COLORADO SPRINGS — Rick Cloninger was staring an automatic exemption into next year’s U.S. Senior Open right in the face.
The amateur from North Carolina was five shots better than last year’s co-low amateur Danny Green heading to the back nine Sunday. But an inward nine of 6-over-par 40, including double bogeys on Nos. 15 and 18, led to a 79 that cost Cloninger a chance to stand next to Eduardo Romero at the awards table.
Cloninger knew where he stood coming to the 18th tee, still one up, but didn’t trust his head after watching playing partner and defending Senior Open champion Brad Bryant hit his tee shot.
“When Brad hit his shot there, I knew I should have gone back and gotten another club, because it looked like it was playing pretty short,” said Cloninger, whose drive on the 18th went behind the television tower. “The last couple of holes, I was just trying to hit the ball solid, and I just let it get away from me.
“To not execute is pretty discouraging.”
Green, who last year watched George Zahringer card a final- round 69 and make up eight shots at Whistling Straits, had good fortune go his way this year and again will be exempt for next year at Crooked Stick in Indiana.
Eaks . . . that hurts.
Colorado Springs’ R.W. Eaks considered not playing the final round because of painful arthritic knees, but being close to home with plenty of family and friends following him, he decided to give it a go.
“I probably should not have played,” said Eaks, who was 2-over Sunday and finished tied for 18th. “Hopefully I can recover in a couple of weeks.”
Eaks said the final nine holes Saturday really started to become agonizing and affected him Sunday with shots below his feet — and even while putting.
“I just couldn’t stand long enough over the ball to concentrate,” he said.
More local flavor.
Castle Rock’s Gary Hallberg, a longtime fixture on the Colorado golf scene, fired an even-par 70 to stay in the top 15 and earn an automatic exemption for next year’s Open.
“Someone in the crowd says your name, you just want to go over and say: ‘Hey, how are you? Good to see you,’ ” he said. “But you just have to ignore them and go about your business.”
Midnight snack.
A bear raided a concession stand near No. 7 Saturday night, eating candy bars, bananas, hot dogs and bread. It knocked over the cash register but did not destroy the tent. As a side note, stuffed bear sales at The Broadmoor’s gift shop doubled over the weekend after a bear stopped play during Friday’s round.
Footnotes.
With hot but clear weather all week, the only weather delay came right before the final round was set to go on TV. The 23-minute delay was for lightning in the area. . . . No. 10 was the toughest hole this week. The 501- yard par-4 yielded just 18 birdies and ranks as the third toughest hole on the Champions Tour this season.
Jon E. Yunt and David Krause, The Denver Post
