And now it looks like the former Fort Collins resident and Air Force Academy golfer will be a regular on that circuit again in 2019.

Whitney finished fourth out of 99 players on Friday in a PGA Tour Latinoamerica Q-school tournament in Mazatlan, Mexico, which gives him fully-exempt status for the first half of the 2019 season.

Meanwhile, two other players with strong Colorado ties earned conditional PTLA status for 2019 — former Colorado State University golfer Blake Cannon and Castle Pines resident Josh Seiple, who’s in the midst of his senior season at the University of Mississippi.

Whitney, who shared the lead after three rounds, tallied scores of 67-70-65-67 for a 19-under-par 269 total that left him five strokes behind medalist Jacob Bergeron of the U.S., who closed with a 62 and is fully exempt for the entire season.

Whitney eagled a par-4 during Friday’s round, but also made a 7 on a par-5.

Players who finished 2-11 are fully exempt for the first half of the season.

Those who placed 12th through 35th and ties are conditionally exempt in 2019. That’s the category in which Cannon and Seiple fell. Cannon (66-69-71-69) tied for 15th at 275, while Seiple (69-70-69-72) shared 32nd place at 280.

Two more PGA Tour Latinoamerica Q-school events remain, both next week: in Brazil and Argentina.

Coloradan Chen Earns Conditional Status on PGA Tour China: Westminster resident and University of Northern Colorado golfer Li Chen landed conditional status on PGA Tour China on Friday by tying for 21st place out of 100 players in a Q-school tournament in Guangzhou.

The finishers in the 13-35 range earned conditional status through the first six events of 2019.

Chen posted rounds of 73-76-75-78 for a 22-over-par 302 total.

Chen is in the midst of his senior season at UNC. In 2017, he was medalist in qualifying for the U.S. Amateur at Fort Collins Country Club.

This week marked the first of four qualifying tournaments in 2019 for PGA Tour China.

Former Buff Jeremy Paul Wins in Scottsdale: Meanwhile, in mini-tour action, former University of Colorado golfer Jeremy Paul won a one-round tournament, the Waste Management Warm-Up in Scottsdale, Ariz., an Outlaw Tour event.

Paul shot a 5-under-par 67 for a one-stroke victory and earned $1,500 on Monday.

Steven Kupcho Runner-Up in Napa: Elsewhere on mini tours, former CGA Les Fowler Player of the Year Steven Kupcho recently posted his second top-10 finish in a month.

Kupcho tied for second in the Napa Open at Silverado Resort and Spa in California last week. The former University of Northern Colorado golfer posted a 7-under-par 209 total, finishing seven back of champion Corey Pereira and earning $3,500.

In December, Kupcho shared ninth place in a Mexico Professional Golf Tour event in Mazatlan.
 

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.
 

On Wednesday on a national selection show televised by the Golf Channel, the University of Colorado, Colorado State University and the University of Northern Colorado punched their tickets to Regionals, which will be held May 14-16.

It will be CSU’s first trip as a team to Regionals since 2012 and UNC’s first since 2014. Meanwhile, CU will be going for the sixth straight year.

The Buffs — who finished second in the Pac-12 tournament, their best showing at a conference meet since 2009 — landed the seventh seed out of 13 teams in the Stockton, Calif., Regional. CU is led by senior Yannik Paul, who’s garnered first-team All-Pac-12 honors, a first for the program since it joined the conference in 2011.

The CSU Rams, runners-up in the Mountain West Conference for the second straight year, are seeded eighth out of 14 teams in the Kissimmee, Fla. Regional. CSU coach Christian Newton recently was named the Mountain West Conference’s Men’s Golf Coach of the Year.

And the UNC Bears, who won a conference team title (the Big Sky in this case) for the first time since 2014, are seeded 12th out of 13 teams in the Bryan, Texas Regional.

In addition, University of Denver senior and Colorado resident Chris Korte landed a berth as an individual at the Norman, Okla., Regional. Korte has won both the CGA Amateur and CGA Match Play. Another Coloradan competing in NCAA Regionals will be Josh Seiple, whose Ole Miss team is seeded sixth in Bryan, Texas.

Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Crabtree, the coach at Louisville (and formerly at CSU), saw his Cardinals draw the No. 9 seed in Columbus, Ohio.

The top five team finishers — and the top individual not on one of those teams — from each Regional will advance to the NCAA Championship Finals, set for May 25-30 in Stillwater, Okla.

In all, there are six NCAA Division I Men’s Regional sites, and a total of 81 teams and 45 individuals will compete there.

During Golf Channel’s hour-long selection show, selection show watch parties hosted by both CSU and UNC were among those that drew TV drop-ins from the network.

For all the complete NCAA Regional fields, CLICK HERE.
 

University of Colorado senior Yannik Paul used a 6-under-par 30 on his front nine to shoot a 5-under 67 and tie for fifth place in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate in Palm Desert, Calif. Also in that event, former Colorado state high school champion Spencer Painton and CU teammate John Souza tied for 12th place in the 135-man field, with Painton finishing his round birdie-eagle.

In addition, Colorado resident Josh Seiple, who plays for the University of Mississippi, shared 11th place individually out of 99 players in The All-American tournament in Humble, Texas.

In Palm Desert, against a field that featured six teams ranked in the top 40 nationally, CU finished third out of 23 schools. The Buffs shot under par all three rounds (287-278-280) for a 19-under-par 845 total that left them 28 strokes behind champion Cal. Texas Tech (837) was second. The University of Denver (878) placed 10th.

Paul (pictured) recorded his second top-five individual showing of the season, sixth of his career and second in the Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate. On Sunday, he birdied the 18th hole, giving him seven for the day, en route to a 9-under-par 207 total, leaving him five out of the top spot.

Painton went 72-71-68 and Souza 70-69-72 for 211 totals.

In Texas, Seiple had stellar first and final rounds (67-66) sandwiched around a second-day 77. His 66 on Sunday was bogey-free, with six birdies. The Coloradan finished nine strokes behind individual champion Keenan Huskey of South Carolina.

Sunday marked Seiple’s second 11th-place finish of the season.

Wyoming Desert Intercollegiate
Feb. 16-18, 2018 (final) in Palm Desert, Calif.
3. (out of 23 teams) Colorado 287-278-280—845
5. Yannik Paul 71-69-67–207
12. Spencer Painton 72-71-68–211
12. John Souza 70-69-72–211
44. Daniel O’Loughlin 74-69-76–219
50. Trevor Olkowski 75-72-73–220
83. Cole Krantz (competing only as individual) 76-77-72–225
83. Victor Bjorlow (competing only as individual) 75-75-75–225
131. Wilson Belk (competing only as individual) 82-79-79–240

10. Denver 304-292-282–878
38. Chris Korte 74-74-70–218
44. Isaac Petersilie 77-71-71–219
44. Jake Kelley 75-75-69–219
64. Jackson Solem 78-72-73–223
83. Eric Hagen 78-75-72–225
83. John Sand (competing only as individual) 79-74-72–225
127. Roy Kang (competing only as individual) 80-78-81–239

Also
53. Coloradan Glenn Workman, Wyoming 75-71-75–221

Seiple (pictured), who made it to the round of 32 at the British Amateur last month, put a bookend on the Pac Coast tournament by matching the even-par 71 he opened with on Tuesday. In between, he posted rounds of 80-73 for an 11-over-par 295 total, the best by any Coloradan in the field in University Place, Wash.

The University of Mississippi golfer made six birdies, six pars and six bogeys in Friday’s final round. He finished 20 strokes behind champion Doug Ghim, who plays for the University of Texas.

As for the other Coloradans who competed in the Pac Coast, Glenn Workman of Pueblo West placed 55th at 300, while Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield was 60th at 301, and Colin Prater of Colorado Springs and Greg Condon of Monte Vista were 65th at 303. Colorado State University golfer Colton Yates shared 39th place with Seiple at 295.

On Wednesday, the three-man squad representing the CGA finished 10th in the Morse Cup team portion of the Pacific Coast Amateur. For details on that, CLICK HERE.

10. Colorado 143-150–293
39. Josh Seiple, Castle Pines 71-80-73-71–295
60. Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 78-73-76-74–301
65. Colin Prater, Colorado Springs 72-77-78-76–303

Also
39. CSU golfer Colton Yates 75-68-76-76–295
55. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 75-76-73-76–300
65. Greg Condon, Monte Vista 79-71-77-76–303

For all the scores from the Pac Coast, CLICK HERE.
 

Seiple (pictured), a University of Mississippi golfer who advanced to the round of 32 at the British Amateur last month, shot a 2-over-par 73 on Thursday and stands at 11-over 224, good for a share of 54th place going into Friday’s final round. Seiple made two birdies and four bogeys on Thursday in University Place, Wash.

Also at 224 — likewise after shooting a 73 on Thursday — was Workman, a University of Wyoming golfer. He carded four birdies, four bogeys and a double in round 3.

As for the other Coloradans competing, Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, Colin Prater of Colorado Springs and Greg Condon of Monte Vista are all tied for 66th place at 227. Lindstrom posted a 76 on Thursday, Condon a 77 and Prater a 78.

Colorado State University golfer Colton Yates is tied for 31st place at 219 after a 76 on Thursday.

On Wednesday, the three-man squad representing the CGA finished 10th in the Morse Cup team portion of the Pacific Coast Amateur. For details on that, CLICK HERE.
http://colo.golf/index.php?mod=news_read&ArticleID=2324

10. Colorado 143-150–293
54. Josh Seiple, Castle Pines 71-80-73–224
66. Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 78-73-76–227
66. Colin Prater, Colorado Springs 72-77-78–227

Also
31. CSU golfer Colton Yates 75-68-76–219
54. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 75-76-73–224
66. Greg Condon, Monte Vista 79-71-77–227

For all the scores from the Pac Coast, CLICK HERE.
 

The Morse Cup team competition at the 51st Pacific Coast Am concluded on Wednesday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., and the CGA squad finished 10th — for the fourth consecutive year.

The CGA was in fifth place after day 1 of the event at the site of the 2015 U.S. Open. But while three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield played much better on day 2 (73 after a 78), the two college players who had performed so well on Tuesday struggled on Wednesday. Colin Prater (pictured) of Colorado Springs and the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs followed up a 72 with a 77. And Josh Seiple of Castle Pines and the University of Mississippi had an 80 after a first-round 71.

With the best two scores each day counting toward the team total, the CGA went 143-150 for a 9-over-par 293 total. That left the Coloradans 14 strokes back of the Morse Cup champions from the Southern California Golf Association. In all, 15 teams from the western U.S. and Canada vie for the Morse Cup.

Play at the Pacific Coast Amateur will continue through Friday on strictly an individual basis.

Through two rounds of the 72-hole event, Prater (149), the 2016 CGA Amateur champion, stands in 56th place in the 84-person field. Lindstrom and Seiple (both at 151) are 66th.

Texas A&M golfer Cameron Champ leads the Pac Coast individual competition after 36 holes with an 8-under-par 134 total (69-65).

Colorado State University golfer Colton Yates made a hole-in-one on the 162-yard 15th hole on Wednesday. With his round also including three birdies and two bogeys, Yates shot a 3-under-par 68, leaving him at 1-over 143 and in a tie for 23rd place.

10. Colorado 143-150–293
56. Colin Prater, Colorado Springs 72-77–149
66. Josh Seiple, Castle Pines 71-80–151
66. Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 78-73–151

Also
23. CSU golfer Colton Yates 75-68–143
60. Greg Condon, Monte Vista 79-71–150
66. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 75-76–151

For all the scores from the Pac Coast, CLICK HERE.
 

Josh Seiple (pictured) of Castle Pines shot an even-par 71 at the 2015 U.S. Open site to share 18th place individually — out of 84 players — in the 72-hole event. Seiple, who last month advanced to the round of 32 at the British Amateur, made four birdies, two bogeys and a double on Tuesday. The University of Mississippi golfer trails individual leader Denzel Ieremia, who plays for Iowa State, by five strokes.

And Colin Prater of Colorado Springs, the 2016 CGA Amateur champion, opened with a 1-over-par 72, good for a share of 29th place. Prater, who plays his college golf at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, carded three birdies and four bogeys on Tuesday.

The third Coloradan representing the CGA at the Pac Coast, three-time CGA Mid-Amateur champion Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, fired a 7-over-par 78 in round 1.

With the best two scores of the three counting toward the team total, the CGA is in the hunt for the Morse Cup trophy with one round left in that team competition. At 1-over-par 143, the CGA squad trails Morse Cup leader Southern Nevada by five strokes. In all, 15 teams from the western U.S. and Canada vie for the Morse Cup.

The team from the CGA has never won the Morse Cup. The Coloradans have finished 10th in that competition each of the last three years.

5. Colorado 143
18. Josh Seiple, Castle Pines 71
29. Colin Prater, Colorado Springs 72
70. Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 78

Also
48. Glenn Workman, Pueblo West 75
48. CSU golfer Colton Yates 75
79. Greg Condon, Monte Vista 79

For all the scores from the Pac Coast, CLICK HERE.
 

The 72-hole tournament will run Tuesday through Friday (July 18-21), with 84 players competing.

Representing Colorado this week will be Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield, Colin Prater of Colorado Springs and Josh Seiple of Castle Pines.

Lindstrom, winner of the last two CGA Mid-Amateur Championships — and three overall — will compete for the second consecutive year at the Pac Coast. Prater, a college player at the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs, won the 2016 CGA Amateur and qualified for last year’s U.S. Amateur. Seiple, who plays his college golf at the University of Mississippi, advanced to the round of 32 at the British Amateur and to U.S. Open Sectionals this year. He was the runner-up in the 2016 CGA Match Play and is a two-time qualifier for the U.S. Junior Amateur.

Besides competing in the 72-hole individual tournament, those three will play as a team in the 36-hole Morse Cup, which is conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, with the best two scores out of the three each day counting toward the team total. Fifteen teams from the western U.S. and Canada vie for the Morse Cup.

The Colorado team has finished 10th each of the last three years in the Morse Cup and has never captured the title.

Two other Colorado residents also will be competing at Chambers Bay, but for other teams. Glenn Workman of Pueblo West, a University of Wyoming golfer, will represent the Wyoming State Golf Association. And Greg Condon of Monte Vista will play for the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association.

In addition, Colorado State University golfer Colton Yates will represent the Arizona Golf Association.

Overall, heading the field for this year’s Pac Coast will be Braden Thornberry, a teammate of Seiple at Ole Miss who won the NCAA individual title this year.
 
For more information about the Pacific Coast Amateur, CLICK HERE.

Englishman Harry Ellis, who had the third-best score in stroke play, defeated the University of Mississippi golfer, 6 and 5 at Royal St. George’s.

(June 24 Update: Ellis, a Florida State University golfer who won the 2012 English Amateur at age 16, went on to capture the British Amateur title on Saturday, rallying for victory on the 38th hole. The achievement earned him a spot in next month’s British Open.)

Seiple, a finalist last year in the CGA Match Play, was one of just three Americans who made match play at this year’s British Amateur. Jimmy Stanger joined Seiple in exiting in the round of 32, while Hayden Springer of Texas Tech advanced before losing on the 19th hole of his round-of-16 match.

No American has won the British Amateur since 2007.

Seiple, who advanced to the Sectional stage of U.S. Open qualifying this year, posted rounds of 67-72 for a 3-under-par 139 total in the stroke-play portion of the British Am. Then in his round-of-64 match, he defeated Englishman Matthew Jordan, 2 and 1.

For match-play results from the British Amateur, CLICK HERE.