Global Success

It was an impressive weekend for several former local college players on significant tours around the world.

Fort Collins resident Tom Whitney, a former Air Force Academy golfer, tied for sixth Sunday at the PGA Tour Latinoamerica’s Lexus Panama Classic in Rio Hato, Panama.

And at the European Challenge Tour’s Barclays Kenya Open, former University of Colorado golfer Sebastian Heisele and former University of Denver player Espen Kofstad shared fourth place on Sunday.

Whitney (pictured), a rookie on the Latinoamerica circuit, posted rounds of 69-69-72-71 for a 7-under-par 281 total, which left him five strokes behind champion Derek Rende. The showing was worth $5,863 to Whitney, who in the last several months has won the Nevada Open and tournaments on the OnCore Gateway and Swing Thought Tours.

Meanwhile, in Kenya, Heisele and Kofstad, who are German and Norwegian, respectively, earned 12,100 euros each for recording 11-under-par 277 totals and finishing seven strokes behind winner Sebastian Soderberg. Heisele carded rounds of 72-69-65-71, while Kofstad went 73-69-66-69.

It was Heisele’s best finish ever on the Challenge Tour — he’s actually exempt on the Asian Tour this year — and the best for Kofstad since he won twice in 2012.

Also, on the Adams Pro Tour’s Southwest Louisiana Open, Jim Knous of Englewood tied for eighth place Saturday, earning $2,865. He shot rounds of 67-67-68-72 for a 14-under-par 274 total. Knous is a former Colorado School of Mines golfer.