McAfee, 3 others advance
Posted on Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Kyle McAfee shot a 3-under-par 69 on Tuesday and was the medalist at U. S. Open qualifying on Chenal Country Club’s Founders Course in Little Rock.
Fifty-five players were vying for four positions in sectional qualifying June 2 in Memphis. Also getting through Tuesday in Little Rock were Ryan Henry of Tulsa, James Oh of Glenwood, Calif., and Grant Masson of Little Rock.
“I’m definitely excited. I wasn’t expecting it,” said McAfee, a Hope native and former Henderson State golfer. “I was 4 under through the first 12 holes. Then I made a bogey and a double bogey after that. But I made a couple of birdies coming in. I was just hoping it was going to be close.” McAfee’s score was better than close thanks to a windy day that helped inflate scores. Only McAfee, Oh (70 ) and Henry (70 ) broke par.
Henry is a former University of Tulsa golfer, while Oh is probably best known locally as the player who knocked Conway’s Bryce Molder out of the 1999 U. S. Amateur in an epic 23-hole match. At that time, Oh was a high school senior who had won the U. S. Junior Amateur.
Masson, an assistant professional at The Alotian Club who missed the cut by one stroke at last week’s Nationwide Tour Fort Smith Classic, needed two extra holes to advance Tuesday.
He and Mountain Home High School senior Brad Simons finished tied at even-par 72. They began a sudden-death playoff on the first hole. Masson was in trouble both off the tee and after his second shot but survived when Simons missed a 12-foot birdie putt.
On the second hole, both had lengthy birdie putts after hitting the green. Simons left his about 6 feet short of the hole, while Masson got to within 2 feet. After Simons missed a par putt, Masson holed his putt to claim the final spot in sectional qualifying.
The USGA accepted 8, 390 entries for the 2008 U. S. Open, including the 58 players who are exempted into the field. Local qualifying is being held at 111 sites, with the number of players advancing to sectional qualifying depending on the number entered.
Other sites have seen the likes of Dallas Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo and former tennis professionals Michael Chang and Ivan Lendl trying to qualify for the U. S. Open, which will be held June 12-15 at Torrey Pines Golf Course in San Diego.
There weren’t any celebrities at Chenal Country Club on Tuesday.
McAfee, 28, is an assistant professional at Hot Springs Country Club while continuing to play the satellite golf tours. His schedule has been limited by two shoulder surgeries in the past two years, though he did play the Adams Tour’s winter series this year. He’s hoping to qualify for some Nationwide Tour events this summer.
He shot 1-under 35 on the back nine to start, then was left with a 43-yard third shot on the par-5 No. 1 hole.
“It rolled right in the hole dead center,” McAfee said. “Then I went to No. 3, which was my 12 th hole, I was in the trees and had to play short. But I chipped it in for another birdie.” He made a bogey on the fifth, then a double bogey on the par-3 sixth.
“I was kind of thinking I’ve got to birdie the next three holes,” McAfee said.
He birdied No. 7, but left a 10-foot birdie putt short on No. 8. But he nearly made eagle on the ninth hole, settling for a birdie to complete his round of 69.
“I’m still in shock to be honest,” he said.
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