"Pro" shoots 127 in U.S. Open local qualifying

[mvmac]

Probably just had a bad day.....

didn't make one par 

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/pro-shoots-127-us-open-local-qualifying/

 

Quote

Clifton McDonald, from Meridian, Miss., shot 55-over 127 on Wednesday during U.S. Open local qualifying.

McDonald was competing at Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail at Silver Lakes in Glencoe, Ala. Five spots were available to advance to sectionals, with former University of Alabama standout Robby Shelton edging former University of Georgia standout Lee McCoy for medalist honors, at 3 under.

 

[iacas]

So I wonder what his actual handicap is… because no way a 2.4 shoots 127. I can believe some high scores, but not 127.

[TN94z]

Wow! I'm with @iacas on that one. Having a bad day is one thing, but a 127 is something totally different...

[krupa]

Apparently, they let anyone play if they declare themselves a pro; they didn't even check my ID to verify my name!   

http://www.golfdigest.com/story/player-cards-127-in-us-open-qualifier-misses-cut-by-55-strokes

Quote

 the tournament requires a handicap not exceeding 1.4 under the USGA system. However, there is a loophole. If you declare yourself as a professional, you don't need to submit a handicap, as it's assumed you're capable of the endeavor at hand. A proviso that's at play here: the golfer in question -- one Clifton McDonald -- is not signified as an amateur on the local qualifier score board.

 

[Pretzel]

Kudos for at least finishing the round after a 68 on the front nine. That said, it may have been better for him to have left to keep the pace of play up.

The article appears to allude to the fact that he was competing as a professional, not an amateur ("McDonald was not listed as an amateur.") I imagine he'll probably receive a letter from the USGA asking him to not compete for another several years.

[Club Rat]

Had that happen once when I was looping for a friend in a US Qualifier, it was very distracting trying to manage the time between that guys play and my friends. Luckily, my friend was able to stay focused and play his game.

[TN94z]

4 minutes ago, Pretzel said:

Kudos for at least finishing the round after a 68 on the front nine. That said, it may have been better for him to have left to keep the pace of play up.

The article appears to allude to the fact that he was competing as a professional, not an amateur ("McDonald was not listed as an amateur.") I imagine he'll probably receive a letter from the USGA asking him to not compete for another several years.

I would think it would have been better for everyone had he stopped after 9. Yes, the USGA will send him a letter telling him he's not eligible. I have had several friends that tried for the State Am and had some blowup days and they were sent letters.

Edited May 11, 2017 by TN94z

[mcanadiens]

I'm not impressed.

Pretty sure my round at Eagle Creek last September would have been close to a 127 if we'd scored it that way.

Edited May 11, 2017 by mcanadiens

[jamo]

I honestly don't even know how someone shoots a 14. 

[Shooting29]

4 minutes ago, jamo said:

I honestly don't even know how someone shoots a 14. 

they miss a 3 footer for 13 and tap in.

[DaveP043]

5 minutes ago, jamo said:

I honestly don't even know how someone shoots a 14. 

Same here, I don't think I've ever had more than a dozen.

[nevets88]

If he's a pro as in teaches for a living, hold on a second while I blacklist him.

In most sports, the worse you are, the sooner it's over. If you're nowhere near good and play a qualifying tennis tournament, you'd get double bagel'ed so fast, it would be over in 20 minutes. I guess if it's downhill skiing, you'd be dead, a carcass in the snow. But in golf, it's this slow drawn out miserable thing.

[David in FL]

40 minutes ago, Pretzel said:

Kudos for at least finishing the round after a 68 on the front nine. That said, it may have been better for him to have left to keep the pace of play up.

The article appears to allude to the fact that he was competing as a professional, not an amateur ("McDonald was not listed as an amateur.") I imagine he'll probably receive a letter from the USGA asking him to not compete for another several years.

Kudos?  I don't think so.

He never should have been there.  I wouldn't expect a 15 hcp to shoot that score on the worst day of his life.

I hope he doesn't teach as a pro.  If he does, I bet he has fewer students now than he did last week.  

[Shorty]

50 minutes ago, iacas said:

So I wonder what his actual handicap is… because no way a 2.4 shoots 127. I can believe some high scores, but not 127.

No no no. He's pro level from tee to green but just can't putt.  It's a perfectly understandable and a hugely common state of affairs.

[nevets88]

There's this guy from Meridian, Mississippi which is close to Tuscaloosa.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/clifton-mcdonald-97aa8838/

[Wally Fairway]

14 minutes ago, Shooting29 said:

they miss a 3 footer for 13 and tap in.

Actually I think he missed that 3 footer for an 11, then missed 2 or 3 come backers for the 14.

I'm thinking that he had some water troubles on the 2 double digit holes, and I would have likely run out of golf balls if I hit 3 or 4 in the water on each hole.
 

[oregongolfguy]

23 minutes ago, jamo said:

I honestly don't even know how someone shoots a 14. 

 

  Come on guys....Does nobody remember the awesome Kevin Na 16 he dropped a few yrs back on a hole.  Watching that will forever be etched in my mind 

[BamaWade]

There's no Northwood CC anywhere near here (Tuscaloosa).  Weird it says that it's Tuscaloosa Area.  Meridian, MS is ~90 miles from here.