DENVER -- Pat Grady isn't thinking about making history, but if he keeps playing like he has recently, he'll soon be confronting the issue.

The University of Colorado senior from Broomfield, who made the final 16 in last week's U.S. Amateur Public Links Championship in Aurora, continued his solid play Thursday with a 4-under-par 67 that gave him a share of the lead after the first round of the HealthOne Colorado Open.

There's still three days to go, but it's worth noting that only two amateurs in the 44-year history of the Colorado Open have won the tournament. Gary Longfellow (1974) and Brian Guetz (1994) pulled off the feat.

"If you shoot four 67s, you'll win," Grady said. "But that's easier said than done. I'm not thinking about that this week."

Grady and Albuquerque's Brian Kortan, who played in the U.S. Open last month, shared the lead after Thursday's play at Green Valley Ranch Golf Club.

Kyle Spahr of Barrington, Ill., and Brett Melton of Washington, Ind., shot 68, while defending champion John Douma, Broomfield amateur Steve Ziegler, former Longmont resident Charlie Soule and Floridian Derek Eley are at 69.

"I go away pretty happy," said Douma, a former CU golf-er. "It was windy and the greens were firm (in the afternoon)."

Another ex-Buff, two-time PGA Tour winner Jonathan Kaye, rallied to shoot 73 after being 5 over par through eight holes.

"We're not out of it," said Kaye, winner of the 1996 Colorado Open. "We'll get 'em tomorrow."

Lightning delayed play for 70 minutes late Thursday afternoon, but the last players completed their rounds just before sunset.

Grady, the 2007 state amateur of the year, has accomplished many big things in Colorado golf -- among them winning the State Stroke Play, State Match Play and State Publinks -- but being in serious contention to win the Colorado Open isn't among them.

He'd like to rectify that this week.

"This is more important than a state amateur," Grady said. "Everyone is here. It's the most important state event."

Grady, Kortan and former CU golfer Scott Petersen were grouped together Thursday morning, and they did a nice job feeding off one another. All three finished under par, with Petersen, the 2000 Colorado Open champion, posting a 70.

"It was a good group," said Kortan, who like Grady finished with six birdies and two bogeys.

Grady on Thursday switched to a new putter for the first time in about seven years, and the change worked fine. But he was stellar from tee to green, which is why he holds a share of the lead.

"I hit it real good," he said. "The course was playing so easy. The greens were soft and receptive (in the morning)."

The biggest name in the field had a much rougher go of it. Former Denver Broncos quarterback John Elway shot a 5-over-par 76 in the morning.

Elway birdied the second hole, but finished with five bogeys before he made the turn. He settled down to shoot a 1-over 36 on the back nine.

"It kind of went haywire after that (birdie)," said Elway, who finished 37th in his last Colorado Open, in 2001. "It was a lot better on the back. I still have a chance (to make the 36-hole cut)."

For his part, Kortan could be a force to be reckoned with this week. He's finished second twice in the Colorado Open, and third both of the last two years. And last month, in Littleton, he qualified for the U.S. Open for the first time.

"I always play well in Colorado," he said. "I don't have an explanation. I have a lot of friends here. I see snowcapped mountains, and it puts me at ease. There's something about it. Maybe I should move here."

The former PGA Tour player received much notoriety at both the U.S. Open qualifying and the U.S. Open itself for earning a berth to Torrey Pines two years after suffering a heart attack that nearly killed him. The 37-year-old now wears a defibrillator to keep his heart rate regulated.

Colorado Open Green Valley Ranch GC

7,220 yards Par 71

(a) Pat Grady, Broomfield 32-35--67

Brian Kortan, Albuquerque, NM 34-33--67

Kyle Spahr, Barrington, IL 34-34--68

Brett Melton, Washington, IN 33-35--68

Charlie Soule, Denver 35-34--69

(a) Steve Ziegler, Broomfield 33-36--69

Derek Eley, Deltona, FL 36-33--69

John Douma, Scottsdale, AZ 36-33--69

Chase Cooper, Guymon, OK 36-34--70

(a) Zen Brown, Arvada 35-35--70

Chris Endres, Phoenix, AZ 35-35--70

Michael Baird, Castle Rock 35-35--70

Scott Petersen, Parker 36-34--70

Dustin Mills, Arvada 35-35--70

Shane Wahbeh, Aurora 35-35--70

(a) Luke Symons, Lone Tree 37-33--70

Luke Antonelli, Silt 33-38--71

(a) Derek Tolan, Highlands Ranch 35-36--71

(a) Dan Kleckner, Lakewood 38-33--71

Adam Darrow, Granger, IN 38-33--71

Grant Creighton, Greenwood Vllge 36-35--71

Mike Small, Champaign, IL 36-35--71

Boyd Summerhays, Farmington, UT 37-34--71

(a) Tom Glissmeyer, Springs 37-34--71

Joseph Lord, Frisco 37-35--72

Ken Krieger, Cheyenne, WY 36-36--72

Clay Ogden, West Point, UT 40-32--72

Paul Lobato, Denver 34-38--72

Wil Collins, Rapid City, SD 35-37--72

Drew Stoltz, Fort Collins 37-35--72

(a) Sean Hedden, Ft.Lauderdale, FL 38-34--72

Casey Devoll, Arlington, TX 37-35--72

(a) William Schoolcraft, Englewood, 34-38--72

Geoff Keffer, Lakewood 37-35--72

(a) J. Koprivetz Yorba Linda, CA 34-38--72

(a) Jon Lindstrom, Broomfield 35-37--72

Bill Loeffler, Castle Rock 38-35--73

Barry Milstead, Centennial 34-39--73

(a) Riley Andrews, Highlands Ranch 37-36--73

Kenny Coakley, Lakewood 37-36--73

(a) Riley Arp, Fort Collins 35-38--73

Mike Northern, Colorado Springs 37-36--73

Robert Hunt, Highlands Ranch 38-35--73

Jonathan Kaye, Boulder 34-39--73

(a) Jim Doidge, Pueblo 37-36--73

(a) Will Logsdon, Evergreen 38-36--74

Jeff Klein, Scottsbluff, NE 38-36--74

(a) Darrin Hall, Golden 39-35--74

Brian Guetz, Scottsdale, AZ 38-36--74

(a) Dean Clapp, Aurora 39-35--74

John Hayes, Littleton 38-36--74

Blake Moore, Pasadena, CA 37-37--74

Shawn Wills, Denver 37-37--74

(a) Stephen Bidne, Roseville, MN 36-38--74

(a) Adam Joiner, Carbondale 37-37--74

Matt Schalk, Boulder 39-35--74

(a) Jacob Lestishen Lone Tree, 37-37--74

Travis Williams, Erie 38-36--74

(a) James Kurtenbach Denver, 37-37--74

(a) Zach Zaremba, Pueblo West 37-37--74

Nicholas Mason, Denver,CO 37-37--74

Brad Besler, Lewisville, TX 36-38--74

Todd Napikoski, Aurora 36-38--74

Josh Green, Toms River, NJ 37-38--75

Chris O'Connor, Phoenix, AZ 34-41--75

Ryan Anderson, Greeley 37-38--75

Zane Zwemke, Greenwood Village 38-37--75

Jeff Hanson, Edwards 37-38--75

(a) Jamie Marshall, Rock 38-37--75

John Ogden, Highlands Ranch 38-37--75

Rick Ellefson, Castle Rock 37-38--75

Miguel Griego, Socorro, NM 36-39--75

Jesse Wheeler, Logandale, NV 39-36--75

(a) Stephen Summers, Dallas, TX 39-36--75

Remington Post, Keystone 38-37--75

(a) J. Marsico, Englewood, 35-40--75

Christopher Manning Cody, WY 40-35--75

(a) Tyler Bishop, Longmont 39-36--75

Barry Conser, Scottsdale, AZ 38-37--75

Brett Wayment, Logan, UT 35-40--75

(a) M. Harrington, Colo. Sprngs, 37-38--75

C. Johnson, Castle Rock, 37-38--75

Travis Gershon, Centennial 38-38--76

(a) Bryan Olshock, 35-41--76

Tony Aguilar, Arvada 38-38--76

Michael Rexroth, Tucson, AZ 39-37--76

(a) M. Tilghman Greenwood Vllge, 39-37--76

(a) John Elway, Englewood,CO 40-36--76

Andy St. Louis, Arvada 40-36--76

(ar) Tyler Goulding Tracy, CA 36-40--76

Shaun Fischer, Elizabeth 36-40--76

Perry Holmes, Addison, IL 36-40--76

Ben Portie, Westminster 39-37--76

Eric Bradley, Edwards 40-36--76

(a) Chris Carlson, Highlands Ranch 38-38--76

Christopher Galeski Carlsbad, CA 38-38--76

Jason Preeo, Denver 36-40--76

Tom Krause, Englewood 38-38--76

Mike Troyer, Boulder 38-38--76

Luke Sestero, Idaho Falls, ID 36-40--76

(a) Brooks Andrisen, Denver 40-37--77

(a) Walter Koelbel, Cherry Hills 38-39--77

(a) Steve Irwin, Golden 40-37--77

(a) Klinton Krieger, Cheyenne, WY 40-37--77

Caine Fitzgerald, Aurora 39-38--77

Theodore Parker, Grand Junction 40-37--77

Tray Shehee, Longmont 41-36--77

Ty Capps, Highlands Ranch 38-39--77

Jeremy Lederer, Ridgway 38-39--77

Jason Allen, Pueblo 37-40--77

(a) Aaron Johnson, Laramie, WY 43-34--77

Doug Rohrbaugh, Carbondale 37-40--77

Steve Schneiter, Sandy, UT 40-37--77

Dave Arbuckle, Colorado Springs 38-39--77

Ty Harris, Longwood, FL 40-37--77

Jeff Reser, Denver 39-38--77

(a) Laird Middleton, Centennial 40-38--78

(a) Mark Hubbard, Denver 39-39--78

Kevin Bolles, Louisville 36-42--78

Rick Cole, Eaton 42-36--78

Barry Erwin, Montrose 39-39--78

Chad Gorney, Seattle, WA 40-38--78

Will Panella, Commerce City 41-37--78

Heikke Nielsen, Scottsdale, AZ 41-37--78

Mike Kitowski, Fort Collins 37-41--78

(a) Tom Whitney, La Quinta, CA 39-39--78

Richard Lee, Aspen 40-38--78

(a) Bucky Coe, San Diego, CA 41-38--79

(a) Joseph Schwark, Broomfield 38-41--79

Josh Esler, Wauconda, IL 42-37--79

Brian Carlson, Westminster 40-39--79

Micah Rudosky, Cortez 39-40--79

Gregg Jones, Colorado Springs 40-39--79

(a) Paul Zimmerman, Parker 39-41--80

Kane Webber, Australia 42-38--80

(a) David Holtgrewe, Cherry Hills 41-40--81

Tad Holloway, Rifle 42-39--81

Jeff Philippe, Parker 40-41--81

Jason Schmidt, Aurora 42-39--81

(a) Joshua Creel, Cheyenne, WY 42-40--82

Kirk Rider, Denver 38-44--82

(a) Justin Siegel, Colorado Springs 39-43--82

(a) Daniel White, Colorado Springs 40-42--82

Adam Blake, Fort Morgan 39-44--83

Paul Surniak, Colorado Springs 42-41--83

Nicholas Nosewicz, Denver 45-39--84

(a) Oliver Grabb, Boulder 43-41--84

Matt Bryant, Denver 41-44--85

Brett Pottruff, Canada 43-42--85

Jared Danford, Greeley 41-44--85

Mike Farrell, Parker 46-40--86

Chad Seibert, Boulder 46-41--87

Rynk Strothers, Englewood 44-43--87

(a) Louie Jardon, Colorado Springs 47-45--92