Tom Whitney took off like a missile Thursday at the HealthOne Colorado Open, which seems only appropriate considering the Air Force Academy graduate helps oversee some of America’s intercontinental ballistic missile arsenal.
On Thursday at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver, the golf professional who lives in Fort Collins shot a bogey-free 7-under-par 64 — missing the course record by one — to grab a two-stroke lead in the tournament.
“It was the best chipping round I’ve had in a couple of years,” said Whitney (pictured), a 2010 AFA graduate who now is stationed at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne. “I got up and down every green I missed.”
Asked what his best tournament score ever has been, Whitney noted that it was 62. “Maybe I’ll do that again this week,” he said with a smile.
But even a 64 didn’t give Whitney a big lead on Thursday, when 47 players shot under par.
Former Colorado School of Mines golfer Jim Knous, who has established course records at Boulder Country Club (60) and Heritage Eagle Bend (63) in the last couple of years, threatened to go real low. He matched the lowest score ever shot on the front nine with a 7-under-par 29 and made six straight birdies starting on No. 4. And if he had made a 5-foot putt on No. 3, it would have been eight consecutive birdies.
But the runner-up in this year’s NCAA Division II national tournament finished on a sour note with a double bogey. He was in a greenside bunker in two on the par-5 18th, but blasted through the green and left his next two shots in the fringe while trying to just trickle the ball over a large ridge, then two-putted for a 7.
“It’s frustrating, but that’s golf,” said Knous, winner of his pro debut at the Navajo Trail Open last month. “What are you going to do about it? All I can do is come back tomorrow and try to build on what I was doing well today and not focus on that last hole. My first two shots were good, but then I was just goofing around.”
As for his seven-birdie front nine, “I’ve never shot 29 before,” he said. “I was just in the zone. Every putt we looked at was just going in. It doesn’t happen that way all the time, but when it does it’s pretty fun. I was looking to go super low, but I didn’t quite make as many putts on the back.”
Knous was one of eight golfers who finished the day tied for second at 66. Three of them are Colorado amateurs: University of Northern Colorado’s Steven Kupcho, Colorado Mesa University’s Brandon Bingaman and Denver resident Jonathan Park. That’s quite a feat considering only two amateurs have won the Colorado Open, Gary Longfellow in 1974 and Brian Guetz in 1994.
“That’s pretty sweet,” said Kupcho, who is making his Colorado Open debut. Kupcho, like Park, is a former CGA Junior Stroke Play champion. “We got blessed with a great day. (The conditions) were perfect.”
Also at 66 are Jonathan Randolph, who finished 21st in a PGA Tour event last week, Benoit Beisser of Scottsdale, Ariz., Dustin Pimm of Sandy, Utah and Joel Dahmen of Clarkston, Wash.
Whitney, who owns the lowest season-long stroke average in Air Force Academy history, eagled the 607-yard ninth hole with a 30-foot putt and added five birdies in just his second tournament since October.
The long hitter who grew up in La Quinta, Calif., is playing the Colorado Open for the fourth time, but he’s never placed better than 32nd.
“I’m hitting my driver really smooth and controlled,” the 23-year-old said. “I’m being more mature and not worrying about distance. It’s still getting me a ways out there in the fairway.
“Looking back on (past) years, I was hitting drivers here where I really shouldn’t be. I’m learning how to play the course and getting familiar and comfortable.”
But with three rounds remaining, Whitney said he’ll be playing some mind games with himself in hopes that he’ll throw some more low scores out there this week.
“Tomorrow I’ll come out starting at even par and fighting to make the cut in my mind,” he said. “Then we’ll go from there.”
Notable: The grouping of Knous, Nathan Lashley and Michael Schoolcraft was on the right track Thursday, shooting a combined 13 under par. Knous had a 66, and Lashley and Schoolcraft 67s. … Defending champion Ben Portie opened with a 68 and shares 16th place. Derek Tolan and Lashley, Colorado Open winners in 2009 and 2010, respectively, share 10th place at 67. … The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday’s second round. … R.W. Eaks, winner of four Champions Tour event and the 2011 HealthOne Colorado Senior Open, opened with a 69 Thursday and shares 28th place.
For scores, CLICK HERE.
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Colorado Open: All the Essentials
What: 48th annual HealthOne Colorado Open.
When: Thursday through Sunday (July 26-29).
Where: Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver (4900 Himalaya Road).
Prize Money: $125,000, with $23,000 going to the low professional.
Field Size: 156 players, with a cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes.
Defending Champion: Ben Portie.
Other Former Champions in Field: Nathan Lashley (2010), Derek Tolan (2009), John Douma (2007), Dustin White (2006), Wil Collins (2005), Scott Petersen (2000), Mike Zaremba (1995), Jim Blair (1983 and 1987).
Attendance: Free.
