I'm back from a glorious day at Conway Farms Golf Club in Lake Forest, IL.  This is a private club and by the invitation of a member, I watched the 2nd half of the 36-hole action.  This is a tough track designed by Tom Fazio.  The 60 US Open hopefuls teed it up from the Black Tees, 7206 yards, Par 71 with a course rating/slope of 75.8/149.  Holy Schnikies!


(Conway Farms Club House)

By the time I arrived, the players had finished one loop and were starting their second 18.  Notable guys:  Chris Riley, Paul Stankowski, Mark O'Meara, Mike Small and DA Points.  Most were in striking distance for an invitation to the big show.  Top 6 places advanced.

I followed a lesser known group that included Joseph Guillion, Neal Grusczynski and Josh McCumber.  Josh played an even 71 to start.  He played well and got to 2 under at one point.  Big hitter!  He approached his final hole 1 under for the day.  Most people I talked with during the day thought 1 under would be about the cut.  He hits his drive perfect on the par 4.  Hole cut back right of the green.  He's about 100 yards out in the middle of the fairway.  The shot takes one hop on the back of the green and lands in the deep rough behind it.  Hits a beautiful recovery shot to about 5 feet.  A left breaker to stay near the cut and he lipped it!  Tap in for 71 and even par 142 for 36 holes.

In talking with some of the guys I was walking with, we acknowledged how some little things can make or break an opportunity, round, etc.  As you can see by the results below, if Josh would have made that putt, he would have been in a 6 person playoff for the 6th and final invitation to the US Open.




Mark O'Meara looked excited after the results confirmed he will have another shot at glory.  DA Points played on the PGA tour for a couple of years, but didn't play well enough to keep his card.  He's got another chance for some new exemptions.  Looked like he was making plans on his cell phone once he knew he was in.  Chris Kirk, watch out for this kid, he can really hammer the ball.  Chris Riley didn't play to his expectations and was visibly frustrated walking away from the scorers table.  The low man of the tourney was Hunter Haas.  If he plays like that at the US Open, watch out! 

I didn't stick around to see who won the final spot.  One of the players, on the first playoff hole was in a fairway bunker and thinned the shot which looked to be going OB only to have the golf gods save him as it hit a tree behind the green and came to rest on the green, 30 feet from the hole.  I watched two playoff holes and 4 guys still remained after Mike Small made bogey on the first hole.

If you like to watch tournament golf, the qualifying tournaments are a real treat.  You can get right next to these guys and watch some really good players.  Wouldn't we like to be in their golf shoes?