Struggling to control his ball flight during warm-ups, Derek Tolan didn’t come close to leaving the practice range with his “A” game prior to Friday’s second round of the Colorado Open. Five hours and a 5-under-par 66 later, he remained at the head of the class.
A lesson well learned.
“It’s something I’ve gotten good at,” said Tolan, who stands 11-under 131 at the midway point of the 72-hole championship at Green Valley Ranch. “The key is putting up a score, not necessarily trying to make the best swing.”
Tolan holds a two-stroke lead over Chris Kamin of Phoenix, with 2007 Colorado Open champion John Douma of Scottsdale, Ariz., another shot back at 134. Having turned pro this spring after completing his eligibility at the University of Colorado, Tolan had been on the road for most of the past six weeks and said it’s good to get some home cooking and be in familiar surroundings.
That proved to be especially helpful Friday, he said, when his warm-up session did not feel especially crisp. Tolan adjusted his on-course strategy accordingly.
“I played with what I had; I didn’t force anything,” he said.
Rather than try to drive the green on the 346-yard, par-4 14th, Tolan backed off and smoothed a tee shot 100 yards shy of the green. From there, it was an easy wedge to within 4 feet for a routine birdie. As to be expected following an erratic warm-up, Tolan hit some good shots and had to scramble on other holes. He needed a 35-footer for his birdie on No. 7, but knocked an 8-iron to within 3 feet on the next hole.
Making Tolan’s second-round 66 even more impressive was the fact he only birdied one of the three par-5s.
“It really is amazing how little (ball striking) matters,” he said. “You just try to get it from Point A to Point B. If you take that mind-set, the game is a lot easier. And more fun.”
Kamin, 35, is playing in his second Colorado Open, having tied for sixth in 2006. He is among a strong contingent of Gateway Tour regulars in this field because the Gateway schedule has an open week. Kamin said his 67 on Friday could have been lower. He finished bogey-free but missed five putts inside 15 feet.
“I’m happy with where I am,” Kamin said. “I’m not saying I played bad today, but I can play better.”
Douma, a former CU player, completed a 66 with birdies on his last two holes, Nos. 8 and 9. That came after missing a 2 1/2-foot birdie putt on the 341-yard seventh. He did not make a bogey in the round, thanks to saving par with a 20-foot save on the fifth after a poor bunker shot.
“I’m not leading, but the nice thing about this tournament is it’s four days,” Douma said. “I’m used to playing three-day tournaments in the Gateway Tour, where you’d better go 7-under every day to have a chance.”
Tom Kensler: 303-954-1280 or tkensler@denverpost.com
