U.S. Open Qualifying

[Ben]

Well being that Winged Foot is 5 minutes from where I live, I will be there and hope to see one of you guys there.

How much to rent a room if I make it? hahahahaa.

Neudi, where and when is your first round?

[Jeepthrills]

Best of luck to both of you. My goal is to get to the point where I can think about qualifying without laughing out loud. I'm looking forward to hearing how it went. For now I want to concentrate on trying to play in a Net Amateur event this year. There is a Net Match Play in Michigan that looks pretty good. I'm the knid of player that can shoot a decent round and have one blow up ruin it. In match play that's just one lost hole.

[neudi]

How much to rent a room if I make it? hahahahaa.

Well seeing as I haven't turned in my application yet, lol, im not sure. I'm going for Columbus hopefully b/c I don't want to have to drive more than an hour there 2 days in a row. Hopefully it hasn't filled up yet.

[neudi]

My first round is on May 22nd, at Makatewah golf club in Cincinnati, Ohio.

[Jeepthrills]

Good luck. Make sure to give us a shot by shot detail.

[modeldude69]

I'm in it as well...local in Atlanta at The River Club on May 16...wish me luck

[golfchief]

Wouldn't it be great if all three of you made it and played in the same group.
Erik could gave you some support and patches that said we all met at the sandtrap.com

[Ben]

Good Luck modeldude!

I had a practice round today at the course I'm playing. Crystalaire CC. 131 slope, 72.8 rating. The slope seemed fair, the rating may be a stroke too high. Anyway.

Missed about 5 putts, but, they were missable-makeable putts, so I'm not that bent out of shape about that. Couldn't get off the tee for poop. These holes set up a little wierd for my eyes. The majority of the time you were hitting into slightly elevated fairways. I'm not too keen on that. Iron shots were so-so. But I got the job done and shot one under. The magic number? I'm thinking 7 under is going to take it. I don't know how many get passed the regional rounds, but I hope it's not one player per course.

[cold]

Good luck guys.

[iacas]

Wouldn't it be great if all three of you made it and played in the same group.

I'd be willing to do something in such a case, certainly!

[neudi]

I know that there are like 10 people that go to the next qualifier from my course...im hoping to shoot about a 69 or 70...think ill make it to the next one with that score :)

[Rafcin]

Ben !
AND ?!?!?!?! The Locals are over ! How did you do ?!?!?!

[Ben]

Well, all I could manage was a 3 over 75... Certainly not what I was expecting, but, under the circumstances. I am really quite happy with the round.

This was my first time trying, and my first real "tournament" round since high school (10 years ago). I didn't let anything fluster me, played within myself, didn't worry about the others I was playing, and most importantly, didn't blow up and shoot in the 90s. hahaha.

The greens were the real downfall. In my threesome, there was only one birdie. I made it... on the 18th hole. Those greens were super tricky to read. I two putted all but 2 greens.

67 was the low, there were a few 68s, and a bunch of 69s. They took 6 spots.

[neudi]

locals aren't over yet...they end on monday the 22nd...that is when i play my round...going up for a practice round tomorrow afternoon though.

[Ben]

If there's one bit of advice I could pass along. Be aggresive with your putts early on. I got a little defensive with my putts in the middle of my round and it burnt me. GOOD LUCK!

[Rafcin]

yeah, good luck neudi, you're representing the sandtrap now
too bad Ben, but as you said - 75 on unknown course, probably set up a bit tougher too is nothing to be ashamed of... it's only a few putts away, you'll get it next time

[neudi]

I'm going down to play a practice round in about 3 hours and hopefully i'll do well...did anyone else notice that only 72 qualified for michelle wie? anyone play that course...is it that tough?

[iacas]

I'm going down to play a practice round in about 3 hours and hopefully i'll do well...did anyone else notice that only 72 qualified for michelle wie? anyone play that course...is it that tough?

I think her 72 was a condition of a few things: 1) tough winds, 2) smaller field. Not many people are willing to pay to fly to Hawaii to attempt to local qualify for the U.S. Open.

The course isn't that hard - it's the Palmer Course at Turtle Bay. That's the same course that hosted Big Break V...