Bud Cauley Qualifies for US Open

Bud Cauley, Coach Nick Saban & Jordan Hartsell at North River Yacht Club last month.

From the Memphis Commercial Appeal:

Youth is served at U.S. Open qualifying round in Tunica

A couple of kids, Sunghoon Kang and Bud Cauley, grabbed the glory. But Sergio Garcia, who will never be anything but "the kid" to some golf fans, provided the drama during Monday's U.S. Open sectional qualifying at Tunica National Golf Club.

Kang, a 24-year-old South Korean in his rookie season on the PGA Tour, and Cauley, a 21-year-old two-time All-American at Alabama who turned pro last week, both fired 67-65--132, 12-under on the 7,204-yard course, host of the event for the first time.

Garcia, a 31-year-old from Spain, sank an 18-foot birdie putt on the first of three playoff holes to earn one of the 10 spots out of this sectional to next week's 111th U.S. Open at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Md. It will be his 48th straight appearance in one of golf's four majors, dating back to 1999.

"Now I've got to go qualify for the British Open next," said Garcia, who struggled early but managed a 68-67--135 to join six other golfers in the playoff for the final four spots.

Garcia, one of several golfers here for this week's FedEx St. Jude Classic at TPC Southwind, boomed a drive on the first sudden-death hole, No. 1 at Tunica National, laid it past the pin and coolly knocked it home.

"My fitness was really good so heat wasn't a problem. I struggled early -- 1-over through eight holes -- but got a great birdie on 9, and I told my caddie, 'Let's just finish 3-under for the morning,' and we did a little better than that. In the afternoon we got it going, and that last hole I was doing what I'd been doing all day. We got beyond the fairway bunkers and gave ourselves a chance.

"I said at the Byron Nelson (Classic) if I made it, great. But if I didn't it was no big deal," Garcia said. "But it's good to get that spot."

Kang, from Jeju Island, said a round full of birdies, capped by an eagle on the par-5 16th, left him confident he'd make his first U.S. Open in his first try.

"Everything felt great," Kang said. "I haven't played as well on tour as I would have liked, but I had to miss five weeks in March and April because of military service."

Cauley, from Jacksonville, Fla., said the high-90s afternoon temperatures didn't rattle him, as he put together a seven-birdie, no-bogey round. "In college, you play 36 holes all the time, so it's no big deal right now."

Brian Gay, a 39-year-old Floridian and the 2009 St. Jude champion, shot 68-67 to get into the playoff and earned a return trip to the U.S. Open with a 25-foot birdie putt on the second playoff hole.

"I prefer heat to a sweater, just not 12 hours of it," said Gay, who looks to finally break through with a solid Open performance. "I've been there six times, and it seems like every time I miss the cut by a shot. Maybe this year."

Two friends from the Seattle area, Michael Putnam and Andres Gonzalez will play in the Open together for the first time after finishing tied for third along with Scott Piercy of Las Vegas. One shot back was Sweden's Fedrik Jacobsen.

Chad Campbell of Andrews, Texas, also birdied the second playoff hole to punch his ticket while Briny Baird of Palm City, Fla., got the final spot with a birdie on the third playoff hole as darkness began to fall on the Tunica National layout.

Emiliano Grillo, a 17-year-old amateur from Argentina, had put his second shot in position for an eagle try, but missed two putts then picked up his ball. He faced a fourth playoff hole with former Arkansas golfer Tag Ridings, but Ridings picked up after he found water off the tee, giving Grillo first alternate status.

Among those who missed the cut were two-time U.S. Open champion Lee Janzen and 2002 PGA Championship winner Rich Beem, who finished at 8-under 136; Chris DiMarco, a three-time majors runner-up who finished at 144; and former FESJC champ Bob Estes.

Austin Cook, a 20-year-old Razorback sophomore from Jonesboro, had a spectacular morning round of 66 but faltered with a 74 in the afternoon.

"I just wasn't as sharp, but it was a great experience," said Cook, who was congratulated by his teammates after it was announced the youngster earned All-America status for a 10th-place tie in the recent NCAA championships.

The day's best exit may have been made by colorful Boo Weekley, who shot 70 in the morning round and had a bad third hole in the afternoon. According to fans, he then hit his tee shot on the fourth hole onto a cart path, picked up the ball and started bouncing it on the asphalt, saying that he and the ball were going to bounce their way back to the hotel.