It was a big day Thursday for the two Colorado PGA professionals competing in this week’s U.S. Senior Open at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs.
Years from now, Doug Rohrbaugh will be able to tell family and friends that he had the distinction of being the first player to tee off at the third U.S. Senior Open held in his home state.
The Carbondale resident and Colorado PGA member led the way for the field of 156 by hitting first in the 7 a.m. threesome off the first tee Thursday at The Broadmoor’s East Course.
“That was cool, no question,” said Rohrbaugh, the 2013 CoBank Colorado Senior Open champion and a three-time winner of the Colorado PGA Professional Championship. “That was on my mind, it was.
“That’s kind of a cool deal to kick the thing off. I had my mom and dad sitting there, and a bunch of friends. I’m not going to lie — it kind of got to me a little. I got a little emotional about it. Then I regrouped. I didn’t catch (the tee shot) solid, but I kept it in the first cut, put it on the green and two-putted (for par). Then I birdied 2, and I’m thinking, my nerves are fine and I’m ready to go.”
Meanwhile, Chris Johnson (above) of Castle Rock was competing in his first U.S. Senior Open round ever, and he acquitted himself quite nicely. The 2010 Colorado PGA Professional champion was just 1 over par through 13 holes after playing the toughest stretch of the course (10-13) in 1 under. And even though he endured back-to-back holes where he went double bogey (tree issues after a blocked tee shot) then bogey, he sank a 15-foot par putt on 18 to shoot a 4-over-par 74, which left him in 58th place after round 1.
“I’ve been playing solid golf for a few months now,” Johnson said. “My expectations are to play a really good round of golf tomorrow. Without a doubt, I’m striking it well enough, I’m putting well enough. That’s not going to change.”
Earlier in the day, at least for a while, things went just fine for Rohrbaugh, who was medalist in the qualifying at The Broadmoor on Memorial Day, shooting a 1-under-par 69. He was even-par through seven holes. But a double bogey on No. 8 — where he hit it in the front bunker, thinned his sand shot over the green and missed a 5-foot par putt — and six bogeys on the back nine led to an 8-over-par 78.
“I was feeling really good how I was playing through 7 considering the mishits,” Rohrbaugh said. “But my driver just left me. I’ve been hitting the driver so well. Then I couldn’t find the center of the face. It was heel, toe, heel …”
Rohrbaugh (left), who’s competing in his fourth U.S. Senior Open and eighth senior major, had been hoping to play in the championship as he did in the qualifying tournament.
“I said at the qualifier, ‘I’ll take four 69s right now,'” he said. “And so far, it sounds like that won’t be bad. If you’re driving it well, it’s there to shoot 1 or 2 under. If you’re not driving well — like I didn’t — no.”
Both Colorado PGA members in the field have sons caddying for them, with Cooper doing the honors for Johnson and Tristan for Rohrbaugh. And, of course, both are getting considerable support from family and friends.
“I’ve been in the golf industry here for 30 years,” Johnson said. “They came out in droves today, and I was a little surprised honestly. It was awesome.”
Meanwhile, as for other golfers with strong Colorado connections, Colorado Golf Hall of Famer Brandt Jobe posted an even-par 70, leaving him tied for ninth place. (See related story.)
Three-time U.S. Open champion and former University of Colorado athlete Hale Irwin opened with a 79 after making two double bogeys and three bogeys on the back nine. That’s the highest single-round score the two-time champion has recorded in 23 U.S. Senior Opens.
Former CU golfer Mikael Hogberg recorded an 80, while former Castle Pines resident Esteban Toledo had an 81.
Smoltz Roughed Up in First U.S. Senior Open Round: Baseball Hall of Famer John Smoltz was very complimentary of PGA Tour Champions players on the eve of his first U.S. Senior Open. And, if anything, he understated just how talented they are, based on how round 1 went for the former Cy Young Award winner.
Smoltz, who qualified for the Senior Open in a playoff, made no birdies and just five pars en route to a 15-over-par 85, which left him in 150th place out of 156 competitors.
“If I had to go back (and think about it), I had three bad shots. That’s it,” he said. “And I shot 85. So it just tells you, from an amateur standpoint, people sitting at home, I don’t know if you can tell how hard the course played. But that’s how great these players are.”
Smoltz was 10 over par through his first 10 holes. He finished with 12 bogeys and a triple bogey. He was mic’d up for the round by Fox, for whom Smoltz works as a baseball analyst. “Can’t call in a reliever,” was one of his comments mid-round.
“I thought I hit a lot of good shots that just didn’t get good results,” he said. “… I never expected to get that many bad lies.
“… I don’t have enough game for this course yet. … Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d shoot 85. … My family and friends, I would have left if I was at the ninth hole. They stuck around.”
Lightweight: Rocco Mediate, who shot a 2-under-par 68 on Thursday, is a shadow of his former self — not golf-wise but physically — these days. He said he’s lost roughly 40-50 pounds in the last year.
“I’m half the size I was last year,” he said. “I’m way stronger (and the club is moving) way faster.”
Douglass the Record Holder: He sat there, unrecognized for the most part, on a bench next to the entrance to The Broadmoor Golf Club on Thursday morning, waiting to meet someone during the first round of the U.S. Senior Open.
It was none other than Dale Douglass, the 1986 U.S. Senior Open champion and the man who has played in more U.S. Senior Opens than anyone in history (26).
“I’m one ahead of Arnie (Palmer), so he’s not going to catch me,” Douglass said with a smile.
The part-time Castle Pines resident, winner of three PGA Tour events and 11 on PGA Tour Champions, is a member of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame and the Colorado Golf Hall of Fame.
An 88 Despite Ace: Stan Souza of Kailua, Hawaii made a hole-in-one with a 7-iron on the 175-yard fourth hole Thursday, marking the eighth ace of his lifetime. Ironically, the eagle was the last score of par or better Souza would have until hole 18. That’s right: After the ace, he made nothing but bogeys or double bogeys for 13 holes, until parring 18. Despite the ace, Souza played bogey golf for the day, posting an 18-over-par 88. That left his in next-to-last place for players who completed the the first round.
“The course just absolutely ate me alive,” he said. “It was rough, but what a thrill.”
Notable: Denver native Tommy Armour III withdrew after nine holes of his first round Thursday due to “altitude-related illness,” according to the USGA. Armour was 8 over par after nine holes as he double bogeyed each of his first three holes. … Tim Hogarth, the 1996 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, leads the low-amateur competition by two strokes after shooting an even-par 70 on Thursday. … The field will be cut to the low 60 players and ties after Friday’s second round.
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