BERTHOUD — Jim Knous couldn’t miss a chance to play in The Blue Championship at the 8,000-yard TPC Colorado.

Neither could Air Force graduate Kyle Westmoreland or former CU-Boulder star Justin Biwer.

“I always love teeing it up in my home state,” Knous said. “The people that come out to support are incredible. And just, I mean, how can you not love teeing it up in Colorado? It’s beautiful out here.”

Knous, Westmoreland, Biwer and several other golfers with Colorado ties teed it up in Thursday’s first round, which was disrupted by thunderstorms several times throughout the day.

“I enjoy it. I know there’s some things that are different about Colorado that we don’t see every week. Ball’s going to go a lot farther. You can hit it higher and ball doesn’t curve as much,” Westmoreland said.

“I know I’m going to hit it hard out here. I know I’m going to hit some hard drivers and we’re going to have a good time. But it’s great.”

Biwer had the best day of the trio as he finished at 3-under right before the horn blew for the second time. Westmoreland had it to 4-under but finished the day with back-to-back bogeys. Knous ended the day at 2-over.

University of Denver graduate Chris Korte joined Westmoreland at 2-under.

“I feel very much in my comfort zone here,” said Biwer, who is Colorado’s all-time leader in stroke average and holds 29 school records. “I’ve got buddy (former CU teammate Hunter Swanson) here on the bag. All my friends who are still here now, back in Boulder, to see a bunch of guys come out and support and everything, that’s really awesome.”

Knous, who is retired from pro golf and works as an engineer for PING but plays in tournaments like the Colorado Open where he is the defending champ, was actually playing in a qualifier on Monday at Walnut Creek Golf Preserve. That’s when he was told he was given a sponsor exemption into the event.

The Aspen native tried to write for an exemption in the spring but it went to other guys from Colorado which Knous said “I always support.” But when Fort Collins’ Dillion Stewart got in and a couple players withdrew, Knous got a chance to play.

“I had just made a birdie on the fifhth hole of Walnut Creek when a rules official came up and told me (he earned an exemption),” Knous said. “We’re having a lot of fun. We played Tuesday. It was a little bit last minute, but again, super grateful for the spot and for the last-minute call.”

Biwer also played in a Monday qualifier at Colorado National Golf Course, which is CU’s home course for the men’s and women’s team. The Buffs also play often at TPC Colorado. He currently plays on the PGA Americas Tour and has made every cut in South America.

“I can’t tell you the exact number of times I’ve played here, but it feels like hundreds,” Biwer said.

Already one of the longer courses on the Korn Ferry Tour, TPC Colorado added some yardage in spots, mainly on the first hole, where a new tee stretched the par 5 to 655 yards. The course was playing at 8,022 yards on Thursday.

“I didn’t finish how I wanted, but it’s playing great out there,” Westmoreland said. “Hopefully it makes more putts on the weekend, but it’s always great to be back in Colorado playing some golf. This is a great golf course, great venue. I think it’s one of everybody on the tour’s favorite stop, so that’s pretty cool.”

Other golfers with Colorado ties were still on the course when the stormy weather hit. Mullen graduate Rhett Johnson, Boulder’s Miles Kuhl, Fort Collins’ Dillon and Air Force Academy’s Tom Whitney did not finish their rounds.

Tommy Morrison leads the tournament after firing a 9-under 63 to have a two-shot advantage over four players with over the field yet to finish.