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Brannan’s Up & Down Round Mirrors
Shannopin’s Hillside Course
Sean Brannan
Shannopin, PA – A hilly course and undulating greens played a huge role in the Open Championship Qualifier (West) at Shannopin Country Club on Tuesday. Emerging from the pack of 1 & 2–over par scores was Sean Brannan, of Hollidaysburg.
However, it did not come easily for Brannan after he started his first four holes 3-over-par.
“I guess it just took a couple holes for me to get my swing going” Brannan said.
Brannan wasted little time turning around his lackluster start, and his short game would play into his recovery. On his run of three straight birdies he would not be putting from outside of 20-feet, including a 10-footer on 5 (par 4, 412 yards), and a tap-in on 7 (par 3, 142-yards).
After carding an even par 35 on his front nine, Brannan would go out on the back with one goal: birdies.
“At that point I was just trying to make more birdies and go as low as I could” Brannan remarked.
On 11 (par 3, 227 yards), Brannan would find himself facing a daunting test, but would prevail once again.
“I had a really good up and down out of the bunker on the right. That sort of helped, not to drop another shot after I had just got it all back."
After the 11th he would again sink consecutive birdies on 12 (par 5, 496-yards) and 13 (par 4, 281-yards). A par on 14 (par 3, 165-yards) would seemingly lock up his qualifying spot. Heading into 15 (par 5, 552-yards) however, Brannan was still not done.
After his tee shot found the short rough along the left side of the fairway Brannan would be aggressive into the green and drop his second shot within 20-feet of the hole. All that was left for Brannan was a rare eagle putt to drop (the only one of the event), and a qualifying low score of 68.
David DeNunzio
David DeNunzio, of Jeannette, also scratched his way into the Championship with one of the three scores under par on the day. His outward nine of 1-over, 36, was overshadowed by his birdie on the 10th (par 5, 560-yards) and an eagle on the 12th (par 5, 496-yards).
DeNunzio was matched by Nicholas Joseph, of New Castle. However, Joseph's round had a few more red numbers, 5 of them to be exact. Birdies on holes 1, 9, 10, 14, and 16 overpowered his 4 bogeys.
In all twenty-two players made the cut of 3 –over, of which only four were even par or better. The Open Championship will be held August 13th – 15th at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort.