[Eric Johnson]

For those interested:

http://www.oga.org/custom/bluegolf/oga_frames.asp?LINK=1

[Jim Colton]

For those interested:

http://www.oga.org/custom/bluegolf/oga_frames.asp?LINK=1

Check out Joel Stock's scorecard!

[Steve Kline]

Jim - did you have your qualifier yet?

Does anyone know what couse they are playing at Bandon for the Oregon qualifier? That would certainly be a nice advantage to get in a tournament round on either the BD or BT course before the Mid-Am.

[K. Krahenbuhl]

They are playing Bandon Trails.

Could you imagine playing 16 & 17 in four shots!  What a way to finish.

[Tom Jefferson]

The qualifier was/is at Bandon Trails.  

Played from not that far back.  

Light rain this morning, until 10 or so, and sun since.

Some bluster from the south in the morning, with lighter southwest winds this afternoon, turning west.

Make's the caddy Tim Tucker's front nine 34 all the better.

Tom  

[Tom Jefferson]

I can tell you that a score of 1 on seventeen, with a back right cup location, is a SERIOUS hole in one!  All the shots I watched there caromed off the slope from the right bunker, moving left strongly.  Hard to imagine how the ball got tucked in there.

Tom

[Steve Kline]

Tom - in general what tees where they playing from?

I would imagine the USGA will set both courses up from the tips since they are both about 6,700-6,800 yards, no?

[Tom Jefferson]

Steve; the holes I galleried were #17, playing 163 yds., plus 9 for the back cup location; #18 at the regular tee..and I am guessing about 400 yards, with a slight trailing wind; #1 from the back tee; #2 from the regular tee and a front cup location, and #3 from the little back tee deck.

I don't know the yardages the USGA will use, but believe many of the back tees are currently being saved for the event.

I'd be suprised if the tips are used at either course, especially at BD...what does it stretch to?  7300??
But I can see BT at 6700/6800.

[Steve Kline]

The progress of both JES's can be watched here:

http://www.gapgolf.org/uploads/realtime/2007_usga_mid_amateur_qualifier/stroke.html

[Joe Fairey]

Steve,

Good luck at the Mid Am...I missed yesterday in Durham...a quick suggestion for your prep....I have played twice and think that you will find that the USGA will have very firm and fast greens...the speed I could handle, but had a difficult time getting used to the firmness, especially on chips and short pitch shots...would hard in this area as you prepare... you'll be glad...it will be a great week...enjoy

[Brent Hutto]

The progress of both JES's can be watched here:

http://www.gapgolf.org/uploads/realtime/2007_usga_mid_amateur_qualifier/stroke.html

Sullivan fils is playing well but the short holes are giving him a spot of bother.

[Norbert P]

 Here are the numbers on how the Bandon Trails course is scoring.

 As expected, 14 is giving several competitors some fits.


http://oga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/oga7/event/oga721/contest/1/course/bandondunesgresort/stat/index.htm

[Steve Kline]

Looks like JESII tripled his last whole. Ouch! Otherwise he would be tied for the clubhouse lead.

[Steve Kline]

Here are the numbers on how the Bandon Trails course is scoring.

 As expected, 14 is giving several competitors some fits.


http://oga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/oga7/event/oga721/contest/1/course/bandondunesgresort/stat/index.htm

Having never seen the course why is expected that the shortest hole is tied for 2nd hardest hole on the course? Why is #1 so hard?

[Tom Huckaby]

Dunes/Scrub both sides... winds tough to judge... green set back in dunes, distance tough to judge...

It doesn't surprise me at all that #1 plays this tough.  It is just plain a quite difficult golf hole.

TH

[Tom Huckaby]

Charlie - I have played to a back pin on 14 - it is REALLY tough.  Heck chips shots from short or either side can easily produce a back and forth disaster.  There's just very very very little room back there as you know... Just by way of example, in match play I lay 2 a few feet off the left front fringe and my opponent was over the back in three.  I chipped SIDEWAYS to the middle of the green leaving a flat putt rather than even try to get to the back pin.  And that's on a CHIP of about 40 feet max.

Oh yes, that back pin is tough.  Crazy tough.

TH

[Steve Kline]

I'm just stunned that a 325 yard hole would be the second hardest hole on the course and average 0.66 strokes over par.

In looking at the scores for the last two years at the Mid-Am it seems that 148 generally makes the cut. Anyone want to hazard a guess at the match play cut for this year?

Do you think essentially playing a links course will have an impact? Will having playing experience in Scotland be an advantage?

[Tom Huckaby]

I'm just stunned that a 325 yard hole would be the second hardest hole on the course and average 0.66 strokes over par.

You'll understand completely when you play it.

This is not your average 325 yard hole.

http://www.bandondunesgolf.com/bt_hole14.cfm

Hopefully that gives some understanding... but what that doesn't show is how raised the green is (over the right side) and how truly tiny the green is, nor the falloffs on the sides and back, nor the wild internal contour at the back of the green.

I'm not surprised at all it played to 4.66 with a strong field.  And get this - if the wind is as reported, they got the easy wind... into the wind not many will reach, true, but the approach shots will be MUCH easier.  Downwind it's damn near impossible to hit and hold that green from any distance.



TH

[Steve Kline]

I'm looking forward to that hole. It appears to be downhill a little. Is the best strategy to try and drive the green? If it's a hard shot from anywhere wouldn't it be better to be closer.

[Tom Huckaby]

The tee is VERY raised, so yes it does play downhill.

As for what strategy is best, you're going to have to test a little - it so depends on one's strengths and weaknesses.

The obvious reason against trying to drive the green is that a miss left is DEAD - gone - into the bushes; and a miss right leaves a very very tough short pitch, up over the bunker, wih about a 3 foot margin of error as you'll be hitting into the narrowest part of the green.  However the rewards are great.. if you can get it on the green, or on that front level just short, a birdie or eagle can be had.  Just do remember it's a pretty tiny target, and you also have damn near always a lot of wind one way or the other to try to factor in.

If I'm caddieing for a good player, I'm gonna advise him to punt and lay back to where we have a full swing in.  We're going to need to get some spin on the wedge shot to have any chance at holding the green.

But that being said, if my guy is on... and/or we really need a 3 or lower... it's going to be very tempting to hand him the driver or 3wood.

This will all make a heck of a lot more sense when you see the golf hole, Steve.  Many hate it.  I know I wouldn't want to play it in a stroke play tournament but I do love it because I don't have to do that!

I'd just advise caution until you really know the hole.  5iron + SW will likely give you a 4 and you'll gain on the field.

TH

[PThomas]

Huck -  wouldn't be fun to sit there with some cocktails near 14 and watch the boys go at 14 for a few hours?

par there is never a bad score

[Tom Huckaby]

Huck -  wouldn't be fun to sit there with some cocktails near 14 and watch the boys go at 14 for a few hours?

par there is never a bad score

That would be fun... I just do bet that the better the players are, the less they do go for the green.

So I do want to watch the MidAm guys - I think a lot of them will be tempted.  They're obviously great players if they've made this field, but they're not pros.

I bet a field of PGA Tour guys sees darn near none go for the green off the tee.

TH

[Richard Boult]

The US Mid Amateur Sectional Qualifier was held here on the Central Coast a week ago at Cypress Ridge (Jabobsen/Hardy).  There were four qualifiers and two alternates that qualified to move on to the Mid Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes.  The low score of the day was 68 shot by Jason Higton.  Other notable qualifiers include Tim Mickelson, related to Phil Mickelson and coach of the USD Golf Team.  Also taking the last qualifying spot in a two hole playoff was Michael Rowley of San Luis Obispo, owner of the Straight Down Clothing Company.  You've probably seen a few touring pros sporting Rowley's Straight Down apparel - Charley Hoffman and Loren Roberts for example.  Rowley also hosts the annual Straight Down Fall Classic here in SLO, a fun tourney to watch since nothing's roped off and you can just follow your favorites around the course - right in the fairway.  Anyway, it'll be interesting to see how "Tim" Michelson fairs.

[Steve Kline]

I know I haven't seen the hole but I bet almost every single PGA tour pro would go for the green. They have so much confidence in their short games they think they can handle anything. It seems like most go for the 10th at Riviera, or the 4th at TPC Boston (not near as much trouble it sounds like) or the 17th at Oakmont. Rarely do these guys lay up on short par 4s.

Since I will only be playing the course in stroke play I'll probably lay up. The key the first two rounds is not to make doubles or worse. You can recover from bogeys.

[Jim Colton]

The Mid-Am qualifier was held today at Rich Harvest Links and 75 was the low score and 77 got in.  Unfortunately, I wasn't one of them.

Good luck Steve.  Carry that GCA torch!

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