June 4, 2002
As if Ryan Moore's golf week wasn't already big enough, the UNLV freshman qualified for the U.S. Open on Monday, shooting a six-under 138 to beat 16 other players for the qualifying event's lone berth.
Moore, of Puyallup, Wash., concluded an eighth-place effort at the NCAA Championship on Saturday, flew from Columbus, Ohio, to Seattle on Sunday, and drove to Aloha, Ore., on three hours' sleep to play a course he had never seen before. Firing back-to-back 69s at The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club, Moore beat the field by two strokes.
"It's hard to say that (qualifying) is more special under those conditions, because it's special no matter what," Moore said. "But it's a pretty crazy story. I had never played even a practice round (at the Reserve Vineyards), and I was exhausted after six straight days of golf, four of which were competitive in the biggest tournament of year by far, and almost no sleep. I'm just happy about it now, and amazed. I can't even believe it."
Moore now advances to play in the Open, to be played June 13-16 at Bethpage State Park's Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y. He will most likely be joined by either his dad or his brother, who will get to serve as his caddy.
"I guess I'll see about the pressure when I get there," Moore said of playing in what he labels as one of the top four tournaments in the world. "I certainly do not approach it lightly just because I am an amateur. As an amateur, you want to get your name out there and let people recognize it and notice you."
The star freshman is only the second Rebel in the program's storied history to reach the prestigious event as a collegian. Several Rebels qualified after turning pro, and even one (Ted Oh) played in the event before enrolling at UNLV, but only former-NCAA individual champion Warren Schutte, who qualified in 1992, played as a UNLV student-athlete.
"It's really a tremendous honor to be able to play in the U.S. Open," UNLV head coach Dwaine Knight said. "He is going to play with the best in the world in NY, and essentially compete for our country's national championship. An experience like that is never matched."
The Reserve Vineyards and Golf Club (Cupp Course)
Aloha, Ore.
17 players for 1 qualifying spot
Ryan Moore, Puyallup, Wash., 69-69--138
Alternates
Tad Holloway, Meridian, Idaho, 70-70--140
Brian Nosler, Lake Oswego, Ore., 72-68--140
Brent Murray, Lake Oswego, Ore., 73-68--141
Bob Rannow, Florence, Ore., 72-69--141
Failed to Qualify
Danny Norton, Canada, 71-71--142
Mark Worthington, Kirkland, Wash., 69-73--142
Dan Potter, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 71-72--143
Derek Croskrey, Portland, Ore., 74-71--145
Justin St. Clair, Springfield, Ore., 73-72--145
Chris Griffin, Tacoma, Wash., 73-73--146
Ken Carpenter, Scottsdale, Ariz., 70-76--146
J.D. Kocher, Kent, Wash., 78-70--148
Jeffrey Mashos, Salem, Ore., 75-74--149
James Contreras, Chandler, Ariz., 78-73--151
Carl Johnsen, Gresham, Ore., 79-76--155
