It took several decades of trying, but at age 63 Harry Johnson has earned a spot in a USGA championship.
The Vail resident has attempted to qualify for dozens of USGA national tournaments over the years, but it wasn’t until Monday that he hit pay-dirt.
Johnson, who earlier this year captured the Senior Match Play title for his first individual CGA championship, landed medalist honors in Monday’s qualifying tournament for the USGA Senior Amateur. The golfer from Eagle Ranch Golf Course shot an even-par 71 at Pueblo Country Club to set the standard for a field that originally numbered 50.
Johnson and the other reigning CGA senior champion, 2012 Senior Stroke Play winner David Delich of Colorado Springs, joined Ted Warner of Greeley in qualifying for the national Senior Amateur. Delich and Warner fired 73s to earn the final two USGA berths at stake on Monday. (The three are pictured above, from left: Warner, Johnson and Delich.)
The USGA Senior Amateur, for players 55 and older, will take place Sept. 21-26 in Cashiers, N.C.
“I’m excited,” Johnson said by phone on Monday. “I’ve been playing a long time, and this will be my first USGA event. Maybe I thought I was running out of time. I’ve always been a blow or two back (in qualifiers). In a one-day deal, you’ve got to be fortunate, and I was today.”
Johnson has tried to qualify for a variety of USGA championships, including the U.S. Open. But it was his ninth time attempting for the USGA Senior Am — every year since he became eligible by turning 55 — that he was successful.
Perhaps not coincidentally, Johnson played his lone practice round at Pueblo Country Club with Delich — along with Delich’s brother Chuck and another contestant, Rick George — after they suggested getting a look at the course. “Chuck Delich, especially, was an immense help” with Pueblo CC, Johnson said.
“It’s a short, tight course, with the strength in the greens,” Johnson noted. “You’re gong to miss some fairways, but when I did miss a fairway, I had a play.”
Johnson, the 2011 CGA Senior Player of the Year, finished with three birdies and three bogeys on Monday. David Delich, the 2012 Senior Player of the Year, opened with a double bogey and was 4 over at the turn. But the four-time CGA champion shot a bogey-free 2-under 34 on the back nine to earn a spot in his eighth USGA championship. Warner, meanwhile, offset two birdies with four bogeys on Monday.
USGA Senior Amateur Qualifying
At Par-71 Pueblo CC
QUALIFIERS
Harry Johnson, Eagle Ranch GC, 35-36–71
David Delich, Broadmoor GC, 39-34–73
Ted Warner, Greeley CC, 38-35–73
ALTERNATES (in order)
Bruce Hogg, Patty Jewett GC, 37-37–74
Robin Bradbury, Heritage at Westmoor, 35-39–74
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Thomas Roos, Spring Valley GC, 35-40–75
Kary Kaltenbacher, Glenmoor CC, 35-40–75
Rodney Walters, Heritage at Westmoor, 36-39–75
Kelly Crone, Highlands Ranch Golf Club, 38-38–76
Hal Marshall, Bear Creek GC, 43-33–76
Kent Moore, Cherry Hills CC, 36-40–76
Robert Polk, Colorado GC, 37-40–77
Rick George, Castle Pines GC, 37-40–77
Roger Gunderson, Aurora Hills GC, 39-38–77
Steve Summers, Dallas CC, 38-39–77
Sean Forey, Rolling Hills, 39-39–78
Carlos Salaber, The TwinEagles Club, 40-38–78
Jim Pierce, Stone Canyon Club, 39-40–79
Grant Porter, Commonground Golf Course, 38-41–79
Tim McAdam, Whisper Rock GC, 39-40–79
Daniel Birnley, Conquistador GC, 38-41–79
Stephen Bell, Denver CC, 38-41–79
Pat Bowe, Commonground GC, 43-37–80
Charlie Post, Colorado GC, 40-40–80
Scott Crone, Pinehurst CC, 39-41–80
Robert Cloud, Bear Creek GC, 40-40–80
John Hoge, Spring Valley Gc, 42-38–80
Lou Gerig, Commonground GC, 40-40–80
Mark Runyan, Canongate Colorado, 40-41–81
Doug Jones, Tiara Rado GC, 37-44–81
Doug Wilson, Oro Valley CC, 40-41–81
Mark Barkley, Canongate Colorado, 39-43–82
James Lemar, Meadows GC, 41-41–82
Charles Delich, Eisenhower GC, 41-41–82
Paul Leonard III, Starr Hollow GC, 42-40–82
Frank Wilkinson III, Lincoln Park GC, 42-42–84
Keith Fretwell, CC of Colorado, 38-47–85
John Vanderbloemen, Haymaker Golf Course, 46-40–86
Bret Yetter, Colorado Springs CC, 42-44–86
Laird Middleton, Coal Creek GC, 43-46–89
James Ball, Walking Stick GC, 45-44–89
W. Eric Elison, Canongate Colorado, 44-45–89
Paul Yoon, Colorado Springs CC, 53-41–94
Chuck Fisher, Legacy Ridge GC, WD
John Olive, Paradise Valley CC, NS
Duwayne Lewis, Airport GC, WD
Tres Cochran, Royal Oaks CC, NS
David Cohn, Bethesda CC, WD
Kenneth Sady, Eagle Ranch GC, NS
David Brown, Highlands Ranch GC, WD
