Mike Small, winner of the recent PGA Professional National Championship, has entered the July 23-26 HealthOne Colorado Open at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club. The victory at Twin Warriors near Albuquerque also earned Small a spot in next month’s PGA Championship at Hazeltine in suburban Minneapolis-St. Paul.
“This is huge,” Small told reporters after winning the club pro title for the second time in four years. “It sets me up for a good year-and-a-half of golf.”
When Small isn’t playing, he serves as coach of the University of Illinois men’s golf team.
Small was involved in a record four-man playoff in last year’s Colorado Open. Brian Guetz earned his second Colorado Open title, prevailing last year with a birdie on the first extra hole. He defeated Small, 2007 champion John Douma and Boyd Summerhays.
The quartet will return this month to Green Valley Ranch, as will Utah resident Steve Schneiter, who tied for second behind Small in the 2009 PGA Professional National Championship.
Two participants in the 2009 U.S. Open at Bethpage Black also are entered in the Colorado Open: Charlie Beljan and Trevor Murphy.
The 156-man field will be set after the final qualifier July 20.
Footnotes.
The University of Denver promoted Lindsay Hulwick from assistant women’s golf coach to associate head coach. Hulwick, who has been with the DU program for four years, played high school golf at Heritage before competing for Tulane. . . . Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen will host the 17th annual Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver Golf Classic on July 20. Contact Jonna Busack at 303-832-6641 for details.
Tom Kensler, The Denver Post
