(COLORADO SPRINGS) — It was no ordinary Sunday at The Broadmoor, as thousands packed the East Course to take in the final round of the 45th U.S. Senior Open. While it may not have been a Sunday of a major championship, it doesn’t mean it was not special for all in attendance watching another USGA Champion be crowned.
“I’m just really lucky to be here with my family,” Rowan Thuma, an attendee from Colorado Springs, said.
Since the last round is when the championship is the one, some from southern Colorado made sure this was the ticket they bought. For Michael Velarde from Pueblo, he made sure it was the first professional golf tournament he went to.
“I came in honor of a friend of mine who passed, who was an avid golfer; we talked about coming to an event like this, and so I brought him with me in my heart,” Velarde said.
For some, like Tyson Obernesser from Colorado Springs, they came to the final round to enjoy good golf and watch the veterans of the sport compete.
“It’s just really cool to see how these players play and see the amazing shots,” Obernesser said.
But for others, it’s more about the atmosphere of being around thousands in attendance.
“We’ve met some great people, we met a couple of the players’ wives, they were so nice,” Sara Meendering, an attendee from Old Colorado City, said.
Velarde says he was surprised by how different it is watching a professional golfer compared to playing with friends on a local course.
“Watching a pro hit it here is way different from how I hit,” Velarde said.
But everyone kept their eyes focused on the course as the leaders made their way down the 18th fairway to finish their tournament.
“Walking around here at the Broadmoor, you can see the environment, the campus that we’re on the road which is great for any setting,” Lily Provenzano, an attendee from Old Colorado City, said.
The USGA does plan to return to The Broadmoor as it has selected the East Course to host the Senior Open again in 2031.
