Qualifying for USGA championships never gets old for Jon Lindstrom, which is a good thing considering that on Monday he earned a spot in a USGA national tournament for roughly the 12th time, including 10 in individual events.
In a 65-man qualifier at Twin Peaks Golf Course in Longmont, the 43-year-old from Broomfield advanced to the U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship for the fourth time. That goes along with his four U.S. Mid-Amateurs, two U.S. Amateurs and two or three USGA State Team Championships.
“It’s the highlight of the year to get in these,” said Lindstrom, who not only has qualified for USGA championships but has advanced to match play all but once. “I really look forward to them all. … They always play great venues so it’s always fun to go.”
And it was a bonus that the commercial insurance broker (pictured with CGA president Jim Magette) earned medalist honors in the qualifier by firing two consecutive 4-under-par 66s at Twin Peaks.
The 2008 CGA Mid-Amateur champion finished one stroke ahead of Charles Chon of Aurora (65-68–133) and six ahead of Jonathan Park of Denver (72-66–138). Park earned the third and final spot available for the U.S. Publinks in a one-hole playoff as Clinton Miller of Englewood topped his tee shot in sudden death and made bogey, while Park two-putted from 6 feet for par.
Lindstrom, Chon and Park will play in the U.S. Amateur Public Links June 27-July 2 at the Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Ore. Chon and Park will be making their USGA championship debuts.
On Monday, Lindstrom made an eagle — via a chip-in on his fifth hole of the afternoon round — and nine birdies, offset by three bogeys.
“I’ve had a handful of low (and mid) 60s this year but I haven’t backed it up with anything, so it was nice to do this both rounds in the same day,” he said. “It was nice I was able to hold it together today.”
The 24-year-old Chon, who attended Colorado State University but didn’t play golf, shot a bogey-free 65 Monday morning and carded 10 birdies on the day. He said the 65 marked the first blemish-free round of golf he’s ever played.
“I can’t believe I just qualified,” said Chon, who noted it was the biggest accomplishment of his golf career. “I was struggling. I played in the Collindale Invitaitonal over the weekend and shot 78-78. I had no expectations at all, so I’m really, really surprised.”
Park, who just completed his freshman season on the Colorado State University-Pueblo golf team, overcame two double bogeys in his morning round by posting 10 birdies for the day.
“This is the hardest step,” the 19-year-old said of qualifying for a USGA championship. “Once I get there I think I’ll do fine.”
Park, the 2010 CGA Junior Stroke Play champion, recently finished 16th individually in the NCAA Division II Championships.
U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifying
At Par-70 Twin Peaks GC in Longmont
Qualifiers
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield, Colo., 66-66–132
Charles Chon, Aurora, Colo., 65-68–133
Jonathan Park, Denver, Colo., 72-66–138
Alternates (in order)
Clinton Miller, Englewood, Colo., 67-71–138
Sean Thomas, Arvada, Colo., 70-69–139
Failed to Qualify
Branden Barron, Centennial, Colo., 69-70–139
Eli Cole, Beverly Hills, Calif., 68-71–139
C J Kim, Denver, Colo., 71-69–140
Keith Humerickhouse, New Castle, Colo., 69-71–140
Eric Parish, Laramie, Wyo., 70-71–141
Zahkai Brown, Arvada, Colo., 68-73–141
Richard Moore, Aurora, Colo., 70-72–142
Tristan Sanders, Denver, Colo., 69-73–142
Andy Dannewitz, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 75-67–142
Derek Fribbs, Castle Rock, Colo., 73-70–143
Branson Real, Wray, Colo., 69-74–143
Derrick Whiting, Littleton, Colo., 71-72–143
Nicholas Sheedy, Denver, Colo., 78-66–144
Dean Clapp, Littleton, Colo., 72-72–144
Devin Schreiner, Durango, Colo., 70-74–144
Steve Connell, Denver, Colo., 67-78–145
Wes Denny, Usaf Academy, Colo., 78-68–146
Andy Moore, Loveland, Colo., 74-72–146
Dan Silva, Parker, Colo., 72-75–147
Nick Jason Berry, Littleton, Colo., 73-74–147
Wesley Martin, Denver, Colo., 73-74–147
Chris Fitting, Erie, Colo., 78-70–148
Blake Basham, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 70-78–148
Neil Metz, Boulder, Colo., 71-77–148
Andrew Hoops, USAF Academy, Colo., 74-74–148
Kyle Beard, Denver, Colo., 75-74–149
Kevin Wohlfarth, Thornton, Colo., 76-74–150
Michael Glaesel, Arvada, Colo., 75-76–151
Jason Coffin, Denver, Colo., 79-72–151
Jason Johnson, Westminster, Colo., 78-73–151
Chris Longfellow, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 78-74–152
Michael Cole, Monument, Colo., 76-77–153
Bryan Kruse, Westminster, Colo., 78-75–153
Lanny Cameron, Loveland, Colo., 73-80–153
Austin Raap, Highlands Ranch, Colo., 75-78–153
David Harris, Avon, Colo., 75-78–153
Shane Thomas, Denver, Colo., 74-80–154
Davin Sjoberg, Crested Butte, Colo., 73-81–154
Cody Donley, Aurora, Colo., 79-75–154
Joseph Schwark, Westminster, Colo., 78-77–155
Christopher Good, Aurora, Colo., 77-80–157
Marc J Vincelli, Lakewood, Colo., 78-79–157
Grant Javernick, Aurora, Colo., 78-80–158
Ryan Boshoven, Castle Rock, Colo., 81-77–158
Jordan Bobert, Greeley, Colo., 73-86–159
Christian Rundberg, Laramie, Wyo., 80-80–160
Rupert Lona, Westminster, Colo., 85-76–161
Jay-Jay Botha, Englewood, Colo., 78-85–163
Adam Vasilakis, Colorado Springs, Colo., 81-85–166
Mark Travers, Boulder, Colo., 88-79–167
Austin Clements, Thornton, Colo., 88-82–170
Ken Yarmowich, Dillon, Colo., 88-85–173
Doug Grove, Parker, Colo., 83-NC
Austin Vanderbloom, Cheyenne, Wyo., 75-WD
Nicholas Bovine, Boulder, Colo., 87-WD
