When Michael Baird of Castle Rock last played tournament golf, it was August of 2013. He was the defending champion at the Oregon Trail Pro-Am, but he played poorly and missed the cut.
“I thought, ‘Let’s hang it up for a while and do something else’,” he recalled on Thursday.
After years as a playing professional, the former University of Colorado golfer had gotten to the point that the game wasn’t much fun anymore — and his performances reflected that.
But on Thursday, after more than seven months of selling real estate and just playing golf a couple of times a week, Baird made hay at the U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournament at Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster.
The 29-year-old started off his round with an inauspicious double bogey and shot a 3-over 39 for his first nine (the back), but rebounded in a big way. He made seven birdies on his final nine, shooting a 6-under-par 30 in the process. The resulting 3-under 69 gave him medalist honors on Thursday.
“I’ve shot 29 once before,” said Baird (left). “In a tournament, I think 30 is probably my low. It’s been weird lately. I’m not as sharp as I was, but I’m a lot happier on the course. And I’ve been making a lot of birdies lately. At the turn, I thought, ‘I’ve been making a lot of birdies, let’s make a bunch on the back’ — and I did. It worked out well.”
As it did for Jim Knous of Basalt, who likewise rallied on his back nine to advance to the Sectional Qualifying stage. Knous, the runner-up in the 2012 NCAA Division II finals for Colorado School of Mines, birdied five consecutive holes on the same side as Baird en route to a 70.
The other three players who made it to the 36-hole Sectional Qualifying stage did so through a four-man playoff for those who shot 71. Two Coloradans — 46-year-old amateur Jon Lindstrom of Broomfield and reigning HealthOne Colorado Open champion Zahkai Brown from Arvada — birdied the first extra hole to move on. And they were joined in the next stage by 16-year-old Colombian Ivan Ramirez, who prevailed over Josh Seiple of Castle Rock on the third playoff hole.
Brown (pictured at top) had just enough on his 12-foot birdie putt on the first extra hole for the ball to fall into the cup. “I had the same putt this morning (during regulation) and I left it just short; it just needed two more revolutions and it would have gone in. (During the playoff) I thought, ‘Oh no, it’s going to do it again.'”
But this time his ball found the bottom of the cup, meaning he’ll be going to Sectionals for the first time. And he’s following the lead of brother Zen, who punched his ticket to Sectionals on Wednesday in Maricopa, Ariz.
“It’s always good to match him,” said Zahkai, a 23-year-old former Colorado State golfer.
After Brown holed his birdie putt, Lindstrom, who used to call Heritage at Westmoor his home course until he switched to Lakewood Country Club, drained a 7-foot birdie on the same hole to secure a spot in Sectionals.
“This is probably my favorite course to play,” said Lindstrom (left), who birdied his final hole of regulation to get into the playoff. “The greens, I’m pretty comfortable with them.”
Both Seiple, a University of Mississippi signee and a two-time U.S. Junior Amateur qualifier, and Ramirez parred the first playoff hole (No. 10). And they both bogeyed the second (No. 17), with Ramirez missing an 8-foot putt and Seiple a 4-footer. Ramirez hit the par-5 18th in two and two-putted from 30 feet for birdie. Seiple went over the green in two and missed his 18-foot birdie attempt.
“I thought it was over (on 17) but he gave me some life, then I made a birdie on 18,” said Ramirez, who has never before tried to qualify for the U.S. Open.
None of those who advanced to Sectionals at Heritage at Westmoor has played in the U.S. Open before, but Baird came the closest. Two years ago, at a Sectional in Daly City, Calif., he posted scores of 69-70 and tied for eighth place. Unfortunately, seven players earned berths in the Open.
“Hopefully I’ll have some pretty good memories if I do go back there,” said Baird, who will be headed to Sectionals for the third time overall. “More than anything it proves to me that physically I was good enough (to be a successful playing professional). My head was getting in the way. I’m not going to pretend I’m as good physically right now. I’m not practicing every day. I’ll play maybe two days a week and that’s it. But my head is 5,000 times better. It’s amazing how much that matters in golf.”
On Thursday, Baird’s amazing final-nine surge included birdies on 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8 and 9, offset by a bogey on No. 4. It’s play like that that gives him a glimmer of hope for making another run at the Web.com or PGA Tour.
“I like the real estate thing and it’s going well, but this is my first love,” said Baird, who played on PGA Tour Latinoamerica last year with no success. “If the stars align and this works, that would be great.”
Knous (left) is in the midst of chasing the same dream. The 24-year-old finished fourth recently in the All-American Gateway Tour Tour Championship, then qualified for a Web.com Tour event.
“I hope I can get through (Sectionals) this year,” he said. “I feel like my game is really good right now. I’ve had a good string of tournaments here for a while. If I can get some putts to drop I think I can get through.”
This marks the second consecutive year Knous has successfully negotiated U.S. Open Local Qualifying at Heritage at Westmoor.
“I think the course really does suit my game,” said Knous, who shot a 60 at Boulder Country Club en route to a runner-up finish in the 2010 CGA Stroke Play. “I can swing away out here. There’s not too much peril. Three par-5s are gettable for me (in two). I just kind of like it. I don’t know what it is, but I tend to play well here.”
A total of 69 players competed on Thursday for the five available Sectional spots.
Thursday marked the second of three U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments being held in Colorado this week. On Tuesday at Collindale in Fort Collins, amateurs Parker Edens of Greeley and Cameron Brown of Edwards, along with professionals Matt Rutledge of Fort Collins and Miles Philpy of Thornton earned spots in Sectionals.
On Wednesday at the Broadmoor’s West Course in Colorado Springs, Derek Tolan of Highlands Ranch, Alex Kephart and David Schroeder II of Colorado Springs, Brandon Bingaman of Montrose and Derek Fribbs of Castle Rock moved on.
The players who advance this week will play in one of a dozen 36-hole Sectional Qualifiers, with the 10 in the U.S. scheduled for June 2. The U.S. Open itself will be held June 12-15 at the Pinehurst Resort’s No. 2 course in North Carolina.
U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-72 Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Michael Baird, Castle Rock, Colo., 30-39–69
James Knous, Basalt, Colo., 33-37–70
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 34-37–71
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 35-36–71
Ivan Ramirez, Bucaramanga, 35-36–71
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Joshua Seiple, Castle Rock, Colo., 34-37–71
Luke Symons, Aurora, Colo., 37-35–72
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Paul Erdman, Erie, Colo., 34-38–72
Kane Webber, Aurora, Colo., 35-37–72
Caine Fitzgerald, Parker, Colo., 33-39–72
Keenan Holt, Durango, Colo., 37-36–73
Scott Petersen, Parker, Colo., 36-37–73
Grant Jackson, Aurora, Colo., 35-38–73
Dustin Mills, Arvada, Colo., 36-37–73
Gus Lundquist, Parker, Colo., 37-36–73
Drew Trujillo, Montrose, Colo., 38-35–73
Ross Macdonald, Castle Rock, Colo., 37-36–73
Darrin Hall, Lakewood, Colo., 37-36–73
Geoffrey Keffer, Lakewood, Colo., 36-38–74
Joe Carlton, Lakewood, Colo., 37-38–75
Jonathan Marsico, Denver, Colo., 37-39–76
Jackson Vacek, Lafayette, Colo., 39-37–76
Mack Duke, Loxley, Ala., 37-39–76
Derek Eley, Thornton, Colo., 40-36–76
Christopher Korte, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 42-34–76
Andrew Clavin, Denver, Colo., 40-36–76
Drew Vance, Lakewood, Colo., 38-39–77
Keith Humerickhouse, Eagle, Colo., 38-39–77
Daniel Augustine, Castle Pines, Colo., 40-37–77
Jackson Solem, Longmont, Colo., 38-39–77
Ryan Schmitz, Littleton, Colo., 39-39–78
Dillon McDonald, Wolcott, Colo., 36-42–78
Steve Connell, Thornton, Colo., 39-39–78
Paul Beblavi, Aurora, Colo., 39-39–78
Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 42-37–79
Chase Chaldekas, Lakewood, Colo., 37-42–79
Kobe Padilla, Centennial, Colo., 40-39–79
Grant Rogers, Boulder, Colo., 39-40–79
Matt Robertson, Lakewood, Colo., 40-39–79
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 38-41–79
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo., 40-40–80
Clint Miller, Englewood, Colo., 41-39–80
Christopher Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 41-39–80
Randy Urso, Aurora, Colo., 39-42–81
Lamar Carlile, Denver, Colo., 38-43–81
Greg Johnson, Lakewood, Colo., 39-42–81
Justin Borzych, Castle Rock, Colo., 39-42–81
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo., 42-39–81
Tim Wohlgemuth, Denver, Colo., 39-42–81
Adam Thoutt, Westminster, Colo., 37-44–81
Dean Siskowski, Johnstown, Colo., 42-39–81
Daniel Cammack, Denver, Colo., 37-44–81
Doug Manske, Littleton, Colo., 38-43–81
Dan Sniffin, Castle Rock, Colo., 41-41–82
Li Chen, Westminster, Colo., 40-42–82
Jack Allen, Centennial, Colo., 41-41–82
Stephen Horvey, Arvada, Colo., 38-44–82
William Bender, Commerce City, Colo., 39-43–82
Cole Cunningham, Centennial, Colo., 41-42–83
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo., 40-43–83
Devin Schreiner, Durango, Colo., 42-41–83
Zachary Coe, Gypsum, Colo., 40-43–83
Brandon Williams, Denver, Colo., 40-43–83
Dylan Mitchell, Breckenridge, Colo., 42-44–86
Bo Baker, Cedaredge, Colo., 41-45–86
Dan Keyghobad, Aurora, Colo., 43-44–87
Joel Perez, Denver, Colo., 45-42–87
Ben Pilon, Broomfield, Colo., 43-44–87
Cameron Berndt, Elizabeth, Colo., 48-43–91
Richard Lash, Dillon, Colo., WD
Braden Baer, Westminster, Colo., WD
Jack Cummings, Arvada, Colo., WD
Stephen Stuart, Thornton, Colo., WD
Garrett Jones, Arvada, Colo., WD
Gary Schlatter, Cherry Hills Village, Colo., WD
Jack Cavanagh, Broomfield, Colo., WD
Dustin Miller, Highlands Ranch, Colo., WD
Grant Dinkel, Boulder, Colo., WD
Adam Griffith, Westminster, Colo., WD
Robert Cummings, Fayetteville, Ark., WD
