Rough Road to Merion Through Century and Old Oaks

Jesse Smith on the first tee at Century CC
(Copyright USGA/Michael Cohen)

Jesse Smith of Dover, NH, was the medalist during yesterday's damp and daunting US Open Sectional Qualifyier held at Century CC and Old Oaks CC in Purchase, NY.  Smith captured one of four treasured slots in the field for the US Open at Merion. 79 players competed.

The top finishers were:

Jesse Smith, Dover, N.H. - 70-67--137
Geoffrey Sisk, Marshfield, Mass. - 68-69—137
(a) Gavin Hall, Pittsford, N.Y. - 70-67--137
Jim Herman, Palm City, Fla. - 70-68—138

Not making the cut were popular PGA Tour pro Brad Faxon, who posted 140, local am standout Max Buckley, 140, and two leading local pros, Greg Bisconti of St. Andrew's, 144, and Rob Labritz of GlenArbor, 145.

Among many other books, Dave Donelson is the author of Weird Golf: 18 tales of fantastic, horrific, scientifically impossible, and morally reprehensible golf