Qualifying for a U.S. Amateur is a big deal under any circumstances. Earning a spot in the championship for the first time adds considerably to the excitement. And doing it when the tournament is being hosted by historic and spectacularly scenic Pebble Beach Golf Links makes that excitement go off the charts.
That’s what Austin Hardman and Coby Welch, both of Highlands Ranch, along with Nick Costello of Austin, Texas, experienced Monday evening when they all punched their tickets to their first U.S. Am.
Pebble Beach, site of the 2019 U.S. Open, will be home to the U.S. Amateur Aug. 13-19, with Spyglass Hill serving as the second stroke-play course in the Monterey area of California.
“My grandparents used to live in Monterey, so Pebble is my favorite place on the entire planet, without question,” Hardman said. “I’m pretty excited about it for sure. This U.S. Amateur will definitely be the biggest tournament I’ve ever played in.
“I’ve played Pebble Beach (Golf Links) twice. It was a hit and giggle out there for six hours, which is the best six hours in my life.”
The three 20-year-old college golfers — Hardman just completed his second and final year at Mesa Community College in Arizona, Welch his second year at the University of Northern Colorado, and Costello his second year at the University of Texas — all advanced thanks to their performances Monday at Columbine Country Club in Columbine Valley. They’ll be part of a 312-man field at Pebble Beach. (The qualifiers are pictured above, from left: Hardman, Costello and Welch.)
Hardman (left) earned medalist honors in the 36-hole event, finishing at 6-under-par 138 after rounds of 70-68. Costello placed second at 139 (71-68) and Welch third at 141 (69-72) out of a field that originally numbered 84.
Hardman was 3 over par through his first five holes of the qualifier, but rallied and finished the day with 12 birdies and six bogeys.
Costello carded an eagle, nine birdies, four bogeys and a double bogey.
Welch, the 2015 Colorado Boys Junior Player of the Year, recorded an eagle, eight birdies, five bogeys and a double bogey. Welch becomes the second UNC golfer in two years to qualify for the U.S. Am as Li Chen made the grade last year.
It’s been a big week at the Welch house as Coby’s younger brother Jake won the boys division of the Colorado Junior Amateur on Wednesday.
“It’s pretty cool,” said Coby (lower left), winner of the 2016 Colorado Mark Simpson Invitational college tournament. “(Jake) played really well. Good for him. I’m glad he did that.”
And now Coby, who’s previously competed in the U.S. Junior Am, will give the U.S. Amateur a shot.
“It will be awesome,” said Coby, who had to sweat out his position after playing his final six holes in 3 over par. “I’ve never been there (to Pebble Beach), so it’ll be great. I played in the Junior Am, so I like making the U.S. Am.”
With pin positions set up a little more difficult than recent years at Columbine, a score that forced a playoff last year (138) was medalist this time around. But to earn that honor this year was quite a feat for Hardman, considering he had to play his final 31 holes in 9 under par to get there.
“This is going to sound cliche, but after I was 3 over after five holes, my caddie and I kept saying, ‘It’s a marathon, not a sprint,'” said Hardman, who finished 11th in this year’s Junior College Division II national championship. Hardman will be transferring to a new NAIA program, Ottawa University Arizona, for the new school year.
Costello, a veteran of two U.S. Junior Amateurs, only came to this U.S. Amateur qualifier because he made it into a tournament that conflicted with his plans to attempt to qualify in San Antonio. So he changed sites and came up with a friend who likewise competed.
“The course conditions aren’t really what we get in Texas,” said Costello, whose only previous tournament in Colorado was the 2015 AJGA Hale Irwin Colorado Junior. “It’s really nice playing on pure grass. I really enjoyed that. And from a few years ago, I knew how the elevation affects the yardages, so I knew what I was getting into and was ready for it.”
Costello (left) started and finished his final round on a high note, which assured him of the U.S. Am berth. He played his first three holes in 4 under par, eagling the par-5 12th from 4 feet. Then after a double bogey on No. 5 (his 14th hole), he two-putted for birdie on his penultimate hole and made a 2-footer for birdie on his last.
Tristan Rohrbaugh of Carbondale, a 2016 U.S. Amateur qualifier at Columbine, landed the first alternate spot on the third hole of a playoff with George Markham of Phoenix, a Colorado School of Mines golfer. But despite a second-round 69, Rohrbaugh lamented playing his last five holes of regulation in 3 over par.
Monday marked the second and final U.S. Amateur qualifying tournament in Colorado this year. Qualifying for the U.S. Am at Fort Collins Country Club two weeks ago
were Dan Erickson of Loveland, AJ Ott of Fort Collins and Kyler Dunkle of Parker.
U.S. Amateur Qualifying
At Par-72 Columbine CC in Columbine Valley
ADVANCE TO U.S. AMATEUR
Austin Hardman, Highlands Ranch 70-68–138
Nick Costello, Austin, Texas 71-68–139
Coby Welch, Highlands Ranch 69-72–141
ALTERNATES (In Order)
Tristan Rohrbaugh, Carbondale 73-69–142
George Markham, Phoenix 71-71–142
For all the scores from Columbine, CLICK HERE.
