When the time comes for Sunday’s final round of the HealthOne Colorado Open, no doubt Derek Tolan will feel the pressure of going for the biggest win of his golf career.
But he’ll also be feeling something else.
“It’ll be a tremendous amount of fun,” the 23-year-old said Saturday afternoon. “This is what I do. This is what all the hard work and dedication is for.”
Tolan, less than two months into his professional career, has held the lead after each round of the Colorado Open, and he’ll take a two-shot advantage into the final 18 at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.
The former University of Colorado golfer fired a 4-under-par 67 Saturday to break the 54-hole scoring record for the Open, previously set in 1997 by Doug Dunakey (199). Tolan stands at 15-under-par 198, with Phoenix’s Chris Kamin trailing by two — the same margin that separated the two golfers when the day started. John Douma, like Tolan a former CU golfer, is the only other player within five strokes of Tolan. The 2007 Open champion shot a 68 Saturday for a three-day total of 202. Former PGA Tour player Brian Kortan leads a threesome at 204.
While Kamin and Douma have plenty of respect for the playing ability of Tolan, they’re hoping their decade-plus of professional experience pays dividends Sunday, when a $23,000 check will be up for grabs.
“Derek is a good player; he has loads of talent,” Douma said. “And it’s nice to have something in common (being former CU golfers), even though there”˜s a significant age difference. I remember the first year I turned pro — it was 1997. And I’ve learned a lot over the years. I’ve learned how to win when I’m a few shots back.”
But Tolan has given little indication of cracking under the pressure. Though he doesn’t have much pro experience, he played the 2002 U.S. Open as a 16-year-old, has qualified for 10 USGA championships, won two college tournaments while at CU, and captured the San Juan Open title last month as a pro.
“This is a huge opportunity for me,” said the Highlands Ranch resident. “But I know how good a players Chris and John are. I know they’re capable of beating half the guys on (the PGA) Tour if given the chance. It’s going to be tough, but that’s what makes it fun.”
Tolan has made just one bogey over the last two rounds combined. If he wins while shooting a final round of 68 or better, he’ll set the 72-hole scoring record for the Colorado Open, a tournament which dates back to 1964.
“I don’t think Derek is going to play poorly,” said Kamin, winner of five Gateway Tour events in his career. “All I can do is control myself. If I put some pressure on him, we’ll see what happens. I’m going to try to beat him. John and I will have to have good rounds to win, but Derek has to play good too. He’s ahead by two, not nine. But I’d rather be in his position than mine.”
There’s no doubt that Kamin can go low, given that he set the course record (61) in Wednesday’s pro-am. And he’s made just two bogeys in three rounds this week.
Kamin said he thought at the start of the week that 20 under par would win the tournament. Tolan said he, too, had a target figure in mind for the week, but he won’t reveal what that number might be other than to say he’s on pace to achieve it.
“I have a good chance to reach it, but I have to play well (Sunday),” Tolan said.
The fact that the scores are so low isn’t any mystery to the top competitors.
“These are the best conditions there’s ever been (for the Open at GVR), this is the most consistent it’s ever been, and this is the softest that it’s ever been,” Douma said.
Given all that, Douma is taking dead aim at another top performance, coming on the heels of four top-two finishes in his last four Opens.
“I’m going to play very aggressive (Sunday) to go low and try to catch Derek,” said Douma, a recent winner on the Gateway Tour. “My goal is to shoot five better than Tolan and three better than Chris.”
COLORADO OPEN NOTES: Three of the last four Colorado Opens have had an amateur finish in the top six in the overall competition, but that’s unlikely to happen again on Sunday. The low amateur after three rounds is University of Northern Colorado golfer Stephen Bidne, who shares 30th place at 3-under-par 210. Tom Gempel, who just completed his University of Colorado golf career, is just one shot back of Bidne. “¦ If John Douma finishes second or higher Sunday, he’ll move past four-time champion Dave Hill and into the No. 3 spot on the Colorado Open career money list. Just under $10,000 currently separate the two players. “¦ Tee times for Sunday’s final round will run from 7 to 9:01 a.m., with players starting on both the first and 10th tees. The leaders will go off No. 1 at 9:01 a.m.
