Brady Calkins missed the first five tournaments of the Dakotas Tour, but his hall pass has a pretty good excuse on it.

Calkins, a Chehalis, Wash. native, was playing in the U.S. Open.

“It was a dream come true,” Calkins said of the experience.

Calkins qualified for one of the PGA Tour’s premier events through a local qualifier in California and a sectional qualifier in Bend, Ore., before heading to the East Coast for the Open.

Though he didn’t make the cut on the four-day event, Calkins said he tried to soak in every bit of the experience.

“To have that experience and to have my parents there to see it,” Calkins said before trailing off.

Calkins has been playing the Dakotas Tour for the past five years and rejoined the tour this weekend for the Western Corporate Image Pro-Am tournament at Moccasin Creek Country Club.

“There’s really no comparison,” Calkins said. “The courses (on the tour) are harder, longer, faster, tighter, everything.”

Still, Calkins has no regrets returning to the tour and to an army of friends that were excited for his experience.

“The people,” he said when asked what kept drawing him back to the tour. “The people in the Midwest are so kind and so giving. Plus, I’ve got like 20 close friends here.”

Calkins carded a 71 after morning rain storms delayed play for two hours, leaving him in a tie for eighth heading into the final round. 

“My goal is always to win,” he said. “I’ll have to go pretty low to do it, but that’s always the goal.”

VETERAN PRESENCE

Tim Ailes is a veteran of the Western Corporate Image Pro-Am. 

The Delaware, Ohio native is in his 12th year on the Dakotas Tour, which made its annual stop at Moccasin Creek Country Club this weekend.

“I just like the competition,” Ailes said. “I’m 49, so I’ll be able to do the Champions Qualifying Tournament this fall. I’m just trying to get as many reps in as I can before that happens.”

Ailes is a past champion of the Pro-Am, winning the event in 2018. But, he said, the level of competition just keeps rising every time he returns.

“It’s getting better,” he said. “Just golf in general is way more popular than when I turned pro in 1999. The kids are in better shape, better condition. They’re just better players. For someone my age, I’ve got to work hard to compete out here. Brady Calkins qualified for the U.S. Open this year. Andre Metzger played in the 3M Open.”

Metzger is a perennial face at the Pro-Am tournament and on the Dakotas Tour, but understandably took a flyer on this year’s event to play in the 3M Open, which is taking place this weekend in Blaine, Minn.

“Guys can play at a high level,” Ailes said.

Ailes carded rounds of 71 on Friday and 69 on Saturday and stands in a tie for eighth heading into today’s final day.

TIGHT AT THE TOP

Broc Everett of West Des Moines, Iowa has a one-stroke lead heading into today’s championship round. He is at 11-under, one stroke better than Ryan Gronlund of Pleasanton, Calif.

A pair of golfers are tied for third, just three strokes back. They are Zack Staub of Aventura, Fla., and Joe Weiler of Bloomington, Minn.

To see complete two-day results, click on the following link:

https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/8080188490056208321