Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2012 - 40

(score card
)
Conklin Surprises Himself
by Earning Medal at
U.S. Open Qualifying By Mike Fermoyle
C
hris Conklin wound up claiming
medalist honors in the U.S.
Open Local Qualifying at Troy
Burne Golf Club May 7.
Taking advantage of Troy Burne's par5s,
which he played in 3 under, Conklin
shot a 1-under-par 70 and secured the
first of three spots available for Sectional
Qualifying.
Also advancing were Jesse Polk, a former
college hockey player who didn't get
serious about golf until after graduating
from St. Mary's in 2008, and David Haley
Jr., who just concluded his junior season
at the University of Minnesota last week.
They both shot 71s.
Although he's been playing fairly frequently
this spring, Conklin conceded that
he wasn't brimming with confidence coming
into Monday's round.
" I really haven't been hitting it very well
at all, " the former Academic All-American
said. " So I didn't have especially high expectations.
I just wanted to give it my best
shot and see what happens. "
This was Conklin's second try at Open
Qualifying; he doesn't know how many
more times he'll be able to try. Conklin, a
recent St. Olaf grad, is scheduled to start
doing research at the University of Minnesota
this summer as part of the Doctoral
Program in Physics.
As for his immediate future, he'll be playing
the Sectional Qualifying (36-hole final
stage), June 4 at Glen Ellyn GC in Chicago.
Chris Conklin
U.S. OPEN
LOCAL QUALIFYING
Top Golfers
Chris Conklin 70 qualifier
Jesse Polk
71 qualifier
David Haley 71 qualifier
Hoge & Rask Medal as Pros Dominate
U.S. Open Qualifying at Rush Creek By Mike Fermoyle
Tom Hoge
T
here was a playoff on Tuesday,
May 8, at the U.S. Open Local
Qualifying #2 at Rush Creek,
and all five of the guys who advanced-
plus the guy who lost a four-man playoff
for the last three spots-were pros.
Clayton Rask, the former University of
Minnesota star who spent 2011 on the Nationwide
Tour, and Tom Hoge, a two-time
Minnesota State Amateur champ who is
a Nationwide regular this year, both shot
3-under-par 69s and were co-medalists.
No one else broke par. But four players
Clayton Rask
matched it, including another former Gopher
who has played on the Nationwide-
Justin Smith. Bent Creek assistant Eric Rolland
also shot 72, as did Travis Ross, who
turned professional last year after finishing
his college career at New Mexico.
38
MINNESOTAGOLFER Summer 2012
Smith, Rolland and Ross all survived the
playoff. Erik Toftner was the unfortunate 72shooter
who lost. Toftner declined the first
alternate spot, which went to Jon Sauer.
The final stage of U.S. Open qualifying,
Sectional Qualifying (36 holes) is June 4.
U.S. OPEN
LOCAL QUALIFYING
Top Golfers
Tom Hoge 69
Clayton Rask 69
Justin Smith 72 won playoff
Eric Rolland 72 won playoff
Travis Ross 72 won playoff
Erik Toftner 72 declined aternate status
www.mngolf.org
http://www.mngolf.org
Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2012

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Minnesota Golfer - Summer 2012
