There’s always been plenty of talent in the field for the CoBank Colorado Open over its 54-year history. But recently — perhaps coinciding with the increase of first-place prize money to $100,000 in 2016 — there’s been an unmistakeable increase in the number of “name” players competing in the event.
And the trend will continue this week when the 54th Open is held at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club in northeast Denver. The $250,000 championship runs Thursday through Sunday.
Between players with plenty of experience on the PGA Tour — and some with famous surnames — the Colorado Open won’t be lacking for names recognizable to golf fans.
Here’s a rundown of some of the entrants that fall into that category:
— Jonathan Kaye (left), a part-time resident of Boulder, former University of Colorado golfer, and a two-time Colorado Open champion, having won last year and in 1996. Owns two PGA Tour victories. Has competed in 320 PGA Tour events in his career, including last week’s Barbasol Championship, where he missed the cut.
— Kevin Stadler, a part-time resident of Denver, Kent Denver High School graduate and the winner of the 2002 Colorado Open and two CGA Match Plays. Won the 2014 Phoenix Open on the PGA Tour, one of 264 PGA Tour events in which he’s competed in his career. (He’s also won four Web.com Tour tournaments.) He hasn’t played a PGA Tour event since 2015 due to a stress fracture in his left hand, but has competed in two Web events this year. He has 26 events left on a major medical extension, needing to earn $717,890 in those events to keep his exempt status on the PGA Tour. Stadler last played in the Colorado Open in 2016, when he finished 41st.
— Notah Begay. Winner of four PGA Tour events in 217 starts. Previously played in the Colorado Open in 2015, missing the 36-hole cut by one stroke. Begay called the British Open for NBC/Golf Channel last week.
— Shane Bertsch of Parker. Won the Colorado Open in 1998 and finished 10th in 2015. Has played in 193 PGA Tour events in his career, with five top-10 finishes. He has one PGA Tour event left on his medical extension, needing to earn $597,069 to keep his card.
— Jeff Gallagher, the 2017 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion. Has played in 134 PGA Tour events in his career, recording six top-10 finishes.
— John Riegger, the 2018 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion. Has played in 224 PGA Tour events in his career, earning three top-10 finishes. Also has won once on the PGA Tour Champions, in 2013.
And, for the record, four sons of former prominent PGA Tour players are in the Colorado Open field — Dru Love (son of Davis), Sean Jacklin (son of Tony), Cristian DiMarco (son of Chris) and Stadler (son of Craig).
Beyond the PGA Tour flavor, the Colorado Open will have plenty of big-name local competitors. That includes — besides Kaye, Stadler and Bertsch — Colorado-based former champions Derek Tolan (a two-time winner), Zahkai Brown, Ben Portie and Scott Petersen, along with former Pueblo resident Dustin White.
Also among the entrants are five-time Colorado PGA Player of the Year Geoff Keffer,;U.S. Amateur qualifiers AJ Ott, Coby Welch and Kyler Dunkle; 2018 U.S. Senior Open competitor Doug Rohrbaugh; Michael Schoolcraft and James Love, Coloradans who just finished in the top 20 at a PGA Tour Canada event; Coloradan Nick Mason, who qualified for the 2014 U.S. Open; and several players with strong local ties who finished top 10 at the 2017 Colorado Open (besides Kaye): Jacob Lestishen (second), former Colorado State player Blake Cannon (seventh) and Steven Kupcho (eighth).
The field at GVR will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday’s second round.
Tournament organizers are having some fun with the pairings for the first two rounds. For example, paired together are Dru Love, James Love and Samuel Love. Then there’s one for three of the competitors with PGA Tour event-winning dads: Kevin Stadler, Sean Jacklin and Cristian DiMarco.
Meanwhile, 15 more players qualified for the Colorado Open Monday at Legacy Ridge Golf Course in Westminster. That includes four Coloradans: amateurs David Leede of Greenwood Village (4-under-par 67 on Monday), Tyler Zhang of Lone Tree (70) and Tyler Severin of Johnstown (70), and pro Neil Tillman of Arvada (70).
Stuart Thomas of Knoxville, Tenn., shot a 7-under-par 64 to earn medalist honors at Legacy Ridge. For all the scores from Monday’s qualifier, CLICK HERE.
For Thursday’s first-round pairings at the CoBank Colorado Open itself, CLICK HERE.
