Steve Irwin has a pretty good sense — probably better than most — of the importance of the U.S. Open. After all, only four players in history have won the event more times than has his dad, Hale — Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Bobby Jones and Willie Anderson.
But as much as the three U.S. Open victories have been interwoven into the Irwin family fabric, Steve Irwin has never gotten the pleasure of experiencing the event from a competitor’s standpoint. But the former CGA Player of the Year hopes to rectify that situation this spring.
Irwin took the first step in that quest on Monday as the Arvada amateur shot a 4-under-par 68 in Colorado.
Professional Andy Connell, whose dad Tom was a longtime head pro at Denver Country Club and is a member of the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame, matched Irwin’s 68 for the best score out of Monday’s qualifying field of 42. Those two — along with John Buffalo, an assistant professional at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo who fired a 1-under-par 71 on Monday — earned spots in the second and final stage of U.S. Open qualifying, the Sectionals, which will be held at 11 U.S. sites on June 6.
The U.S. Open itself will be played June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md.
“There’s definitely an extra emphasis put on this tournament because of our family history with it, and it being a major national event,” Steve Irwin said Monday afternoon. “I hope I can say I’ve got the game to play on a national level.”
Irwin, a former University of Colorado golfer, made five birdies and one bogey on Monday. The birdie at No. 10 was especially pivotal as he hit three tee shots on the par-4 hole, thinking his first two might have gone out of bounds. But his first ball turned out to be in play, and he took advantage by hitting his approach to 3 feet and sinking the birdie putt.
“I am very pleased (with the round), especially for it being this early in the year,” said Irwin, who will make his Sectional Qualifying bid in Sacramento, Calif. “I managed my game well. This was a tough golf course and you’ve got to be smart about where you put the ball and how aggressive you are in attacking the pins. So it was a good round.”
Irwin picked Desert Hawk for his Local Qualifying specifically because he felt it wasn’t a “bombers” layout and therefore may give him a leg up. And the strategy obviously worked out well, earning him his third trip to the Sectional Qualifying stage.
Connell and Buffalo likewise found a groove at Desert Hawk. Connell carded six birdies and two bogeys for the day. And Buffalo, who was 2 over par through 10 holes, used a 15th-hole eagle and two birdies to punch his card into Sectionals.
Cortez-based pro Micah Rudosky posted a 72 on Monday to become first alternate, while Bradley Besler of Blessing, Texas shot 73 and earned the second alternate spot.
Two more U.S. Open Local Qualifying tournaments — also conducted by the CGA — will be held Monday, May 16. Eighty-four players will compete for six Sectional spots at The Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster, while 64 golfers will vie for five Sectional spots at Collindale Golf Club in Fort Collins.
U.S. Open Local Qualifying
Monday at Desert Hawk at Pueblo West (Par-72, 7,316 yards)
ADVANCE TO SECTIONAL QUALIFYING
Andrew Connell, Denver, Colo. 33-35–68
Steven Irwin, Arvada, Colo. 35-33–68
John Buffalo, Pueblo, Colo. 38-33″”71
ALTERNATES (In order)
Micah Rudosky, Cortez, Colo. 32-40–72
Bradley Besler, Blessing, Texas 36-37″”73
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Gabe Maier, Cody, Wyo. 36-37–73
Riche Moore, Aurora, Colo. 35-39–74
John Luoma, Parker, Colo. 37-38–75
Travis Ross, Crookston, Minn. 34-41–75
Jimmy Makloski, Pueblo, Colo. 38-37–75
Jeffrey Becker, Colorado Springs, Colo. 35-40–75
David Duarte, Fountain, Colo. 37-39–76
Ryan Boshoven, Castle Rock, Colo. 41-35–76
Collin Covault, Bagdad, Ariz. 34-43–77
Jay Osmon, Alamosa, Colo. 38-39–77
Tom Glissmeyer, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-40–78
Garrett Froggatte, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-40–78
Nicholas Mason, Denver, Colo. 35-43–78
Cody Donley, Aurora, Colo. 38-41–79
Ramon Habel, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-42–80
Andrew Cornella, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-39–80
Chris Weinstein, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-40–80
Chris Winter, Colorado Springs, Colo. 40-41–81
Dave Arbuckle, Colorado Springs, Colo. 42-40–82
Guiseppe Depietro, Colorado Springs, Colo. 38-44–82
Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch, Colo. 40-42–82
Dustin Irby, Arvada, Colo. 43-39–82
Kyle Burns, Denver, Colo. 41-41–82
James Sorenson, Mount Pleasant, Iowa 41-42–83
Ciaran Carr, Colorado Springs, Colo. 41-43–84
Graham McCoy, Colorado Springs, Colo. 42-42–84
Guy Begay, Durango, Colo. 43-42–85
Eric Regall, Durango, Colo. 44-42–86
Sean Griswold, Durango, Colo. 38-48–86
Zachary Zaremba, Pueblo West, Colo. 43-44–87
John Alter, Littleton, Colo. 42-45–87
Paul Beblavi, Aurora, Colo. 42-46–88
Shaun Fischer, Elizabeth, Colo. 50-40–90
Chad Novak, Pueblo, Colo. WD
Jonathan Park, Denver, Colo. WD
Jason Schmidt, Aurora, Colo. WD
Rodney Folmar, Aurora, Colo. NC
