Shane Bertsch is no longer fully exempt on the PGA Tour, but on Monday the Parker resident earned a spot in the U.S. Open for just the second time.
Bertsch won one of 11 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying tournaments being held this week in the U.S., prevailing by two strokes in Rockville, Md.
Bertsch (pictured) shot rounds of 69-71 for a 4-under-par 140 total to gain the first of seven available berths at the site. So for the first time since 1998, he will be headed to the U.S. Open, which this year will be held June 14-17 at The Olympic Club in San Francisco
Bertsch missed the cut in his only other U.S. Open appearance. Coincidentally, that 1998 Open also was held at The Olympic Club. But wherever the national championship takes place, the former Colorado Open champ is just glad to be competing.
“It’s the U.S. Open; it’s the biggest event in the world,” Bertsch said Monday.
The 42-year-old qualified this time a day after his best finish of the year, a 10th-place showing at the Nationwide Tour’s Rex Hospital Open.
Meanwhile, four players with strong Colorado connections missed potential playoffs by one stroke at various Sectional Qualifying sites on Monday. Kent Denver High School graduates Brandt Jobe (68-74–142) and Kevin Stadler (72-70–142) shared 18th place in Columbus, Ohio, where 16 U.S. Open berths were available.
Michael Baird of Castle Rock (69-70–139) tied for eighth place in Daly City, Calif., where seven advanced.
And James Love of Denver (66-72–138) finished fourth in Suwanee, Ga., where the top three earned national berths.
One Sectional tournament involving a local player was suspended and is scheduled to resume Tuesday. Former British Open champion David Duval of Cherry Hills Village will compete in that one in Memphis, Tenn.
One “local” player fully exempt from qualifying is former Colorado State University golfer Martin Laird, who is the No. 32-ranked player in the world.
Here are the results for all 22 U.S. Open Sectional competitors with strong Colorado ties:
Rockville, Md. (78 players for 7 spots) — 1. Shane Bertsch of Parker 69-71–140, 19. Nick Mason of Denver 76-71–147.
Daly City, Calif. (129 players for 7 spots) — 8. Michael Baird of Castle Rock 69-70–139, 16. Mark Hubbard of Denver 69-72–141, 52. former University of Denver golfer Danny Wax 73-72–145, 63. Cameron Harrell of Colorado Springs 75-71–146, 77. Gus Lundquist of Parker 73-75–148, 119. Danny Hahn of Denver 78-80–158, 123. Jonathan Park of Denver 79-81–160, 124. Greg Johnson of Lakewood 81-80–161.
Suwanee, Ga. (51 players for 3 spots) — 4. James Love of Denver 66-72–138.
Columbus, Ohio (132 players for 16 spots) — 18. Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe 68-74–142, 18. Kent Denver High graduate Kevin Stadler 72-70–142, 116. Ryan Brees of Steamboat Springs 85-79–164.
Creswell, Ore. (37 players for 2 spots) — 15. Ben Portie of Westminster 74-72–146, 28. Bradley Besler of Denver 77-78–155.
Glen Ellyn, Ill. (49 players for 2 spots) — 6. Leif Olson of Golden 73-67–140, 32. Derek Fribbs of Boulder 73-75–148.
Summit, N.J. (73 players for 4 spots) — 13. Andrew Svoboda of Golden 69-73–142, 41. Stuart Drahota of Fort Collins 71-77-148.
Houston (56 players for 3 spots) — 44. David Oraee of Greeley 78-74–152.
Memphis, Tenn. (84 players for 9 spots) — 41. David Duval of Cherry Hills Village 72-70–142.
