Zahkai Brown has already competed in a nice variety of USGA championships, while Jordan Burgess has never before had the pleasure. But either way, there’s nothing quite like that exhilaration of qualifying for a big national tournament.
Just ask Burgess, who put together a series of Tiger Woods-like fist pumps Monday evening after sinking a 40-foot birdie putt in a playoff that landed him a spot in the U.S. Amateur.
“I believed it was going in,” the 22-year-old from Windsor said. “Obviously you don’t really expect to make a putt like that, but … To qualify in that dramatic fashion makes it extra special.”
Brown (pictured above) also had reason to celebrate, though he didn’t need the thrill of a playoff. The Colorado State University golfer qualified for his second U.S. Amateur and his fourth USGA championship, following previous appearances in the U.S. Junior Amateur, U.S. Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links.
“It’s a great honor to go to USGA events because they’re so well run,” the 21-year-old said.
Both Brown and Burgess were the fortunate two Monday who punched their tickets for arguably the top amateur tournament in the world, which will be played this year Aug. 22-28 at Erin Hills in Erin, Wis.
As was the case in 2008, Brown earned medalist honors in a Sectional Qualifying tournament, this time at Highland Meadows Golf Course in Windsor. Brown shot 67-65 for a 10-under-par 132 total. On a day when 15 players finished under par, Brown recorded 15 birdies in 36 holes.
Burgess, who will join the University of Denver golf team this fall after two years at a community college in Phoenix, went 70-64 for a 134 score and posted two eagles and 14 birdies, including the one in the playoff. After Burgess (pictured at left) drained his 40-foot, breaking downhill putt on the first extra hole, Ben Hargis of Amarillo, Texas missed a 30-foot birdie attempt that could have extended the playoff.
All in all, considering Burgess eagled the par-5 earlier in the day, it’s a hole he won’t soon forget.
“This is without a doubt my biggest accomplishment,” said Burgess, who grew up in Greeley and now lives in Windsor, though Highland Meadows isn’t his home course. “It will be my first USGA championship. It’s something I’ve always dreamed of. I’m really grateful for the chance.”
Brown is likewise happy for the opportunity. But beyond qualifying for the U.S. Amateur, he had another reason.
“It’s awesome because my (CSU) teammate, Mike Sorenson, lives up in Wisconsin about 10 minutes from the course, so I’ll go stay with him, which will be great,” Brown said. “I’ll like it a lot.”
Hargis (68-66–134) will be the first alternate from the Highland Meadows qualifier and Matt Schovee of Englewood (67-68–135) the second.
A second U.S. Amateur Sectional qualifier will be held Aug. 8 at Heritage Eagle Bend Golf Club in Aurora, where 66 players will compete for three national berths.
Next year’s U.S. Amateur will be contested in Colorado at Cherry Hills Country Club, with CommonGround Golf Course serving as the second course for the stroke-play portion of the event.
U.S. Amateur Sectional Qualifying
At Par-71 Highland Meadows GC in Windsor
QUALIFIERS
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 67-65–132
Jordan Burgess, Windsor, Colo., 70-64–134
ALTERNATES (in order)
Ben Hargis, Amarillo, Texas, 68-66–134
Matthew Schovee, Englewood, Colo., 67-68–135
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Michael Lee, Greeley, Colo., 70-65–135
Michael Harrington, Colorado Springs, Colo., 69-67–136
Clinton Boutelle, Cody, Wyo., 66-71–137
Cameron Brown, Edwards, Colo., 69-68–137
Patrick Wilson, Dubbo, 69-68–137
Alexander Gutesha, Greenwood Village, Colo., 67-70–137
Eric Parish, Laramie, Wyo., 68-70–138
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 66-73–139
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 69-71–140
Miguel Macias, Usaf Academy, Colo., 71-70–141
Andrew Hoops, Usaf Academy, Colo., 70-71–141
Nicholas Reisch, Thornton, Colo., 65-77–142
Patrick Sanchez, Mazatlan Sinaloa, 69-73–142
Christopher Good, Aurora, Colo., 71-71–142
Spencer Sheets, Centennial, Colo., 70-72–142
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 69-73–142
Caleb Leestma, Usafa, Colo., 69-73–142
Scott Wyers, Pueblo, Colo., 75-67–142
Stephen Depuma, Mansfield, Texas, 71-72–143
Kaleb Mahanes, Erie, Colo., 69-74–143
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 73-70–143
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 71-72–143
Philip Nelson, Lakewood, Colo., 72-71–143
Stuart Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 72-71–143
Peter Hassan, Boulder, Colo., 70-74–144
James Doidge, Pueblo, Colo., 74-70–144
Devin Schreiner, Durango, Colo., 69-75–144
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 69-75–144
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo., 75-69–144
Wes Adkins, Fort Collins, Colo., 71-74–145
Scott Burhorn, Henderson, Nev., 74-71–145
Trey Fankhouser, Goodwell, Okla., 76-70–146
Palmer Giro, Fort Collins, Colo., 73-75–148
Sean Griswold, Durango, Colo., 78-70–148
Michael Cole, Monument, Colo., 75-74–149
Martin Prazak, Denver, Colo., 75-74–149
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 78-71–149
Brady Needens, Brush, Colo., 76-74–150
Chad Novak, Pueblo, Colo., 74-76–150
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 74-77–151
Jason Johnson, Westminster, Colo., 77-77–154
Nick Allen, Littleton, Colo., 78-76–154
Joseph Schwark, Westminster, Colo., 78-76–154
Kevin Klatman, Boulder, Colo., 78-77–155
Colin Hendrickson, Loveland, Colo., 77-80–157
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo., 82-81–163
Nicholas Purvis, Montrose, Colo., 83-WD
