 71-70–141
46. a-Jackson Solem, Longmont 76-72–148

Lakewood, Wash. (70 players for 4 U.S. Open spots)
Failed to Qualify
54. Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch 79-76–155
 

For the last 2 1/2 years, Arnie’s grandson, Sam Saunders, has lived in Colorado — Fort Collins, to be exact. But he’s had little exposure to competing in the U.S. Open himself.

He did qualify in 2011, but missed the cut. Two years ago, he was on the verge of qualifying again, but a missed 4-inch putt early in his second round of Sectionals ended up leaving him a playoff, and he was left on the outside looking in at the end of the day.

But on Monday, Saunders (pictured) earned a return trip to the national championship by his performance at a 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying tournament in Columbus, Ohio. Ironically, that’s the city where just three days earlier Saunders matched his highest score of the 2014-15 PGA Tour wraparound season as he carded an 80 in missing the cut at the Memorial.

But that was a distant memory on Monday as the 27-year-old shared qualifying medalist honors in Columbus with Michael Putnam of University Place, Wash., where the U.S. Open will be played at Chambers Bay June 18-21.

Saunders made two eagles in his last seven holes to go along with a dozen birdies en route to shooting 66-66 for a 12-under-par 132 total.

All in all, it had to be Saunders’ most satisfying finish since placing a PGA Tour career-best second at the Puerto Rico Open in March, where he lost in a playoff.

Perhaps not coincidentally, Saunders and Putnam were paired together on Monday.

“We had a great time out there today,” Saunders said. “We were sort of in the same situation today. We both had our families with us, we both missed the cut at the Memorial, (and) we were staying in the same hotel. There was a good vibe out there for us.”

After struggling at the Memorial, Saunders actually used the irons owned by his caddie, Travis McAlister, for the qualifier.

“He has the same irons I used to have, and I decided to use his instead of mine,” Saunders said. “I also made a good swing adjustment over the weekend. I hit it well.”

Saunders was one of 23 players with strong local ties who were competing Monday in one of the 10 36-hole Sectional Qualifying tournaments held across the country. But he was the only one of the 23 to actually punch his ticket to the Open itself.

All told, 58 U.S. Open spots were up for grabs at the Sectionals on Monday.

Here are the scores for all the players with strong Colorado ties who competed in Sectional Qualifying on Monday:

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 15 spots)
T1. Sam Saunders of Fort Collins 66-66–132
58. Jim Knous of Englewood 73-74–147

Newport Beach, Calif. (112 players for 6 spots)
11. Former Grand Junction resident Monte Montgomery 69-71–140
48. Michael Schoolcraft of Denver 68-79–147
48. Eric Bradley of Eagle 76-71–147
55. Andrew Romano of Lone Tree 73-75–148
64. Colin Prater of Colorado Springs 79-70–149
74. Former Fort Collins resident Matt Rutledge 78-72–150
100. Nick Hodge of Littleton 76-80–156

Memphis, Tenn. (121 players for 10 spots)
13. Former CSU Golfer Martin Laird 65-73–138
80. Jake Staiano of Cherry Hills Village 75-73–148
99. Former CSU Golfer Michael Wuertz 79-80–159
104. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 68-WD
115. David Duval of Cherry Hills Village 75-WD

Springfield, Ohio (67 players for 4 spots)
35. Parker Edens of Greeley 68-75–143
55. Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 79-73–152
60. Greg Johnson of Lakewood 75-83–158

Jupiter, Fla. (70 players for 4 spots)
19. A.J. Morris of Aspen 75-75–150

Rockville, Md. (56 players for 3 spots)
19. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 74-74–148
45. Former Coloradan Mark Hubbard 75-82–157

Purchase, N.Y. (71 players for 4 spots)
48. Former Coloradan Tom Kalinowski 77-75–152

Dallas (78 players for 6 spots)
36. Former CU Golfer Josh Creel 73-69–142

Cle Elum, Wash. (50 players for 3 spots)
25. Nathaniel Goddard of Fort Collins 77-74–151
 

In 2012, Shane Bertsch of Parker earned medalist honors at the site en route to playing in the U.S. Open.

And on Monday, Nick Mason of Denver made it to the U.S. Open for the first time by finishing tied for second in the Sectional Qualifier at Woodmont Country Club, where four players advanced to the second of golf’s men’s major championships.

That means two players with strong Colorado ties will be in the field when Pinehurst No. 2 in North Carolina hosts the U.S. Open June 12-15. Mason (pictured) will be joined there by Kent Denver High School graduate Kevin Stadler, who was exempt from qualifying by being in the top 60 in the world rankings as of May 26 (he’s currently 58th on that list).

A total of 10 Sectional Qualifying tournaments were held Monday across the U.S. They capped the U.S. Open qualifying process that started with a record total of 10,127 golfers signing up for the event — or its qualifiers.

Twenty-three players with major Colorado connections were among those competing at Sectionals.

Mason, who counts victories in the Hawaii State Open (including just last December) and the Nebraska Open among his golf accomplishments, shot rounds of 70 and 71 on Monday, giving him at 3-under-par 141 total. The only player who scored better out of the field of 59 was medalist Chad Collins of Cloverdale, Ind. (138). Former University of Colorado golfer Bob Kalinowski finished seventh in Rockville with a 144 total, falling three shots shy of the qualifying standard.

Mason, a 32-year-old former University of Hawaii-Hilo golfer, has competed in two PGA Tour events in his career — both the Sony Open in Hawaii — but missed the cut in both cases. He’s posted top-10 finishes in each of the last two HealthOne Colorado Opens, shooting 62 in the final round at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club last summer.

Mason was the medalist in a U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament in Ewa Beach, Hawaii, on May 10.

As for Stadler, he’ll be competing in the U.S. Open for the first time since 2006. His exempt status this year is due largely to him collecting his first PGA Tour victory. In February, he outdueled Bubba Watson down the stretch in the Waste Management Phoenix Open near Stadler’s residence in Scottsdale, Ariz.

In his previous U.S. Open appearances, Stadler missed the cut in 2006 and finished 65th in 2004.

Here’s a roundup of how players with strong Colorado ties fared in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying held Monday:

Daly City, Calif. (110 players for 5 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 15. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 68-73–141; 33. Mark Hubbard of Denver 72-71–143; 46. Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield 70-75–145; 60. Derek Fribbs of Castle Rock 69-78–147; 73. Miles Philpy of Thornton 73-76–149; 85. David Schroeder II of Colorado Springs 75-76–151; 90. Alex Kephart of Colorado Springs 75-77–152; 105. Cameron Brown of Edwards 78-82–160; 110. Michael Baird of Castle Rock 83-WD.

Rockville, Md. (59 players for 4 spots) — Qualified for U.S. Open: 2. Nick Mason of Denver 70-71–141. Failed to Qualify: 7. former CU golfer Bob Kalinowski of Phoenix 73-71–144.

Memphis, Tenn. (145 players for 13 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 32. David Duval of Cherry Hills Village 68-72–140; 32. Riley Arp of Fort Collins 69-71–140; 32. former CSU golfer Martin Laird 67-73–140; 63. Zahkai Brown of Arvada 70-74–144; 103. former CU golfer Kevin Kring 74-76–150.

Creswell, Ore. (50 players for 2 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 15. Zen Brown of Arvada 75-73–148; 26. Matt Rutledge of Fort Collins 78-73–151; 30. Jim Knous of Basalt 75-77–152.

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 16 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 56. Wyndham Clark of Lone Tree 72-74–146.

Springfield, Ohio (63 players for 3 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 34. Parker Edens of Greeley 73-74–147; 39. Brandon Bingaman of Montrose 78-71–149.

Houston (56 players for 3 spots) — Failed to Qualify: 42. A.J. Morris of Aspen 76-74–150.
 

But what the former Coloradan did on Monday no doubt eased the sting. Jobe qualified for his 13th U.S. Open — and just his second since 2008 — by tying for sixth place in the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying tournament in Columbus, Ohio.

Fifteen players out of a field of 120 advanced from that Sectional to next week’s U.S. Open, and Jobe avoided an 11-man playoff by one stroke. He shot rounds of 68-67 for a 9-under-par 135 total. Charley Hoffman was the medalist at 133 in a Sectional that featured many PGA Tour players.

Jobe (pictured) came to the qualifier a day after finishing 41st in the nearby Memorial Tournament. Though Jobe no longer is fully exempt on the Tour, he does have veteran members’ status and can receive sponsor exemptions.

Jobe, a 47-year-old who now lives in Argyle, Texas, was a Colorado resident from 1970 to ’99. As an amateur, he won three CGA Match Play titles and one Stroke Play. After turning pro, the Kent Denver High School alum claimed the title at the 1992 Colorado Open, and he won a dozen international championships, mostly in Asia. Though he’s never earned a PGA Tour title, he’s placed second four times and third twice. One of his runner-up showings came at the 2005 International in Castle Rock.

Jobe, who finished 18th in the 2008 U.S. Open, is one of 57 players who advanced through 11 Sectional Qualifying tournaments on Monday to earn berths in the U.S. Open, which will be played June 13-16 at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa.

A total of 24 players with strong Colorado ties — out of more than 800 overall — competed on Monday. The Sectionals are the second stage of U.S. Open qualifying. All told, 9,860 players entered this year’s Open.

Joining Jobe in earning a U.S. Open berth on Monday was onetime Golden resident Andrew Svoboda, who survived a playoff in the Sectional Qualifying in Memphis, Tenn. Svoboda, a PGA Tour rookie this year, will be going to his fourth U.S. Open, having missed the cut in 2006 and 2009, and placing 71st in 2008.

Svoboda carded rounds of 66-73 for a 4-under-par 139 total, which landed him in a three-man playoff for the final two U.S. Open berths available in Memphis. There, at Colonial Country Club, he and Australian Alistair Presnell prevailed over Scott Stallings.

In addition, Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M., the 2005 HealthOne Colorado Open champion, was the medalist at the Sectional Qualifying in Cle Elum, Wash., where two players punched their tickets to the U.S. Open. He shot rounds of 70-68 for a 2-under-par 138 total. Collins, a former PGA Tour player, will be competing in his second U.S. Open, having missed the cut in 2005.

Here’s how all the local players fared in Monday’s Sectional Qualifying (a-indicates amateur):

Columbus, Ohio (120 players for 15 spots) — 6. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 68-67–135; 106. Dustin Mills of Arvada 82-75–157; 119. Kent Denver High School graduate Kevin Stadler 74-WD.

Memphis, Tenn. (112 players for 9 spots) — 8. Onetime Golden resident Andrew Svoboda 66-73–139; 45. David Duval of Cherry Hills Village 71-75–146; 45. Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch 73-73–146; 75. Former Fort Collins resident Riley Arp 79-74–153.

Rockville, Md. (122 players for 8 spots) — 32. Mark Hubbard of Denver 71-69–140.

St. Louis, Mo. (42 players for 2 spots) — 8. Former UNC golfer Stephen Bidne 72-75–147; 15. Former CU golfer Justin Bardgett 75-75–150; 27. Former CU golfer Tom Kalinowski 81-74–155.

Dallas (68 players for 4 spots) — 22. a-Air Force Academy golfer Kyle Westmoreland 69-73–142; 26. Barry Milstead of Castle Rock 74-69–143; 41. a-Wyndham Clark of Greenwood Village 71-75–146.

Newport Beach, Calif. (102 players for 5 spots) — 14. Jim Knous of Basalt 68-74–142; 59. a-Michael Harrington of Colorado Springs 77-73–150; 59. Former Arvada resident Tony Aguilar 77-73–150; 77. a-Steve Irwin of Arvada 81-72–153; 77. Jason Preeo of Highlands Ranch 73-80–153; 82. a-Drew Trujillo of Boulder 80-74–154; 98. a-CSU golfer Brett Wilson 80-81–161; 102. Former DU golfer Daniel Wax 76-WD.

Cle Elum, Wash. (34 players for 2 spots) — 15. a-CU golfer Kraig McLeod 73-78–151; 24. Former Colorado Springs resident Tom Glissmeyer 71-84–155. 

Springfield, Ohio (39 players for 2 spots) — no local players.

Purchase, N.Y. (79 players for 4 spots) — no local players.

Ball Ground, Ga. (51 players for 3 spots) — no local players.

Bradenton, Fla. (56 players for 3 spots) — no local players.
 

Bertsch won one of 11 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying tournaments being held this week in the U.S., prevailing by two strokes in Rockville, Md.

Bertsch (pictured) shot rounds of 69-71 for a 4-under-par 140 total to gain the first of seven available berths at the site. So for the first time since 1998, he will be headed to the U.S. Open, which this year will be held June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco

Bertsch missed the cut in his only other U.S. Open appearance. Coincidentally, that 1998 Open also was held at The Olympic Club. But wherever the national championship takes place, the former Colorado Open champ is just glad to be competing.

“It’s the U.S. Open; it’s the biggest event in the world,” Bertsch said Monday.

The 42-year-old qualified this time a day after his best finish of the year, a 10th-place showing at the Nationwide Tour’s Rex Hospital Open.

Meanwhile, four players with strong Colorado connections missed potential playoffs by one stroke at various Sectional Qualifying sites on Monday. Kent Denver High School graduates Brandt Jobe (68-74–142) and Kevin Stadler (72-70–142) shared 18th place in Columbus, Ohio, where 16 U.S. Open berths were available.

Michael Baird of Castle Rock (69-70–139) tied for eighth place in Daly City, Calif., where seven advanced.

And James Love of Denver (66-72–138) finished fourth in Suwanee, Ga., where the top three earned national berths.

One Sectional tournament involving a local player was suspended and is scheduled to resume Tuesday. Former British Open champion David Duval of Cherry Hills Village will compete in that one in Memphis, Tenn.

One “local” player fully exempt from qualifying is former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, who is the No. 32-ranked player in the world.

Here are the results for all 22 U.S. Open Sectional competitors with strong Colorado ties:

Rockville, Md. (78 players for 7 spots) — 1. Shane Bertsch of Parker 69-71–140, 19. Nick Mason of Denver 76-71–147.

Daly City, Calif. (129 players for 7 spots) — 8. Michael Baird of Castle Rock 69-70–139, 16. Mark Hubbard of Denver 69-72–141, 52. former University of Denver golfer Danny Wax 73-72–145, 63. Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 75-71–146, 77. Gus Lundquist of Parker 73-75–148, 119. Danny Hahn of Denver 78-80–158, 123. Jonathan Park of Denver 79-81–160, 124. Greg Johnson of Lakewood 81-80–161.

Suwanee, Ga. (51 players for 3 spots) — 4. James Love of Denver 66-72–138.

Columbus, Ohio (132 players for 16 spots) — 18. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 68-74–142, 18. Kent Denver High graduate Kevin Stadler 72-70–142, 116. Ryan Brees of Steamboat Springs 85-79–164.

Creswell, Ore. (37 players for 2 spots) — 15. Ben Portie of Westminster 74-72–146, 28. Bradley Besler of Denver 77-78–155.

Glen Ellyn, Ill. (49 players for 2 spots) — 6. Leif Olson of Golden 73-67–140, 32. Derek Fribbs of Boulder 73-75–148.

Summit, N.J. (73 players for 4 spots) — 13. Andrew Svoboda of Golden 69-73–142, 41. Stuart Drahota of Fort Collins 71-77-148.

Houston (56 players for 3 spots) — 44. David Oraee of Greeley 78-74–152.

Memphis, Tenn. (84 players for 9 spots) — 41. David Duval of Cherry Hills Village 72-70–142.
     

Irwin, who grew up in Boulder and attended the University of Colorado, recalled earlier this month how he used to think big while hitting his own practice balls back in the 1960s at what is now Flatirons Golf Course.

“I can remember thinking this is the shot to win the U.S. Open because that was the one (major) tournament for which I could qualify,” Irwin said. “That was the dream.”

Of course, Irwin went on to win three U.S. Opens in a career that’s landed him in the World Golf Hall of Fame.

Few golfers can turn their dreams into reality the way Irwin has, but that doesn’t stop them from trying.

In fact, 22 golfers with strong Colorado connections still have a chance to qualify for the 2012 U.S. Open, which will be played June 14-17 at the Olympic Club in San Francisco. But there’s still one huge hurdle to overcome to make the final 156-man field. Sectionals, the second and final stage of the qualifying process, will take place at 11 U.S. sites on June 4, when roughly 10 percent of the participating players will advance to the second of golf’s major championships.

Most are trying to overcome very long odds by making it through two qualifying stages and competing in the U.S. Open itself. Irwin’s Colorado-based son, Steve, did it last year, and others are hoping this is their year to catch lightning in a bottle.

Eighteen of the 22 players with significant Colorado ties who are still alive in the qualifying process had to make it through Local Qualifying at one of the 109 tournament sites. The exceptions are David Duval of Cherry Hills Village, winner of 13 PGA Tour events and a British Open, and fellow PGA Tour players Brandt Jobe, Kevin Stadler and Shane Bertsch, all of whom were exempt into Sectionals.

Duval, runner-up in the 2009 U.S. Open, is scheduled to make his Sectional bid in Memphis, Tenn., while Jobe and Stadler will be in Columbus, Ohio, and Bertsch in Rockville, Md.

Meanwhile, former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird is totally exempt for the U.S. Open based on his World Golf Ranking of 31.

Here are the “local” players competing in 36-hole Sectional qualifying on June 4:

Michael Baird of Castle Rock, Parker resident Bertsch, Bradley Besler of Denver, Ryan Brees of Steamboat Springs, Stuart Drahota of Fort Collins, Duval, Derek Fribbs of Boulder, Danny Hahn of Denver, Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs, Mark Hubbard of Denver, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Jobe, Greg Johnson of Lakewood, James Love of Denver, Gus Lundquist of Parker, Nick Mason of Denver, Leif Olson of Golden, David Oraee of Greeley, Jonathan Park of Denver, Ben Portie (pictured) of Westminster, Kent Denver High School graduate Stadler, Andrew Svoboda of Golden and former University of Denver golfer Dan Wax.

While Duval, Jobe, Stadler and Bertsch play on the PGA Tour, Svoboda and Love compete on the Nationwide Tour, with Svoboda standing fourth on the 2012 money list. Portie, the 2011 HealthOne Colorado Open champion, joins Duval, Jobe, Stadler, Bertsch and Svoboda in having competed in the U.S. Open previously. Olson had his PGA Tour card in 2009.

By far, most of the Colorado-connected competitors will play in their June 4 U.S. Open Sectionals at the site in Daly City, Calif.

Columbine Country Club in Littleton hosted one of the Sectional qualifiers each year for decades, but that run ended after the 2010 tournament.