If you want statistical evidence of the continuing improvement in play at the HealthOne Colorado Open, consider this:
In 1969, the tournament champion, Ted Hart, shot 145 for the first two rounds. This year, that total wasn’t even good enough to make the cut in the Open.
While no one is running away with the 2011 Colorado Open by going deep, there certainly are an impressive number of competitors under par (42) and within five shots of the lead (31) at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
“Players are getting much better because these pins are just tough,” said Denver’s Nick Mason, the 2010 Utah Open champion who shares second place at 7 under par. “It’s just stupid how good you have to play to be up top. I haven’t hit a ball off line in two days — though I haven’t made many putts — and still there’s just tons of guys doing the same thing. It’s impressive.”
Clay Ogden of Farmington, Utah, who gained some fame for defeating Michelle Wie en route to claiming the 2005 U.S. Amateur Public Links title, grabbed a one-stroke lead on Friday. He shot a 5-under-par 30 on the back nine and carded a 5-under 66, which left him at 8-under 134 overall.
Denver’s Charlie Soule (pictured), who held the first-round lead outright, fell into a second-place tie with a final-hole bogey on Friday. His 1-under-par 70 left him at 7-under-par 135 and tied with Mason and James Drew of Las Vegas, Nev., who is playing in his first Colorado Open.
Ben Portie of Westminster, a former University of Colorado golfer, had the round of the day — and of the tournament so far — on Friday with a bogey-free 7-under-par 64, which is just one stroke off the event record at GVR. He shares fifth place at 136 with former Coloradan Jamie Marshall (69 Friday) and Arizonans Nathan Tyler (65) and Benoit Beisser (69).
Ogden, who has won a Utah Open and a Nevada Open as a pro, drained four birdie putts of at least 15 feet on his final eight holes.
“I’m in great position this time here,” Ogden said. “Hopefully I can keep it going and keep the putter rolling.”
Soule, who plays out of GVR and does some instruction work at the course, attributes his strong play so far this week to a more laid-back approach. Unlike earlier in his professional career, he figures enjoying himself is half the battle when playing tournament golf.
“As cliche as it is, I just come out and have fun,” the 27-year-old University of Denver graduate said. “I’ve tried the whole thing where you have a ton of pressure on you and go through anguish over every shot, and I’ve just found it’s not worth it. So I just come out here and have fun, and keep the expectations low. If you have an opportunity at the end, great, but if you don’t, still come out here and have fun.”
Soule wasn’t particularly thrilled about his round on Friday, but if he gets his putter working again over the weekend, that will change.
“It used to be if I wanted to put up a great score I’d have to putt out of my mind,” said Soule, who’s looking for his third top-10 finish at the Colorado Open. “Now it’s kind of switched where I’m putting what I consider to be average or little above average, and I’m still sitting on top of the leaderboard or near the top of the leaderboard. It’s fun. My game is in a good spot now.”
Portie can relate after improving from 72 to 64 from Thursday afternoon to Friday. He racked up seven birdies in the second round, when he played in calmer conditions.
“It’s my lowest round at the Colorado Open, and this is my major,” said the 34-year-old left-hander. “I love this tournament. This is a pretty good round for me. It’s up there.”
Portie is no stranger to being in contention in regional golf tournaments. He won the Enstrom’s Rocky Mountain Open last year and lost in a playoff earlier this month at the Wyoming Open. And Friday’s performance certainly changed the complexion of this Colorado Open for him.
“I knew if I could get hitting it good and get a little confidence going, maybe there’s a round like this for me that would get me right back in it,” he said. “But you’re not expecting it. I was just trying to play solid and make the cut first. I knew if I played solid and made the cut, I’d have today’s round, plus two more, to work my way back in. But a round like today, I’m right back in (contention).”
Notable: Amateur Brian Dorfman of Greenwood Village made a hole-in-one at the 179-yard fifth hole on Friday, draining an 8-iron shot. It was his first ace in competition and second overall. “It was cool,” said Dorfman, who easily made the cut with rounds of 72-69. … Amateur Zahkai Brown and professional Barry Milstead eagled the 425-yard par-4 first hole to start their rounds on Friday. Brown finished with a 70, which left him in 21st place at 139. Milstead missed the cut by one at 145 despite a 69. … Among those who missed the cut Friday were Arvada’s Steve Irwin (72-73–145), who played in the U.S. Open last month, and 1995 Colorado Open champion Mike Zaremba (71-74–145). … By making the cut, Jim Blair of Ogden, Utah virtually assured himself of taking over the No. 1 spot on the Colorado Open’s all-time money list. Blair came into the tournament trailing current leader Bill Loeffler by about $365. Loeffler, who isn’t playing this year, has won the tournament three times and Blair twice. … While Blair stands at 142, his son, Zac, is at 137, which leads the amateur competition. … The leaders will tee off for Saturday’s third round at 10:40 a.m.
