2012 U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying Roundup

Golfweek's one-stop roundup includes all of the numbers, qualifiers, alternates and notable missers in easy-to-read fashion.

And here is the USGA Sectional page where all scores, stories and photos are posted.

Doug Ferguson's AP story on sectionals focuses on Casey Martin and his USGA-supported cart returning to the scene of his only U.S. Open appearance.

Mike Tomiko of The Oregonian on Martin's qualifying and the backstory of his decision to give it a try this year. 

Jim Achenbach with details from on-site of the harrowing day for Martin, which included rushing to finish after a rain delay.

Martin may be back at the course Tuesday morning to watch the sudden death playoff between Daniel Miernicki and Nick Sherwood. Both are amateurs, Miernicki plays for Martin at Oregon. Sherwood plays for Oregon State. James Raia with more details from the Oregon qualifier.
 
The unforgettable moment of the day (and Sportscenter Top 10 highlight) came with Dennis Miller's epic putt and the surrounding Golf Channel video coverage viewable here, including a super Whit Watson interview with Miller.

Ryan Ballengee profiles Miller, Director of Golf at Mill Creek, who was in a playoff with PGA Tour players Justin Hicks and Scott Piercy.

Nick Masuda files from Black Diamond Ranch, leading with a detailed account of Brooks Koepka denying 14-year-old Andy Zhang in a profile.
 
Rhonda Glenn was there too and filed a story about the sectional medalist, Scott Langley.

Michelle Hiskey reports from The River Club in Suwanee, Georgia, where Jason Bohn and Casey Wittenberg made it after making coaching changes.

Matt Baylor reports from Glen Ellyn, Illinois where Australian Anthony Summers was medalist over Tim Herron.

Ian O'Conner on former E Street drummer Vini Lopez looping for Mark McCormick at Canoe Brook.

David Shefter's story from the Canoe Brook qualifier focuses on amateur Cameron Wilson qualifying.

Dave Shedloski files from the Columbus qualifier and leads with Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love's successful quest to return to the U.S. Open.

Jason Sobel on Springfield qualifier John Peterson, who was left off last year's Walker Cup team and now will be playing in the U.S. Open.

Rob Oller on the bizarre journey of Peterson and the other qualifier from the Springfield site, Brice Garnett. Neither had played the course before Monday.

Hunki Yun files reports from Woodmont Country Club where alternate Cole Howard, playing with a heavy heart, made his way to Olympic Club.

Barry Svrluga reports from Woodmont with some great color and sense of the day, along with a great Toni Sandys photo of Fred Funk accompanying the story.

Mike Bailey was on the ground in Houston for Bob Estes' dominating performance along with two gutsy performances from Jordan Spieth and Cory Whitsett, both working on almost no sleep after playing in the NCAA Championship match Sunday. Both missed in a playoff.

Thomas Bonk reports from Lake Merced, where Cal grad James Hahn took the sectional and 53-year-old Olympic Club member and Champions Tour player Michael Allen made it to the Open.

Bucky Dent reports from the Germantown CC qualifier in Memphis where 5 inches of rains in 16 hours washed out play.

Golf Channel also posted this video clib of Sands and Isenhour discussing the notables who missed. Other interviews and clips may run too since it's a 90 minute package!

Comments

[BTW]

Beau Hosler from Mission Viejo, qualified for his second US Open at 17 years old

[No Longer Used to be Former S&T Convert]

Like Tour School, this event produces so many dramatic stories. I have caddied a few times for a guy that has now tried 30+ times, made it to Sectional 6-7 times and yes he made it to the Open once, '97. Of course it was a huge dramatic 12 for 5 playoff as well.

Fantastic that the GC is covering this cool event (they will get better at it) thankfully Timmy cannot shut this one down. Miller's putt will be overplayed, but that's OK.

[The O]

The Miller story is actually kind of cool given that he was an alternate for sectionals in the first place. I hope he makes the cut.

[Stanley Thompson]

Geoff,
You certainly got in a full day yesterday.

Great job!

[johnnnycz]

Miller winning the playoff in that fashion along with being 3rd alternate and the great interview afterwards is the highlight of this year's US Open for me...and he's from Youngstown OH which is OK with me.

[DTF]

Martin's success just illustrates how incredibly talented truly "elite" professional golfers are -- and he is certainly counted in that group. What a shame that a handicap not of his doing did not allow him to fully pursue the game at the highest level. Did he use a cart? And will he use one at Olympic?

Remember the Trevino quote (I think it was Trevino) where he said something like "if you think your son is good enough to play pro golf take him to a different course he has not seen every day for a week, have him play the back tees, and if he breaks 70 every time maybe he's good enough".

Another prime example of truly elite professional talent are the two guys that came out of Springfield, Ohio....John Peterson and Brice Garnett. Each shows up Monday at a course neither has ever laid eyes on (with very little sleep I might add) and between them they make 20 birdies and basically blow away the field! Think about how the young local Ohio amateur Joe Kastelic must feel, he goes out to Springfield and shoots 3-under for the day and ends up 2nd alternate...but missed the number by 5 full shots!!

These guys really are good....

(and all you plus-handicap 40-something guys with visions of playing the senior tour, forget about it, you just are not good enough!)

[RickABQ]

Del -

Wasn't there some story many years ago about Harvey Penick on the range at Austin Country Club listening to one of those 40-something guys who was waiting to join the senior tour, and then Harvey taking him over down the range to meet Tom Kite, whom Harvey noted was also waiting to join the senior tour? Sort of a "welcome to your competition" moment?

I was also happy to see Casey Martin get into the US Open - another one to root for!

[Tighthead]

Let me tell you about one of our club members," Tinsley said. "Like you, he's forty-three years old, and he's made all the money he'll ever need. He has a handsome wife and family. He practices golf every day, and he plays golf nearly every day. He's getting ready for the Senior Tour in seven more years. At this tough golf course, his handicap is a plus-4. He is your competition. He is the player you are going to have to learn to beat if you are going to go on the Senior Tour. I really don't want to spend seven years of my life trying to help you to do that. Not for any price.

"There's the man I'm talking about -- he's sitting over by the window, eating a club sandwich."

Tinsley gestured toward Tom Kite.

[RickABQ]

Tighthead - Thanks! Thought it was Harvey Penick but it turned out to be his son - my memory is gradually fading away, like my ability to hit long irons...

[DTF]

Rick, I had that exact story on my mind when writing that post but figured I had gone on long enough! I too thought it was Harvey. Thanks Tighthead.

[DTF]

S&T, let me guess....your guy played at MPHS and NCSU ;)

[RickABQ]

Del - My wife went to McCallum High School in Austin along with Tom Kite, and Tom apparently was always asking out her best friend, somewhat persistently. Her friend would never, ever go out with him, because she was interested more in the football and basketball players, and as she told my wife "what kind of future does a golfer have, anyway?" Her friend might want a do-over on that one.

[The O]

My vision as a senior golfer involves senior Am stuff. Although, from what I've seen at the state level, the senior Am competitions full of semi-retired 50 year olds with loads of money are more competitive than the mid-am stuff with guys who work and deal with kids and play golf too.

[No Longer Used to be Former Stack & Tilt Convert]

@DTF ---- Whoa that's good. The point being, there are lots of interesting stories every year, and it is great that GC is going out and covering some of them like Dennis Miller.

[DTF]

Agreed S&T. For a change we have something to praise the Golf Channel about. Where's Alex Miceli been lately? He get benched?

Rick, hilarious, I'm sure she'd probably take a mulligan if offered one!

According to the PGA Tour website Tom Kite has $26,118,000 of official on-course earnings since turning pro in 1972. This does not include money earned on other tours or from endorsements and such. It's probably fair to say he's earned over $50,000,000 in aggregate in that period of time.

And I bet he didn't have a single concussion or torn ACL that whole time!

[ol Harv]

@DTF You must have missed Miceli, he was reporting from the Maryland site and he looked like he had been in a fight because of the bad weather. Very disheveled.

[DTF]

I hope they leave the SOB in Maryland ;-)