Notebook: Former U.S. Amateur Public Links Champ Makes the Cut

By David Shefter, USGA

Southampton, N.Y. – Chez Reavie was so exhausted that he didn’t have time to be worried about the cut line. He went back to his hotel room Friday and fell asleep, not knowing if he would be playing the weekend at the U.S. Open or not.

Without a computer, Reavie, one of eight amateurs in the field this week at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club, had to rely on updates from friends back in his hometown of Mesa, Ariz. Television coverage kept listing the cut at four over par. But when a few competitors struggled late on Friday, the line moved up to five.

“It was official when I called and got my tee time,” said the 22-year-old Arizona State graduate who is playing his last event as an amateur. Reavie will turn pro on Monday.

Ernie Els 6th hole during the third round of the 2004 U.S. Open Championship at Shinnecock Hills G.C. in Southampton, N.Y., Saturday, June 19, 2004. (Copyright USGA/John Mummert)

Last year, Reavie, the 2001 U.S. Amateur Public Links champion, qualified for the Open at Olympia Fields (Ill.) Country Club, only to miss the cut by 10 strokes. When asked if he did any special celebrating Friday night, Reavie said, “We went to the same restaurant we’ve been eating at all week. It’s just a quiet little restaurant. It’s nice.”

Bill Haas thought he might miss the weekend after posting a bogey at his 36th hole. He was relaxing on the couch when he found out he made the cut on the number (145). Like Reavie, Haas is competing in his final competition as an amateur.

“I was fortunate enough (to make the cut),” said Haas. “I think a couple of guys made bogey for me coming in.”

On Sunday, Haas will battle it out with his 50-year-old father, Jay, for the right to be low Haas at the U.S. Open. Bill shot a 71 on Saturday to Jay’s 76. Both are at 6-over 216, but they are not paired together on Father’s Day. Jay plays with Pat Perez at 11:40 a.m., while Bill goes out with Jerry Kelly at 12:10.

The two will play together at the upcoming CVS Charity Classic, a two-day special event run by tour pros Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon.

“They are good friends who have been so kind to ask me to come up there,” said Bill Haas. “I’m looking forward to it. That’s probably going to be the best event of the summer.”

Charles In Charge

Charles Howell III was one of three players to better par in the difficult conditions on Saturday, shooting a 68 that included a bogey at 18. The early start definitely helped as Howell played most of the front nine before the winds picked up.

“You never want to go off early because it means you are on the cut line, but when you do, it would have been nice to shoot a 64, 65, something in there,” said Howell. “Frankly speaking, it was out there early. If there ever was an easier time to start early, it was today with the overcast like we had.”

Howell opened the competition with four straight bogeys, but he enters the final round at 3-over 213. His goal for Sunday is to get to even par, which means shooting a 67.

“I think that’s a good feat,” said Howell. “I would be very happy with that.”

Unlucky Seven

Even before the Open began, there was much discussion about the 189-yard seventh hole, nicknamed Redan for its architectural characteristic. On Saturday, the hole was cut on the left-hand side of the green, and it played as the toughest on the course with a stroke average of 3.485. Reavie, the amateur, had the lone birdie and there were 27 bogeys and three double bogeys recorded, including one by Phil Mickelson.

“There are 17 awesome holes on this course, but I don’t think that is a very good hole,” said Howell.

Said Jeff Maggert: “When you have to hit in the bunker to try to make par, I don’t think it’s a very good hole. The (front left) bunker was probably the best place to be”

USGA vice president Walter Driver, the chairman of the Championship Committee, said they had four hole locations picked out that they believed were fair. But because of the green’s severe left-to-right tilt, it’s just a difficult hole by its design characteristic.

“The hole is designed to play into the wind or slightly left to right,” said Driver. “The wind changed and it was therefore blowing straight across and down the hill of the Redan. I think the change in the wind had a great deal to do with it.”

Shot Of The Day

The third round was about to be a total wash for Tiger Woods until the final hole of the day. Woods ripped a drive to within 106 yards of the flagstick. Using a 60-degree sand wedge, the world’s No. 1 player lofted an approach shot that landed just beyond flagstick and spun into the hole for an eagle.

Seconds later, caddie Steve Williams handed Woods his golf bag and he carried it toward the green.

“That was all spontaneity,” said Woods, who shot a 74 and stands at 4-over 214, nine shots behind leader Retief Goosen. “He threw the bag on my shoulder and I was happy to oblige.”

As for using the shot for momentum on Sunday, Woods added: “I tell you what, it definitely put me back in the tournament, where if the wind blows and I play a great round of golf, I can still win.”