Nearly two years ago, Brian Kortan suffered a heart attack after playing a round of golf in South Dakota. Monday, after playing two rounds at Columbine Country Club, the Albuquerque resident celebrated his comeback by securing a spot in next week’s U.S. Open.
Kortan shot a 6-under-par 138 to win the sectional qualifer and notch one of two Columbine-produced spots for next week’s Open at Torrey Pines.
It will be the first career major tournament for Kortan, 37, who said he played most of his 23 PGA tournaments in 2004. At the time of his heart attack in August 2006, he said he was playing the best golf of his life — similar to now.
“It’s been a long couple years,” said Kortan, who plays with a heart monitor under his shirt and a defibrillator in his bag. “It was a pretty tough deal on me and my family, and it took me a long time to recover, so I feel a pretty big sense of accomplishment to qualify for the Open.”
Sectional runner-up Jay Choi, who beat Dustin White in a two-hole playoff, secured the second spot in next week’s Open. Choi and White were tied after 36 holes at 4-under 140.
White, a Pueblo resident and the 2006 Columbine sectional winner, bogeyed his final three holes in regulation to force the playoff. Choi advanced to his first U.S. Open with a birdie on the second playoff hole.
“Actually, it was a struggle all day, and I just hit some poor shots coming in,” White said. “The greens got a little slower and bumpy in the afternoon, but otherwise the course was fine.”
Typically one player advances to the U.S. Open from this section. The winner and runner-up are going this year because of the field size (28 players) and strength of the field, tournament officials said.
“It’s going to be fun,” said Kortan, who attended New Mexico State. “I came up here thinking I could qualify. I like the golf course, and Colorado has treated me great with my game in the past.”
Kortan had six birdies and two bogeys in the second round.
“I just played real solid,” Kortan said. “I didn’t always hit it in the fairway but wasn’t in trouble hardly ever. I made some good pars and made a lot of putts for birdies.”
Choi, born in Korea and living in Murrieta, Calif., had 10 birdies in the first 36 holes, including four on the back nine in the morning. He finished strong, with birdies on the last three holes to capitalize on White’s ensuing miscues.
Choi, 24, attended the University of New Mexico and turned pro in 2006. Suffering from burnout and a weight problem, he didn’t play from November 2006 to August 2007. But he said he lost 65 pounds.
“It took me awhile to get my swing back,” he said. “It’s tough, walking 36 holes. I haven’t done that since college.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
U.S. Open sectional qualifying
COLUMBINE COUNTRY CLUB
COLUMBINE VALLEY
7,450 yards, par 72
QUALIFIERS
* — won in playoff
Brian Kortan, Albuquerque70-68—138
*-Jay Choi, Korea 69-71—140
ALTERNATES IN ORDER
Dustin White, Pueblo West68-72-140
John Hayes, Littleton72-71-143
OTHER FINISHERS
Riley Arp, Fort Collins72-72—144
A.Goldberg, Encinitas, Calif. 73-72—145
Jesse Mueller, Mesa, Ariz. 75-70—145
C.Bingham, Spanish Fork, Utah 73-73—146
D.Wax, Pacific Palisades, Calif. 75-71—146
Jeff Klein, Mitchell, Neb. 72-74—146
Jared Wright, Gilbert, Ariz. 76-71—147
Charles Soule, Denver72-76—148
Aaron Watkins, Mesa, Ariz. 72-78—150
B.Anderson, Anchorage 76-74—150
Bryan Hoops, Chandler, Ariz. 80-70—150
Michael Zaremba, Pueblo West76-74—150
Ashdon Woods, Lander, Wyo. 75-77—152
B. Evans II, Williams, Ariz. 79-73—152
Robert Hunt, Highlands Ranch76-76—152
Shreve Tso, Prescott, Ariz. 79-73—152
Tray Shehee, Mead81-71—152
Brad Golden, Oklahoma City 73-80—153
Mike Stolarskyj, Omaha, Neb. 77-76—153
B. Weatherly, Australia 78-77—155
Doug Rohrbaugh, Portland 78-77—155
Adam Joiner, Carbondale76-80—156
James Kurtenbach, Littleton78-79—157
Jonathan Marsico, Englewood82-80—162
Other sectionals
Shadow Hawk Golf Club
Richmond, Texas
QUALIFIERS
Rich Beem, Austin, Texas67-70-139
Charlie Beljan, Mesa, Ariz.69-70—139
ALTERNATES
Robert Gwin, Houston 72-69-141
Steve Elkington, Houston 70-71-141
Ohio State University Golf Club
Scarlet Course, Par 71
Brookside Golf and Country Club,
Par 72
Columbus, Ohio
QUALIFIERS
C. Pettersson, Charlotte, N.C.64-67—131
B. Bryant, Windermere, Fla.69-65—134
Ben Crane, Westlake, Texas69-66—135
D.Fathauer, Jensen Beach, Fla.67-68—135
Joe Ogilvie, Austin, Texas66-69—135
R. Garrigus, Gilbert, Ariz.63-72—135
Kevin Tway, Edmond, Okla.68-68—136
D.Wilson, Colleyville, Texas69-68—137
Fredrik Jacobson, Cleveland 71-66—137
Jarrod Lyle, Reston, Va.69-68—137
John Mallinger, Reston, Va.67-70—137
K.Stanley, Gig Harbor, Wash. 71-66—137
N. Watney, Scottsdale, Ariz.66-71—137
D.Love III, St. Simons Isl., Ga. 72-66—138
Jesper Parnevik, Sweden69-69—138
Pat Perez, Scottsdale, Ariz. 71-67-—38
Rocco Mediate, Naples, Fla. 72-67—139
C.Campbell, Colleyville, Texas67-72—139
J.Hicks, Royal Palm Beach, Fla.69-70—139
S.Marino, Palm Beach, Fla.69-70—139
D.Johnson, Myrtle Beach, S.C. 70-69—139
IN PLAYOFF FOR FINAL TWO SPOTS
Eric Axley, Knoxville, Tenn. 70-69—139
Jonathan Mills, Cleveland 73-66—139
Rickie Fowler, Murrieta, Calif. 66-73—139
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Tom Glissmeyer, Colo. Spr. 77-71—148
Kevin Stadler, Scottsdale, Ariz.80—NS
Boone Valley Golf Club, Par 72
Augusta, Mo.
QUALIFIER
Bob Gaus, Kirkwood, Mo.76-66—142
ALTERNATE
Brad Nurski, St. Joseph, Mo.72-71—143
Conway Farms Golf Club, Par 71
Lake Forest, Ill.
QUALIFIERS
H. Haas, Fort Worth, Texas 68-68—136
Chris Kirk, Sea Island, Ga. 68-71—139
Ian Leggatt, Canada 69-70—139
D.A. Points, Ocoee, Fla. 69-70—139
M.O’Meara, Windermere, Fla. 70-70—140
IN PLAYOFF FOR FINAL SPOT
J. Turcott, Middleton, Wis. 72-69—141
K.Hanson, Detroit Lakes, Minn. 70-71—141
Ansley Golf Club, Par 72
Roswell, Ga.
QUALIFIERS
Jason Bohn, Acworth, Ga.62-67—129
Matt Kuchar, Atlanta64-65—129
D.J. Trahan, Mt. Pleasant, S.C.67-67—134
ALTERNATES
Ben Martin, Greenwood, S.C.69-65-134
T.Potter Jr., Silver Springs, Fla.70-66-136
The Members Club at Four Streams
Beallsville, Md.
QUALIFIERS
David Hearn, Canada71-66—137
B. Bergstol, Mt. Bethel, Pa.71-68—139
ALTERNATES
A. Davis, Chadds Ford, Pa.69-71—140
D.Bradshaw, Hrprs Fry, W.Va.69-72—141
Walton Heath Golf Club, Par 72
Surrey, England
QUALIFIERS
Ross Fisher, England 67-70—137
Alastair Forsyth, Scotland 69-68—137
Ross McGowan, England 67-71—138
Robert Dinwiddie, England 71-67—138
Phillip Archer, England 69-69—138
Thomas Levet, France 69-70—139
Johan Edfors, Sweden 69-70—139
ALTERNATES
G. Wolstenholme, England 68-71—139
Daniel Vancsik, Argentina 69-70—139
Springfield Country Club
Columbus, Ohio
Peter Tomasulo, Reston, Va. 63-65—128
A.Dresser, Carrollton, Texas 67-66—133
F.Figueroa, Chapel Hill, N.C. 67-67—134
C. Devlin, Birmingham, Ala. 68-67—135
Sean English, Cincinnati 64-71—135
J.Henderson, Lebanon, Ohio 71-65-136
ALTERNATES
J.Cuzzort, Grosse Ile, Mich. 69-67—136
Adam Bland, Australia 69-68—137
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Mike Troyer, Boulder 69-73—142
Andy Connell, Denver 79-68—147
Dustin Mills, Arvada79-76—155
Old Oaks Country Club, Par 70
Purchase, N.Y.
K.Silva, New Bedford, Mass. 70-69—139
J.Bors, St. Simons Island, Ga. 72-70—142
Y.Bnsn, Ryl Palm Beach, Fla. 75-67—142
M.Gilmore, Locust Valley, N.Y. 70-73—143
ALTERNATES
A.Svoboda, Larchmont, N.Y. 70-73—143
M.Gronberg, Spring Lake, N.J. 73-70—143
Colonial Country Club
Chickasaw Country Club, Par 143 (2-course total)
Cordova, Tenn.
QUALIFIERS
J.Merrick, Long Beach, Calif.65-65—130
Scott Piercy, Las Vegas64-68—132
M. Quagliano, Ardsley, N.Y.64-68—132
Brett Quigley, Jupiter, Fla.66-66—132
K. Streelman, Wheaton, Ill.64-69—133
P. Sheehan, Warwick, R.I.66-68—134
Chris Stroud, Houston65-69—134
T.Bertoni, Paso Robles, Calif.67-67—134
D.J. Brigman, Albuquerque64-70—134
S. Sterling, Baton Rouge, La.66-70—136
M. Letzig, Richmond, Mo.68-68—136
B. Jobe, Westlake, Texas65-71—136
C. Wittenberg, Memphis69-68—137
Mathew Goggin, Australia67-70—137
ALTERNATES
D. Stiles, Pinehurst, N.C.68- 69—137
Tommy Armour III, Dallas69-68—137
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Martin Laird, Scotland67-72—139
Jupiter Hills Club, Hills Course, Par 70
Tequesta, Fla.
QUALIFIERS
B.Collins, Palm Beach, Fla.69-69—138
Philippe Gasnier, Brazil 69-71—140
IN PLAYOFF FOR FINAL SPOT
Joey Lamielle, Sarasota, Fla.73-68—141
J.Suri, Saint Augustine, Fla.72-69—141
Rod Perry, Port Orange, Fla.72-69—141
FAILED TO QUALIFY
Leif Olson, Denver72-80—152
Emerald Valley Golf Club, Par 72
Creswell, Oregon
QUALIFIERS
Nick Taylor, Canada70-68—138
Rob Rashell, Scottsdale, Ariz.69-71—140
ALTERNATES
Josh Immordino, Kent, Wash.75-68—143
Lake Merced Golf Club, Par 72
Daly City, Calif.
QUALIFIERS
John Ellis, San Jose, Calif.69-71—140
Jason Gore, Valencia, Calif.67-73-140
M. Allen, Scottsdale, Ariz.70-70—140
G. Chaussard, Millbrae, Calif.68-73—141
C.Barlow, Henderson, Nev.71-70—141
a-Jeff Wilson, Fairfield, Calif.70-71—141
a-J.Cox, Redwood City, Calif.70-71—141
