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June 8, 2009

Chris Stroud again qualifies his way into U.S. Open

MEMPHIS — Nothing seems to bring out the best in Chris Stroud like a U.S. Open qualifier in Memphis.

Stroud, on Monday, played his way into the U.S. Open for the third consecutive year, shooting rounds of 70-66 at Ridgeway Country Club and Germantown Country Club, respectively. His 136 total tied for fifth in a field of 113 players, including John Daly, battling for 13 spots next week at Bethpage Black.

The previous two years he’d played his way into U.S. Opens at Oakmont and Torrey Pines by shooting scores of 134 over the North and South Courses at Memphis’ Colonial Country Club. The course locale changed this year but the result didn’t.

“I played a lot better than I scored, because I didn’t putt well,” said the former Lamar University All-America. “I really played well in the afternoon round. Germantown is a much tougher course and I went four shots lower.”

Stroud’s 66 at Germantown, in fact, was the low round of the day at the site. He made five birdies and 13 pars, while taking 29 putts. In the morning round at Ridgeway, he also had five birdies but offset all but one of them with four bogeys. He cited 32 putts as the culprit.

Like last year, Stroud was struggling a bit when he showed up for the Open qualifier. He’d missed five of the last six cuts, including shooting 77-75 in Jack Nicklaus’ tournament at Muirfield Village last week. In six events since the Shell Houston Open, he’s made the cut only at Quail Hollow where he tied for 53rd.

“Honestly, I feel like I’m getting better overall as a player,” he said. “But I’m just getting beat up every week because some part of my game isn’t sharp. It really shows up against the best players in the world. Then I get in an event like this, where the field isn’t as strong, and I do well.

“I’m thinking about playing an occasional Nationwide Tour event or maybe even an Adams Tour tournament to build up my confidence. It’s like today. I finished fifth, but if I’d putted this way in a PGA Tour event I’d have struggled to make the cut.”

Stroud is moving down the road later this week to play in the Memphis St. Jude Classic at the TPC Southwind. He says he’ll need to putt better to get himself in the right frame of mind for the brutal test awaiting him next week at Bethpage Black.

The PN-G ex wasn’t the only player with area ties to play his way into the Open on Monday. Former Barbers Hill and Lamar golfer Shawn Stefani was the low qualifier at Northwood Country Club in Dallas. Stefani, who has been playing on the Hooters Tour, shot rounds of 66-69 for a 135.

Orange’s Michael Arnaud, who was also playing at Northwood, didn’t make it after shooting scores of 78-75 for a 153. Texas A&M;’s Bronson Burgoon grabbed the other spot in a field of 36 in Dallas by shooting 138. — Bob West





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