By his best estimate, Derek Tolan of Denver thinks he’s made it to the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying six, seven or eight times, including the year he actually qualified for the Open, in 2002 as a 16-year-old.
But for the first time in recent years, the two-time CoBank Colorado Open champion has a good feeling going into the 36-hole U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying, for which he earned a spot on Sunday.
“I feel way better this year,” the former University of Colorado golfer said on Sunday after shooting a 1-under-par 69 at Local Qualifying at the East Course at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. “After the Colorado Open last year I started retooling some stuff. (Before that) I could fake it and shoot a couple good scores under par if you got me on a course with wide fairways and good greens. But it wasn’t anything to do any damage on a high level. I’ve been really working on it. This spring I’ve really started to turn a corner, especially of late — not only shooting good scores, but easily shooting good scores, which is when I know my game is where it needs to be. I’m a lot less stressed (during rounds). I’m really excited about that, so I like my odds much better this year — significantly.”
Tolan and two other Coloradans — co-medalists Chris Thayer of Denver and Brandon Barron of Aurora (pictured above, with Thayer at left) — were among the five players who advanced to Sectionals through Sunday’s U.S. Open Local Qualifier at The Broadmoor.
Joining them in advancing to Sectionals on Sunday were Wil Collins of Albuquerque, N.M., the 2005 Colorado Open champion, and Landon Johnson of South Pasadena, Calif.
Thayer, the 2014 CGA Mid-Amateur champion, and Barron matched 2-under-par 68s in cool conditions on the historic East Course. Tolan played his final seven holes in 3 under par to shoot 69 on Sunday, making birdies on 17 and 18 in the process. Collins, who has played in two U.S. Opens, also posted a 69, while Johnson carded a 71.
Johnson then defeated Eric Hallberg of Parker and Jeremy Lederer of Glenwood Springs, who also had 71s, in a sudden-death playoff for the fifth and final Sectional spot at stake. Johnson and Hallberg made routine pars on the first extra hole, while Lederer posted a bogey and was eliminated. Then after Hallberg, son of longtime tour professional Gary Hallberg, barely missed the green on the second playoff hole and chipped to 4 feet, Johnson drained a 6-foot birdie putt to advance.
Tolan (left) was 2 over par through 10 holes and in danger of letting a Sectional berth slip through his fingers. But he cited his rally as an example of his increased confidence in his play this year.
After going bogey-par-bogey on 8, 9 and 10, “I didn’t let it bother me and I got back to work,” said the 30-year-old, who praised the course conditions as “phenomenal.” “After that it cleaned up nicely and I played really solid.
“Normally (being 2 over after 10), that would be my stress point and I’d have to kind of force stuff because I wouldn’t know when the next firework was going off. Now my heartbeat didn’t change because I knew I would have some opportunities coming in because I have so much more control over the golf ball.”
Meanwhile, despite The Broadmoor often taking a while for golfers to master, Thayer, Collins and Johnson had solid scores in their first or second times around the East layout.
“There are just so many spots to make a bogey, and it’s (7,233) yards and par-70,” said Thayer, who made four birdies — including ones from 35, 25 and 15 feet — and two bogeys. “It’s a pretty good course.
“The greens are so good. I bought a greens-reading book online from the Opens that they’ve had here. That helped a ton.
“It’s pretty cool (to advance to Sectionals). I’ve never done it before. I felt coming in like my game was in great shape. I kind of expected that I could play well. It’ll be fun to give it a shot at Sectionals, for sure.”
Barron, a 26-year-old who turned pro last year, racked up five birdies on Sunday en route to sharing medalist honors with Thayer.
“I’m very pleased,” said Barron, who helped South Mountain Community College in Phoenix win the 2010 national junior college title. “I qualified for Sectionals once before, a long time ago (2005, when he was 15). I’m just excited to go play in that field again and have a chance to go to the U.S. Open. It’s awesome to get back.”
Collins competed in the 2005 and ’13 U.S. Opens — qualifying in 2005 at Columbine Country Club south of Denver, and played full-time on the PGA Tour in 2009. But at the beginning of this year, he was transitioning away from competitive golf, mainly due to injuries.
“I didn’t start the year playing,” he said. “I was looking another direction. I started substitute teaching and teaching some junior golf. I’ve been struggling with the right wrist and tendinitis, tennis elbow — it’s just been a nightmare. But I happened to win an event at the end of March (the Southern California Open). That kind of changed things for me a little bit.”
On Sunday, in his first visit to The Broadmoor, Collins carded four birdies and two bogeys.
“What a beautiful place. It’s pretty special,” he said.
As for Johnson, a 21-year-old who turned professional out of high school, his day ended with an emphatic fist-pump (left), which is especially satisfying considering it was in a playoff. And with that 6-foot birdie putt, he earned a trip to Sectionals for the first time.
“This was probably the best round I’ve had in five months,” he said after his 71.
Johnson, who competed in the 2011 U.S. Amateur Public Links as a 16-year-old, was playing at The Broadmoor only because the qualifier coincided with a family vacation.
Sunday marked the second of three U.S. Open Local Qualifiers being held in Colorado. Last Monday at Heritage at Westmoor, Coloradans Jim Knous, Bryan Kruse, Cameron Harrell, Scott Petersen and Andrew Romano earned spots in Sectionals. Next up in the Local Qualifier at Collindale Golf Course in Fort Collins on Tuesday.
The 10 U.S.-based Sectional Qualifiers will be contested on June 6. From there, the top finishers will advance to the Open itself, set for June 16-19 at Oakmont (Pa.) Country Club.
U.S. Open Local Qualifying
At Par-70 Broadmoor GC, East Course
ADVANCE TO SECTIONALS
Brandon Barron, Aurora, Colo. 32-36–68
Christopher Thayer, Denver, Colo. 34-34–68
Derek Tolan, Denver, Colo. 36-33–69
Wil Collins, Albuquerque, N.M. 35-34–69
Landon Johnson, South Pasadena, Calif. 37-34–71
ALTERNATES (In order)
Eric Hallberg, Parker, Colo. 35-36–71
Jeremy Lederer, Glenwood Springs, Colo. 37-34–71
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Dustin White, Pullman, Wash. 35-37–72
Nicholas Mason, Denver, Colo. 35-37–72
Joshua Gardella, Littleton, Colo. 35-37–72
Ryan Zetwick, Castle Rock, Colo. 36-36–72
Derek Fribbs, Thornton, Colo. 37-36–73
Taylor Stamp, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-35–73
Sunwoo Choi, USAF Academy, Colo. 38-35–73
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo. 37-37–74
Ryan Schmitz, Greenwood Village, Colo. 36-38–74
Isaac Petersilie, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-36–74
Jake Staiano, Englewood, Colo. 36-38–74
Caine Fitzgerald, Parker, Colo. 37-38–75
Christopher Good, Denver, Colo. 36-39–75
Jeff Chapman, Centennial, Colo. 39-36–75
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo, Colo. 35-40–75
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 38-37–75
Braden Bentley, Colorado Springs, Colo. 36-40–76
James Kackley, Denver, Colo. 37-39–76
George Markham, Phoenix, Ariz. 36-40–76
Luke Trujillo, Colorado Springs, Colo. 37-39–76
Alex Kephart, Colorado Springs, Colo. 39-37–76
Owen Pasvogel, Colorado Springs, Colo. 39-37–76
Will Matthews, Centennial, Colo. 38-39–77
Jordan Totten, Cayman Islands 38-39–77
Graham Cliff, Parker, Colo. 39-38–77
Luke Travins, Colorado Springs, Colo. 35-42–77
Chase Wilson, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-38–78
Calum White, Centennial, Colo. 39-39–78
Kurtis Lucas, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-37–78
Sam Nichamin, Avon, Colo. 41-37–78
Kyle Rademacher, Hobe Sound, Fla. 43-35–78
Clint Miller, Lone Tree, Colo. 43-36–79
Barry O’Neill, Loveland, Colo. 41-38–79
Kaleb Nichols, Peyton, Colo. 42-37–79
James Sorenson, Bloomington, Minn. 37-42–79
Douglas Wherry, Lakewood, Colo. 42-37–79
Chris Hyten, Castle Rock, Colo. 40-39–79
David Delich, Colorado Springs, Colo. 42-37–79
Nick Leibold, Littleton, Colo. 41-39–80
Mike Kerrigan, Castle Rock, Colo. 39-41–80
Eric Bradley, Eagle, Colo. 42-38–80
Nick Miller, Centennial, Colo. 38-42–80
Kevin Chan, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-42–80
Robert Wyatt, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-39–80
Garrett Froggatte, Colorado Springs, Colo. 43-38–81
Brett Willis, Denver, Colo. 39-42–81
Nick Zinanti, Pueblo, Colo. 40-41–81
Daniel Augustine, Castle Pines, Colo. 41-40–81
Harrison Murphy, McKinney, Texas 41-40–81
Marshall Clark, Denver, Colo. 35-46–81
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 38-43–81
Tanner Comes, Spokane, Wash. 40-41–81
Marc Hudson, Aurora, Colo. 42-40–82
Mike Swan, Crested Butte, Colo. 41-41–82
David Leede, Greenwood Village, Colo. 46-36–82
Arik Roberts, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-42–82
Justin Mortensen, Salt Lake City, Utah 43-39–82
Conrad Smith, Golden, Colo. 39-43–82
Justin Snyder, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-44–82
Troy Berglund, USAF Academy, Colo. 41-42–83
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-43–84
Austin Burgess, Colorado Springs, Colo. 42-42–84
Hayden Fry, Colorado Springs, Colo. 39-45–84
Mark Zbrzeznj, Edwards, Colo. 41-43–84
Chadd Vasquez, Colorado Springs, Colo. 43-42–85
Marcus Drange, Billings, Mont. 44-42–86
Devyn Solano, Aurora, Colo. 46-40–86
Marc Renjard, Colorado Springs, Colo. 43-43–86
Derek Williams, Colorado Springs, Colo. 46-40–86
Riche Moore, Aurora, Colo. 42-45–87
Jake Saliba, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-47–88
Phil McCarthy, Denver, Colo. 46-43–89
Andrew McCormick, Denver, Colo. 44-47–91
Heikke Nielsen, Louisville, Colo. 42-51–93
Brian Harris, Woodland Park, Colo. NC
Cody Eberl, Lakewood, Colo. NS
