ERIE -- The awards were given out Wednesday at the FCA Denver Open -- all but the most important ones, anyway. The “Pay to the Order of” line on the oversized champion’s check was left blank, and the glass trophy went unpresented.

    The sixth annual Denver Open was scheduled to conclude Wednesday evening at Vista Ridge Golf Club. But a tie for the professional title, and the fact that one of the key players had left the course many hours earlier, precluded an immediate playoff.

     Rob Hunt, an assistant pro at the Links Golf Course at Highlands Ranch, played in the first of two shotgun starts Wednesday. And because he had work-related commitments in the afternoon, he was long gone when fellow pro Chris Johnson of Raccoon Creek Golf Course tied him for the top spot.

     The upshot is that the two will meet in a sudden-death playoff -- likely Thursday, though that hadn’t been immediately set.

     “It’s an awkward situation,” said Johnson, who played in the second shotgun Wednesday. “With the way they’ve got the event set up (with two shotgun starts, a potential playoff) was the one

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Hunt, Johnson Must Wait to Settle Title

The two will play off for top spot in FCA Denver Open

By Gary Baines

Colorado Golf Journal, Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Rob Hunt

thing that wasn’t covered. I’m totally fine with the decision. I wouldn’t want to win because (Hunt) wasn’t here.”

     Both players matched rounds of 68-70 for 6-under-par 138 totals. When the two play off, at stake will be the title and the difference between first-place money ($4,500) and second ($3,200).

     Meanwhile, there was a big gap between the top two players and the rest of the field. Five-time Colorado Section PGA Player of the Year Ron Vlosich of Lakewood finished third at 2-under 142. Erik Billinger and Jason Brandt shared fourth place at 143.

     All of those first five finishers placed in the top seven in last year’s Denver Open, with Johnson taking second and Hunt sixth in the tournament‘s first year at Vista Ridge.

     “I enjoy the course; it fits my eye well,” said the 29-year-old Hunt. In his three Denver Open rounds at the 7,676-yard Vista Ridge course, Hunt is 8 under par, with Johnson being 9 under.

      “I’m pleased with how I played,” Hunt added. “My putting has been a little iffy lately, but I felt comfortable on these greens and I made a few. I can‘t complain.”

     Hunt, an Arvada West High School graduate who played college golf at Tennessee State, played his first seven holes in 3 under par Wednesday and kept an even keel the rest of the way.

    “This would definitely be one of my bigger wins (if he prevails),” said Hunt, a four-time qualifier for the National Assistants Championship. “There are a lot of good players here.”

     Though Johnson didn’t tee off until after Hunt had finished, the 41-year-old didn’t know what Hunt had shot in Round 2.

    “I had to take care of myself,” Johnson said. “You’ve still got to play the course.”

    Though Johnson has been a club pro most of his career, he spent five years in the 1990s as a full-time player, competing mainly in this region and in Texas. He’s been the head professional at Raccoon Creek since 2000.

     “Maybe my (career highlight) hasn’t happened yet,” he said. “I’m just grateful that at 41 I can still compete with the younger guys. “

      The formidable Vista Ridge course took its toll on many of the players as  only five in the 41-man professional field broke par for two rounds.