PUEBLO WEST — Steve Irwin launched three balls off the 10th tee Monday at Desert Hawk Golf Course.
Luckily for the golf course designer and son of golf legend Hale Irwin, Steve’s first ball was inside the out-of- bounds stakes.
“Not good using the 10th tee box as a driving range,” Irwin joked as he recovered to shoot a 4-under-par 68 in a U.S. Open local qualifier.
Irwin and Andy Connell, son of retired Denver Country Club pro Tom Connell, tied for medalist honors. John Buffalo, assistant pro at Elmwood Golf Course in Pueblo, shot a 71 to claim the final qualifying spot.
They next will play June 6 in a 36-hole sectional qualifier for a chance to make the U.S. Open, which is June 9-13 at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. There are 11 sectionals this year in the United States but none in Colorado. After years at Columbine Country Club, the USGA pulled the site from the sectional list.
“I played a practice round here Friday, and it sets up really well for my game,” said Irwin, a 36-year-old amateur. “I’m not the longest hitter, and you have a lot of full swings into the greens. The greens were amazing. Fortunately, I got my putting going early.”
Connell, a 29-year-old pro, plays several mini-tours. After a practice round Sunday, he was happy he chose the 7,316-yard, par-72 Desert Hawk for a local.
“There are a lot of draw holes, and I like to work the ball left to right,” Connell said. “The condition of this course is a lot different than the ones I’ve played in the last two or three weeks.
“All those courses have punched their greens, and these greens are as true as I’ve seen in a while.”
There are two Open local qualifiers next Monday in the state: The Heritage at Westmoor in Westminster and Collindale in Fort Collins. Six will advance out of the Heritage site, and five out of Collindale.
