Open Q East Results; Open Q West Tee Times
Big Shots Lead to Low Scores
R. Scott Pugh
Harrisburg, PA – With 17 positions up for grabs at the Open Championship Qualifier (Central), at The Colonial Golf & Tennis Club, both R. Scott Pugh and Kevin Haag would card impressive rounds with equally impressive shots.
Haag, of Hummelstown, would need his first three holes to warm-up before carding his first birdie on the par 4, 285-yard 4th. A birdie on 5 (par 3, 165-yards) would put Haag 2–under par and sitting comfortably. A slight setback on 7 (par 3, 193-yards), would leave Haag 1–under par and, what would appear to be, a back nine that would need to be played to par.
This all changed however, when Haag holed out his approach on the 9th (par 4, 385-yards).
“I hit 3-wood off the tee and over the right bunker,” said Haag. “I had about 90-95-yards in, hit a sand-wedge, it looked good and landed over the bunker, and it went in.”
This would give Haag all the room he would need to relax and just play golf.
“Making the eagle and getting to three under at the turn, you know the qualifier’s not about winning,” Haag said, “It’s about getting in and at that point it kind of relaxed me. It took the pressure off me going into the back nine.”
Qualifying for The Open Championship is all that Haag wanted and now he has what he plays for all summer, a chance to play at Nemacolin under championship conditions.
Kevin Haag
Said Haag, “To me, my goal is to get into these events because I just love the state golf association. I can’t speak highly enough of the PA Golf Association. Just get (to Nemacolin) and enjoy it, and play the golf course under championship conditions.”
The day however, would belong to Scott Pugh. A quick start would be all Scott Pugh would need to capture the number one qualifying spot at the Open Qualifier (Central) Wednesday at Colonial Golf and Tennis Club.
Pugh, from Harrisburg, came into the event with no expectations.
“I’ve had a score in mind in the past (qualifying tries), and it hasn't worked out for me” Pugh said. “I tried my hardest to get mentally prepared to play the golf course one shot at a time, to forget about whatever shot you just hit or whatever shot is coming up and to make sure that all your energy goes into that present shot you have at hand.”
Pugh put that mindset to work going into his first four holes. After a pedestrian par on the first hole, he would birdie the 2nd (par 5, 569-yards), 4th (par 4, 285-yards) & 6th (par 5, 520-yards) before being tested on the par 3, 7th.
On 7, he would hit his tee shot to within 30-feet, leaving himself a intimidating putt for birdie. After pushing it just past the hole, Pugh would finish it off to save par. That would be the moment that he would need to feel that he was in control of his round.
“Really that was the first putt outside of maybe 15-20 feet that I had the speed down and the read.” Said Pugh. “And it was probably the first moment I knew. That was kind of the first putt that I felt the most control coming out of.”
Pugh’s only hiccup came on the 12th (par 3, 210-yards) where his tee shot would find itself under a tree to the right of the green, and force him to settle for a bogey. Pugh finished his round much like he started, with birdies on 17 (par3, 165-yards) and 18 (par 4, 426-yards).
Pugh remarked, “Overall, a 67, you’re not going to say you didn’t play well, but I missed the ball in some good spots and was fortunate enough to take advantage of opportunities that I gave myself.”
The highlight of the day came from Mike Turner, of Manheim, who aced the 210-yard par 3, 12th. Turner would need that ace in order to qualify with a 2–over, 74.
In addition to Pugh, Haag, & Turner, 27 others qualified for the opportunity to compete for The Pennsylvania Open Championship. Of the 27, 11 would find themselves even par or better, with the cut line falling at 2–over, 74.
Only one qualifier remains, July 17th at Shannopin Country Club, before The Open Championship August 13th – 15th at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.