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My player this week is Il Mi Chung
Monday: Walked both Open qualifying courses in preparation for
tomorrow's marathon. Webster, set up at 6407 yards, is the easier of the
two with Ontario tighter and substantially more sloping greens at 6516.
With a double pro-am at the tournament course, my plans to give it a quick
once-over were dashed. Think I put on a few miles today? Not really,
Ontario let us take a cart but I was planning to walk it. Counts for something
doesn't it?
- After signing up at the caddie tent, our badges our given out
randomly by snatching one out of a bag. I pulled badge number 007.
This week just call me Bond, James Bond.
Tuesday: 36 holes of tension driven, U.S. Open qualifying ended
with just trying to get into the barn before the gas ran out. We did and
made it into the Open with a score of +2. The weather started out with a
gusty wind of 17 mph and higher with a hail storm predicted for later that
afternoon but never happened. Actually, got better as the day progressed
and the wind subsided. 38 players qualified with +4 as the cut-off. No
playoff necessary.
Totaling The Scores
Jamie Hullet and Her Dad Awaiting The Results.
(Made it on the number)
- Speaking of qualifiers, there was one held on Monday in Baltimore
and was short lived for Mhairi McKay. On the eight hole in the first
round, she pumped four tee balls Oscar Brown (out of bounds) and
packed it it. No sense continuing after that.
- An infamous tour caddie, who shall remain anonymous, must have
figured a yardage book for the Ontario course in Rochester was a superfluous
expenditure, or some other idiotic notion, and didn't pick one up. He
also didn't walk the course and it showed. A multitude of bogies had
his player so far back going into the second round recovery was
impossible. Needless to say, they're histoire.
Wednesday: We were the last alternate in our time slot and
needed the day off. Many others were not as fortunate as pro-am exemptions
were the hot item of the day. At least seven were taken by the time I
departed the course.
Thursday:
Another nasty day on the course with rain and wind pestering us most of
the way. Shot 5 over with a under par round needed tomorrow to play the
weekend.
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We were paired with Makaela
Parmlid who may be one of the slowest players on tour. Never seems
to ready even when last to hit. For fast players like Il Mi it could
be quite nerve wracking.
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Rochester may have the most avid fans on tour. Rain
and wind will not deter their willingness to partake in this event.
They could be sitting at home, clicker in hand and chips and beer at
the ready, but instead are lining the fairways at Locus Hill. Kudos to
each and everyone!
Friday: We were the second group off and by the
time we arrived on the fifth hole the group in front was being timed. Not
wanting to fall behind ourselves, we donned our track shoes and the race
was on. Seemed we could barely catch our breath especially after the arduous
climb up the eight fairway, but I knew once we made the turn lead boots
would be the footwear of the day. The back nine is much more demanding
with tighter fairways and a couple of long par fours. We shot the under
par round needed to make the cut on the number and will be teeing it up
early.
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The sixteenth hole found Makaela in the left trees
with a difficult shot to the green. I didn't see her practice swings
but it sounded like she was chopping her way through the Amazon
Rainforest with a machete! She executed the shot without a hitch but caught
the eye of both her competitors. They both were in agreement that all
that hacking brought down enough foliage from the impairing tree that
she incurred a penalty. Upon reaching the green, an official was
summoned and all the players returned to the scene of the
deforestation. Apparently it could not be proven that she improved her
intended swing and no penalty was assessed. Il Mi and Eva was not
convinced but what could they do? You would thing that questioning
one's veracity would be quite unnerving but it didn't bother Makaela
one bit. She birdied the 17th and slam dunked her second shot for an
eagle on 18!
Saturday: Paired with Siew-Ai Lim and she was
announced as being from Kaluah Lumpur instead of Kuala Lumpur. Maybe
he was an aficionado of Black Russians!
We shot an even par round of 72 and moved up a bit. A move
tomorrow will make a decent check.
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My computer is still not fixed. In fact, they sent the
mail-in repair box to the wrong address! Another box is being
dispatched to next week's hotel in Denver. This is without a doubt the
worst company I have ever dealt with. If you travel a lot do not
purchase the extended warranty from Circuit City. They are dreadfully
inept and the only return address used is the one you send it in from.
If you happen to be in another city when it's finally fixed that's
your problem!
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