Tuesday, June 04, 2002
Flesch secures berth in U.S. Open
By Gary Estwick, gestwick@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
MAINEVILLE — Covington Catholic graduate Steve Flesch shot a course-record, 8-under-par 64 during Monday's morning round at the U.S. Open Championship sectional qualifier at TPC at River's Bend.
Flesch shot a 71 in the afternoon round for a 9-under 135 total. He then had to wait around the course to make sure he finished in the top three and earned a spot in the 2002 U.S. Open.
“You get to a point when you think you're in a good spot,” Flesch said. "But as it turns out, I should have been still trying to make birdies. I'm hoping to squeeze into the third spot.”
He did, finishing behind Buy.com Tour player Todd Rose (67-66-133) and PGA Tour player Ian Leggatt (66-68-134). Rose qualified for his first U.S. Open in only his third try.
Flesch, 35, will play in his fifth Open — he qualified in 1993-95 and last year. He played mostly without knowing any other scores.
“I knew Ian was playing well,” Flesch said. “But I had no idea what anyone was doing. I was trying to take care of my own business. In something like this, where there's only three (qualifying) spots, I'd like to know. It might change the way you play a few holes coming in. If it's top 25 and you know you're going to make it, you'd be fine.
“Just like this morning, somebody could have come in this afternoon and shot 8 under. You never know until they post it.”
Kyle Voska, the 1997-98 Met Amateur champion, finished with a 1-over 145.
“I just hit a few bad shots,” he said. “It had nothing to do with nerves, or anything else. I got off to a bad start, made a few bogeys and couldn't catch up.”
Voska was eight shots behind Flesch after the first round. “I didn't think a 64 was out there,” Voska said. “It's not an easy course.”
Flesch hasn't been playing well; he finished eighth at the Colonial in Fort Worth, Texas, and missed the cut at Memorial Tournament. This week, he didn't play or practice, not counting a practice run through the course Wednesday with friends.
Said Flesch: “Actually, that 8 under surprised me. It was a nice surprise, something I really needed.”
Flesch is 72nd in the world ranking and 64th on the PGA Tour money list ($490,825) this year.
The 102nd Open is June 13-16 at the Bethpage Black Course in Farmingdale, N.Y.
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Flesch secures berth in U.S. Open
