It might be awhile before Wil Collins gets back on the Dakota Golf Tour. He seems to like playing in Colorado.
In early June, he won the U.S. Open qualifying tournament at Columbine Country Club to get a shot at the big boys in Pinehurst, N.C.
Sunday, he won the Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch and qualified for The International.
Collins, a 26-year-old mini-tour player from Rapid City, S.D., shot a final- round 66 on Sunday, breaking away from a three-way tie with a birdie on the first hole. He finished with a record 20-under-par 268, which was six shots better than his closest rivals, Brett Wayment of Logan, Utah, and John Douma of Scottsdale, Ariz.
So with the $23,000 winner’s check and an exemption for The International in his pocket, Collins will not be going home to play in the Hillcrest Open in Yankton, S.D., this week. He’ll be busy in Castle Rock.
“I’m excited,” Collins said. “To be able to keep myself composed this week was a big step for me. It’s going to be another chance to play at that level. Not to say I’ll be in contention, but just to stay composed at that level and not get all distracted. I’m definitely excited. I was going to have to drive all the way to Yankton (S.D., this morning). Now I’m going to sleep in.”
“I was going to go home to see my family in a couple of weeks anyway, but you never know. A top 10 in The International qualifies you for the next event (on the PGA Tour).”
Tied with Wayment, the 2001 champion, and Steve Schneiter, the 1991 runner-up, of Sandy, Utah, at 14-under going into the final round, Collins took the lead with a 15-foot birdie putt on the first hole. After Wayment bogeyed the second hole and Schneiter double-bogeyed No. 4 and bogeyed No. 5, Collins birdied Nos. 4 and 7 to get to 19-under for a six-stroke lead at the turn.
If the tournament wasn’t his then, it was on 517-yard No. 12 when he hit a 5-iron to within 10 feet of the pin and made his eagle putt.
“Wil did a nice job,” said Wayment, who earned $10,500. “When he made eagle on 12, that was it. I had a pretty good putt there and I thought if I could make birdie, you never know. But I missed my birdie chance and so I knew that was pretty much done right there.”
A winner at events in Phoenix and Davenport, Iowa, this summer, Collins birdied No. 18 to get to 20-under.
“Whenever I play well, it’s because my mind’s right,” said Collins, who finished next-to-last (153rd place) at the U.S. Open at 21-over. “When your mind’s right, you’re in the now, and the more you can do that, the more you can play at your peak level. I just work on trying to be in the present, and I was able to do that.
“It was a great day for me. I’ve always liked Colorado. My best friend (Josh Cariveau) lives here (Broomfield). I’ve been staying with him and he’s been caddying for me, so it’s worked out really well for me.”
University of Denver junior Charlie Soule of Longmont, the runner-up last year, was the low amateur this year, shooting a final-round 70 for a 277 and a tie for fourth.
“It was great,” Soule said. “I played with a bunch of great pros, so it kind of shows you what it takes to go out there and play professional golf. I got a lot of good advice from a lot of the guys.”
Joseph Sanchez can be reached at 303-820-5458 or jsanchez@denverpost.com.
