Qualify for the US Open

[golfbarefoot]

I'm carrying the bag for my brother in the US Open qualifier this Monday, May 11th at 8:48 #10 tee. Have to go low in these, there are 7 qualifiers 2 alternates.

[deaconblues]

Playing with a crowd is great. I know in the past I have always played better with people watching. I think it forces me to concentrate more to avoid making an ass of yourself, both with your game and your behavior. I also enjoy interacting with the people, it fires me up. Let's face it, everyone enjoys people cheering a good shot you just hit. It's a huge moral and ego boost!

Well, if I ever "make it".. ..and people crowd the fairway, you'll know me as "that guy that shanked one and put that old lady in a coma."

[Jemehl]

I got time till i ever need to know since i am 16 but how exactly does this all work ?

[jorruss]

I got time till i ever need to know since i am 16 but how exactly does this all work ?

The US Open is exactly that, an open competition for anyone to enter. You have to have a maximum handicap index of 1.4 if you are an amateur and go through local and sectional qualifying unless you have an exemption, such as being a past winner, US Amateur winner, Mid-Am winner, etc.

[jorruss]

Well, if I ever "make it"..

So just make sure you and Bill Murray aren't in the same pairing, or give the spectators helmets!

[Jemehl]

Is anyone trying to qualify ? if so when ? and good luck

[jorruss]

Is anyone trying to qualify ? if so when ? and good luck

Yeah, Monday morning @ Hammock Dunes - Creek Course.

[Jemehl]

i hope you guys are ready for tom.. good luck to everyone and hopefully we can all see you at bethpage

[Jemehl]

how was guys ?

[TN94z]

Interested also...

[jorruss]

Well, I went to the Hammock Dunes Creek Course yesterday to attempt to qualify for the US Open. I arrived at the course at 8:30am and it was already 85 degrees. By the time I was to tee off at 9:39am, it was 91. The USGA had the course set up at just over 7000 yards, moving up a few of the par 3s (mercifully) from 220+ to about 180, and a few of the par 5s by 20 or 30 yards to entice people to go for them in 2.

My round was going pretty well, I was 1 over through 13. On my 14th hole, the 5th at the Creek Course, I pulled my 3 wood around the corner into a bunker and was blocked out by trees to the green. I tried to hook a PW around it to catch the front right of the green but it didn't hook enough and I was left with a bunker shot. I hit a pretty good bunker shot to about 8 feet and lipped out the par putt. On 15, a 550 yard par 5 with hazards left and right, I again pulled my 3 wood and it went into the hazard left. I had a lie and was able to hit a 6 iron to lay up, and followed that with a 9 iron from 145 into the green. The greens were rolling at about 13 on the stimpmeter and I had pretty good speed all day, but for some reason my birdie putt came up 4 feet short on that hole. I lipped out another short putt for a bogey.

Going to the 8th hole, my 17th, I stood at 3 over, knowing I needed at least one birdie to have a chance. The 8th at the Creek Course is 415 yards. I decided I needed to be aggressive and my caddy handed me the driver. I made a good aggressive swing and watched as the ball rocketed up the right side, but my normal 5-10 yard draw wasn't there, and the wind pushed it further right into the hazard. I took a drop on the front tee, hit 3 wood down the fairway, knocked a sand wedge to 8 feet and missed the bogey putt to end my quest for the Sectionals at Lake Nona. Knowing I was out of it, I lost my focus on the last hole and finished with another bogey on 18 for a smooth 78.

Overall, I played well. I was 1 over with 5 to play and had a chance to make it on a tough course, in brutally hot muggy weather, and despite my professional playing partners struggling all day. (They shot 83 and 89, respectively) I missed 3 putts inside 5 feet, and that was the difference in the end. I'll be working on my short putts, and we'll be ready for the Florida State Am Qualifier in 16 days!

Final results:
http://www.fsga.org/championships/in...sults/500.html

[David in FL]

It was HOT yesterday. Sounds like a pretty solid round overall though. Sorry it didn't all come together for you John. Next year for sure!

You playing the amateur qualifier at Southern Dunes? Let us know how it goes.

[TN94z]

It sounds like you had a good day despite the conditions. Considering your playing partners' scores, it sounds like you were right there. Good luck in the State Am Qualifier

[jorruss]

You playing the amateur qualifier at Southern Dunes? Let us know how it goes.

Actually I'm playing my Qualifier at Timacuan in Lake Mary on May 28. Last year I was medalist there with a 71 in the State Mid-Am Qualifying, so I have some good feelings around that place. We'll see how it goes! The Am is at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club this year, so I REALLY want to make it!

[David in FL]

Actually I'm playing my Qualifier at Timacuan in Lake Mary on May 28. Last year I was medalist there with a 71 in the State Mid-Am Qualifying, so I have some good feelings around that place. We'll see how it goes! The Am is at TPC Sawgrass and Sawgrass Country Club this year, so I REALLY want to make it!

I live in Lake Mary.....I've always enjoyed Timacuan too.

Good luck!

[wannabe]

great thread -- "i'm not worthy" comes to mind (wonder why?!?) :)

jorruss, i just noticed your cp tagline is my username - wannabe. Funny how we're both wannabe's, albeit on different ends of the spectrum. It's all about perspective, I guess. Nice round you had there, btw.

keep the updates coming. it'd be so cool to see a SandTrapper make it all the way!

[jorruss]

great thread -- "i'm not worthy" comes to mind (wonder why?!?) :)

I call myself a wannabe because I have always wanted to live the touring pro lifestyle, but I'm not quite good enough to pull it off and don't have the $$$ to get good enough. If anyone has $200,000 they need to right off, send me an email! I'll keep playing the State events and select USGA events, but that's about it. I am now at the point in my golf career that I actually play better under tournament conditions than the casual weekend Nassau. It's mostly due to the fact that I am more focused, prepared and I tend to play more conservatively in tournament play. At home with buddies I'm trying to cut doglegs, shoot at flags and am always willing to try the hero shot. Some days that equates to a 66, but most of the time it's more like a 76! I'll keep posting my results on this thread and if there is a good story to tell - on my blog.

[wannabe]

hmmm, maybe i should change my tagline to jorruss...