As the crowds followed Michelle Wie all day, Kent Denver grad Kevin Stadler quietly continued his solid year Monday by qualifying for the U.S. Open at the Summit, N.J., sectional.
Stadler, who won a full exemption on the European Tour by winning a tournament in February, was tied for the first-round lead Monday after a 6-under-par 66 on the North Course at Canoe Brook Country Club and finished tied for third at 8-under 134 to get one of 18 spots out of the 153-golfer sectional.
Travis Williams of Erie is the first alternate out of the Summit sectional after finishing second in a five-man playoff for the final spot. Williams finished at 4-under 138.
Former University of Colorado All-American Ben Portie, who plays out of Westminster, opened with a 5-over 77 on the North Course before shooting 2-over 72 in the second round on the South Course to finish at 7-over 149.
At one of the two sectionals in Columbus, Ohio, a group of Colorado golfers were unable to make the cut. Denver native and former CU golfer Jonathan Kaye missed qualifying by one stroke, finishing at 141. Shane Bertsch, who plays out of Parker and is 76th on the PGA Tour money list, finished at 145, while CU golfers Ed McGlasson, who just finished his senior season, was at 150 and Jim Grady, a Broomfield grad, was at 151.
