Colorado pros claim top prizes in Mullen Pro-Am

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Colorado golfer Dustin Mills claimed first place in the 2013 Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace June 7 in the kickoff event of the 25th anniversary John Mullen Pro-Am golf tournament at Heritage Hills Golf course. Pictured in the post-Horserace awards ceremony, from left: Mullen Pro-Am head Terri Shipshock, Clint Coleman, Dustin Mills, Justin Coleman, Joanie Coleman and Walker Coleman. (Reprints available at McCookGazette.com)

Colorado pro golfers claimed the top prizes in the 25th anniversary John Mullen Pro-Am Tournament.

The tournament celebrated its silver anniversary June 7-9, 2013, at Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook.

Dustin Mills of Arvada, Colo., claimed the top prize check in the fan-friendly Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace Friday night. Ben Portie of Westminster, Colo., won a one-hole playoff over Nate Barbee of Clive, Iowa to claim the top prize in the 36-hole Pro-Am pro division competition that was contested Saturday and Sunday.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette JB Harris of Fremont blasts his ball out of the sand on the edge of the 17th hole June 7 at Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook during the Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace. Harris and Dustin Mills of Arvada, Colo. survived a three-play chip-off on the 17th hole before Mills topped Harris on No. 18 for the Horserace title.

Mills and fellow pro JB Harris of Fremont survived a chip-off on the 17th hole at the McCook course to head to the final hole of Friday's Horserace. Justin Herron of Omaha finished third after the chip-off on No. 17.

Mills shot par on 18, while Harris shot a bogey to allow Mills to hoist the oversized check in ceremonies following the Horserace.

Friday's event is named in honor of longtime McCook Bison golf coach Ron Coleman, who lost his life in a tragic accident several years ago.

Steve Kodad/McCook Daily Gazette Pro golfer Justin Herron of Omaha putts on the 16th hole at Heritage Hills June 7 as fellow competitors look on in the Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace.

MILLS WAS competing in his first Mullen Pro-Am event. He had never seen the Heritage Hills course before Friday's Horserace, and he was impressed with the McCook track.

"This is good," Mills said. "This one is really up and down, really hilly. You don't even experience much of that around Denver, maybe up in the mountains. This thing is in the hills for sure. It is good, I like it."

Dustin especially enjoyed the huge fan following for Friday night's event. As usual, local fans followed the Horserace competitors around the course in a golf cart caravan.

Ron Coleman Memorial Horserace champion Dustin Mills (right) is congratulated by Walker Coleman (left) and Jolene Coleman June 7 on the 18th green at the Heritage Hills Golf Course in McCook. The Colorado golfer knocked in a par putt on No. 18 to beat JB Harris of Fremont for the top prize in the Horserace event.

"It was awesome, crazy," Mills said.

Mills said he has been away from the game for several years.

"Two months ago I was tired of sitting behind a desk, so I got back in it," Dustin said.

He hopes to play more tournaments this summer and take a shot at Qualifying School with hopes to earn a spot on the PGA Tour.

Ironically, Mills said Portie, a good friend from Colorado, told him about the McCook Pro-Am event.

PORTIE WON the Pro-Am pro title with a birdie on the first playoff hole Sunday.

Ben said he hit a 3-wood off the tee to within 100 yards, then laid a sand wedge shot about two feet from the cup for an easy birdie putt. Barbee landed his second shot on the top edge of the green, then two-putted for par, according to Portie.

Ben said he doesn't play in many pro tournaments, as he has two full-time jobs as a golf teacher and head coach of the Metro State College men's golf program in Denver. He had competed in the McCook meet in past years after ending his collegiate career at Colorado in 2002. He also had not played the Mullen Pro-Am in the past three years, as that has conflicted with U.S. Open sectional qualifying.

"But I always enjoy coming here when I'm not doing that (Open qualifying)," Portie said.

He also had finished second in the McCook pro division several times in the past.

"It's nice, nice to win," he said. "It's a great golf course and it's not too far for us (Denver area), it's a four-hour drive.

"I like coming back to these little tournaments that aren't too expensive on the wallet, but you can still make a little bit of money. It's nice."

Portie has one U.S. Open under his belt, in 2002. He is familiar with McCook's Brandon Crick, the former Nebraska golfer who qualified for this year's Open this week at Merion Golf Club in Pennsylvania. Portie said he competed against Crick several times in Dakota Tour events.

"I hope he plays well because he's a good little player," Ben said of Crick.

PORTIE would love to qualify for the U.S. Open championship again. He was asked about any advice he would give to Crick before he tees it up at the Open June 13.

"It will be tough. It's probably set up the toughest course of any all year long," Portie said. "You've just got to drive it straight and hit a lot of greens. I'd probably say work on practice putting on cement, because that's how fast (the U.S. Open course greens) get.

"He'll have fun. He'll have a lot of experiences. I still have a lot of experiences that I still talk about -- getting to meet a lot of the big names, and your lockers are next to the big names, and he'll run into some of the the big names."