Bob's Blog

STORY AND LINKS: Sectional musings

When the 109th U.S. Open tees it up June 18 at the Bethpage Black Course outside of New York City, a total of 156 players will be in the field. Of that number, 75 were totally exempt from qualifying through one or more of 18 categories, ranging from the past 10 U.S. Open champions to special exemptions issued the USGA (none this year).

The other 81 players came from 13 Sectional Qualifying events, 11 held yesterday around the United States and two held on May 25, one in Japan and the other in England. The ratio of qualifiers to entrants at each site is always interesting to examine and this year was no exception.

The two sites with the lowest ratio of qualifiers are always Columbus, Oh., which has a large number of PGA Tour members because it follows the Memorial Tournament, and Memphis, because it precedes the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic. This year, Columbus (which uses two courses) had 120 players playing for 17 spots, a ratio of 1:7. Memphis had 112 players for 13 spots, a ratio of 1:8.6. A third site, Rockville, Md. also has a favorable ratio because it contains a number of Nationwide Tour players; this year it was 71 players for seven spots, a 1:10 ratio.

The two overseas sites continue to be controversial when it comes to allocating spots. Although the Japan site had significantly more entries this year (33), it was allotted five spots, which means its ratio of 1:6.2 was better even than the Columbus site. Given that qualifiers from the Japanese site rarely make the 36-hole cut at the Open (none did last year), one wonders why wasn’t the allocation reduced to three spots (which, at 1:11, would have been just behind Rockville) or even two?

England’s issues are always somewhat different. A total of 91 players entered and 11 spots were allotted, a ratio of 1:8.2, in line with the Memphis site. However, England always has a huge number of withdraws in advance of the actual qualifying event; this year just 71 players teed it up, which meant that the ratio was 1:6.5, again even lower than the Columbus site.

The problem for the USGA is that, with just four of the 13 sites taking up 56% of the available qualifying spots, other sites get squeezed. The SCGA hosted Sectional Qualifying this year at Saticoy CC and 80 players were competing for 4 spots, a ratio of 1:20. Had it received five spots, the ratio would have been 1:16.

Two of the sites — Grayslake, Ill. (21 players) and Overland Park, Kan. (20 players) — had just one qualifier each, with ratios similar to Saticoy. Two others, Dallas, Tex. and Roslyn, Wash., each had 36 players for two spots, a 1:18 ratio.

At two other sites, the USGA was caught in a vise. Columbine, Colo. had 27 players; it got two spots, which meant its ratio was 1:13.5 (as opposed to 1:27 if it had been allotted just one spot). A total of 44 players were entered at Ballground, Geo. Had it received two spots, its ratio would have been 1:22; instead, it got three spots for a 1:14.6 ratio. Ballground had three PGA Tour players entered, while Saticoy had two, which may account for the difference. 

Another judgment call was Dayton, Oh., with a field that contained no PGA Tour players. Dayton had 68 players for four spots, a 1:17 ratio. Had it received three spots, the ratio would have been 1:22.6.

Several years ago when the USGA went to overseas qualifying, it did so to increase the U.S. Open’s international presence. It also created a slotting nightmare for itself and the issues haven’t gotten better in the ensuing years. It’s quite likely that some of the overseas spots would have gone to Columbus or Memphis but one more spot at Saticoy would have made the overall numbers seem a little more equitable.

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• View complete U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying results HERE

STORY AND LINKS: Nice guys do finish first

In my personal pantheon of all-time nice golf people (based on my 26 years as the SCGA’s Senior Director of Communications), Charlie Wi is at the top, or at least very near the top. So it was with great pleasure that I saw Charlie rally from an awful start today to earn medalist honors in U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying at Saticoy Country Club. Nice guys do, occasionally, finish first.

I first encountered Charlie in 1990 when, at age 18, the recent Westlake High grad came from out of nowhere to defeat Gary Vanier to win the 79th California Amateur Championship (commemorated by one of my better headlines: “Wi Came, Wi Saw, Wi Conquered”). Charlie was excited, but humble after his 3 & 2 win over Vanier, the 1981 California Amateur champ, a victory helped immeasurably by Charlie’s deft ability to hit sand shots with an “L” wedge that left Vanier in awe.

A year later, while I was taking photos at Spyglass Hill, Charlie spotted me and sprinted across the fairway to say hello and shake my hand. Today was no different. I hadn’t seen Charlie since 1995 when he won the SCGA Amateur Championship and, perhaps, a time or two in passing at a PGA Tour event, but when he saw me today his face lit up and he exclaimed, “Bob, how are you?” Then he signed several autographs and a few visors (asking someone to loan him a Sharpie to do so). 

Charlie’s story is one of true grit. After graduating from the University of California and winning the SCGA Amateur, Charlie went to Asia (he’s a native of Korea) to play on Asian tours. His first victory was at the 1997 Kuala Lumpur Open and he ended up with nine international wins, including the 2006 Maybank Malaysia Open, a European Tour event.

He played both the PGA Tour and Nationwide Tour in 2005 and 2006 before finally making it for good on the PGA Tour in 2007 and he has improved steadily every year since. He’s already won $1,475,975 this year, including a T2 at the Zurich Championship and a T4 at the Transitions Championship.

Charlie has tried to qualify many times for the U.S. Open but has never made it past Sectional. Instead of competing at one of the sites where the PGA Tour players usually go (Columbus, because the Memorial finished in nearby Muirfield Village yesterday, and Memphis, site of this week’s St. Jude Classic), Charlie elected to come home and tee it up at Saticoy as one of 80 players seeking four qualifying spots.

After five holes, Charlie was questioning the logic of his choice, since he opened with three bogeys and a double bogey in the first five holes. From then on, he was like a totally different player, posting seven birdies en route to an opening round of 1-under-par 71 over the 6,984-yard, par 72 layout that was the site of last July’s SCGA Amateur.

“I am so proud of myself for hanging in there and not giving up,” Wi told Ventura County Star golf writer Bob Buttitta after the second round. “To go 8 under after starting 5 over is pretty good playing. I never got down on myself. I just kept playing. Being out on (the PGA) Tour the last three years has taught me how to stay patient and just keep playing.”

He was one of five players who shot 71 in the morning and that quintet trailed former Pepperdine star Michael Walton and Justin Boatman, each of whom shot 4-under-par 68s in their first 18 holes. However, Charlie was the only one of only two of the morning leaders who backed it up in the afternoon, as he made three birdies and an eagle 3 on the par-5 eighth hole and finished with a 2-under-par 70 (tied for low score in the afternoon)

Since he was in the second group off, Charlie then had to wait nearly three hours until officially grasping the medalist award and the coveted certificate sending him to Bethpage’s treacherous Black Course just outside New York City June 18-21 for the 109th playing of the U.S. Open.

Despite a large number of amateurs in the field at Saticoy, none made the cut for the Open. However, two SCGA members did qualify at other sites: Murrieta’s Rickie Fowler shot 70-65 — 135 in Columbus, Ohio to make the cut on the number and Cameron Tringale of Laguna Niguel shot 67-68 — 135 to earn one of three qualifying spots at Ballground, Georgia. In all, 12 amateurs qualified with two more in a playoff tomorrow.

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• For complete scores and scorecards from Saticoy CC, click HERE

• For all Sectional Qualifying scores, click HERE

• Read Bob Buttitta’s story in the Ventura County Star HERE

STORY AND LINK: Rudolph leads three SCGA members in U.S. Open local qualifying at San Diego CC

Harry Rudolph III, the 1991 California Amateur champion, fired a 2-under-par 70 today at San Diego Country Club as SCGA members took three of the six spots in U.S. Open local qualifying. Rudolph eagled the par-5 16th hole to help him finished second to pro Larry Correa, who shot 69. USD student Ian Coffman and Patrick Duncan, Jr. (son of 1990 SCGA Amateur champion Pat Duncan) were two of five golfers who shot 70 to earn the other qualifying spots.

SeSectional qualifying (each 36 holes) will take place on May 25 in England and Japan and on June 8 at 13 U.S. sites, including Saticoy CC in Somis. Those who survive that round move on to the U.S. Open June 18-21 at the Bethpage Black Course in New York City.

For scores, click HERE.

STORY AND LINK: Hogarth leads six amateurs who advance in U.S. Open local qualifying

Tim Hogarth of Northridge continued his red-hot play, firing a 5-under-par 65 today at Annandale Golf Club in Pasadena to lead six amateurs who advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying. 

Although someone will undoubtedly correct me, I can’t recall a Southern California U.S. Open local where all the qualifiers were amateurs.  David Shefter of the USGA researched records back to 2005 and found a couple of places around the nation where five of five were amateurs but no six-spotters.

Hogarth, fresh from winning the Pasadena City Amateur yesterday at nearby Brookside GC, was even par on the front nine today with two birdies and two bogies, but closed with a flourish on the back nine with four birdies and an eagle 2 on the 307-yard, par-four 17th hole when he drove the green and sank an eight-foot putt. He went birdie-birdie-eagle-birdie to finish five shots in front of Chi-Hsien Hsieh of Taipei and Daniel Lee of Valencia.  The other qualifiers — Daniel Park and Cliff Martin of Los Angeles and Tao Huang of Taipei — each shot 71.  

For Hogarth, it was the continuation of a red-hot streak. Last month, he won his second SCGA Mid-Amateur in the past three years.  Earlier this month, he lost his bid for a fifth consecutive Lakeside GC Kelly Cup when Joe Sanders chipped in for birdie on the first playoff hole. Hogarth won his third consecutive Pasadena City Amateur title over the past weekend MORE.

Sectional qualifying (each 36 holes) will take place on May 25 in England and Japan and on June 8 at 13 U.S. sites, including Saticoy CC in Somis. Those who survive that round move on to the U.S. Open June 18-21 at the Bethpage Black Course in New York City.

For scores, click HERE

STORY AND LINKS: Hogarth captures third consecutive Pasadena City Amateur title

Tim Hogarth fired a 3-under-par 69 in the final round at Brookside GC’s No. 1 course to capture his third consecutive Pasadena City Amateur Golf Championship by three shots over Jake Sarnoff.

The 42-year-old Hogarth, who last month won his third SCGA Mid-Amateur title, finished at 277, 7 under par for the 72-hole event. Sarnoff, a Loyola Marymount student, shot 71 yesterday and finished at 280.  

• Read Larry Morgan’s story in the Pasadena Star-News HERE

• For complete scores, click HERE

STORY AND LINK: USC, UCLA, USD advance to NCAA D-I golf championships

Seven Pac-10 teams, including UCLA and USC, and upstart University of San Diego were among the 30 teams who advanced to the NCAA Divison I Men’s Golf Championship May 26-30 at The Inverness Club in Toledo, OH.

UCLA and Washington finished 1-2 in the Central Regional at The Club at Olde Stone in Alvaton, KY. The Bruins were rallied on the final day and finished 1 under par over the 7,372-yard, par-72 layout. Washington, which had led going into the final round, shot 12 over par today and finished the 54-hole event at 6 over par. Phillip Francis tied for third at 2 under par, along with Cameron Tringale of San Juan Capistrano and Georgia Tech, while defending NCAA D-I individual champion Erik Flores finished sixth at 1 under par.

In the West Regional at Lake Merced GC in Daly City, USC overcame significant adversity to advance with a fifth-place finish. Arizona State (36 under par) and Oregon (27 under) finished 1-2, while University of San Diego, the last team to earn an invite to the regionals, finished fourth at 15 under par. 

The Trojans were forced to play without Jamie Lovemark, who had to withdraw with a rib injury suffered in the first round, but the remaining four players made up for it to help the Trojans advance by one shot over New Mexico State. Freshman Steve Lim shot 6-under-par 66, his best score of the year, to propel the Trojans.

Daniel Miernicki of Santee was a key figure in helping Oregon to make the NCAA finals for the second consecutive year. Miernicki, a freshman, tied for seventh individually with rounds of 69-71-69 for a 7-under 209.

Stanford finished fourth in the Southwest Regional at The University of Texas GC in Austin, while Arizona tied for second in the Southeast Regional at RedTail GC in Sorrento, FL.

For details, click HERE.

STORY AND LINK: Kevin Marsh wins Carlton Woods Invitational by four shots

Reigning SCGA Amateur champion Kevin Marsh won the mid-amateur division of the Carlton Woods Invitational at The Club at Carlton Woods outside of Houston by four shots, the largest margin of victory in the five-year history of the event.  Marsh, the 2005 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion and 1996 SCGA Am titleholder, shot 70 on the first day and 71 on the final day over the club’s Nicklaus Course. He posted a 79 on the Fazio Course in the second round when the club was raked by strong winds.  MORE

STORY AND LINK: SCGA members do well in U.S. Open local qualifying

SCGA members — current and past — have done well during the first week of U.S. Open local qualifying. The local events lead to 36-hole Sectional Qualifying (each 36 holes) that will take place on May 25 in England and Japan and on June 8 at 13 U.S. sites, including Saticoy CC in Somis. Those who survive that round move on to the U.S. Open June 18-21 at the Bethpage Black Course in New York City.

Among the SCGA members who advanced through local qualifiers already conducted (others take place next week, including Monday at San Diego CC and Annandale GC in Pasadena and Tuesday at Industry Hills GC and North Ranch CC):

• At La Purisima GC in Lompoc: Andrew Perez, who the day before had won the Southern California Community College Championship, shot even-par 72 at La Purisima to earn one of six qualifying spots.

• At Yolo Fliers Club in Woodland (outside of Sacramento): Austin Graham of San Clemente (and UC Davis), who finished third in last year’s SCGA Amateur, was medalist with a 67.<br>

• At Ruby Hill GC in Pleasanton:Scott Travers of Lake Forest was medalist with a 68. Former three-time SCGA Amateur champion Scott McGihon qualified with a 70.

• At Towson G&CC in Phoenix: Former UCLA star Chris Heintz qualified with a 67.

• At Half Moon Bay Resort: Justin Warthen of Arroyo Grande qualified with a 73. His brother, Josh, was second alternate after a 74.

• At French Lick Resort in Indiana: 2003 California Amateur and 2006 Pacific Coast Amateur champion Patrick Nagle of Pacifica shot 69 to qualify (yes, I know he wasn't an SCGA member but he was one of my favorite NCGA guys).

• At Bermuda Dunes CC: Reigning NCAA Amateur champion Erik Flores of UCLA was medalist with a 67, while Bryan Harris of Newport Beach qualified with a 68.

• At Mayacama GC in Santa Rosa: 2008 SCGA Mid-Amateur champion Jeff Wilson shot 71 and Erik Thorson of Westlake Village shot 72 to earn spots in Sectional Qualifying.

• At Newport Beach CC: Pasadena’s Dan Sullivan shot 67 to tie for medalist honors.

For a complete list of local qualifiers so far, click HERE.

COMMENTARY: Blowing in the wind

CBS was desperately trying to fill time today while the PGA Tour decided what do with the final round of the AT&T National Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links. In one of the least prudent decisions in the history of televised golf, commentators Gary McCord and Ian Baker-Finch somehow made it out to the seventh hole and tried to hit the green 107-yard, par-3 hole (not 132 yards as McCord said) — this after the howling winds, which gusted to 60 mph, had blown over a 40-foot pine tree earlier in the day. 

Through wind and driving rain, McCord airmailed the green with a driver and Baker-Finch was long with 5 iron. Finally, McCord hit a 6 iron under the wind (sort of) and reached the front of the green.

It's not the first time I've seen that happen. In the 36-hole final match of the 1991 California Amateur Championship, Harry Rudolph III and Sandy Galbraith each hit pitching wedge on the seventh hole in the morning round. In the afternoon, Galbraith hit 6 iron and Rudolph hit 5 iron over the green into the ocean. Rudolph lost the hole but went on to win the title, 3 & 2.

LATE ADD: Apparently McCord and Baker-Finch weren't the only numbskulls. Read Scott Ostler''s column HERE.

STORY AND LINK: Another curious decision by Augusta National GC

As it has proven over and over again, Augusta National Golf Club is its own fiefdom and can do whatever it wants, both with its club policies and with the Masters, its own private tournament. However, you have to wonder at its latest announcement about the Asian Amateur Championship.

According to a story in Golfweek HERE, Augusta National has joined forces with the Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews to jointly sponsor the first AAC, which is scheduled for October 29 at Mission Hills Country Club in China. The winner of the event will receive an invitation to the 2010 Masters and will be exempt into international final-stage qualifying for the 2010 British Open.

It marks the first time since 1989 that an amateur exemption has been added for the Masters (currently the winner and runner-up of the U.S. Amateur and the winner of the British Amateur, U.S. Mid-Amateur and U.S. Amateur Public Links championships are offered invitations).  At one time, the field contained many amateurs, including members of the U.S. Walker Cup team.

According to the story, the AAC will have a 120-man field but will be limited to Asians only. There was no word on whether Asian-born U.S. residents, such as Sihwan Kim, will be included. “We’re really trying to target Asian players and Asian-Pacific players to give them the opportunity to come through and excel,” Royal & Ancient Executive Secretary Peter Dawson said. “We believe the right thing to do is a closed championship.” August National chairman Billy Payne said he hopes the new tournament will be equal to the U.S. and British Amateurs “in short order.”  

Maybe so, but it’s got a long, uphill climb.  The field will be based on the R&A's World Amateur Golf Ranking, with at least two players coming from each of the 29 members of the Asian Pacific Golf Confederation.

A look at the current WAGR is quite revealing.  There are just 37 Asian players ranked in the top 500 with the vast majority of those coming from Australia and New Zealand and a smaller number from Korea. Frankly, I got tired and didn’t bother to go deeper than 500 but it’s obvious that, considering that the AAC is at least 15 players short of reaching the 120 mark, the field — it’s going to have to go WAY down the list. At least at the beginning, this championship isn’t going to be anywhere near world rank.  

Of course, that doesn’t even consider the quality of the R&A’s World Amateur rankings, which bases its U.S. rankings almost exclusively on college and east coast invitational tournaments (for example, Kevin Marsh, Tim Hogarth and Jeff Wilson don’t show up anywhere on the WAGR although all are ranked in the top 200 of the Golfweek/Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking).

Augusta National is to be commended on its efforts to grow golf in Asia and it may be that the winner of the AAC will be a world-ranked amateur player. However, he’ll certainly have an easier road to Augusta National than, say, the NCAA Division I individual champion, who currently isn’t exempt. It won't be the first curious Masters exemption and probably won't be the last, either. It is, after all, Augusta National.