It seemed only appropriate that 17-year-old Gus Lundquist of Parker was paired with Derek Tolan for Monday’s U.S. Open Local Qualifying at the Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.
After all, Lundquist (pictured) is trying to accomplish something this year that’s very similar to what Tolan did a decade ago this spring. And the Regis Jesuit High School senior took a big step in the right direction on Monday.
Lundquist, the 2011 5A state high school champion, shot a 3-under-par 69 and shared medalist honors at Westmoor, one of two U.S. Open Local Qualifiers held Monday in Colorado.
Of course, 10 years ago, Tolan was just 16 when he not only advanced through Local Qualifying, but made it through Sectionals also to earn a spot in the 2002 U.S. Open.
“That’s a great accomplishment,” Lundquist said after shooting four strokes better than Tolan on Monday. “It would be great (for Lundquist also to qualify for the U.S. Open as a teenager). It will be exciting and good experience to go play (in Sectionals).”
Lundquist was one of two teenage medalists in Colorado-based U.S. Open Local Qualifiers on Monday. At a second site, Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins, 18-year-old Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs led the way by firing a 5-under-par 66.
Five players from each site advance to the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying, the 36-hole Sectionals. They’ll compete at one of 13 Sectional tournaments held worldwide, most of which will be contested June 4. The Open itself is set for The Olympic Club’s Lake Course in San Francisco June 14-17.
Joining Lundquist in advancing to Sectionals at Westmoor were co-medalist Chase Cooper of Goodwell, Okla. (69), 2011 HealthOne Colorado Open champion Ben Portie of Westminster (70), Greg Johnson of Lakewood (70) and Jonathan Park of Denver (70).
Moving on from Collindale with Harrell — a freshman on the Colorado State golf team — were Jonathon Krick of Peoria Heights, Ill. (67), University of Colorado teammates Derek Fribbs and David Oraee (69 and 70, respectively), and Danny Hahn of Denver (70).
A five-man playoff was needed to determine the final three golfers to advance from Westmoor. Park earned his spot in Sectionals with a 3-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole, while Portie and Johnson advanced with a par and a bogey, respectively, on the second playoff hole. Kane Webber of Denver and Luke Symons from Aurora fell short in the playoff and will be the first and second alternates, respectively.
At Collindale, Mike Kitowski of Aurora was the first alternate and Alexander Gutesha of Greenwood Village the second after both carded 71s.
Lundquist, who will play college golf for Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Mark Crabtree at the University of Louisville beginning in the fall, made five birdies on Monday to join Cooper in setting the standard at Westmoor.
While many teenagers would be overwhelmed at the prospects of having a serious chance to qualify for the U.S. Open, that doesn’t seem to be the case for Lundquist. Asked if it would be a dream come true to play in the Open as a 17-year-old, he said, “It’s more of a goal than a dream. Definitely it’s an accomplishment to make it to the U.S. Open, and I would love to do that this year, but I see it kind of as a step as far as where I want to be at in a few years.”
Meanwhile, Harrell is just a year older than Lundquist in earning medalist honors in the U.S. Open Locals. On Monday, Harrell posted a bogey-free 66 at Collindale. This weekend, Harrell will join his CSU teammates in competing at an NCAA regional tournament in Bowling Green, Ky.
And Lundquist and Harrell weren’t the only youngsters to advance to Sectionals on Monday. Also moving on was Park, a 20-year-old former Colorado State-Pueblo golfer who is considering turning pro later this year. Park won the CGA Junior Stroke Play Championship in 2010.
On Monday, Park birdied his first three holes and his last two in regulation to earn a spot in the playoff, which he won. He advanced to Sectionals for the first time — just like the 23-year-old Johnson.
“It’s a big step for me,” said Johnson, a former Regis University golfer. “It’s just another step closer to playing with the big boys.”
Portie, for one, has reached the promised land all of the contestants are seeking. He joined Tolan in playing in the 2002 U.S. Open. And on Monday Portie advanced to the Sectional Qualifying stage for the seventh time in his career. He also moved on last spring at Westmoor, which led to a career year for him. The former CU golfer not only won the Colorado Open and the South Dakota Open, but he finished second in a playoff to Webber at the Wyoming Open.
“That was my best summer by far,” said the 35-year-old left-hander, who splits time between competing, teaching golf, and being an assistant coach for the men’s and women’s teams at the University of Northern Colorado. “If I could play like I did last summer, I’ll play more and find time to play more.”
One golfer who failed to advance Monday was Tolan, who shot a 73 at Westmoor.
Monday marked the final two of the three U.S. Open Local Qualifiers held in Colorado this year. Last week at Walking Stick Golf Course in Pueblo, Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M., Denver residents Michael Baird, James Love and Nick Mason, and Bradley Besler of Blessing, Texas, earned spots in Sectional Qualifying.
U.S. Open Local Qualifying (2 Sites)
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster
ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 35-34–69
Chase Cooper, Goodwell, Okla., 35-34–69
Ben Portie, Westminster, Colo., 34-36–70
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 35-35–70
Jonathan S Park, Denver, Colo., 36-34–70
ALTERNATES (in order)
Kane Webber, Denver, Colo., 35-35–70
Luke Symons, Aurora, Colo., 35-35–70
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Seth Kaplan, Denver, Colo., 33-38–71
Dylan Mitchell, Breckenridge, Colo., 35-36–71
William Schoolcraft, Englewood, Colo., 35-36–71
Jason Burstyn, Miami, Fla., 36-36–72
Geoff Keffer, Lakewood, Colo., 36-36–72
Scott Petersen, Parker, Colo., 33-39–72
John Ahern, Morrison, Colo., 36-37–73
Derek Eley, Westminster, Colo., 35-38–73
Joe Carlton, Lakewood, Colo., 36-37–73
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 36-37–73
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 36-37–73
Darrin Hall, Lakewood, Colo., 35-38–73
Brandon Bingaman, Montrose, Colo., 33-40–73
John Passmore, Aurora, Colo., 36-37–73
David Holtgrewe, Englewood, Colo., 38-36–74
Patrick Arellano, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 37-37–74
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 37-37–74
Nick Berry, Littleton, Colo., 40-35–75
Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 40-36–76
A. J. Morris, Dallas, Texas, 39-37–76
Drew Trujillo, Montrose, Colo., 37-39–76
Brendan Connolly, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-39–76
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 37-39–76
Chris Winter, Colo Springs, Colo., 36-40–76
Michael McNulty, Boulder, Colo., 37-39–76
Kevin Bolles, Louisville, Colo., 36-40–76
Bill Parker, Aurora, Colo., 40-37–77
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., 35-42–77
Robert Quaratino, Commerce City, Colo., 39-38–77
Grant Jackson, Aurora, Colo., 40-37–77
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 38-39–77
Luke Hemelstrand, Tempe, Ariz., 36-41–77
Dustin Moser, Westminster, Colo., 36-42–78
Matt Roberts, Denver, Colo., 42-36–78
Rick Cole, Eaton, Colo., 35-43–78
Paul Lobato, Denver, Colo., 41-37–78
Wlad Colmenares, Aurora, Colo., 39-39–78
Jeremy Rogers, Brighton, Colo., 37-41–78
Grant Wozencroft, Littleton, Colo., 37-41–78
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., 35-43–78
Philip Nelson, Lakewood, Colo., 39-40–79
Tyler Engel, Castle Rock, Colo., 40-39–79
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo., 38-41–79
Pat Diaz, Parker, Colo., 38-42–80
Chad Bell, Parker, Colo., 41-39–80
Andy Clavin, Denver, Colo., 42-38–80
Russell Ortiz, Mesa, Ariz., 37-43–80
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo., 39-41–80
Nathan Gruda, Golden, Colo., 40-41–81
Kevin Klatman, Boulder, Colo., 40-41–81
Richard Lee, Aspen, Colo., 39-43–82
Ryan Petry, Denver, Colo., 40-42–82
Landon Johnson, South Pasadena, Calif., 39-43–82
Derek Osinski, Arvada, Colo., 40-42–82
John Hadfield, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 43-39–82
Thomas Walter, Franktown, Colo., 40-42–82
Chris Korte, Littleton, Colo., 41-41–82
Dustin Irby, Arvada, Colo., 38-45–83
Jeff Chapman, Denver, Colo., 36-47–83
Mark Knott, Littleton, Colo., 41-42–83
Eric Emmel, Colorado Springs, Colo., 40-44–84
Kolton Kyne, Ridgway, Colo., 41-43–84
Phillip Schneider, Lakewood, Colo., 41-44–85
Stephen Stuart, Thornton, Colo., 43-43–86
Caleb Barker, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 48-38–86
Vance Brown, Longmont, Colo., 44-43–87
Kevin O’Keeffe, Littleton, Colo., 41-47–88
Andrew Hebert, Longmont, Colo., 42-46–88
Greg Tate, Denver, Colo., 52-49–101
Ricky Rathjen, Durango, Colo., WD
Kyle McGee, Mountain View, Colo., WD
Joey Saad, Grand Junction, Colo., WD
Audie Dean, Centennial, Colo., NS
Kyle Nottoli, Colorado Springs, Colo., NS
—————————————————-
At Par-71 Collindale GC in Fort Collins
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Cameron Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 34-32–66
Jonathon Krick, Peoria Heights, Ill., 35-32–67
Derek Fribbs, Boulder, Colo., 36-33–69
David Oraee, Greeley, Colo., 38-32–70
Danny Hahn, Denver, Colo., 33-37–70
ALTERNATES (in order)
Mike Kitowski, Aurora, Colo., 36-35–71
Alexander Gutesha, Greenwood Village, Colo., 36-35–71
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Tom Gempel, Parker, Colo., 36-35–71
Klinton Krieger, Cheyenne, Wyo., 38-33–71
Kevin Kring, Springfield, Mo., 39-32–71
Michael Wuertz, Fort Collins, Colo., 33-38–71
Mike Northern, Colorado Springs, Colo., 36-35–71
Blake Moore, Denver, Colo., 36-36–72
Michael Larson, Boulder, Colo., 36-36–72
Drew Stoltz, Scottsdale, Ariz., 37-35–72
Matt Porter, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-35–72
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 37-35–72
Matt Rutledge, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-36–73
Wyndham Clark, Greenwood Village, Colo., 37-36–73
Peter Ivy, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-35–73
David Ogrin, New Braunfels, Texas, 36-37–73
Gabriel Alcala, Santa Fe, N.M., 39-35–74
Dillon Joslyn, Castle Rock, Colo., 38-36–74
Jackson Giro, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-37–74
Ryan Axlund, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Riley Arp, Fort Collins, Colo., 37-37–74
Parker Edens, Greeley, Colo., 37-37–74
Bryan Hackenberg, Thornton, Colo., 38-36–74
John Ward, Denver, Colo., 39-35–74
Randy Francis, Greeley, Colo., 36-38–74
Kory Harrell, Colorado Springs, Colo., 38-37–75
Ben Lyons, Centennial, Colo., 41-34–75
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 38-37–75
Andrew Moore, Loveland, Colo., 39-36–75
Tyler Bishop, Longmont, Colo., 40-35–75
Justin Spray, Gold Canyon, Ariz., 38-37–75
Cameron Freeman, Ft Collins, Colo., 40-35–75
Cameron Brown, Edwards, Colo., 39-36–75
Steven Kupcho, Westminster, Colo., 38-37–75
Jon Levy, Boulder, Colo., 39-37–76
Ryan Burke, Longmont, Colo., 37-39–76
Jason Preeo, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 39-37–76
Lamar Carlile, Denver, Colo., 38-38–76
Bryan Newman, La Quinta, Calif., 39-37–76
Jordan Wetsch, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-35–76
Billy Day, Pueblo, Colo., 38-38–76
C. J. Ebel, Niwot, Colo., 38-39–77
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-40–77
Thomas B Noonan Jr, Boulder, Colo., 36-41–77
Kung Chih Chang, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-40–78
Stu Allen, Lakewood, Colo., 43-35–78
Sergio Renteria, Phoenix, Ariz., 41-37–78
Brant Kummerfeld, Cheyenne, Wyo., 39-39–78
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo., 40-39–79
Scott Steger, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-41–79
Wes Adkins, Fort Collins, Colo., 41-39–80
Shane Unfred, Windsor, Colo., 40-40–80
Jeff Berthiaume, Fort Collins, Colo., 38-42–80
Sean Kato, Greeley, Colo., 42-39–81
Brandon Barron, Centennial, Colo., 42-39–81
Shaun Jan, Scottsdale, Ariz., 40-42–82
Andrew Hayes, Fort Collins, Colo., 42-40–82
Nicholas Reisch, Thornton, Colo., 40-43–83
Taylor Murtland, Wheatland, Wyo., 43-40–83
Nicholas Tarasiewicz, Colorado Springs, Colo., 43-41–84
Ryan Bent, Evergreen, Colo., 42-42–84
Kyle Thurman, Broomfield, Colo., 40-45–85
Dean Sessions, Westminster, Colo., 43-42–85
Chris Lancerini, Oakland, Calif., 49-45–94
Ken Mattini, Wheeling, Ill., WD
Zach Tripp, Littleton, Colo., WD
Michael Sorenson, Hartland, Wis., WD
