Another Buff (this time a #ForeverBuff) qualifying for the Amateur!
Direct link to article -
https://cubuffs.com/news/2023/7/25/mens-golf-third-golfer-with-cu-ties-qualifies-for-us-amateur.aspx
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FORT COLLINS — Former University of Colorado golfer and assistant coach
Patrick Grady won a playoff for the second and final qualifying spot here Tuesday, giving the Buffs a third player to represent the school in next month's U.S. Amateur.
Grady, who graduated from CU in 2009, turned in a 6-under par 69-67—136 scorecard on Collindale Golf Course's 7,157-yard, par-71 configuration. Hovering between second place, the last qualifying spot, and third, the first alternate position for much of the last nine holes, dueling with Lucas Howell, who caught Grady after he birdied No. 15. Both birdied 16 and then the duo bogeyed 18, forcing a playoff on the par-5, 10th hole.
Grady, who said at that point he was "really pumped up," drove the green on the 539-yard hole in two, using a 3-wood off the tee and an 8-iron to about 10 feet from the pin. Howell reached in three and was 11 feet away and missed his try at birdie; Grady's eagle putt was a couple of inches short and he tapped in for a birdie and earned the second qualifying spot in the process.
CU Colorado Springs former player and graduate Colin Prater was the medalist with a 66-68—134 effort, 8-under par.
When asked how much he has played this summer, Grady, a certified public accountant, retorted with a laugh, "More than my wife knows. Probably around 25 rounds this year, but I start late because I work a lot through tax season." Grady finished the day with 11 birdies, 21 pars, three bogeys and one double bogey.
Junior-to-be
Tucker Clark finished 14 (70-72—142) and incoming frosh
Ty Holbrook tied for 15th (70-73—143) also here Tuesday.
Spencer Painton, an '18 grad, tied for 11th with a 71-70—141 effort. Former Buff
Cole Krantz carded a 72-75—147 scorecard and former CU placekicker turned golfer
Aric Goodman recorded a pair of 76s for a 10-over 152.
Grady will join CU junior-to-be
Dylan McDermott and incoming freshman
Brandon Knight in the event, the third time three or more Buffaloes have qualified for the most prestigious amateur event in the world. In 1999, four Buffaloes qualified, three on that current team,
Matt Call,
Brandon Tompkins and
Matt Zions along with alum
Dirk Fennie ('91); and in 1984, team members
Matt Potter and
Todd Wood were joined by '72 alum
Davis Driver. All seven, however, missed the cut and did not advance into match play.
In all, 312 golfers will compete next month in the 123rd U.S. Amateur, which has returned to Colorado for the first time since 2012 and for the fifth time overall. Two days of stroke play will take place August 14-15 at Cherry Hills Country Club and Colorado Golf Club, with five days of match play commencing Aug. 16 leading up to a 36-hole championship match at Cherry Hills on Sunday, Aug. 20. Cherry Hills also hosted the event in 1990 and 2012, with the Broadmoor doing so the first two occasions in 1959 and 1967.
On joining two other Buffaloes at Cherry Hills, Grady said, "That's awesome, especially it being right here in Denver. Cherry Hills fits my game because it's not too long -- some of these college kids can really bomb it off the tee. I love Cherry Hills, I've probably played in eight or 10 times and I love it."
This was his fifth attempt at qualifying for the U.S. Amateur; his first was in 2004 and that is where he met then head coach and the late
Mark Simpson, which eventually led to him joining the Buffaloes.
IVAN QUALIFIES FOR U.S. SENIOR AMATEUR
GREELEY -- On Monday, 1984 CU graduate
Steve Ivan earned the fourth and final qualifying spot in a playoff for next month's U.S. Senior Amateur.
Ivan shot a 33-40--73, 3-over par, at Greeley Country Club. He defeated Broomfield's Ted Kreider in a playoff to earn the fourth and last qualifying position.
Ivan fell behind Kreider by one stroke after he bogeyed Nos. 15 and 16, but parred out; Kreider bogeyed 18 and the playoff was on. Both made par on
the first playoff hole (No. 1), and then some adventure on the second hole, No. 18.
"18 is a shortish devilish hole," Ivan said. "I hit a hybrid off the tee, then a 7-iron pushed into the right side bunker. Ted hit his drive to the right in the 'chickweed' and it was sitting down. He chunked his second shot into the hazard, took his drop and hit that into the front bunker with me. I hit my bunker shot first to about four feet above the hole, but proceeded to hole out the bunker shot for a 5. I made my putt, a downhill slider to the right. Elation!"
Ivan won the Dick Billehus Invitation two weeks ago on the same course, so he had some very recent familiarity with it. It was the 15th time a Buffalo, current or an alum, won the event, Ivan the first to do so since Jim Grady in 2007.
A few other CU alums tried their hand at qualifying but came up a bit short: and
Mike Glaesel ('89) and
D.J. Morris ('93) carded 76s and
Davis Driver ('72) shot an 82.
The U.S. Senior Amateur is slated for August 26-31 at Martis Camp's Lake Tahoe Golf Course in Trucktee, Calif..
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