U.S. AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS QUALIFYING
At Par-71 Murphy Creek GC in Aurora
Qualifiers advance to U.S. Publinks, set
for July 14-19 at Murphy Creek GC in Aurora
QUALIFIERS
Riley Arp, Fort Collins 69-71--140
Pat Grady, Broomfield 72-70--142
Gabriel Maier, Cody, Wyo., 70-72--142
Jim Grady, Broomfield 72-71--143
Zachary Zaremba, Pueblo West 69-74—143
ALTERNATES IN ORDER
Jason Rudquist, Bloomington, Minn., 74-71--145
Brian Richmeier, Aurora 73-72—145
OTHERS
Jacob Lestishen, Lone Tree 75-70--145
Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 73-72--145
Zen Brown, Arvada 71-74--145
Bryan Hackenberg, Thornton 77-69--146
Nick Geyer, Malibu, Calif., 72-74--146
Branden Barron, Aurora 71-76--147
Tom Whitney, La Quinta, Calif., 73-74--147
Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 76-73--149
Erik Hogan, Commerce City 74-75--149
Brenden Beeg, Littleton 72-78--150
James Kurtenbach, Littleton 74-76--150
Sean Hedden, Denver 72-78--150
Zahkai Brown, Arvada 73-77--150
Jeremy Deems, Boulder 71-80--151
Stuart Allen, Lakewood 76-75--151
Jacob Kubie, Denver 73-79--152
Joseph Schwark, Westminster 75-77--152
Matt Strong, Castle Rock 73-79--152
Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch 78-74--152
Clifton Sebra, Aurora 76-77--153
Ryan Brees, Steamboat Springs 78-75--153
Andrew Dannewitz, Highlands Ranch 74-80--154
David Stewart, Golden 75-79--154
Matthew Rubin, Cherry Hills Village 75-79--154
Mike Newbold, Aurora 77-77--154
Robert Quick, Littleton 76-78--154
Austin Bowman, Pryor, Okla., 74-81--155
Brian Larson, Longmont 78-77--155
Charles Chon, Aurora 78-77--155
David Duarte, Fountain 77-78--155
Jon Lopez, Aurora 75-81--156
Michael McFadden, Santa Ana, Calif., 78-78--156
Kevin Roxburgh, Denver 78-79--157
Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch 77-81--158
Mike Rockouski, Highlands Ranch 78-82--160
Corey Dutton, La Junta 78-83--161
John Pappadakis, Colorado Springs 77-85--162
J T Symons, Idaho Springs 77-86--163
Michael Garramone, Denver 77-86--163
John Hoge, Parker 78-88--166
Dean Clapp, Aurora 76-WD--WD
Henry Bissell, Denver 74-WD--WD
Steven Murphy, Elbert 76-WD--WD
71 Tuesday to finish at 2-under-par 140 overall. Two strokes back were Pat Grady (70 Tuesday) and Maier (72). And Jim Grady (71) and Zaremba (74) tied at 143. The Gradys played for the University of Colorado golf team last season, while Maier and Zaremba -- a U.S. Amateur qualifier last year -- were teammates at Wyoming. Arp is a fourth-year-junior-to-be at Colorado State.
Jim Grady, who just wrapped up his CU career, notes that he and his brother are “not exactly lovey-dovey,” but admitted it was a special moment to both qualify for the national tournament. After all, Jim has tried to qualify for about 20 USGA tournaments, but this is the first where he’s succeeded. As for Pat, this will be USGA championship No. 2, as he also earned a spot in the 2004 U.S. Publinks.
“It’s pretty cool,” Jim Grady said. “Our dad is probably more happy than either of us will admit to being … (but) I’d rather have (Pat) qualify than anyone else.”
Jim Grady, at 23 a year older than Pat, had planned to turn pro in short order had he not qualified Tuesday.
“That took a lot of the pressure off and made it easier to qualify,” he said. “That was the first time I wasn’t nervous in an event like this.”
Now, Jim Grady said he may hold off going pro until attempting to qualify for the U.S. Amateur in early August.
Pat Grady, the 2007 Colorado Golf Association amateur player of the year, has a year of eligibility left at CU after redshirting last season. His resume includes a state trifecta of sorts as he’s the only player to have won the State Stroke Play, State Match Play and State Publinks. But earning this U.S. Publinks berth was particularly satisfying given that it will be held in Colorado.
“I wanted to play in this so bad,” he said. “This is an absolute thrill.”
Pat Grady battled back from a shanked shot on his second hole Tuesday -- which led to a double bogey -- to post a sub-par round thanks to sinking 10-foot putts on each of his last two holes. That strong finish was a stark contrast to the recent Southwestern Amateur, where he shared the lead with nine holes left only to go 5 over par on his closing nine.
“That makes what I did today that much better,” he said.
As for Arp, he has been on a roll of late, and the Publinks qualifying was no exception. In the spring and early summer, he’s finished second in the Mountain West Conference Championship, won three amateur events in Colorado (including a 10-shot victory at the Collindale Invitational), and then captured medalist honors Tuesday. The U.S. Publinks will mark his first USGA championship berth.
“I’m thrilled,” said the 20-year-old. “I get to play in the biggest tournament I’ve played in so far. And it’s in my home state.”
Grady Brothers Make Qualifying a Family Affair
Broomfield siblings earn berths in U.S. Publinks tourney that Aurora will host
By Gary Baines
Colorado Golf Journal, Tuesday, June 24, 2008
AURORA -- It’s difficult enough to qualify for U.S. Golf Association championships in the first place, but for two members of a family to earn berths into the same tournament, that’s a real feat.
Yet Broomfield’s Pat and Jim Grady pulled it off Tuesday in both qualifying for next month’s U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship. The fact that the national tournament will be held in the Gradys’ home state makes it all the more special.
“It’s pretty awesome that we both got in,” Pat Grady said. “I know two brothers made it into the U.S. Amateur last year (Allen and Daniel Gambill of Hickory, N.C.), so it makes it kind of unique.”
In all, five players out of a field of 140 advanced through sectional qualifying at Murphy Creek Golf Course to earn spots in the U.S. Publinks, which will be held July 14-19, also at Murphy Creek.
Joining the Gradys will be medalist Riley Arp of Fort Collins; Gabe Maier of Cody, Wyo.; and former state high school champion Zach Zaremba of Pueblo West. Arp shot an even-par
Brothers Jim and Pat Grady
