U.S. Open Qualifier Stories: No-Names at Winged Foot

I’ll start with Duffy Waldorf. You know him, but he survived a 15-for-1 playoff in Columbus, besting the likes of John Daly, Joe Daley, Jeff Maggert, Joe Ogilvie, Justin Rose and Kirk Triplett in the playoff.

Let’s move across town to Columbus #2. Madalitso Muthiya of Zambia shot 65-69. If Ghana can make the World Cup, MaMu (his new nickname) can win THE OPEN!! If a Brazilian defender can be labeled KaKa (which means caca in every language on the globe), then we can knight the marvelous Madalitso Muthiya MAMU.

Amateur heaven in Cresswell, Oregon, where Jonathan Moore completed a bifecta by winning an Open spot on the heels of an NCAA Individual and Team championship, all at the same place. To boot, he beat Okie State teammate and Porter Cup hottie Pablo Martin in the playoff. In all, amateurs were 1st, 2nd and 3rd, and 6 of the top 8.

Amateur heaven part two…Houston, where Ryan and Ryan (Baca and Posey) shot 136s to make it to the big waltz.

Rockville, MD, where David Berganio will not go away. This guy, since his teenage years, has loved and succeeded in USGA events. Word is, once, he was left off the Walker Cup team due to his less-than-country club image.

St. Charles, Ill…boring

Koloa, Hawaii…been there, done that

Surrey, England–Like a cricket match. England placed three and India placed two in the Mamaroneck Mauling. Jeev Singh and Jyoti Rhandawa (JS and JR to you and me) represent the subcontinent, while Dick Green, Phil Archer and Graeme Storm (three metaphors!) give props to the Mama Country and former enslaver.

Littleton, CO–Dustin White follows Derek Tolan into US Open immortality. Who is Dustin White? That’s the point! Who was Derek Tolan? That’s also the point!!

Amateur Heaven, Episode Three–Daly City, CA…Al Coe, Tay Wood, and Pat Nagle, none of whom plays for pay, join the world-renowned professional Michael “Who” Derminio with cross-country tickets to Wechacha County, NY.

Wheel of Fortune–Sayama City, Japan. A lot of Ts, Ks and vowels make their way to the west in the guises of Toru Taniguchi,Keiichiro Fukabori and Tadahiro Takayama

Tampa FLA–George McNeil, am Billy Horschel, and John Koskinen caught the bridal bouquet and are on their way.

Coolanta, GA…The legal firm or four journeymen (Duffner, Kuchar, Williams and Morse) take time off from their briefs to prepare closing
arguments.

St. Louis—Travis Hurst, sounding like a country singer, is off to the Nashville of New York for a shot at the ring of fire. May the circle, be unbroken, by and by, Lord, by and by.