Elway fails to qualify

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — John Elway will still be a part of the 2018 U.S. Senior Open . He just won’t be playing alongside the likes of defending champion Kenny Perry.

The Broadmoor’s notoriously knotty east course got the best of Elway in his Memorial Day attempt to qualify for the 39th Open championship, where he’ll serve as the tournament’s honorary chairman next month.

Playing Monday for one of two qualifying spots, Elway, who is a 1.4-handicap golfer, shot a 10-over 80 on a drizzly and cool afternoon on the dazzling but demanding course. That left him tied for 18th.

Elway acknowledged that pulling double duty at the Open next month was a pipe dream but cherished his round nonetheless.

“I haven’t been playing very well. I haven’t been playing much, either,” Elway said. “But it was fun to be out here and compete. It’s a lot of work in that rough.”

Elway remained upbeat even after bogeying two of his last three holes following a 75-minute rain and lightning delay.

“It’s good for me to play in these conditions,” he reasoned. “It makes me a better player.”

Elway started off strong but a double-bogey on the ninth hole sent him sliding down the leaderboard, where only one golfer broke par — Doug Rohrbaugh, an instructor at Snowmass, Colo., shot a 1-under 69 to qualify for his fourth Open. Rohrbaugh also has NFL bloodlines: His uncle, John Meyers, was a defensive tackle for the Cowboys and Eagles in the 1960s.

Chris Johnson, of Castle Rock, Colo., was the other qualifier, shooting a 2-over 72.