At 3 over par through 13 holes on Tuesday at Omni Interlocken Golf Club in Broomfield, Guy Mertz wasn’t feeling good about qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur for a second straight year.

But it’s amazing what three birdies in his final five holes — and another on the first hole of a playoff — will do to change your outlook.

Mertz played his final six holes of the day, including the playoff, in 4 under par — and the final three in 3 under — to punch his ticket to the U.S. Senior Am again.

“I’m in shock,” he said of his late comeback. “It was totally unexpected. … I just wasn’t feeling it. I was just a little off. But I did it. It’s unbelievable to me. I stuck with it long enough, I guess. I’m really happy. I guess it proves last year wasn’t a fluke. Two years in a row; it can’t be a fluke, can it? Maybe I’m decent.”

The 59-year-old from Longmont joined Don Eklund of San Diego and Scott Sullivan of Grand Junction in booking return trips to the national championship for amateurs 55 and older.

This year’s U.S. Senior Am will be contested Aug. 25-30 at Eugene Country Club in Oregon.

Eklund, a 61-year-old who used to live in the Vail area, shot a 3-under-par 69 to land medalist honors — and his second trip to the U.S. Senior Amateur. Sullivan earned his third berth in the event thanks to a 71 and despite playing his final three holes in 2 over par. And Mertz, as noted, rallied to qualify through a playoff. (Eklund and Sullivan are pictured above, with the medalist at left.)

Mertz and two other contestants who have likewise previously competed in the U.S. Senior Am — CGA Executive Committee members Kent Moore of Centennial and Gary Albrecht of Denver — posted 72s on Tuesday, then played off for the final spot in the national championship.

Moore and Albrecht hit ideal drives in the playoff, with Albrecht putting his second shot on the par-5 on the green, 60 feet short of the flag, and Moore leaving his second in a greenside bunker. Mertz pushed his tee shot into the rough and had a semi-blind second shot over a knoll, and he hit a 3-wood to 40 yards shot of the hole.

After a mediocre pitch, Mertz (left) drained a 20-foot birdie putt. Albrecht ended up three-putting for par from 60 feet. And Moore, after a good bunker shot to 7 feet, missed his birdie try, leaving Mertz to advance to his sixth USGA championship. He’s previously gone to the now-defunct U.S. Amateur Public Links three times, the 1990 U.S. Amateur at Cherry Hills Country Club, and last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur in Minnesota, where he grew up.

“I didn’t hit a very good pitch, but I hit a really good putt (in the playoff),” said Mertz, the reigning CGA Parent/Child champion with son Nick. “I’d rather have a bad pitch and a good putt than a great pitch and a bad putt.”

After Mertz secured the final qualifying spot on Tuesday, Moore subsequently made a par on the same hole to earn the first alternate position as Albrecht made bogey.

Earlier, Eklund had holed a 100-yard wedge shot for eagle on the eighth hole en route to his 69. He added two birdies and one bogey during a day in which he hit 16 greens in regulation.

“I didn’t see (the wedge shot) go in,” said Eklund, the 2017 San Diego City Senior Amateur champion. “But it never left the flag. I have hole-outs probably two or three times a year, especially with my wedge. I consider myself a very good wedge player.”

As for returning to the U.S. Senior Am after a five-year absence, Eklund said, “It’s going to be a lot better, I can tell you that. I’ve been wanting to go back for six years. The USGA puts on great events. It’s such a treasure to go to one of them. I hear good things about Eugene Country Club and I’m really looking forward to it.”

The same is true for the 60-year-old Sullivan, who recently won the senior division of the CGA Western Chapter Championship. On Tuesday, he carded four birdies and three bogeys in his round of 71. Sullivan previously played in the 2013 and ’15 U.S. Senior Amateurs and the 2010 U.S. Senior Open.

“It will be great” competing in another USGA championship, said Sullivan, who’s won multiple low-amateur/low-senior amateur titles in the Rocky Mountain Open. “I’ve heard great things about Eugene Country Club too. The USGA events are the important ones (on his golf schedule). That’s what I point to. They’re great. Especially at the Senior Open, they treat you like a king. But I just enjoy competition.”

As for Mertz, he’s aiming to make match play at this year’s U.S. Senior Am after falling short last year in Minnesota, where he lived the first 26 years of his life.

“Hopefully when I get there (to Eugene) I won’t be quite as nervous because last year I had a lot of people in Minnesota rooting me on,” he said. “I put more pressure on myself, which is never good.”

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Omni Interlocken GC in Broomfield

ADVANCE TO U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR
Don Eklund, San Diego 34-35–69
Scott Sullivan, Grand Junction 35-36–71
Guy Mertz, Longmont 39-33–72
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Kent Moore, Centennial 36-36–72
Gary Albrecht, Denver 38-34–72

For all the scores from Tuesday, CLICK HERE.

The two Coloradans who qualified on Monday at Colorado Springs Country Club for the U.S. Senior Amateur will certainly take interesting stories to the national championship.

Guy Mertz (left) of Longmont lived in Minnesota for the first 26 years of his life, within 100 miles of where the U.S. Senior Am will be contested late next month. And Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive of Colorado Springs drew extra satisfaction from qualifying just shy of his 72nd birthday as he’ll surely be one of the oldest competitors in the field Aug. 26-31 at The Minikahda Club in Minneapolis.

Those two were joined in qualifying for the national championship on Monday by David Nelson of Reno, Nev., who has played in an amazing 30 previous USGA championships, including the 1982 U.S. Open that Tom Watson won at Pebble Beach.

Mertz, a 58-year-old dentist, was born and raised in Rochester, Minn., and he graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1985, when he moved to Colorado.

“My parents live there and so do many of my friends,” Mertz noted after qualifying on Monday. “I wanted to play in this so bad at Minikahda. That’s why it was so much harder for me. I was choking my guts out because of that.

“Mike Larson (a fellow competitor who narrowly missed joining Mertz in qualifying on Monday) is a buddy of mine who’s from Minnesota too. Since they announced Minikahda, we’ve been saying, ‘God, wouldn’t it be great if you and I go back?’ We’ve been talking about it for literally two years. So to get back there, with everything it means to me …

“Today was probably the most nervous I’ve ever been on a golf course,” added Mertz, winner of a CGA Publinks and a CGA Senior Match Play. “I’m just so happy to make this.”

It will be the first U.S. Senior Amateur for Mertz (who has competed in a U.S. Amateur and three U.S. Publinks), the sixth for Nelson and roughly the fifth for Olive. The Senior Am is limited to players 55 and older.

Nelson, a 61-year-old who runs some USGA qualifying tournaments in northern Nevada but was visiting his daughter and grandkids in Denver, was the only player out of the 60-man field to break par on Monday. Despite starting his round with a double bogey, he shot a 1-under-par 70 to earn medalist honors.

Mertz and Olive (left), along with three-time CGA Senior Player of the Year Robert Polk of Parker, tied at 71 after each posting rounds that included three birdies and three bogeys. With that, there was a three-way playoff for the final two national berths.

Mertz, who made an 8-foot birdie on the final hole of regulation to land a spot in the playoff, earned the first national berth when he two-putted from 25 feet for par on the first extra hole. Olive went over the green on No. 10 with his approach shot and missed a 10-foot par putt, settling for bogey. Polk, who had bogeyed his final hole in regulation, was left in the trees off the tee and also made bogey.

After Polk’s drive on the second playoff hole — No. 6 — finished stymied behind a tree in the right rough, he took an unplayable-lie penalty and didn’t get on the green until his fifth stroke on the par-4. Olive, after a perfect drive, two-putted from 18 feet for par and the final national berth.

Olive is certainly no stranger to USGA championships, having competed in a U.S. Senior Open and a U.S. Amateur in addition to many U.S. Mid-Ams and Senior Ams. He’s also won a CGA Amateur — exactly 40 years ago — over the likes of fellow Colorado Golf Hall of Famers Steve Jones, Gary Longellow, Bill Loeffler, Tom Woodard, Mark Crabtree, Rick DeWitt and Ron Moore; as well as the first CoBank Colorado Senior Open and nine individual CGA senior titles. But adding to his USGA total in his 70s is especially sweet.

“It feels good,” the former Air Force Academy basketball player said. “The older you get, the more you appreciate the little things that sometimes you took for granted (earlier). When I was younger, I put a lot of pressure on myself and had expectations that I should qualify and should do this and that. Now, you just don’t. I think it’s a blessing. It helps you play better.”

Not many amateurs can say they’ve competed in more than 30 USGA championships, but Nelson (below) keeps adding to his total. He said he’s played in every one he’s eligible for except the U.S. Senior Open. The run started with the 1973 U.S. Junior Amateur and was highlighted by the ’82 U.S. Open. He’s advanced to the semifinals of the U.S. Publinks and to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur.

“I just love going to them,” he said. “The USGA does such an amazing job. Any USGA (championship) you make is incredibly special.”

On Monday, Nelson was in the first group to tee off on No. 10. After his first-hole double bogey, he carded four birdies and a three-putt bogey.

“The good news was (after starting with the double), I had 17 more holes left,” he said. “I pulled my cap down a little tighter and start grinding a little bit harder.”

Polk will be the first alternate from the Colorado Springs site, while Sean Forey of Morrison is alternate No. 2 after winning another three-man playoff.
 

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Colorado Springs CC
ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
David Nelson, Reno, Nev. 34-36–70
Guy Mertz, Longmont 35-36–71
John Olive, Colorado Springs 36-35–71
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Robert Polk, Parker 35-36–71
Sean Forey, Morrison 36-36–72

For complete scores, CLICK HERE.

It took a while — six decades to be precise — but Gary Albrecht of Denver and Robin Bradbury of Superior scored USGA breakthroughs on Thursday.

The two Coloradans, both now 60 years old, had never had the good fortune of qualifying for a USGA championship before. But they crossed that off their bucket lists at Fox Hollow Golf Course by punching their tickets to the U.S. Senior Amateur.
 
“One of my goals has been to get to a USGA event, so it’s a big deal for me,” Bradbury said. “It took 60 years to get here … but better late than never. I’m very excited about it.”

Said Albrecht: “It’s amazing, awesome. I’ve never qualified for an event like this.”

In fact, both went so far as to call what they did Thursday the top golf accomplishment of their lifetimes.

“Without question,” said Albrecht, who competed in a national long-drive competition at the 1982 PGA Championship.

“Clearly,” added Bradbury (left), who posted top-four finishes in both the CGA Senior Match Play and Senior Amateur in 2015.

Albrecht and Bradbury joined John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo., in earning the three available U.S. Senior Amateur spots from Thursday’s qualifying tournament. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left: Hornbeck, Albrecht and Bradbury.)

On a day when no one in the starting field of 55 matched or broke par, Albrecht, Bradbury and Hornbeck shared medalist honors at 1-over-par 72 with Jim Reynolds of Denver.

Then after Bradbury and Hornbeck secured the first two national berths with pars on the second hole of a playoff, Albrecht rebounded from a double bogey on extra hole No. 2 to earn the final Senior Am spot with a routine par. Reynolds, who survived a double bogey on the second playoff hole after losing his tee shot in a hazard, three-putted for bogey from 70 feet on the third extra hole to end up the odd man out in the four-person playoff. His 8-foot par putt just slipped by the right edge of the cup.

“I thought he made his putt.” said Albrecht. “I was fortunate.”

That means Albrecht, Bradbury and Hornbeck, 58, will be headed in mid-September to Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis, where the U.S. Senior Am will be played Sept. 17-22.

This marks the second time this summer that Hornbeck has qualified in Colorado — via a playoff — for a USGA championship. He played in the U.S. Senior Open last week, missing the cut. Thanks to bouncing back from a bogey-bogey start on Thursday, this year will mark his second U.S. Senior Amateur and his eighth USGA championship overall.

“I’m getting tired of having to keep playing in them,” Hornbeck (left) said of playoffs in Colorado-based qualifiers. “But this is really special” to advance to two USGA championships in the same year. “The Senior Open was fantastic. I wasn’t even nervous or anything playing around with those (PGA Tour Champions) guys.”

Albrecht, who serves on the CGA board of governors and plays much of his golf at Ballyneal and CGA-owned CommonGround, went 2 under par for his last 10 holes of regulation on Thursday.

Bradbury, meanwhile, needed just 22 putts in regulation, then one-putted the second playoff hole for par after a poor drive.

“All that really means is I missed a lot of greens,” he said of his 22-putt round. “Like (on the second extra hole), a one-putt. That’s what I was doing all day today. Twenty-two putts is pretty crazy, but whatever it takes.”

The U.S. Senior Amateur is limited to players 55 and older.
 

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Fox Hollow GC (Canyon/Meadow) in Lakewood

QUALIFIED FOR U.S. SENIOR AM
John Hornbeck, Saratoga, Wyo. 36-36–72
Gary Albrecht, Denver, Colo. 38-34–72
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo. 36-36–72
ALTERNATES (IN ORDER)
Jim Reynolds, Denver, Colo. 35-37–72
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 34-39–73
DID NOT QUALIFY
Jake Jacobson, Castle Rock, Colo. 37-36–73
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo. 34-39–73
Harry Johnson, Edwards, Colo. 37-36–73
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo. 39-34–73
Charlie Post, Castle Rock, Colo. 37-36–73
Paul Edwards, Parker, Colo. 38-36–74
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo. 38-36–74
Ken Sady, Avon, Colo. 37-37–74
Jeffrey Page, Natick, Mass. 36-38–74
Pat Bowe, Denver, Colo. 38-37–75
Jerry Morgan, Amarillo, Texas 38-37–75
Mark Franz, Aurora, Colo. 38-37–75
Matt Hall, Grand Junction, Colo. 41-34–75
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo. 38-38–76
Michael Larson, Boulder, Colo. 39-37–76
Laird Middleton, Centennial, Colo. 39-37–76
Kary Kaltenbacher, Englewood, Colo. 39-37–76
Rick George, Greenwood Village, Colo. 42-35–77
James English, Boulder, Colo. 40-37–77
Jim Lemar, Littleton, Colo. 38-39–77
Mark Breese, Lafayette, Colo. 37-40–77
Brian Harris, Denver, Colo. 37-40–77
Bill Bolgar, Parker, Colo. 42-36–78
David Brown, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 42-36–78
Bob Schuler, Denver, Colo. 42-36–78
Bruce Hayes, Golden, Colo. 39-39–78
Scott Sullivan, Grand Junction, Colo. 40-38–78
Grant Porter, Castle Pines, Colo. 36-42–78
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo. 39-40–79
David Merritt, Castle Pines, Colo. 40-40–80
John Sostman, Denver, Colo. 38-42–80
Tim McAdam, Scottsdale, Ariz. 39-41–80
Randy Dolan, Englewood, Colo. 42-38–80
Jerry Lehrman, St. Louis Park, Minn. 44-37–81
Wes Heusel, Pueblo, Colo. 41-41–82
Thomas Grawe, Pine, Colo. 44-38–82
Pat Bucci, Littleton, Colo. 44-39–83
Greg Thiesen, Erie, Colo. 39-44–83
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo. 44-39–83
Jeff Reich, Chandler, Ariz. 42-41–83
Butch Carlson, Boulder, Colo. 40-43–83
Chris Pennels, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-43–83
Steve Cribari, La Quinta, Calif. 42-42–84
Stephen Barlow, Cherry Hills, Colo. 42-42–84
Randy Miller, Boulder, Colo. 44-45–89
Louis Gerig, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 49-41–90
Danny Wyrick, Arvada, Colo. 47-44–91
Gary Stark, Denver, Colo. 48-43–91
William Farmer, Dallas, Texas NS
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo. WD
David Derks, Arvada, Colo. WD
 

At stake will be three spots in the national championship, which is set for Sept. 17-22 at Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis.

Among those signed up to compete at Fox Hollow are 2015 qualifiers Moore and Jeff Reich, along with 2016 U.S. Senior Open qualifier John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo. David Delich of Colorado Springs and Harry Johnson of Edwards, both of whom advanced to the U.S. Senior Amateur in 2013 and ’14, are also in the field, along with Olive and fellow former CGA senior champions Robert Polk of Parker and Tom Musselman.

Only players 55 and older can compete in the U.S. Senior Amateur.

For Thursday’s tee times, CLICK HERE.
 

Kent Moore started making a name for himself state-wide when he won the 1973 CGA Junior Match Play at Flatirons Golf Course. So it’s little wonder why he has a fond place in his heart for the Boulder venue.

“I really, really like this place, and I always have,” said the Colorado Golf Hall of Famer from Cherry Hills Village. “It’s in great shape and it’s really fun.”

Jeff Reich feels likewise about Flatirons, having basically “lived here” from age 12-17, with his mom dropping him off at the course on the way to work and picking him up there on the way home.

Both golfers, now in their late 50s, had their good feelings about the Boulder course reinforced on Thursday as they qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur there. And Thomas Roos of Centennial no doubt also finds himself taking a shine to Flatirons after joining Moore and Reich in punching their tickets to the national championship for amateurs 55 and older.

Of course, Flatirons was where players such as three-time U.S. Open champion Hale Irwin and 1972 U.S. Junior Amateur champion Bob Byman cut their teeth, golf-wise, so there’s some history to draw upon.

On Thursday, Coloradans Moore and Roos shared medalist honors in the qualifier, and Reich, who moved to Arizona at age 17, secured the third and final berth available for the national championship.

Moore and Roos matched 1-under-par 69s to land the top two spots, and Reich, a reinstated amateur, shot 72 and prevailed in a playoff. (Roos, in red shirt, and Moore are pictured together above.)

By finishing in the top three Thursday out of a field that originally numbered 47, Moore, Roos and Reich will advance to the U.S. Senior Amateur, which will be held Sept. 26-Oct. 1 in Egg Harbor Township, N.J.

It will be the first U.S. Senior Amateur for each of the three.

“It’ll be great,” said Roos, 56, whose first USGA championship was last year’s U.S. Mid-Amateur. “To get to go to another one is just a bonus. Not many people get to go at all. (USGA championships) are the top of the food chain. It is. It’s so much fun.”

Moore (left) knows something about that as this will be his 10th USGA championship, having previously gone to three U.S. Amateurs, five U.S. Mid-Ams and a USGA State Team.

“I’ve always really wanted to do this,” said the 59-year-old, who has twice been an alternate in U.S. Senior Amateur qualifying. “I missed the Junior Amateur, but I will have played in the Amateur, Mid-Amateur and Senior Am. That’ll be really run.”

Reich, who was a PGA club professional for 24 years, has never had the pleasure of competing in a USGA championship, but has long had qualifying as a major goal.

“I got my amateur status back six years ago with the whole goal being qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur. So this is exciting for me,” said the 58-year-old, who bears a striking resemblence to Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

On Thursday, Moore made four birdies — including three straight starting on No. 12 — offset by a bogey, and a double bogey on No. 16.

Roos eagled the 492-yard, par-5 14th hole from 21 feet and added two birdies — one on the formidable 16th hole — while carding three bogeys.

“It just felt comfortable today,” Roos said. “I played here for a stroke play qualifier a few years ago and I just like the back tees.”

Reich (left), whose brother Bob used to be an assistant pro at Flartirons, was one of four players who tied for third place at 2-over-par 72. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer John Olive couldn’t wait for a playoff because he had to catch a plane, leaving Reich, fellow Arizonan John Hull and Texan Hollis Sullivan to vie for the third national berth.

Sullivan, who could have won the playoff had he made a 4-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, instead bowed out with a bogey on the second playoff hole. Both of the Arizonans hit their drives on No. 18 — the third extra hole — to the left and had to deal with trees on their second shots. After Hull missed the green and pitched to 8 feet, he couldn’t sink his par putt. Reich, who had punched his second shot through trees to the collar behind the green, putted to 4 feet then sank the par attempt to earn the final spot. It was a similar putt to one Reich had missed in regulation, preventing him from avoiding a playoff to claim the third national berth.

“My brother (Jim) was out following me,” said Reich, a graduate of Centaurus High School in Lafayette. “I told him, ‘I should have done this work earlier.’

“I just had some opportunities and kept playing. I’m very thankful to be in.”

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-70 Flatirons GC in Boulder

ADVANCED TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Thomas Roos, Centennial, Colo., 36-33–69
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 34-35–69
Jeff Reich, Chandler, Ariz., 34-38–72
ALTERNATES (in order)
John Hull, Scottsdale, Ariz., 37-35–72
Hollis Sullivan, Westworth Village, Texas, 35-37–72
FAILED TO QUALIFY
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-36–72
Ken Sady, Avon, Colo., 37-36–73
Harry Johnson, Edwards, Colo., 35-38–73
William Farmer, Dallas, Texas, 38-35–73
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo., 35-38–73
Laird Middleton, Centennial, Colo., 35-39–74
Paul Brown, Grand Junction, Colo., 36-38–74
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 38-36–74
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., 36-39–75
Kary Kaltenbacher, Englewood, Colo., 36-39–75
Brad Grogg, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-38–75
Doug Phelps, Golden, Colo., 38-37–75
Stephen Bell, Denver, Colo., 39-36–75
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo., 38-37–75
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo., 35-41–76
Randy Miller, Boulder, Colo., 36-40–76
David J Brown, Lafayette, Colo., 40-36–76
Roger Gunderson, Aurora, Colo., 38-39–77
Pat Bowe, Denver, Colo., 40-37–77
Daniel Reedy, Boulder, Colo., 37-40–77
Mike Brummer, Rapid City, S.D., 39-38–77
Bruce Hayes, Golden, Colo., 39-38–77
Rick George, Greenwood Village, Colo., 38-39–77
Randy Kippes, Englewood, Colo., 42-36–78
Kelly Crone, Englewood, Colo., 39-39–78
Stephen Barlow, Cherry Hills, Colo., 41-37–78
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-41–78
Bob Chandler, Black Hawk, Colo., 40-39–79
John Hoge, Parker, Colo., 40-39–79
Mark Tolson, Lafayette, La., 40-39–79
Jim Reynolds, Denver, Colo., 38-41–79
Dave Runberg, Centennial, Colo., 40-39–79
Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo., 43-37–80
Jim Lemar, Littleton, Colo., 39-41–80
James English, Boulder, Colo., 40-40–80
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-40–81
Ted Warner, Greeley, Colo., 38-43–81
Paul Yoon, Lamar, Colo., 42-40–82
Frank Wilkinson, Grand Juntion, Colo., 43-40–83
Greg Bjerke, Fargo, N.D., 43-44–87
Duwayne Lewis, Cheyenne, Wyo., WD
Bryan Winnett, Ennis, Texas, WD
 

It may not rank up there with quarterback Joe Namath’s guarantee that his underdog New York Jets would win Super Bowl III, but David Delich of Colorado Springs did go out on a limb a little with a prediction he made Monday, albeit while wearing a smile.

Delich and Harry Johnson of Vail qualified for their first U.S. Senior Amateur a year ago, but they failed to be among the top 64 players who advanced to the match-play portion of the event.

So on Monday, after Delich and Johnson again qualified for the U.S. Senior Amateur, Delich vowed this time will be different.

“Harry and I are going to play a lot better” at the national championship, Delich said. “California is our comfort zone. I will wash dishes for a month if Harry and I don’t get into match play this year. We’re going to do it.”

Johnson, a spry 64, and Delich, 57, made it two U.S. Senior Amateurs in a row by finishing in the top three Monday out of a qualifying field at Meridian Golf Club that originally numbered 60. The third national qualifier was John Hornbeck of Saratoga, Wyo., who on Sunday won the Wyoming Mid-Amateur title by 10 strokes.

The U.S. Senior Amateur, limited to players 55 and older, will be held Sept. 13-18 in Newport Beach, Calif.

Johnson (pictured above) earned medalist honors Monday at Meridian by shooting an even-par 72. Delich, a former Colorado College hockey standout, and Hornbeck matched 73s and then prevailed in a three-man playoff.

Delich birdied the second playoff hole after hitting his second shot on the par-4 to 6 inches from the cup. Hornbeck two-putted for par from 30 feet on same hole to advance. Scott Sullivan of Grand Junction, who posted his 73 after playing the last five holes in 3 over par, was the odd man out in the playoff, making a triple-bogey 7 on the second extra hole after hitting his tee shot into the native grass left of the fairway, then struggling around the green.

“When you get in these things (playoffs), you’ve got to go make a birdie as quick as you can because too many funny things happen,” said Delich (left), the 2012 CGA Senior Player of the Year. Of the 92 1/2-yard shot that he hit so closely with a 56-degree wedge on the second playoff hole, Delich noted, “It was a good yardage for me. I wanted to land it 86 or 87 and I hit it right on the number. It took one hop and stopped. I had about 6 inches left. I was in my comfort zone.”

Johnson, the CGA Senior Player of the Year in 2011 and ’13, is eager to get back to his second U.S. Senior Amateur — and second USGA championship of any sort — after finding himself on the wrong end of the tee-time draw last year in Cashiers, N.C.

While Johnson very much enjoyed the quality of a USGA event and how the players were treated, the weather definitely put a damper on his experience. With about two inches of rain falling on the first day of stroke play, on Johnson’s first tee shot of the championship, his back foot slipped so badly that he fell to a knee. There was so much water that officials eventually were squeegeeing the tee box between each player hitting.

“So it was the best of times and it was the worst of times,” Johnson, the 2013 CGA Senior Stroke Play and Senior Match Play champion, said on Monday.

Just about “nobody from my section (of the tee time draw) made it (to match play),” he said. “Unfortunately, it was just the luck of the draw. But I’d love another shot at it. I can’t get wait to get back to another (USGA) event.”

Though neither Johnson nor Delich has played the Big Canyon Country Club in Newport Beach where the Senior Amateur will be held this year, neither is a stranger to the area. Delich is a member of the Southern California Golf Association and this month he won his second senior amateur championship there, the Senior Match Play. He claimed the Senior Amateur stroke play title in 2012.

And Johnson grew up in Los Angeles, owned a restaurant in Newport Beach during the 1970s and spends considerable time in the Palm Springs area during the winter these days.

“I would have people come see me (play at next month’s Senior Amateur), as strange as that might seem for an amateur event,” he said. “I know part of my family would come and (so would) some good friends from that area.”

Strangely enough, the U.S. Senior Amateur will mark Johnson’s second USGA championship ever, and both have come in his 60s. He will turn 65 in October.

“Maybe when I’m away from the golf course and the competition, I might think about that,” he said. “But when I’m on the golf course, it doesn’t even cross my mind.”

Meanwhile, Delich will be going to his ninth USGA championship. In addition to what will be two U.S. Senior Ams, he’s played in one U.S. Senior Open, three U.S. Mid-Amateurs and three USGA State Teams.

“I had a goal of 10 when I started playing competitive golf in my early 40s and maybe we’ll get there one day,” he said. “I don’t know, but I’m getting closer.

“Every one of them is special and unique. This one, because I started playing competitive golf so late … Now that the senior deal is 55 (and older) and I’m kind of a rookie in that age category, I feel like I have a chance to go compete. I can hit the ball far enough to play the golf course and be effective. I’m excited about this one.”

While Delich and Johnson will each be going to his second U.S. Senior Amateur, Hornbeck (left) is headed to his first. And, speaking of firsts, he hadn’t ever played Meridian before teeing it up on Monday.

“They had the pins kind of tucked today, and I wasn’t going to go over the greens since I didn’t know the course,” the 56-year-old Hornbeck said. “I had a lot of 20- and 30-foot putts for birdie where I normally hit it a little closer.”

Despite playing the course blind, Hornbeck was confident, having dominated the Wyoming Mid-Amateur over the weekend in winning the event for the third time.

“I was feeling pretty good about my game,” he said.

U.S. Senior Amateur Qualifying

At Par-72 Meridian GC in Englewood

ADVANCE TO NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
Harry Johnson, Vail, Colo., 38-34–72
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-36–73
John Hornbeck, Saratoga, Wyo., 37-36–73

ALTERNATES (In Order)
Scott Sullivan, Grand Junction, Colo., 34-39–73
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., 39-35–74

FAILED TO QUALIFY
Hal Marshall, Denver, Colo., 37-37–74
Craig Gardiner, Greenwood Village, Colo., 37-37–74
Robert F West, Denver, Colo., 37-38–75
Robert Cloud, Denver, Colo., 36-39–75
Robert Polk, Parker, Colo., 39-36–75
David Brown, Lafayette, Colo., 38-38–76
Roger Gunderson, Aurora, Colo., 39-38–77
Kary Kaltenbacher, Englewood, Colo., 38-39–77
Rick George, Greenwood Village, Colo., 40-38–78
Thomas Roos, Centennial, Colo., 40-38–78
Dennis Fields, Golden, Colo., 38-40–78
Brian Harris, Denver, Colo., 44-35–79
John Olive, Colorado Springs, Colo., 37-42–79
Guy Mertz, Longmont, Colo., 40-39–79
Grant Porter, Castle Pines, Colo., 39-40–79
John Leamon, Denver, Colo., 41-39–80
Steve Bell, Denver, Colo., 42-39–81
Jim LeMar, Littleton, Colo., 44-37–81
Pat Bowe, Denver, Colo., 42-39–81
Lonnie Miller, Grand Junction, Colo., 41-40–81
Dave Balling, Cody, Wyo., 43-38–81
Van Lefferdink, Juno Beach, Fla., 40-41–81
Michael Kern, Plano, Texas, 42-39–81
Sean Forey, Morrison, Colo., 41-40–81
Scott Crone, Denver, Colo., 41-41–82
Mark Barkley, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 40-42–82
Robin Bradbury, Superior, Colo., 39-43–82
Thomas McGeary, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 43-40–83
Jim English, Boulder, Colo., 42-41–83
Bruce Hogg, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-43–83
Greg Mokler, La Quinta, Calif., 39-44–83
John Sostman, Littleton, Colo., 41-43–84
Ted Warner, Greeley, Colo., 45-39–84
Reed Myer, Denver, Colo., 42-42–84
David Merritt, Castle Pines, Colo., 40-44–84
Gary Borgese, Niwot, Colo., 43-42–85
Paul Edwards, Parker, Colo., 46-39–85
Michael Clark, Lafayette, Colo., 47-39–86
Jim Pierce, Oro Valley, Ariz., 46-40–86
Chuck Fisher, Westminster, Colo., 43-43–86
Bob Chandler, Black Hawk, Colo., 44-42–86
Robert Bulthaup, Centennial, Colo., 47-39–86
Geoffrey Solomon, Denver, Colo., 48-39–87
Charlie Post, Castle Rock, Colo., 45-42–87
Mark Runyan, Centennial, Colo., 43-44–87
Kelly Crone, Littleton, Colo., 46-42–88
Frank Wilkinson, Grand Junction, Colo., 47-41–88
Fredrick Steffers, Colorado Springs, Colo., 48-41–89
Danny Wyrick, Arvada, Colo., 46-46–92
Keith Fretwell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 49-47–96
Gary Albrecht, Denver, Colo., WD
David Brown, Highlands Ranch, Colo., WD
John Mitchell, Broomfield, Colo., NS
Tom Lawrence, Denver, Colo., WD