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Duval makes cut, but Love and DeCorso are out after sectional play at two courses in Columbus
By Marla Ridenour
Beacon Journal sports writer
POSTED: 11:08 p.m. EDT, Jun 08, 2009
COLUMBUS: Wearing a pair of navy camouflage shorts, David Duval was almost unrecognizable as he stood among the crowd of golfers gathered near the patio today at Brookside Golf and Country Club.
The 2001 British Open champion didn't seem in a rush to bolt after playing in a 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Brookside and The Lakes Golf and Country Club, even though he seemed solidly in.
''It's just what you do,'' he said of the waiting. ''We'll know soon enough.''
The last time Duval played in a U.S. Open was in 2006 at Winged Foot and he had not attempted to qualify the past two years. He guessed it was his first time in this situation since he was a star at Georgia Tech.
''Circumstances dictated I couldn't try to play. I don't remember exactly why, I just couldn't,'' Duval said, referring to the past two years. The 13-time winner on the PGA Tour has battled injuries and confidence issues.
''I've made no bones about it, the two Opens are my favorite tournaments. I think those two are the most important events of the year,'' he said.
Duval carded a 9-under par 135 (a 66 at the tougher Brookside in the morning and 69 at The Lakes) to claim one of 17 spots (and two alternates) available in the Columbus sectional.
Among the others advancing to the U.S. Open June 18-21 at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y., were Tom Lehman, Bo Van Pelt, Lucas Glover, Ryan Moore, J.B. Holmes and Ben Crane. Matt Bettencourt, the unknown who was the 54-hole co-leader at last weekend's Memorial Tournament and tied for fifth, also qualified with the low round (64) at Brookside.
''This is worth way more than a paycheck from yesterday at the Memorial,'' Lehman said, his information packet for the Open in hand. ''The U.S. Open is such a big deal you'll do whatever it takes.''
Two amateurs were also on top of their games. Kyle Stanley, a junior at Clemson who recently finished second at the NCAAs, carded the low round of 62 at The Lakes and led the way at 12-under par with George McNeill. Rickie Fowler, a junior at Oklahoma State, also finished 9-under.
Failing to qualify
Among those who failed to qualify was Davis Love III, who had played in 18 consecutive U.S. Opens, and Kent State product Bryan DeCorso, who finished 3-over 145 (70 at the Lakes, 75 at Brookside). Jon Mills, also from Kent State, was forced to withdraw after tying for 36th Sunday in the Nationwide Tour event in Mitchellville, Md.
Love shot 138, two strokes out of a playoff.
DeCorso, 38, got an exemption into the sectional qualifier off his victory in a Nationwide Tour event last year in Valdosta, Ga.
''In the past five or six weeks, I've been struggling with my short game,'' DeCorso said. ''I would have had to find something today. When things came down to it that I knew I wasn't going to qualify, I stayed out there to see if I could find something where I was comfortable with my putter.
''There were some mechanical things I needed to fix, then you go back to reading the putt and hitting it on the pace you want. You have this visualization. Well, I've lost that.''
Physical problems
The native of Guelph, Ontario, turned pro in 1995, but started struggling with physical problems at the end of last season on the Nationwide Tour. He had a problem with a nerve in his neck that ran down his shoulder and arm, not to mention the two bulging disks he's dealt with for years.
''Something I was doing on the driving range was inflaming this whole area. I backed away,'' DeCorso said. ''But I played the last seven or eight events in rehab, physio, chiropractor; I spent the night with the stim machine on. Going to therapy, stretching.
''Before I went to [PGA Tour] qualifying school, I said, 'The only thing that is going to relieve this is doing nothing.' I did very well at finals. I shot 14-under. I didn't make enough putts that I needed to make, 19-under got your card.''
But DeCorso seemed upbeat as he headed for Knoxville.
''It's been demoralizing the last month and a half, two months,'' he said. ''But I'm searching and hopefully I will find it soon.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
COLUMBUS: Wearing a pair of navy camouflage shorts, David Duval was almost unrecognizable as he stood among the crowd of golfers gathered near the patio today at Brookside Golf and Country Club.
The 2001 British Open champion didn't seem in a rush to bolt after playing in a 36-hole U.S. Open sectional qualifier at Brookside and The Lakes Golf and Country Club, even though he seemed solidly in.
''It's just what you do,'' he said of the waiting. ''We'll know soon enough.''
The last time Duval played in a U.S. Open was in 2006 at Winged Foot and he had not attempted to qualify the past two years. He guessed it was his first time in this situation since he was a star at Georgia Tech.
''Circumstances dictated I couldn't try to play. I don't remember exactly why, I just couldn't,'' Duval said, referring to the past two years. The 13-time winner on the PGA Tour has battled injuries and confidence issues.
''I've made no bones about it, the two Opens are my favorite tournaments. I think those two are the most important events of the year,'' he said.
Duval carded a 9-under par 135 (a 66 at the tougher Brookside in the morning and 69 at The Lakes) to claim one of 17 spots (and two alternates) available in the Columbus sectional.
Among the others advancing to the U.S. Open June 18-21 at Bethpage Black on Long Island, N.Y., were Tom Lehman, Bo Van Pelt, Lucas Glover, Ryan Moore, J.B. Holmes and Ben Crane. Matt Bettencourt, the unknown who was the 54-hole co-leader at last weekend's Memorial Tournament and tied for fifth, also qualified with the low round (64) at Brookside.
''This is worth way more than a paycheck from yesterday at the Memorial,'' Lehman said, his information packet for the Open in hand. ''The U.S. Open is such a big deal you'll do whatever it takes.''
Two amateurs were also on top of their games. Kyle Stanley, a junior at Clemson who recently finished second at the NCAAs, carded the low round of 62 at The Lakes and led the way at 12-under par with George McNeill. Rickie Fowler, a junior at Oklahoma State, also finished 9-under.
Failing to qualify
Among those who failed to qualify was Davis Love III, who had played in 18 consecutive U.S. Opens, and Kent State product Bryan DeCorso, who finished 3-over 145 (70 at the Lakes, 75 at Brookside). Jon Mills, also from Kent State, was forced to withdraw after tying for 36th Sunday in the Nationwide Tour event in Mitchellville, Md.
Love shot 138, two strokes out of a playoff.
DeCorso, 38, got an exemption into the sectional qualifier off his victory in a Nationwide Tour event last year in Valdosta, Ga.
''In the past five or six weeks, I've been struggling with my short game,'' DeCorso said. ''I would have had to find something today. When things came down to it that I knew I wasn't going to qualify, I stayed out there to see if I could find something where I was comfortable with my putter.
''There were some mechanical things I needed to fix, then you go back to reading the putt and hitting it on the pace you want. You have this visualization. Well, I've lost that.''
Physical problems
The native of Guelph, Ontario, turned pro in 1995, but started struggling with physical problems at the end of last season on the Nationwide Tour. He had a problem with a nerve in his neck that ran down his shoulder and arm, not to mention the two bulging disks he's dealt with for years.
''Something I was doing on the driving range was inflaming this whole area. I backed away,'' DeCorso said. ''But I played the last seven or eight events in rehab, physio, chiropractor; I spent the night with the stim machine on. Going to therapy, stretching.
''Before I went to [PGA Tour] qualifying school, I said, 'The only thing that is going to relieve this is doing nothing.' I did very well at finals. I shot 14-under. I didn't make enough putts that I needed to make, 19-under got your card.''
But DeCorso seemed upbeat as he headed for Knoxville.
''It's been demoralizing the last month and a half, two months,'' he said. ''But I'm searching and hopefully I will find it soon.''
Marla Ridenour can be reached at mridenour@thebeaconjournal.com. Read her Browns blog at http://www.ohiomm.com/blogs/browns/. Follow the Browns on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/ABJ_Browns
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