Kortan climbs to berth after long recovery

By Mike Chambers
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 06/03/2008 01:00:01 AM MDT

Nearly two years ago, Brian Kortan suffered a heart attack after playing a round of golf in South Dakota. Monday, after playing two rounds at Columbine Country Club, the Albuquerque resident celebrated his comeback by securing a spot in next week's U.S. Open.

Kortan shot a 6-under-par 138 to win the sectional qualifer and notch one of two Columbine-produced spots for next week's Open at Torrey Pines.

It will be the first career major tournament for Kortan, 37, who said he played most of his 23 PGA tournaments in 2004. At the time of his heart attack in August 2006, he said he was playing the best golf of his life — similar to now.

"It's been a long couple years," said Kortan, who plays with a heart monitor under his shirt and a defibrillator in his bag. "It was a pretty tough deal on me and my family, and it took me a long time to recover, so I feel a pretty big sense of accomplishment to qualify for the Open."

Sectional runner-up Jay Choi, who beat Dustin White in a two-hole playoff, secured the second spot in next week's Open. Choi and White were tied after 36 holes at 4-under 140.

White, a Pueblo resident and the 2006 Columbine sectional winner, bogeyed his final three holes in regulation to force the playoff. Choi advanced to his first U.S. Open with a birdie on the second playoff hole.

"Actually, it was a struggle all day, and I just hit some poor shots coming in," White said. "The greens got a little slower and bumpy in the afternoon, but otherwise the course was fine."

Typically one player advances to the U.S. Open from this section. The winner and runner-up are going this year because of the field size (28 players) and strength of the field, tournament officials said.

"It's going to be fun," said Kortan, who attended New Mexico State. "I came up here thinking I could qualify. I like the golf course, and Colorado has treated me great with my game in the past."

Kortan had six birdies and two bogeys in the second round.

"I just played real solid," Kortan said. "I didn't always hit it in the fairway but wasn't in trouble hardly ever. I made some good pars and made a lot of putts for birdies."

Choi, born in Korea and living in Murrieta, Calif., had 10 birdies in the first 36 holes, including four on the back nine in the morning. He finished strong, with birdies on the last three holes to capitalize on White's ensuing miscues.

Choi, 24, attended the University of New Mexico and turned pro in 2006. Suffering from burnout and a weight problem, he didn't play from November 2006 to August 2007. But he said he lost 65 pounds.

"It took me awhile to get my swing back," he said. "It's tough, walking 36 holes. I haven't done that since college."